The Cold Email Opening Sentence That Stands Out

Summary

The first sentence of an outbound email is crucial in determining whether it gets opened. It should serve as a compelling preview that sparks curiosity and makes the recipient feel like they were expecting the email. To avoid being perceived as spam or a cold email, the first sentence should be direct, relevant, and engaging. By avoiding typical cold email phrases and focusing on personalization, you increase the likelihood of getting a response. This strategy centers on making the email feel familiar and relevant, ultimately improving open and reply rates.

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Q & A

Why is the first sentence in an outbound email so important?

The first sentence is crucial because it acts as a preview or 'trailer' for the email. It determines whether the recipient will open the email or ignore it. A well-crafted first sentence can grab attention and increase the chances of the email being read.

What is the role of the 'preview text' in an email?

The preview text, visible in an inbox before the email is opened, gives recipients a glimpse of the email’s content. A compelling preview text can encourage recipients to open the email, while a weak or spammy preview might lead them to ignore it.

What are common mistakes in email subject lines and preview text?

Common mistakes include using phrases like 'just wanted to follow up,' 'bumping this up,' or 'circling back.' These phrases immediately categorize the email as a follow-up or cold email, which recipients tend to avoid opening.

How can curiosity be used to improve open rates?

Curiosity can be leveraged by crafting the first sentence to raise questions or provoke intrigue. If the recipient feels like the email contains something unexpected or valuable, they are more likely to open it.

What makes an email appear as something a recipient expects?

An email seems expected when the first sentence includes something relevant or familiar to the recipient, such as a topic they've been engaged with recently. For example, 'Here you go, it’s the two-minute video on your website improvements' makes the recipient feel the email is tailored and anticipated.

What effect does starting an email with 'retention' have?

Starting an email with a familiar term like 'retention' helps the email feel more relevant and less like a generic sales pitch. By leading with what the recipient knows, the email seems more personalized and increases the chances of it being opened.

Why do follow-up emails often have a low open rate?

Follow-up emails often have low open rates because they tend to follow predictable patterns, such as starting with 'Just wanted to follow up.' These phrases signal to recipients that the email is a cold or follow-up email, which they may not be interested in reading.

What was the key factor in the success of the follow-up email example shared in the transcript?

The success of the follow-up email was largely due to its first sentence: 'Someone leaked a video of our conversation—check it out.' This sentence sparked curiosity, making recipients want to open the email, even though it was a follow-up.

How can you make cold emails feel less like advertisements?

To make cold emails feel less like advertisements, avoid starting with obvious sales language. Instead, focus on making the email feel like something the recipient is expecting or would be interested in, such as sharing valuable information or offering personalized insights.

What is the overall strategy for writing effective outbound email first sentences?

The strategy is to create an email opening that sparks curiosity and feels relevant. The first sentence should avoid typical cold email or sales language and instead make the email feel personal, familiar, or something the recipient is expecting, which leads to higher open rates.