Are you tired of sending cold emails that receive little to no response?
It can be frustrating for many businesses to put in the effort in crafting the perfect message, only to get snubbed and not see any desirable results.
What could be missing?
The solution could be a persuasive cold email CTA. Clear, strategic, and enticing action messages are essential to effective cold emailing. They give the recipient a clear next step and a reason to engage with your business.
In this article, we'll explore different strategies for writing compelling CTAs that will help increase the response rate of your cold emails.
But first…
What is a Cold Email CTA?
A call to action (CTA) is a statement or button that encourages a viewer, reader, or listener to take a specific action, such as "Learn More," "Sign Up," or "Buy Now."
But why is adding CTAs in your cold emails necessary?
CTAs in cold emails are important because it gives the recipient a nudge to take your desired action after reading the email. Without it, the recipient may not know what they should do next or may not be motivated to take any action.
A cold email CTA can increase the likelihood of a recipient scheduling a call or meeting and, in most cases, visiting your website. Additionally, including a CTA in your emails can help establish a sense of urgency or importance, making the recipient more likely to act quickly.
Characteristics of a Great Cold Email CTA
Generally, here are the qualities that make an excellent email CTA:
- Clear and specific - the text of a CTA should be straightforward – no cliches! It must clearly state the action that the user should take. Avoid using vague language or making promises that are difficult to understand.
- Positive and friendly - remember, you're reaching out to someone who hasn't interacted with your brand yet. Building a connection and not getting too aggressive or persistent is essential.
- Action-oriented - an excellent cold email CTA inspires the reader to get involved with your business. Using action words like "buy," "register," or "subscribe" will undoubtedly communicate the desired action.
- Aligned with the buyer's journey - an email CTA's messaging must align with where the recipients are in your sales funnel.
Being guided by these characteristics will help you write CTAs that will resonate well with your recipients.
Now, let's take it a step further!
Here are some cold email CTA techniques to make your outbound email marketing campaigns extra successful.
How To Craft The Perfect Cold Email CTA – Best Practices + Examples
Try these proven tricks to make your recipients take action!
Ask for consent before sharing resources
It has become increasingly popular for businesses to share valuable content with their prospects. Whether it's a presentation deck or video walkthrough, offering helpful resources can spark interest among your audiences.
Don't send them right away, though. Consent is key! Asking for permission before sending materials is necessary because it respects the recipient's autonomy.
Without consent, the recipient may not want to receive the content and may consider it harmful, especially since phishing emails are rampant.
Here's an example of a cold email CTA for asking permission:
"Would you like to check this 3-minute video of how our solutions can help you generate more leads?"
Indicate a precise time and date
Let's say your cold email aims to increase bookings and appointments. Providing a definite date and time of engagement will increase the likelihood of a prospect taking action.
Why?
It helps prevent confusion and misunderstandings about when a meeting or call will take place. Additionally, it can help build trust and professionalism by showing that the sender is organized and considers the recipient's time.
Here's a good example:
"We can better discuss how our lead generation strategies can drive your business growth over a quick call. Does Thursday at 10 AM CST work for you?"
Provide a calendar link
Providing a booking link to your calendar is a practical alternative if you don't have a specific time and date. It offers more ease and convenience to the recipient. Plus, it eliminates the back-and-forth communication of choosing a schedule that works for both parties.
"Can I take 15 minutes of your time to discuss how our lead generation solutions can help your business find more prospects? Here's a link to my calendar – please pick a date and time that works for you."
Communicate your value proposition
Without a clear value proposition, the recipient may not understand the relevance of your CTA and be less likely to take any action.
Including a value proposition in your cold email, CTA is a must to quickly communicate the benefits and unique value the recipient will receive by taking action or engaging with your content.
It creates a compelling reason for the recipient to respond to the email and take the next step, whether scheduling a call, visiting a website, or making a purchase.
For example:
"Are you available for a quick meeting on Thursday at 10 AM CST to discuss lead generation strategies that align with your business?"
Create urgency
Adding urgency is one of the most effective cold email CTA techniques. It encourages people to take action immediately rather than putting it off.
Emphasizing time-sensitive offers, limited quantities, or exclusive deals are great ways to create urgency. It triggers a sense of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), which can drive people to take action.
Additionally, a time-sensitive call-to-action increases the perceived value of the offer, making it more compelling for the user to act on it.
Take this as an example:
"By the way, we only have 10 slots left in our lead generation masterclass. Register now, and we'll save you a seat!"
Ask simple questions
It's always a good idea to ask simple and direct questions in a cold email CTA because it can help grab the recipient's attention, increasing the email response rate.
Simple questions are easy to understand and answer, raising the chances that the recipient will engage with your cold email.
Additionally, they help build rapport and establish a conversational tone, which makes the recipient more likely to be interested in further communication.
Sometimes, a simple Yes/No question will do! Here are some examples:
"Is this an issue your company is facing right now?"
"Does this sound good to you?"
"Is this something you might be interested in?"
Offer a sense of exclusivity
Make the recipient feel special by creating a sense of exclusivity. Having that feeling of prestige can be highly appealing to many potential customers. This can lead to increased interest and a higher likelihood of taking action.
Here's an example:
"Sign up now and get early access to our lead generation course. Don't miss out on this offer, [first name]!"
Write Cold Email CTAs That Convert
A well-written cold email CTA is essential to any successful marketing strategy. It can significantly impact the conversion rate of your email campaigns. It's the thing that sets the customer journey in action.
The power that a CTA button holds!
However, only some CTA has the magic to convert. A charming one must be clear, straightforward, optimistic, action-oriented, and strategic. And most importantly, it must not defy the purpose of a cold email: to nurture a connection with your prospects.
Keep these in mind when creating your next CTA to increase your conversions!
Want to create effective outbound email marketing campaigns with powerful and strategic CTAs? Get in touch with our cold email experts now, and we'll help you turn those email reads into action!