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How We Landed $100,000 in Business From a Cold Email

A detailed account of a Fastlane process...

SD Entrepreneur

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What's up everyone?

Wanted to outline how we landed 100k in business from a Fortune 500 company... hopefully this is motivational and helpful for those that are trying out various methods for increasing revenues:
  • Ideally you have a kick a$$ USP (unique selling proposition) that has been written, edited, re-written, etc. until you feel it is on point. If not, stop doing whatever you are working on and spend a day or a week fine tuning it as it is crucial to your success (via cold emails or any other marketing channels). This USP should concisely explain how you can help them with their pain points/problems.

  • Once you are equipped with your USP, start writing a few email templates that will appeal to your target audience/customers. Start sending these emails out and experimenting with various templates. Here's the email template we used to land this client:
    • TEMPLATE: Hi NAME, we know how difficult it can be to [INSERT THEIR PAIN POINT/PROBLEM HERE]... We would love a few minutes to discuss how we can assist with that burden while [INSERT YOUR SOLUTION HERE]. Can we schedule a quick call in the next week or two? If there is a better contact to chat with can you kindly advise?

  • If/when they don't respond to the initial email, follow up!
    • FOLLOW UP TEMPLATE: Hello NAME, Quick follow up to my previous email regarding how we can help [INSERT THEIR PAIN POINT/PROBLEM HERE]. Hoping we can discuss soon, did you have some time in the next week?
    • We got a reply from this company after our first follow up! There are some studies that show it takes 3-7+ follow ups to get a response... don't feel that you are bothering them, if you have a real solution and want to help, your value is not bothersome.

  • Depending on what you sell, the end goal of these emails is to get your target customer on a call or demo. From there, you obviously need to be equipped with a presentation, demo and other sales tools that substantiate your USP and value you provide.
As you can see, this wasn't rocket science or overthought. A few simple, concise emails lead to a reply, then a call/demo, then our first small deal, and then multiple other deals by the same client throughout the year.

So, cold emails can work and are a great addition to your other outbound marketing efforts. Obviously you should be using inbound marketing and testing as many tactics/methods as you can to hone in on what is most effective for your business.

If we can land a major brand/client like this, you can too! Set your goals and targets high, don't worry about rejection and the replies that say "Not interested" "Unsubscribe" or similar... they are just one step closer to that ideal customer that you've been waiting on!
 
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Last edited:

broswoodwork

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What's up everyone?

Wanted to outline how we landed 100k in business from a Fortune 500 company... hopefully this is motivational and helpful for those that are trying out various methods for increasing revenues:
  • Ideally you have a kick a$$ USP (unique selling proposition) that has been written, edited, re-written, etc. until you feel it is on point. If not, stop doing whatever you are working on and spend a day or a week fine tuning it as it is crucial to your success (via cold emails or any other marketing channels). This USP should concisely explain how you can help them with their pain points/problems.

  • Once you are equipped with your USP, start writing a few email templates that will appeal to your target audience/customers. Start sending these emails out and experimenting with various templates. Here's the email template we used to land this client:
    • TEMPLATE: Hi NAME, we know how difficult it can be to [INSERT THEIR PAIN POINT/PROBLEM HERE]... We would love a few minutes to discuss how we can assist with that burden while [INSERT YOUR SOLUTION HERE]. Can we schedule a quick call in the next week or two? If there is a better contact to chat with can you kindly advise?

  • If/when they don't respond to the initial email, follow up!
    • FOLLOW UP TEMPLATE: Hello NAME, Quick follow up to my previous email regarding how we can help [INSERT THEIR PAIN POINT/PROBLEM HERE]. Hoping we can discuss soon, did you have some time in the next week?
    • We got a reply from this company after our first follow up! There are some studies that show it takes 3-7+ follow ups to get a response... don't feel that you are bothering them, if you have a real solution and want to help, your value is not bothersome.

  • Depending on what you sell, the end goal of these emails is to get your target customer on a call or demo. From there, you obviously need to be equipped with a presentation, demo and other sales tools that substantiate your USP and value you provide.
As you can see, this wasn't rocket science or overthought. A few simple, concise emails lead to a reply, then a call/demo, then our first small deal, and then multiple other deals by the same client throughout the year.

So, cold emails can work and are a great addition to your other outbound marketing efforts. Obviously you should be using inbound marketing and testing as many tactics/methods as you can to hone in on what is most effective for your business.

If we can land a major brand/client like this, you can too! Set your goals and targets high, don't worry about rejection and the replies that say "Not interested" "Unsubscribe" or similar... they are just one step closer to that ideal customer that you've been waiting on!
Thank you!

What was your headline/ subject if you don't mind sharing? Did it scream the usp or something else?
 

Chip01

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Brilliant advice, thank you!

Really needed to read this today. Have been feeling overwhelmed by everything recently and this has given me a little boost
 

SD Entrepreneur

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Thank you!

What was your headline/ subject if you don't mind sharing? Did it scream the usp or something else?
We usually use things like "Hoping to Help" or "Hi NAME" or something with the USP like "We help SOLVE THIS PROBLEM"

Definitely good to switch them up and if you really want to track things, take note of which gets better responses...
 
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Scot

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Thank you!

What was your headline/ subject if you don't mind sharing? Did it scream the usp or something else?


I always make my subject a question. I sent out two cold contact campaign this week, both with high 30’s percent open rates.

To investors I used “Recent investment?”

To journalists I used “Startup news update?”

It’s ambiguous and doesn’t look salesy at all.
 

spreng

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what is your business?
 

SD Entrepreneur

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Brilliant advice, thank you!

Really needed to read this today. Have been feeling overwhelmed by everything recently and this has given me a little boost
Glad it was useful @Chip01, message me if you need a little help/feedback...
 
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Dan_Cardone

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Yes, I can never figure this out. Or the pain point.
To figure out your USP answer these three questions:

How does your product or service help and add value to people or their business?

How is your product or service different and better than your competitor's?

Why should they buy your product or service for your price instead of a related product for a lower price?

Answer those three questions and you will be on your way to having an awesome USP.
 
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LittleWolfie

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To figure out your USP answer these three questions:

How does your product or service help and add value to people or their business?

How is your product or service different and better than your competitor's?

Why should they buy your product or service for your price instead of a related product for a lower price?

Answer those three questions and you will be on your way to having an awesome USP.

Thanks, I have yet to figure out what product or service I can offer. I thought about process automation, but stumbled on how it can be unique or better than someone offering a lower price, living in a low cost of living country.
 

SD Entrepreneur

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Jul 12, 2019
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To figure out your USP answer these three questions:

How does your product or service help and add value to people or their business?

How is your product or service different and better than your competitor's?

Why should they buy your product or service for your price instead of a related product for a lower price?

Answer those three questions and you will be on your way to having an awesome USP.
Thanks @Dan_Cardone, after doing this then implement into all of your marketing efforts, website, phone calls, emails, etc!
 
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SD Entrepreneur

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Well done. Did you use software like Sendia, MixMax, Mailshake?
Hi @Sebastya we just use our CRM for the most part but I'd love to hear your feedback on any of those softwares. I like how simple Sendia looks and will give one of them a try on my upcoming campaign targeting a different vertical...
 

wfjcc

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can you recommend any sources about the follow-up sequence? I have a software with auto-follow up, I just need to learn how to follow-up or the sequence for the next 7 emails.
 
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SD Entrepreneur

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Jul 12, 2019
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can you recommend any sources about the follow-up sequence? I have a software with auto-follow up, I just need to learn how to follow-up or the sequence for the next 7 emails.
@wfjcc send me a message with some info on your product/service, current email templates, goals, etc and I can try providing some thoughts and suggestions.
 

SeanODG

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Thanks for sharing this-really helpful advice!

Have you tried cold outreach on Linkedin? I've seen some success with it and have a friend who is crushing it with cold outreach on Linkedin
 

SD Entrepreneur

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Thanks for sharing this-really helpful advice!

Have you tried cold outreach on Linkedin? I've seen some success with it and have a friend who is crushing it with cold outreach on Linkedin
Hi @SeanODG I have used LinkedIn (sales navigator) and have found it helpful to find the right contacts/titles/etc for companies we are targeting. I have gotten some replies through LinkedIn messaging but the reply rates seem pretty low, even targeting 2nd connections (people that know people I am connected with). Definitely worth trying though, there are other threads that go into more detail and ideas for LinkedIn, check them out!
 
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SeanODG

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Hi @SeanODG I have used LinkedIn (sales navigator) and have found it helpful to find the right contacts/titles/etc for companies we are targeting. I have gotten some replies through LinkedIn messaging but the reply rates seem pretty low, even targeting 2nd connections (people that know people I am connected with). Definitely worth trying though, there are other threads that go into more detail and ideas for LinkedIn, check them out!

Thanks! Sales Nav seems like a pre-req to do a lot of cold outreach on Linkedin in the most effective manner! No wonder Microsoft bought them...
 

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