AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

Getting a warm introduction is the most effective way to increase email response rates, achieving a conversion rate two to three times higher than regular cold emails.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

To map your sales funnel, start with your goal of acquiring new customers and work backwards to determine the necessary steps and conversion rates needed to achieve that goal.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

If your goal is to get one customer, you may need to send 800 emails to achieve that, depending on your conversion rates at each step of the funnel.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

The highest return on investment for increasing email open rates comes from better targeting; sending 100 targeted emails is more effective than sending 1,000 untargeted emails.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

In the early stages of your startup, you are the brand; the way you communicate and the effort you put into personalization will stand out to potential customers and partners.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

When writing emails, focus on a single goal to avoid overwhelming the recipient with multiple asks, which can lead to inaction.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

Being human in your email communication, using informal language and expressing emotions, can make your outreach more relatable and effective.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

Reading your email out loud before sending it can help identify awkward phrasing and ensure it sounds natural and conversational.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

Personalizing your emails is crucial; using the recipient's name and specific details about them makes the email feel more genuine and less like spam.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

Finding uncommon commonalities with the person you're reaching out to can help build a connection, making your outreach more effective.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

To build the deepest connections and get the most responses, keep your cold emails short and easy to read.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

A wall of text in your email will likely lead to instant deletion by most recipients, so focus on brevity.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

Establishing credibility in your cold emails can open doors; if you're in Y Combinator, that can be enough, but if not, mention your former schools or notable companies you've worked at.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

Including well-known customer names as social proof in your email can enhance your credibility and excite potential customers.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

It's crucial to focus your email on the reader's needs, reframing your story as a quest to solve their problems, especially if you've experienced those problems yourself.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

Use the language your users use to describe your company; asking them how they would describe it can provide valuable phrases to use in your outreach.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

Avoid making demands in your emails; remember that you're in the recipient's inbox and it's not their responsibility to respond to you.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

End your emails with a clear call to action, making it easy for the recipient to understand what you want them to do next.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

Plan to follow up on your cold emails two to four times, as one email is often not enough to get a response.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

Be creative with your follow-ups; for example, using a subject line like 'free donuts' can capture attention and prompt a response.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

If someone doesn't respond, don't take it personally; just move on and consider checking back in a few months.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

When crafting cold emails, ensure strong targeting to improve conversion rates; irrelevant targeting will lead to poor results.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

Personalize your emails by addressing the recipient by name and tailoring the content to their specific interests or needs.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

Focus on how you can help the recipient solve their problems rather than making the email about yourself.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

When sending cold emails, do it manually at first to learn what works before trying to automate the process.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

Track and measure your email outreach to understand conversion rates and identify areas for improvement in your funnel.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

Founders should send cold emails themselves, as recipients are more likely to take them seriously compared to emails from interns or automated systems.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

Block off time to send dozens of personalized emails each day; this dedication will yield better results.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

As a small company, your advantage is the ability to give personalized attention in your emails, making them feel special to the recipient.

AE

Aaron Epstein

09/13/24

@ Y Combinator

Personalize, be human, be persistent, and do the work to turn cold emails into customers.

How To Convert Customers With Cold Emails | Startup School

Takeaways