Best practices for creating high converting outbound campaigns in Derrickapp

If you’re here, you probably don’t want another generic “growth hack.” You want to get real replies from your outbound campaigns—not just opens or polite brush-offs. This guide is for folks using Derrick-app who want their outbound efforts to actually work, not just look good on a dashboard.

Let’s skip the theory and get into how to build campaigns that people respond to, not ignore.

1. Get Your Targeting Right Before You Write a Word

If you’re blasting the same message to everyone, you’re wasting your time (and risking your sender reputation). Derrickapp can help you segment, but you’ve got to provide the right data up front.

  • Start with a clear ICP (Ideal Customer Profile). Get specific. “SaaS companies” is too broad. Try “Seed-stage SaaS founders in fintech, based in Europe.”
  • Don’t trust scraped lists blindly. Always check your data. Nothing kills a campaign like “Hi {{FirstName}},” going out to five people named “FirstName.”
  • Use Derrickapp’s filters, but add your own logic. Their built-in segmentation is handy, but cross-check with LinkedIn or Crunchbase for accuracy.

Pro Tip: Smaller lists with better fit always outperform huge, messy ones. If you wouldn’t bet $5 that a person is a potential customer, don’t include them.

2. Nail Your Sending Infrastructure (or Prepare for the Spam Folder)

Derrickapp makes sending easy, but deliverability is your problem. If your emails aren’t landing, nothing else matters.

  • Warm up your sending domain. Use Derrickapp’s warm-up tools, or do it manually, but don’t skip this step.
  • Authenticate everything. SPF, DKIM, DMARC—set them up. If you don’t know what those are, look them up or ask your IT person.
  • Check your sending limits. Derrickapp helps manage volume, but don’t go overboard. Fewer, more relevant emails beat a daily blast.
  • Avoid spammy language and formatting. All caps, too many links, or big images = trouble.

What to ignore: Don’t obsess over open rates. Focus on replies, meetings booked, or whatever action actually matters to you.

3. Write Like a Human (Not a Sales Bot)

Here’s the hard truth: nobody likes being pitched. Most outbound fails because it sounds like a mass email written by a robot.

  • Ditch the templates—at least as a starting point. Derrickapp has templates, but they’re just a jumping-off point. Make them your own.
  • Use the “one-breath” rule. If your email can’t be read in one breath, it’s too long.
  • Get to the point. The first line should say why you’re reaching out. “Saw you just launched X…” or “Noticed you’re hiring engineers…”
  • Personalize, but don’t fake it. “Loved your recent podcast episode on AI” works if it’s true, but don’t stretch.
  • Have a single, low-friction call to action. “Are you open to a quick call next week?” beats “Let’s jump on a 30-minute demo.”

Pro Tip: Read your email out loud. If you cringe, rewrite it.

4. Sequence, Don’t Spam: Build Follow-Ups That Add Value

Most replies come from follow-ups, not the first message. Derrickapp’s sequencing lets you set and forget, but that doesn’t mean you should pester people.

  • Space out your messages. 3-5 days between touches is plenty.
  • Change it up. Don’t just resend the same email. Reference something new, or ask a different question.
  • Stop after 3-5 attempts. If they haven’t bitten by then, move on. You’re not going to win them over with a sixth nudge.
  • Mix channels if it makes sense. Derrickapp supports LinkedIn and email. Sometimes a polite InMail works when email doesn’t.

What doesn’t work: Guilt trips (“I haven’t heard from you, are you okay?”) or fake urgency (“Last chance!”). People see through it.

5. Test, Track, and Ruthlessly Edit

No campaign is perfect out of the gate. The good news: Derrickapp gives you open/reply rates, bounces, and more. The bad news: You have to actually look at the data and change things.

  • A/B test key elements. Subject lines, opening sentences, CTAs—test one thing at a time.
  • Kill what isn’t working. If a sequence has a 0% reply rate after 100 sends, delete or rewrite it. Don’t get attached.
  • Watch your bounce and unsubscribe rates. High bounce = bad data or deliverability. High unsubscribe = annoying people.
  • Double down on what works. If you find a message that gets replies, use it as your new baseline.

Pro Tip: Don’t overthink the metrics. If people are replying and booking, you’re winning.

6. Clean Up and Iterate

Outbound is never “set it and forget it,” no matter what the sales gurus say. Derrickapp can automate a lot, but you still need to tend your garden.

  • Regularly clean your lists. Remove bounces, unsubscribes, and non-responders.
  • Update your targeting as you learn. Your best-fit customer might not be who you thought. Watch for patterns.
  • Stay human. If you wouldn’t say it to someone at a coffee shop, don’t say it in an email.

What to ignore: Vanity metrics—opens, clicks, “impressions.” Focus on real conversations and deals moving forward.


Outbound campaigns don’t have to be complicated—or sleazy. Start small, keep your messages short and personal, and tweak as you go. Derrickapp is a powerful tool, but the magic’s in the work you put in, not the software. Stay curious, stay skeptical, and don’t be afraid to try (and kill) new ideas. Simple, honest outreach wins more than any hack.