Sending a friendly “hello” through email to someone who isn’t expecting it can be a smart move in the world of marketing. This is an opportunity to introduce your brand and establish a connection with potential partners or customers. This strategy, known as cold emailing, goes beyond a mere greeting; it can be an effective tool when used appropriately, avoiding the dreaded spam folder.
In this article, we will go over 45 statistics and trends surrounding cold emailing. Some of these stats may surprise you, and all of them will give you a broader scope on how to send effective cold emails.
When to Send Cold Emails
Writing out your cold email is just half the work. You’ll also need to ensure you send the email at the correct time to secure your potential customer’s attention.
1. The Most Effective Time to Send Emails Is 1 p.m.
Statistics indicate that cold emails sent at 1 p.m. have the best chance of receiving replies, with an average count of 46,000. The next most productive time to send emails is at 11 a.m., with an average response rate of 45,000.
2. Ideal Days to Send Cold Emails Are Monday and Tuesday
Generally, people sift through their emails after the weekend break. So, Monday and Tuesday are the best days to send cold emails, showing the highest response levels.
Emails sent on Wednesday and Thursday also perform well, although less effectively than those sent at the beginning of the week. Unsurprisingly, statistics further show that Friday is the worst day of the week to send cold emails, which makes sense! Who wants to reply to emails right before the weekend?
3. Monday Leads in Cold Email Open Rates at 22%
As mentioned, sending cold emails on Monday and Tuesday is your best bet for getting a reply. Additionally, research shows Monday has the highest open rates for cold emails. Specifically, 22% of these types of emails are opened on Monday, a percentage that surpasses all other days of the week.
4. Weekend Emails Receive Minimal Engagement
As you can probably imagine, few people want to focus on work matters during the weekend. This generally means that they may not even be opened if you send cold emails on Saturdays and Sundays.
For initial outreach campaigns via email, it’s advisable to steer clear of the weekend.
Cold Email Replies and Open Rate
Unfortunately, not all cold emails will even be opened, and very few are replied to. Here are some statistics on cold email replies and open rates.
5. 95% of Cold Emails That Receive Replies Get One Within a Day
Most cold emails are never replied to, but data reveals that 95% of emails that get a response get one within the first 24 hours. A mere 2.8% received replies a day later. The likelihood of receiving a reply diminishes over time.
Once you know your email has been opened, the chances are high that any forthcoming reply will happen that day. Therefore, if a day or two passes without a response, it’s unlikely that one will come later.
6. Few Sales Emails Get Opened, Just 23.9% According to Data
A study indicates that a surprisingly low percentage of sales emails, just 23.9%, actually even get opened. This highlights the importance of investing time and thought into creating compelling subject lines to increase the odds of your emails being read.
7. Only 8.5% of Cold Emails Get a Response
Findings reveal that only 8.5% of cold emails actually get a response. Given the already low open rates for this type of email, it’s unsurprising that so few generate replies.
8. Nearly a Quarter of Emails Are Opened on Mobile Devices
A study shows that 24.45% of emails get opened on mobile devices.
Despite desktops dominating email opens, the significant portion of emails accessed via mobile emphasizes the importance of optimizing emails for these devices.
9. Emails with 1 to 3 Questions Have a Higher Chance of Receiving Replies
Emails containing between one and three questions are 50% more likely to receive a response than those without any.
10. Highly Personalized Cold Emails Boost Reply Rates by 142%
When you think about this one, it makes sense. Adding personalized touches to your cold emails rather than copying and pasting the same template is very helpful in increasing your chances of getting a reply. There are various personalized elements that you can insert into both the message and subject line of your cold emails that may elevate your reply rates by as much as 142%!
11. Open Rates Peak at 38% in January and November
In January and November, email open rates achieved a high of 38%. On the other hand, the period from April through June only has a maximum reply rate of 7.4%.
12. 59% of Emails Received by Religious Institutions Are Opened
Those associated with religious organizations tend to open approximately more emails than other institutions. Data shows that religious organizations open around 59% of the emails they receive.
13. Event Agencies Boast High Email Open Rates at 48%
Event agencies, along with firms in the architecture, planning, and design sectors, also have higher-than-average email open rates. Specifically, event agencies see a 48% open rate, while architecture, planning companies, and design studios have a 47% rate of open emails.
14. Financial Sector Leads in B2B Cold Email Responses with 3.39%
Individuals employed in financial organizations are more likely to respond to unsolicited B2B emails than some other sectors, with a reply rate of 3.39%. This significantly outpaces the tech industry, where the response rate is just 1.87%.
15. Using “Hope This Finds You Well” Boosts Meeting Bookings by 24%
The phrase “hope this finds you well” in a cold email has a measurable impact. Using this opening line enhances reply rates and notably increases the likelihood of scheduling meetings by 24%.
Subject Lines in Cold Emails
Getting a potential customer to open your email is the first hurdle, so your subject line is extremely important to put some thought into. Here are some statistics about subject lines in cold emails.
16. Longer Subject Lines Increase the Odds of Email Opens by 25%
Outreach emails that feature long subject lines see a roughly 25% improvement in open rates compared to those with short subject lines. Specifically, subject lines between 36 and 50 characters generate the highest response rates.
17. Personalized Subject Lines Boost Reply Rates by 30.5%
Personalized subject lines have been shown to increase response rates by 30.5%. This statistic suggests that recipients are more inclined to interact with an email that appears specifically crafted for them.
18. 70% of Cold Emails Are Marked as Spam Due to Subject Lines
A significant 70% of email recipients mark emails as spam based solely on the subject line. This highlights the critical role of subject lines in a recipient’s decision to engage with or disregard an email.
19. One in Three Recipients Decide to Open Emails Based on the Subject Line
While 70 percent of cold emails move straight to the spam folder due to the subject line, a third of cold emails are opened due to the attractive subject line, which is the first thing that catches a potential client’s eye when receiving a cold email. This is the key factor that 33% of recipients consider when determining whether to read the email or not.
20. Including the Recipient’s Business Name Increases Email Open Rates
One effective method for making a cold email subject line more personal is to insert the name of the recipient’s organization. Such a personalized approach yields positive results, leading to a 22% increase in open rates.
21. Including First Names in Subject Lines Leads to 43.41% Reply Rates
Using a prospect’s first name in the subject line of a cold email significantly impacts engagement. On average, this personalized approach results in a reply rate of 43.41%.
22. Subject Lines with Questions Boost Open Rates by 21%
An engaging subject line can spark interest, prompting the recipient to explore the email’s content. Adding a question into the subject line serves this purpose effectively. Such a strategy has demonstrated a noteworthy 21% increase in email open rates.
23. Numeric Subject Lines Increase Open Rates by 113%
Numbers have a compelling way of grabbing attention. According to data, subject lines incorporating numbers can more than double open rates, boasting a staggering 113% improvement.
Cold Email Follow-Up Statistics
You cannot simply use a “one and done” strategy with cold emailing. Following up with potential clients and customers is an important and effective way of gaining leads, and statistically proven to improve conversions.
24. 80% of Sales Need at Least Five Follow-Up Contacts
Securing a sale is rarely a one-shot effort. In fact, research shows that 80% of sales transactions necessitate a minimum of five follow-up emails or other forms of contact. In some cases, you may need to follow up as many as 12 times!
25. Threefold Increase in Response Rate for Cold Email Campaigns with 4-7 Sequences
When it comes to cold email marketing, the number of sequences in your campaign matters significantly. Studies show that campaigns incorporating between 4 and 7 sequences get three times the response rate compared to those having only 1 to 3.
26. 70% of Cold Emails Lack Follow-Up Efforts
As you can see, follow-up messages play a crucial role in the effectiveness of cold email campaigns, but surprisingly, they are often neglected. A substantial 70% of initial cold emails are not followed up, missing the opportunity for further engagement.
27. Negative Phrasing Reduces Meeting Bookings by 12%
Using phrases like “I never heard back” can be counterproductive when crafting follow-up emails. Such phrasing can actually lead to a 12% drop in the rate of successfully booking meetings.
28. A Single Extra Follow-Up Increases Replies by Nearly 66%
Consistency in follow-up emails can be rewarding. One extra follow-up message can enhance your reply rate by a significant 65.8%. This reply rate only increases more with the more follow-ups you send.
29. 31% Reply Rate Boost with a Three-Day Follow-Up Wait
When you wait three days before sending a follow-up email, you can expect the reply rate to increase by a substantial 31%.
30. 24% Drop in Response Rates with Over Five-Day Wait for Follow-Up
Delaying your follow-up email for more than five days leads to a significant decline in the likelihood of receiving a reply, with a drop of 24% in response rates.
Cold Emails by Region
Depending on the region you are targeting, you can expect different cold email response and open rates. Here are some regional cold email statistics.
31. Cold Emails in the USA Show 21% Open Rates
The email open rate in the USA stands at 21%, while the click-through rate is 2.2%. Further, 10.4% of those who opened the email actually clicked through. The rate at which users unsubscribe is remarkably low at 0.1%.
32. UK Has 22.9% Open Rates of Cold Emails
In the United Kingdom, emails experience an open rate of 22.9% and a click-through rate of 2.4%. Of those who open the emails, 10.6% go on to click a link within the email. The unsubscribe rate is similar to that of the USA at 0.1%.
33. EU Cold Emails Receive a 22.1% Open Rate and a 2.2% Click-Through Rate
In the European Union, the open rate for emails stands at 22.1%, with a click-through rate of 2.2%. Among the emails that are opened, 10.7% lead to a clicked link. The unsubscribing rate is relatively low (though slightly higher than the US and UK) at 0.2%.
34. APAC Has the Highest Engagement Rate with 22.4%
In the Asia-Pacific area, cold email engagement is strong, with a 22.4% open rate and a 3% click-through rate. Of those who open emails, 13.4% click on a link within the message.
However, this region’s unsubscribe rate is also slightly higher, at 0.3%, indicating selective inbox management by recipients.
35. Ireland Leads in Email Reply Rates at 17% While the USA Lags at 5%
The highest email response rates are observed in Ireland at 17%, closely followed by Slovenia and Denmark at 16%.
In stark contrast, Azerbaijan records the lowest at 1.3%, with Japan and Korea not far behind, showing reply rates of 3% and 3.1%, respectively. The United States also performs poorly, registering a mere 5% response rate.
Miscellaneous Cold Email Statistics
To close out this list, we will review some miscellaneous cold email stats you should know to help you run a successful campaign.
36. Email Marketing Outperforms Social Media in Customer Acquisition
Research shows that email marketing trumps social media channels for gaining new customers. Specifically, email is approximately 40 times more successful in this regard.
37. Over One-Fifth of Sales Reps’ Time Is Spent Writing Emails
Sales professionals spend approximately 21% of their working hours on email correspondence. This time is allocated to various tasks, including creating initial outreach emails, responding to potential clients, and coordinating meetings.
38. Acquiring One B2B Lead Requires Roughly 306 Emails
In the business-to-business space, email outreach can be a numbers game. Specifically, around 306 emails must be dispatched to successfully generate a single lead.
39. C-Suite Executives 23% More Likely to Respond to Cold B2B Emails
Senior leaders in a company are 23% more inclined to respond to unsolicited B2B emails than their subordinates. While the response rate from C-level executives stands at 6.4%, the rate falls to 5.2% for those outside the executive suite.
40. Sales Teams Rank Cold Email as Top Sales Channel at 43%
Despite advances in sales technology, email has not waned in its effectiveness. A survey reveals that 43% of sales representatives still consider email the most valuable channel for achieving sales goals.
41. 71% of Decision-Makers Welcome Solution-Oriented Emails for Business Improvement
When seeking new ways to enhance business performance, a significant 71% of buyers are open to emails that offer solutions.
42. Charities Allocate 13% of the Budget to Cold Emails and See 24% Sales Revenue Boost
Nonprofit organizations put 13% of their financial resources into sending cold emails. This strategy notably contributes to 24% of their overall sales income.
43. Cold Emails with Over 150 Words Get 15 Times More Responses
While it can be a task to write out long, personalized cold emails, longer emails generally see more responses. A cold email body that contains more than four sentences or roughly 150 words tends to receive an average response rate 15 times higher than shorter emails.
44. The Average Cold Email Unsubscribe Rate Stands at 2.17%
The typical rate at which people choose to unsubscribe from cold sales emails is 2.17%. This can obviously be much higher or lower depending on the industry and region. Check our article on email opt-out language for messaging tips.
45. The Average Email Bounce Rate Is 7.5% for Cold Emails
If you’re sending out cold emails, be prepared for an average bounce-back rate of 7.5%. While the ideal target is below 4%, the reality for most email marketers is a significantly higher percentage of emails not reaching their intended recipients. Check out our article on why emails bounce for strategies to reduce your bounce rate.
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