5 Cold Outreach Mistakes You Need to Fix TODAY

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I used to think outreach was easy.

I was wrong.

It's hard work.

I've booked 153,000+ sales calls over the years.

I've learned to spot patterns in that volume.

I know exactly why most outreach fails.

I don't care if it's cold or warm outreach.

There are 5 deadly mistakes people make:

1. Lack of research

One of the gravest cold outreach mistakes is a lack of research.

Don’t make that mistake.

You need more than just a name and an email address.

Find out:

- What they do

- Their pain-points

- Their recent accomplishments

- How your solution helps them

Your outreach must NOT seem like a machine trying to drum up business.

Make it personal and show you’ve done your research.

Never send an email or a LinkedIn message without researching the person you’re reaching out to.

I repeat:

Nail down your research.

2. Poor timing

The key to cold outreach is timing.

Here's a quick formula:

Between 10 am - 2 pm.

Monday - Thursday.

The logic?

Mornings, people are swamped and digging out.

Fridays, people are winding down and checking out.

Saturdays and Sundays are nobody's workday.

Holidays? Nope.

Late nights? Double nope.

But why limit yourself to emailing?

Hit them on LinkedIn on a Tuesday morning or poke them on Twitter on a Thursday afternoon.

Rejection is only over when you surrender.

3. Twisty subject lines or intros

Avoid making people guess what your email is about.

Be direct and clear.

Also, never start an outreach email with:

"I hope this email finds you well."

That's a wasted opportunity.

Instead, start with something specific to their work or their recent statement.

Like these:

- Your recent article on —

- Heard you on —

- I noticed that —

Your prospects time is precious. Don't waste it.

4. No proper follow-ups

44% of people quit after only one follow-up.

And the truth is, it takes a few touchpoints to get a response.

So what’s the hack?

Follow up until you get a response.

But here's a catch:

Most of your competitors won't.

Most will give up after one try.

Most will get discouraged.

Don't be most.

That’s how you stand out in the cold email game.

5. Ignoring personalization

Personalization is the key to breaking through the noise.

Cold outreach mistakes:

- Not using their name

- Not referencing recent work

- Making the message about you

- Not acknowledging something unique about them

Instead:

- Use their name

- Reference recent work

- Make the message about them

- Acknowledge something unique about them

Nobody wants to be the recipient of a generic cold message.

Make their day → personalize your message.

6. Irrelevant messages (target persona)

Want to get ignored on LinkedIn?

Send irrelevant messages.

Want to improve your response rate?

Target the right people.

Design your message for your 'ideal customer persona' and then find the right person at that company who fits that mold.

It's harder, but way more effective.

Spamming people on LinkedIn isn't a growth strategy.

It's a way to get blocked.

7. Trying to sell too soon

Your first message isn’t to sell, it's to start a conversation.

Your goal is to build a relationship.

If they’re interested, they'll ask for more information or agree to a call.

But here’s the thing: You're approaching a stranger.

Would you walk up to them and immediately pitch them?

No.

Instead, start with shared interests, commonalities, and ask thoughtful questions.

The sale will come.

But only if you’re patient and prioritize the relationship first.

Final thoughts

Cold outreach isn't a spray-and-pray game.

It's about finding the right people and building relationships.

Ditch the generic pitches and focus on understanding your prospects' needs.

Master the art of timing, personalization, and thoughtful follow-ups.

Remember, the sale happens organically when you establish a genuine connection.

Success lies in your commitment to smart, strategic outreach.

Talk soon,

Nick

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