Cold Email 301 in 2025

This transcript is an incredibly rich conversation about 2025 cold email strategies, challenges, and experiments between two industry experts, Nick Abraham and Eric Noaslowski. Here are some key takeaways and insights from the discussion:

Key Insights:

1. Cold Email Infrastructure & Deliverability:

   • Multi-Inbox Strategy: Use diverse infrastructures like Google and Outlook with tools such as HyperTide and Superwave. Warm multiple domains and inboxes in the background to maintain deliverability.

   • Domain Reputation Management: Focus on keeping domain reputation high rather than inbox-level reputation. Let some inboxes exclusively handle warm-up emails.

   • Volume Testing: Start with 30 emails/day on Gmail inboxes and scale cautiously to 50, depending on spam complaints and deliverability metrics.

2. Personalization and Humanization:

   • Use "stupid personalization" effectively, such as referencing restaurants or colleagues in a PS line. It boosts response rates significantly.

   • Add conversational humor or quirky lines like “Hey, I know your inbox is busier than a bee’s nest” to make emails feel human.

   • AI-Generated Personalization: Tools like GPT-3.5 and Quicklines can create dynamic, specific emails, improving lifespan and performance of inboxes.

3. Demand Capture vs. Demand Generation:

   • Demand Capture: Works for commoditized services (e.g., bookkeeping). Customize the target list to refine the message (e.g., targeting first-time founders without a finance person).

   • Demand Generation: Ideal for niche, non-commoditized services (e.g., creating LinkedIn event attendees). Focus on education and unique angles to spark interest.

4. Case Studies and Mechanisms:

   • Highlight how results are achieved rather than just sharing outcomes. For example, detailing a talent sourcing process rather than just saying, “We’ll find you great candidates.”

   • Use specific case studies tailored to the recipient’s industry.

5. Objection Handling in Cold Emails:

   • Address common objections upfront (e.g., “If your Amazon store guarantees profits, why not do it yourself?”). Add context and mechanisms below the signature for clarity.

6. Lead Magnets and Free Data:

   • Offer value upfront, such as free lead lists or tailored data insights. This strategy can significantly improve response rates.

7. Challenges of Scaling and Competition:

   • The cold email space is getting crowded due to tools like Instantly and Smartlead simplifying access. Staying competitive requires constant innovation and process improvements.

8. Cold Calling Comeback:

   • Cold calling, augmented by modern tools like Salesloft and features like ringless voicemails, is regaining traction, especially for specific target markets.

9. Crazy Campaign Experiments:

   • Examples include scraping Facebook Ad Libraries for custom outreach or offering tailored lead lists directly in cold emails. The key is testing and iterating based on what works.

10. Agency Models and Transparency:

    • Retainer vs. Pay-for-Performance models cater to different client needs. Transparency in explaining limitations and setting expectations is critical.

Recommended Tools and Techniques:

• Tools: Clay, HyperTide, Instantly, GPT-3.5, Salesloft, Apollo.io, and Quicklines for email personalization and list management.

• Proxies: Use tools like GoLogin and IP Royal to log in from consistent IP addresses, avoiding account suspension.

Final Takeaway:

Cold email is evolving rapidly with technological advancements and market saturation. Success hinges on mastering fundamentals, personalization, creative campaigns, and continuous experimentation.

What aspect of this conversation resonates with you most, and do you want to dive deeper into any specific part?