Personalizing Sales Outreach

One DM made me write this post immediately. I haven't posted in 3-4 days. Then Aananddika Sood's message landed in my inbox. Subject: "Spotted Something You Might Want to Update" "Arre yaar, itna personal touch ki AI ka baap bhi nahi kar sakta." What she did: ↳ Actually read my About section. ↳ Noticed it still said 2024 (we're in 2025). ↳ Pointed it out genuinely and then pitched her services. What most people do: → Copy-paste templates. → Generic compliments. → Obvious sales pitches. Basically: Zero personalization. The difference? Her DM felt like a friend pointing out something I missed. Not a stranger trying to sell me something. This is what I call the "Value First" approach: Give before you get. Help before you pitch. Care before you close. I always tell people: Study the DMs that work on you. Analyze what made you respond. Reverse engineer the psychology. Yesterday, Jatin (my energetic buddy), put as a part on the list of his exclusive 50 Founders whom people should follow. What happened due to that? I was taken by surprise. The reciprocation effect took over. The next time he asks me anything, I am more likely to say "Yes". Coming back, Aananddika's message worked because: ↳ She invested time in understanding my profile ↳ She solved a problem I didn't know I had ↳ Her pitch felt like a natural extension AI can generate thousands of messages. It can't replicate human observation. It can't build a real connection. It can't create genuine care. The best DMs don't feel like DMs. They feel like conversations. They feel like real help. They feel like care. What's the result? → Free publicity for doing outreach right. → I'm writing this post about her approach. → That's the power of personalized messaging. What's the best cold DM you've ever received? P.S. Yes, I updated my About section. Sometimes it takes a stranger to spot what you've been missing.

Your prospect has 147 unread emails. Yours just got added to the pile. What makes them open YOURS instead of the other 146? After sending thousands of cold emails and generating over $700M in sales throughout my career, I've identified the #1 mistake destroying most cold outreach: ZERO RIGHT PERSONALIZATION. Most reps "spray and pray". Sending the same generic template to 1,000 prospects hoping something sticks. Then they wonder why their response rate is 0.5%. Here's the cold email framework that consistently gets 20%+ response rates:  → Make your subject line about THEM, not you. Use recent news, achievements, or common pain points to spark curiosity. Example: "Your Inc 5000 ranking" or "Austin expansion" 1. Keep your email so simple it doesn't require scrolling. It MUST be mobile friendly, as 68% of executives check email primarily on their phones. 2. Use this 3 part structure:  → Personal opener: "Hey [Name], [specific personalization about them]"  → Show understanding: "In chatting with other [title] in [industry], they're typically running into [pain point]"  → Soft CTA: "Got a few ideas that might help. Open to chat?" 3. Research these personalization sources: • Company website (values, mission page) • Press releases • LinkedIn activity • Earnings transcripts (for public companies) • Review sites The hardest territory to manage isn't your CRM. It's the six inches between your prospect's ears. They don't care about your product. They care about THEMSELVES. Recently, one of my clients was struggling with a 1.2% response rate on cold emails. We implemented this framework, and within 2 weeks they hit 17.4% - with prospects actually THANKING them for the personalized outreach. Find your sweet spot on the personalization spectrum. You can't do hyper personalized video for everyone, but you can't blast the same generic template either. — Hey reps… want another cold email strategy? Go here: https://lnkd.in/gKSzmCda

How I stopped wasting time on the wrong sales signals to increase my reply rate by 9%. (A lesson that changed my entire outbound game) Last month I was looking at someone's outbound results: 100 "funding round" emails = 2 replies 100 "hiring post" emails = 3 replies 100 "product launch" emails = 1 reply The basic signals aren't working anymore. Why? Because every rep is using the same playbook: ↳ See funding news ↳ Send congratulations ↳ Ask for meeting (By the way, don't do this.) Here's what I do instead: ↳ Study their product releases ↳ Track their strategic moves ↳ Connect multiple signals together ↳ Weave in how your solution fits their strategy The game of sales is about connecting the dots. Here is some messaging you could emulate. Instead of "Congrats on funding" (snooze fest) I wrote: "Saw you launched 3 AI features in Q4, typically when I see this..." The response rate jumped from 2% to 11%. This takes time to research manually. That's why I leverage Pocus to find relevant and unique signals. Because in sales, it's not just about having data. It's about connecting the dots.

Copywriters, Freelancers, and Agency Owners: Want to know the #1 secret to landing high-ticket clients? It's not about sending 100 cold emails or DMs a day or having the perfect outreach method. The real key to winning over big clients is... PERSONALIZATION! I receive tons of cold emails and DMs every day, and most of them miss the mark. They aren’t targeted enough, and often, I don’t need the service at all. After nearly a decade in the trenches and landing over 1,000 clients, I’ve learned that personalization is the make-or-break factor in your outreach messages. When you take the time to: Do Deep Research: Understand your prospect’s business, industry, and specific pain points. This shows you’ve invested effort into understanding their unique needs. Create Custom Value Propositions: Highlight how your services can address their specific challenges and help achieve their goals. Use relevant examples and case studies. Build Genuine Relationships: Engage in authentic, personalized communication that fosters trust and rapport. Mention specific details about their work or recent achievements. That’s when the magic happens. Your prospects start seeing you as a valuable consultant, not just another generic freelancer. And that’s when the big deals start rolling in.

Here are some of the best ways I've found to get your emails opened more often. Ever find yourself staring at your screen, wondering why your emails seem to vanish into the digital ether? Let’s change that! Here’s your quick, no-BS guide to crafting B2B sales emails that get you a reply. 1. Personalize, Don’t Templatize Yes, we’ve all got templates. But guess what? So does everyone else. Take a minute to tweak that email. Mention a recent achievement of their company, comment on a LinkedIn post they’ve shared, or bring up a mutual connection. Make it so personalized they can’t help but think, “Wow, this person really did their homework!” 2. Value Proposition: Make It Snappy! Get to the point. What can you do for them? And no, “increasing ROI” isn’t good enough. Be specific. How have you helped a similar company achieve X% growth in Y months? Numbers talk. Fluff walks. 3. Subject Line: Your Make or Break This is your foot in the door. Make it intriguing, make it short and personal, and for heaven’s sake, make it spam-proof. Questions work wonders. 4. CTA: Clear, Compelling, and Clickable What’s your email’s endgame? A call, a demo, a free trial? Whatever it is, make it clear and easy. “Click here to schedule a call at your convenience” with a link is straightforward and respects their time. 5. Follow-Up: Persistence Pays Didn’t get a reply? Don’t sweat it. People are busy. A gentle nudge a week later can work miracles. Just don’t be that person who sends a daily “Just following up” email. Bonus Tip: Inject a bit of humor or a personal touch. We’re all humans here (until AI takes over, at least). A little personality goes a long way. Remember, the goal isn’t just to sell but to start meaningful conversations that could lead to fruitful partnerships. I would love to hear your success stories or epic failures (we’ve all been there). Share below!

Last week Glenn Kramon, a professor at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business gave a master class on cold emailing in our class (Lean Launchpad). Glenn was an editor The New York Times for more than 25 years and has supervised reporters that have won 10 Pulitzer Prizes. I always start my emails with “How are you? Hope you are well!”. It turns out I have been doing this wrong for decades - violating rule #3  in Glenn's list (see below). I recommend you listen to Glenn in this YouTube video (minute 38 to roughly 45). It does not do justice to his full lecture but you will get a sense of his wisdom. TLDR: ✍ When writing cold emails instead of being one OF a million, be one IN a million.  🌟 To make yourself one in a million, make them feel like one in a million. Ai writing software makes emails look the same. Ask ChatGPT to write you a cold email - you will be one OF a million. Spend time following Glenn’s rules and you can stand out, making someone feel you care about them.  At the end, the person you are reaching out to is a human and your goal is to establish a connection with them that goes beyond the transaction. Glenn’s ten rules below: 1️⃣ Know something about the person to whom you’re writing, and exploit it.  2️⃣ Clear, personal subject line indicating urgency.  3️⃣ Start fast. Get to the point quickly, not at the end.  4️⃣ Begin with something she doesn’t know, not with something she does know. 5️⃣ Name someone you know whom the person you’re writing about also knows (and respects).  6️⃣ Try to compare yourself to the person you’re writing to.  7️⃣ Can you tell a story you know will make that person smile, even laugh?  8️⃣ Keep it short. Make sure there’s an “ask” or next step. And keep the ask as small as possible. Make it easy to say yes.  9️⃣ Offer something in return. Maybe you know something, or someone, that she doesn’t.  🔟 Check for accuracy, then check it again, before sending. For fun, I used ChatGPT to write a few emails and noticed that they violate many of Glenn’s rules! https://lnkd.in/gjN6j24Z

5 steps framework I use to personalise my cold emails (when I’ve 0 info on my prospects)👇 By segmenting your audience, You have data to personalise. We call these soft variables: - Company size - Company’s growth stage - Recipient’s career stage - What the company does - Who the company sells to - How the company goes to market - What technology they use - The types of customers they have - Where they live Even without deep personalization, Your segmentation can help you to run effective outreach. - - -> Step 1: Work with what you have Work with soft variables. e.g. 1 “When I’m talking to sales leaders working toward their Series A ….” e.g. 2 “When I talk to sales leaders at growing software companies,” It shows your readers you: - understand their position - can relate to their challenges - are used to their environment This builds familiarity and rapport. It can be applied to any industry, company, or prospect role etc… - - -> Step 2: Show them you know them Bring up problems/challenges you tend to see within your prospect’s industry (based on a similar stage of growth). e.g.1 “They tend to be dealing with…” e.g.2 “They tend to be struggling with” - Use tentative tones - Put yourself in your readers’ shoes about their problem - Leaving room to be wrong Use unsure tones and words like: - “I could be wrong,” - “looks like,” - “I suspect,” - “are starting to.” - - -> Step 3: Focus on two problem statements Present 1 or 2 problem statements using broader issues to resonate better with your prospects e.g. 1 "They're struggling to see what's driving email performance," e.g. 2 "Reply rates have gone down, and results seem stagnant." - - -> Step 4: Build credibility Connect the problems you’ve just presented with how you’ve helped other customers in similar situations. e.g.1: “We helped [similar company] go from A to B in [time]” Share how you helped solve those problems for your existing customers. Keep it concise and simplify the details. The next and final step brings it all together: - - -> Step 5: Ask if those problems are a challenge Ask your prospects if the problems you shared are ones they struggle with. (Remember to be unsure!) e.g.1: “Is this a challenge for you right now?” e.g.2: “Realize I may be off, but is this a priority?” - - It’s an excellent way to end your email. It invites the reader to respond and engage with you. It’s an effective CTC (Call-to-Conversation) Even with 0 information to deeply personalised your cold emails You can still show your prospects you have done your homework about them And build rapport.

Cold Email Outreach? Yucks 😝 I used to stay away from it like how I stayed away from the fat girl who liked to bully me in kindergarten. 🥲 But sending emails are a necessity. I've significantly improved over the years and one thing for sure - personalization is key. Now I love follow up emails 🥰 ===================== Here are the steps I take to personalize my emails: 1️⃣ Research First, Reach Out Later Understand the prospect’s company, role, challenges before you hit send. This builds relevance. 📍Check out their LinkedIn posts, company news, industry trends. Mention something specific about their business in the first sentence. 2️⃣ Your Subject Line The subject line is the first thing they’ll see. So, make it count. A generic subject line screams “mass email.” 📍 Use their name or company in the subject line. Example: “Quick Idea for [Company Name]’s Expansion Strategy. 3️⃣ Focus on Their Problems, Not Your Product Prospects care about how you can help them solve their problems, not how great your product is. Shift the focus to them, not you. 📍 Open with a question about their challenges. “I saw that [Company Name] is growing fast—how are you handling [specific challenge]?” 4️⃣ Use Relevant Social Proof Don’t just throw random case studies at them. Use examples from companies in their industry or businesses with similar challenges. Pro Tip: “We helped [Competitor] increase efficiency by 25%. I’d love to see if we could do the same for you.” 5️⃣ Keep It Short and Simple No one wants to read an essay. Respect their time by keeping your message concise and straight to the point. 📍 Stick to 3-4 sentences max. Highlight the problem, hint at the solution, and ask to set up a time for a deeper discussion. 6️⃣ Add Value Early Before asking for their time, offer something useful. An article, insight, or case study relevant to their business. This builds trust and credibility. 📍 “I came across this article on [industry trend] and thought it might be helpful. Happy to chat more if you’re interested.” 7️⃣ Follow Up with Purpose The key to great follow-up isn’t just persistence - it’s value. Each follow-up should offer something new and relevant, not just a “checking in” email. 📍 In follow-ups, offer fresh insights or address any shifts in their industry. Example: “Saw [industry news] - thought it might impact your [specific challenge]. 8️⃣ Personalize the CTA (Call-to-Action) Make your ask specific to them. A vague, generic CTA like “Let me know if you’re free to chat” won’t cut it. Be clear about what you want and why it matters to them. 📍 “Would you be open to a 10-minute call next week to explore how we can help with [specific challenge]?” =================== Personalizing emails is about showing you’ve done your homework, understood their challenges, and can offer real value. Remember this: Cold outreach that feels warm gets results. Sales Tips, Stories & PoV > Sufi R.

Picture this. You walk into a clothing store. The salesperson throws the same outfit at you they gave the last ten people. Just assumes. “This works for people like you.” “You’re the same.” That’s what selling to personas feels like. The same email. The same pitch. Over and over. People aren’t personas. They’re individuals. Unique. With their own personalities and experiences. They want to be seen and heard, not shoved into a persona box. If you’re treating prospects like they’re all the same, you’ve already lost them. Now imagine this instead. You walk into the store, and the salesperson actually takes a moment. They observe what you’re wearing. Ask about your style. They pay attention. Maybe they notice you keep eyeing certain fabrics, so they bring something that fits your taste—something just for you. How does that feel? That’s how you should sell. Have your antennae up. Observe. Ask questions. Listen. Adapt. Don’t rely on some script designed for everyone. When you treat people as individuals, they feel head and understood. Why does this matter? No matter what you sell, it’s likely people could buy something similar somewhere else. When people feel uhdertsrood they’re more likely to trust what you recommend. Trust is why people choose you.

🚀 Revolutionizing B2B Sales: Beyond Names and Titles to Genuine Personalization 🚀 1️⃣ True Personalization: It's not just about using names and titles. To truly connect and stand out, delve deeper into understanding your clients' unique challenges and goals. 2️⃣ Avoid the Generic Trap: Sending emails that only use surface-level info like names or titles is often seen as self-serving. It's crucial to position yourself distinctively and avoid being just another sales pitch. 3️⃣ Lesson from a Lost Opportunity: A sales team's transactional approach failed because they lacked personalization. They treated their client like any other, missing the chance to connect on a deeper level. 4️⃣ The Power of Preparation: Do your homework! Reading a client's annual report, industry news, and understanding their challenges can transform your approach from generic to genuinely engaging. 5️⃣ High-Stakes Email Strategy: One company's bold move of emailing the C-suite with researched, relevant content paid off. This shows the value of understanding and addressing the client's specific needs and challenges. 6️⃣ Why Your Emails Get Ignored: If your emails are all about you and your product, they're likely getting deleted. Shift the focus to your clients - their goals, their company, their needs. 7️⃣ Enter ValueMail: Instead of standard sales emails, use insights to create emails that offer real value to your clients. Show that you understand and can contribute to their goals. 8️⃣ Be the Expert: In the evolving world of sales, being informed and authoritative is key. Know more than your clients and competitors. Let your knowledge and personalized approach be your edge. 🔍 Research is Key: Dive into your client's world - read their reports, understand their industry, and know their competitors. Show them you're not just selling - you're a partner in their success. 🌟 Elevate your sales game by embracing true personalization. It's not just about winning a sale; it's about building lasting, meaningful relationships. 🌟