If you’re running outreach campaigns—whether it’s for sales, recruiting, or event invites—you probably know the headaches: juggling messages across email, SMS, and maybe even calls, keeping track of who replied where, and not annoying people in the process. This guide is for anyone who wants to actually get results from multi-channel outreach, without losing their mind or their audience.
We’ll focus on how to do this in Verse, but most of these tips apply anywhere. Let’s skip the fluff and get to what actually works.
1. Get Your Channels Straight
Before you start blasting messages, pause. Multi-channel works best when each channel has a clear job. Verse supports email, SMS, and sometimes voice—use them intentionally.
- Email: Good for longer info, attachments, or anything that’s not urgent.
- SMS: Short, personal, and cuts through the noise—just don’t overdo it.
- Voice: High-touch, but easy to annoy people if it feels forced.
Pro tip: Don’t assume your audience wants to hear from you everywhere. Let them opt in or show a preference if possible.
2. Map Out Your Sequences Before Touching Verse
Resist the urge to dive right in and build. First, sketch out your full campaign sequence—on paper, whiteboard, napkin, whatever.
- Decide the order: Will you start with email, then follow up with SMS? Or the other way around?
- Set timing: How many days between touches? Too fast feels spammy, too slow loses momentum.
- Branching: What happens if someone replies on SMS? Does the email stop? Plan this up front.
What to avoid: Don’t make your sequence overly complex. More steps ≠ better results. A simple path is easier to track and fix.
3. Build Simple, Clear Workflows in Verse
Once your sequence is mapped, build it in Verse. Here’s what actually helps:
- Templates: Use templates, but avoid sounding robotic. Tweak your language for each channel.
- Personalization: First name tokens are table stakes. Add something real—reference a recent event, a shared connection, or their company.
- Automation: Automate what you can, but always give people an easy way to opt out or change channels.
What doesn’t work: Blanket “spray and pray” campaigns. Verse can send a lot, but if your messages aren’t targeted, it just becomes noise.
4. Set Up Tracking (But Don’t Drown in Data)
Verse gives you solid tracking—opens, clicks, replies, etc. Use it to spot real patterns, not just to admire your dashboards.
- Track across channels: Did someone read your email but reply to your SMS? Verse can help connect those dots.
- Look for drop-off points: Where do people stop engaging? That’s your spot to tweak.
- A/B test, but don’t overdo it: Test subject lines or timing, but keep experiments simple.
Ignore: Vanity metrics like open rates if replies matter more. Focus on the actions that drive your goal.
5. Handle Replies Like a Human
Automated outreach is only as good as your follow-up. Verse can route replies, but consider:
- Reply promptly: The faster you respond, the better. Don’t let automation become an excuse for slow human follow-up.
- Centralize conversations: Verse’s inbox helps, but if your team is also using regular email or phone, figure out one place to track it all.
- Respect opt-outs: If someone says “stop,” actually stop—across every channel.
What to watch for: Automated replies that sound like bots. If you use them, keep them short and clearly human.
6. Keep Your Lists Clean and Segmented
Your list is your campaign’s foundation. Verse can import and segment, but you need to keep it tidy.
- Segment by channel preference: Some folks hate SMS. Others ignore email. Target accordingly.
- Remove bounces and opt-outs: Regularly clean your list to avoid deliverability issues.
- Update info: If someone replies with a new job or cell number, update it. Don’t keep messaging dead ends.
Don’t bother: With “spray and pray” to everyone. You’ll annoy people and hurt future deliverability.
7. Don’t Spam—Send Value
This should go without saying, but here’s your reminder: if your message isn’t helpful or relevant, it’s spam. Even if you’re using Verse’s best tools.
- Tailor your message: Why should this person care? If you can’t answer, don’t send.
- Frequency: Err on the side of too little rather than too much. If in doubt, cut a step.
- Respect timezones: Verse lets you schedule—use it so your 8am doesn’t land in someone’s inbox at 3am.
What to ignore: Advice that says “send daily follow-ups.” If you wouldn’t want it, don’t do it.
8. Review Results and Adjust
No campaign is perfect the first time. Verse’s reporting is only useful if you act on it.
- Check what’s working: Are you getting more replies on SMS than email? Shift your focus.
- Kill what’s not working: Don’t keep running steps that get zero engagement.
- Iterate: Small changes—better subject line, clearer call to action—add up.
Don’t: Overanalyze every metric. Look for big wins and obvious issues.
9. Stay Legal and Respectful
Multi-channel outreach has rules. Fines for ignoring them aren’t fun.
- Follow TCPA and CAN-SPAM: Get consent for SMS. Include opt-out language in every message.
- Document consent: Verse can help track opt-ins—use it.
- Stay transparent: Who are you, why are you reaching out, and how can they stop hearing from you?
What to avoid: Shady list buys or ignoring compliance. It’s just not worth it.
10. Keep It Simple, Iterate, and Don’t Trust the Hype
There are no magic templates or “set it and forget it” campaigns. The best outreach is consistent, respectful, and constantly improved.
- Start small: Get one channel working, then add another.
- Ask for feedback: If you have relationships with some folks on your list, ask what works.
- Ignore “best time to send” myths: Test for yourself—your audience isn’t everyone else’s.
Running multi-channel outreach in Verse is about making it easy for people to say yes—or no—without burning bridges or burning out. Don’t let shiny features distract from the basics: clear targeting, human messages, and fast follow-up. Keep things simple, keep learning, and you’ll see results.