If you’re tired of sending emails into the void and watching LinkedIn messages get ignored, you’re not alone. Outreach isn’t rocket science, but it’s easy to mess up—especially if you’re juggling multiple channels and tools. This guide is for anyone who wants to build outreach sequences that people actually reply to, using BetterContact as your backbone. Whether you’re in sales, recruiting, or just trying to get someone’s attention, let’s break the process down into stuff that works (and call out what doesn’t).
Why Multichannel Outreach? (And Why Most People Get It Wrong)
Let’s be blunt: Most outreach fails because it’s lazy or robotic. Blasting the same message everywhere might feel efficient, but it’s a waste of your time and the recipient’s. People respond to different channels—some check email religiously, others practically live on LinkedIn or SMS. Hitting them where they actually pay attention (without being a pest) is the whole point of multichannel outreach.
BetterContact tries to make this juggling act easier, but the tech can only help if your sequences don’t suck in the first place. Automation is great for follow-up and reminders, but you still need to sound like a human.
Step 1: Get Your Data Right (Seriously, Don’t Skip This)
Before you craft a single message, make sure you actually know who you’re reaching out to. Here’s what matters:
- Accurate contact info: Garbage in, garbage out. Double-check emails, LinkedIn profiles, and phone numbers.
- Segment your list: One-size-fits-all messaging is dead. Group people by role, industry, or pain point.
- Enrich, but don’t obsess: Find one or two personal details (recent job move, mutual connection). You don’t need a full dossier—just enough for a human touch.
Pro tip: If you’re scraping lists or buying leads, run a quick verification (there are cheap tools for this) before dumping them into BetterContact. Bounced emails or wrong numbers will tank your sender reputation.
Step 2: Map Out Your Sequence Before You Touch the Tool
Don’t just start building in BetterContact and hope for the best. Grab a notepad or a whiteboard, and sketch out:
- How many steps? (Usually 4-8 is the sweet spot. More than that, and you’re just annoying people.)
- What channels? (Email, LinkedIn, SMS, phone. Don’t use a channel you wouldn’t want to receive a cold pitch on.)
- Timing? (Spread steps a few days apart. Weekdays, mid-morning, or just after lunch tend to get more eyeballs.)
- Personalization moments: Where will you drop in something specific to the person?
This step keeps you from building a Frankenstein’s monster of a sequence later.
Step 3: Craft Messages That Sound Like You
People can spot a mail merge a mile away. You don’t have to write poetry, just don’t sound like a bot. Here’s what works:
- Short and direct: Get to the point in 2-3 sentences.
- No fake familiarity: “Hope you’re crushing it!” is a dead giveaway. Instead, mention something real (a recent post, mutual connection, company news).
- Clear ask: Don’t tiptoe—say what you want, and make it easy to say yes or no.
- Differentiate by channel: LinkedIn DMs should be more conversational; emails can be slightly more formal.
- Don’t over-personalize: “I see you went to X college and like dogs”—creepy, not charming.
What doesn’t work: Generic templates, long-winded intros, or pretending you’re someone’s long-lost friend.
Step 4: Build and Automate in BetterContact
Now, the fun part. BetterContact’s strength is chaining together different channels without you having to remember every follow-up. Here’s how to make the most of it:
Setting Up Your Sequence
- Create a new sequence: Name it something obvious (“Q2 CTO Outreach” beats “Sequence 4”).
- Add steps: For each step, pick a channel (email, LinkedIn, SMS, even phone if you dare).
- Set delays: Don’t hammer people. 2-4 days between steps is usually safe.
- Personalization tokens: Use them, but preview every message. “Hi [First Name]” is fine, but check for glitches like “Hi ,”.
- Branch logic: If someone replies or clicks, take them out of the sequence. BetterContact can auto-detect this—use it.
Mixing Channels (Without Being a Pest)
- Start on email, follow up on LinkedIn: Or vice versa, but don’t do both on the same day.
- Save SMS for later steps: Only if it’s appropriate (and legal). SMS is intrusive—don’t use it unless you have a real reason.
- Phone calls: Only if your audience expects it (e.g., B2B sales). Otherwise, you’ll just annoy people.
Pro tip: Test your sequence on yourself or a colleague before sending it to real leads. You’ll catch dumb mistakes.
Step 5: Track, Adjust, and Don’t Fall for Vanity Metrics
BetterContact gives you open rates, reply rates, and other stats. Here’s what actually matters:
- Replies beat opens. A sequence with a 20% reply rate is gold, even if opens are lower.
- Positive vs. negative responses: Don’t just track “replies”—check if people are actually interested or just telling you to buzz off.
- Channel drop-off: If everyone ghosts you after a LinkedIn DM, your message there probably needs work.
Ignore “sent” and “delivered” numbers unless deliverability is crashing. Focus on what leads to real conversations.
Step 6: Iterate (But Don’t Overthink It)
No sequence is perfect the first time. Change one thing at a time and see what happens:
- Swap out a step that flops.
- Try a new subject line or opening.
- Shorten your messages (almost always helps).
Don’t chase shiny features or try to be too clever. Simple, direct sequences win more often than fancy ones.
What To Ignore (And What To Watch Out For)
- Super-personalized videos: These are time sinks. Unless you’re landing million-dollar deals, skip them.
- Over-automation: If you forget who you’ve contacted or sound robotic, you’ve gone too far.
- Spam triggers: Avoid all-caps, lots of links, or weird formatting. You’ll end up in spam and never know it.
Watch out for:
- GDPR and local laws—SMS and phone outreach can get you in hot water if you’re not careful.
- “Me too” outreach—if your message could be sent by anyone, it’ll be ignored by everyone.
Quick Checklist (Print This Out)
- [ ] Verified contacts and cleaned your list
- [ ] Mapped out sequence on paper first
- [ ] Wrote messages you’d actually reply to
- [ ] Set up steps and delays in BetterContact
- [ ] Tested on yourself before launching
- [ ] Tracking replies, not just opens
Keep It Simple, Iterate, and Don’t Annoy People
Outreach isn’t magic. The right tool (like BetterContact) can save you time, but it won’t rescue a lousy sequence. Focus on getting your basics right: solid data, clear messaging, and a sequence that respects your prospect’s time. Run a few sequences, tweak what doesn’t work, and don’t overcomplicate it. The best outreach is the stuff you’d be happy to get yourself.
Now get out there and build something people actually want to reply to.