How to write cold email CTA's that sell

Cold Email CTA Masterclass

Author

Nick Verity
June 03, 2023

Read time: 3 minutes

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Today we're talking about the most important part of all cold emails:

The Call-to-Action (CTA).

Cold emails are useless if they don't prompt the reader to… do something.

A CTA is like a key that guides your readers to take action and turn their interest into interaction.

What are CTAs?

A CTA is not just another fancy acronym.

It tells your readers what they should do next.

Without a good CTA, your email could leave your readers feeling confused and wondering what to do next.

A strong CTA is the key to getting more people to take action and increases your chances of getting a reply.

Top 1% CTA’s:

  1. Are clear so the reader knows exactly what to do.

  2. Are short and easy to understand.

  3. Make the reader feel like they need to act now to get something valuable in return.

Let’s look at how to get you into the top 1%…

4 Steps to Write a Winning CTA

Crafting a good CTA involves being creative and strategic.

Start your CTA with a strong action word, such as:

  • Discover

  • Join

  • Start

This will make your readers WANT to do something.

Personalize your CTA to make your readers feel special.

Use phrases like "Limited time offer" or "Don't miss out" to create a sense of urgency.

Make sure your CTA matches what you are discussing in your email.

For example, if you are talking about a new product…

Your CTA should provide more information or allow readers to purchase the product.

5 Common CTA Mistakes to Avoid

Now that you know how to create a good CTA, let's talk about mistakes to avoid.

Even experts make mistakes sometimes.

When you write an email asking someone to do something, you need to make it clear and easy to understand what that is.

Here are 5 common CTA mistakes we see again & again (and how to avoid them):

  1. Don't use unclear language. Instead of saying "Click here," say what you want the person to do, such as "Download our free guide here."

  2. Don't have too many CTAs in one email. This can confuse the person. Stick to one clear CTA.

  3. Make sure your CTA matches what you are talking about in your email. If you're talking about a new product, your CTA should provide more information or allow people to purchase the product.

  4. Make your CTA personal to the person you are emailing. Address their specific needs or interests.

  5. Add a sense of urgency to your CTA by using phrases like "Offer ends soon" or "Limited spots available."

Testing Your CTAs

Cold email experts know that creating a good CTA isn't something you do just once...

They're always testing new angles.

One way they do this is by using something called A/B testing.

This means they change one thing in the CTA, such as the words or colors used, and see how many people click on it.

Then they use what they learn to improve their CTAs and get more people to do what they want them to do.

Pro Tip:

You can use Spintax to quickly test your CTAs; it's built into all (good) cold email software.

3 Examples of Powerful Cold Email CTAs

Here’s our top 3 CTA go-to’s:

  1. "Would you be opposed to a quick call next week?" This CTA creates a low-pressure offer that is hard to refuse.

  2. "Ok great. Let's chat. How's Friday morning at 10am PDT?" This CTA is specific and encourages immediate action.

  3. "I'd love to learn more, but it's hard via text. Do you have time for a quick call to discuss?" This CTA shows interest in the recipient's needs and encourages them to take action by scheduling a call.

These examples show how blending:

  • Clarity

  • Urgency

  • A compelling offer

Can make a CTA irresistible.

Final Thoughts

That's a wrap!

You have the knowledge and tools to write winning CTAs for your cold emails.

Remember, crafting powerful CTAs is an ongoing journey, not a destination.

So, keep experimenting, testing, and refining.

Your readers (and your conversion rates) will thank you.

See you next week!

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