What is a good cold email open rate?

A 30-40% open rate is considered good for cold emails. Personalised subject lines with the recipient's name or company increase open rates significantly.

Should I follow up on a cold email?

Yes — one follow-up after 3-5 days is appropriate and often more effective than the initial email. Beyond one follow-up, you risk coming across as pushy.

How to Write a Cold Email That Actually Gets a Reply

What Makes Cold Emails Fail

Most cold emails fail because they are: too long (more than 5 sentences), all about the sender rather than the recipient, generic with no personalisation, or missing a clear single call to action.

The reader's first question when they see your email: "Why should I care about this?" Your first sentence must answer this.

The 5-Sentence Cold Email Structure

One sentence: How you know them or why you are reaching out to them specifically (show you researched them)

One sentence: What you want or are offering

One to two sentences: Why this matters to them — the value proposition

One sentence: A single, low-friction call to action

Total: under 120 words. Respect their time.

Cold Email for Job Applications

Subject: [Mutual connection name] suggested I reach out | [Role] at [Company]

Or without mutual connection:

Subject: Quick question from a [Company] admirer

Body:

"I read your blog post on [specific topic] and your insight on [specific point] changed how I think about [subject].

I am a [role] with [X] years of experience in [specific skill relevant to them], most recently [brief relevant achievement].

I noticed [Company] is [specific thing you found — hiring for X team, launching Y product, expanding to Z market]. I would love to contribute to that effort.

Would you have 15 minutes for a call this week or next?"

Cold Email for Business Outreach

Subject: [Specific thing you noticed about their business] — quick idea

"I noticed [specific observation about their business — a gap, an opportunity, a recent news item].

I help [type of business like theirs] [specific result you deliver] — most recently doing [specific achievement with a similar company].

Would it make sense to have a 20-minute call to see if there is a fit?"

What to Personalise

At minimum: Their name, company name, one specific thing about their work or company.

Good personalisation: Reference a specific article they wrote, a product they launched, a company milestone, or something you have in common.

Follow-Up

Send one follow-up 3-5 business days later if no response. Subject: "Re: [original subject]". Body: 2-3 sentences maximum. One follow-up is professional; more becomes harassment.