5 Ways to Turn Cold Outreach into Hot Leads

Author

Nick Verity
February 24, 2024

Read time: 3 minutes

Welcome To The Clever Letter!

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At Cleverly, we’ve helped 7,500+ customers book 153,000+ sales calls with cold outreach. If you are struggling to grow your business, click here to learn more about how we can help.

Tired of cold emails that feel like they were written by a robot?

It's not your fault – finding that genuine connection in a text-heavy world is TOUGH.

But here's what I've learned:

The key to getting those coveted replies, those calendar-filling meetings, is NOT fancier words.

It's simpler...and way more effective.

Get ready.

I'm about to give you a few insider tricks that'll transform your outreach game.

Think boosted responses, less spam folder action, and a whole lot more YES in your inbox.

These techniques aren't rocket science, but they WILL change how you approach cold outreach for good.

Ready to see what they are?

Let's dive in!

1. The “cold email” problem: it feels impersonal.

It's not about your writing — it’s about your connection.

And video is the solution:

  • Connect like a human

  • Prove you're not just a robot

  • Stand out from the crowd

You can put a face to your words.

The good news? It’s not complicated.

Here's how:

  1. "I have a quick favor to ask."

  2. Introduce yourself in 1-2 sentences.

  3. Briefly explain why you're emailing them.

  4. Explain what you can offer.

  5. Set up the next step.

Here's what to include in your video:

  1. Wave or smile.

  2. Introduce yourself.

  3. Thank them for their time.

  4. State your purpose.

  5. Explain your offer.

  6. Close with a call to action.

  7. Wave or smile.

That's it.

Quick. Simple. Easy.

You’ll be amazed at how much engagement you’ll get.

I'll give you personalized feedback.

Remember: the idea is to connect.

And video does that better than words alone.

2. Bypass spam filters

Look, those "spammy" words – "Free," "Profit," etc. – they're like red flags to email filters. It's a bummer, but nobody wants a cluttered inbox.

The good news?

You can still close deals WITHOUT resorting to gimmicky language.

Here's the smarter play:

  • "Value" is your ace:

What do you REALLY offer them?

  • Solutions, not sales pitches:

Solve problems, don't just push products.

  • "Understand" builds bridges:

Show empathy for their pain points.

  • Help them level up:

"Improve," "Discover," "Transform" – powerful stuff!

  • Focus on THEIR success:

Tap into their goals and aspirations.

See the shift?

It's not about YOU, it's about THEM.

If you genuinely address their needs, you'll fly right past the spam filters.

Key point: Value builds trust.

Once you have that, the cheesy buzzwords become irrelevant.

3. "Nobody Cares About Your Tech"

I just got this email:

Subject: "High Fidelity Rendering Technology"

& I deleted it.

Why?

Let me share a secret with you:

Nobody cares about your technology.

Nobody cares about your app.

Nobody cares about your features.

The only thing they care about is their problem.

  • What is their issue?

  • How can you solve it?

Let me rephrase the email:

Subject: "Double your illustrations' quality".

That's it.

I would have opened it.

And you too.

The same applies to customers.

Don't use technical jargon.

  • 3D rendering.

  • SaaS.

  • Backend.

It's meaningless to them.

Use their language, their tone, their words.

What do they use?

  • Problem.

  • Solution.

  • Benefit.

Stay human.

Stay relatable.

Stay (obviously) profitable.

And if you want to make this technique work for you:

  1. Create a list of your technical jargon.

  2. Describe it as if you're talking to a 5-year-old.

  3. Use ChatGPT to find alternative words.

  4. Rewrite your entire copy/email.

It's that simple.

And every time you're about to use jargon:

  • Pause.

  • Reflect.

  • Rethink.

Turn it into something personal.

Turn it into something valuable.

Turn it into something they will remember you for.

4. Research, profile, solve

Here’s our game plan:

  • I dig deep to understand YOU.

  • What are your pain points? What keeps you up at night?

  • We offer targeted, specific solutions — not generic pitches.

  • I don't just talk the talk, I give you a taste of the win.

This approach?

It gets results.

This strategy demands effort, but the payoff is massive.

5. Open the dialogue

End your email with a question.

Questions spark conversation.

They make people think.

Plus, it’s a natural way to end an email.

Example:

"Does this sound like something you’d be interested in?"

"Would love to hear your thoughts on this"

"How can I make things easier for you?"

Questions open the door to a dialogue.

They can help build relationships and lead to sales.

But don't use just any question.

Make sure it's relevant, thoughtful, and conversational.

Before you go…

Forget those weak LinkedIn messages that go straight to the trash...

Imagine filling your calendar with qualified calls from your dream clients.

Picture a sales pipeline overflowing with hot opportunities.

That's exactly what you'll get at our exclusive LIVE in-person event in Santa Monica on March 7th.

Here’s the link to the live event:

During this in-person event hosted by:

  1. Cleverly, the only B2B Marketing Agency in the world with 1,000+ 5-star reviews.

  2. Expert Dojo, one of the most active VC funds in the world.

You’ll get a masterclass in LinkedIn, including:

  • The system 1,000 clients use to get 10-50 leads/month

  • How to target your ideal persona on LinkedIn

  • Copywriting that actually wins replies without spamming

  • How to nurture leads into 2X more calls from content

  • How to turn your LinkedIn profile into a sales machine

Plus, we're revealing the EXACT strategies of our best success stories:

  • How Bambee (HR SaaS) drove 307 SQLs in 90 days on LinkedIn

  • How LeaseLock (Real Estate) closed massive enterprise deals on LinkedIn

This event is PERFECT for:

  • B2B companies in any industry

  • Consultants, bootstrapped or funded startups, mature companies with hundreds of employees, CEOs, sales reps, marketers and executives

  • LinkedIn beginners and experts. We cover the basics and advanced tips

Seats are strictly limited for this event on March 7th.

And first 100 attendees get FREE consulting.

Don't miss out.

Reserve your spot NOW and start seeing results this month!

Talk soon,

Nick

Whenever you are ready, there are 3 ways we can help you:

  1. Cold Email Lead Generation - Get booked sales calls with your ideal clients on a pay-per-lead basis. You pay a fixed fee whenever you get a response from your ideal customer. Click here to learn more.

  2. LinkedIn Content Service - Want to build an audience of 10,000 engaged prospects? Get attention-grabbing LinkedIn content done-for-you that scales your personal brand and drives interested prospects to message you. Click here to learn more.

  3. LinkedIn Paid Advertising - Want to get in front of prospects you never thought possible? Our irresistible LinkedIn Ad funnels will help you grow your business rapidly. Click here to learn more.