If you’re sending out cold emails or LinkedIn messages for B2B sales, you already know: most get ignored. Prospects are bombarded with generic pitches every day. If you want replies (and meetings), you have to stand out—without being creepy or wasting time. That’s where smart personalization comes in.
This guide is for sales reps, founders, and marketers who are tired of blasting templates into the void and hoping for the best. We’ll walk through how to use Hyperise to actually make your outreach feel human—and what’s worth your time (and what’s not).
Why Personalization Matters in B2B Outreach (and What Actually Works)
First, a reality check. Most “personalized” outreach is just a first name merge tag. Everyone knows it. It doesn’t move the needle—people are wise to it.
What actually works is showing you’ve done a little homework. Maybe you reference their company, a recent product launch, or—better yet—you use images that grab attention and make them smile. Personalization, when done right, gets prospects to pause and think, “Okay, maybe this isn’t just another spam blast.”
That’s where tools like Hyperise come in: they let you add personalized images, dynamic website content, and even custom videos to your outreach, without spending all day doing it by hand.
But let’s be clear: personalization isn’t magic. If your offer is bad or your list isn’t targeted, no amount of clever images will save it. Use this stuff to amplify good fundamentals, not as a silver bullet.
Step 1: Get the Basics Right (Don’t Skip This)
Before you touch Hyperise or any personalization tool, make sure you’ve nailed:
- Your target list: Are you reaching out to people who actually need what you’re selling? No, really—double-check.
- Your offer: Is it relevant and valuable to the person you’re contacting? If it’s generic, personalization won’t help.
- Your messaging: Clear, concise, and focused on them—not you.
If you’re not sure, send a handful of plain, honest emails and see if anyone bites. Personalization multiplies a message, but it can’t fix a pitch that’s off the mark.
Step 2: What Is Hyperise and What Can It Actually Do?
Hyperise is a personalization platform built for outbound sales and marketing. Here’s what it does (and what it doesn’t):
What it actually does: - Lets you add dynamic personalization to images, landing pages, and videos. - Integrates with common outreach platforms (think: Mailshake, Lemlist, HubSpot, LinkedIn tools, etc.). - Pulls in data like prospect names, company logos, website screenshots, and more—automatically.
What it doesn’t do: - Write your emails for you. - Fix a bad list or a bad offer. - Make you coffee (sorry).
In plain English: Hyperise makes it stupid-easy to add real, visual personalization to your emails or LinkedIn messages, so you look like you put in effort—even at scale.
Step 3: Setting Up Hyperise for Your Outreach
Let’s get practical. Here’s how you go from “I signed up for Hyperise” to “I’m sending personalized outreach that isn’t embarrassing.”
1. Set Up Your Data Source
- CRM or CSV: You’ll need a list of prospects with fields like name, company, website, etc. Hyperise needs this data to swap in personalization.
- Check your data quality. If you’ve got missing names or weird formatting, your images could look broken or awkward.
2. Create a Personalized Image
This is Hyperise’s bread and butter. You can upload a template (think: whiteboard, laptop screen, mug, sign) and then add dynamic fields—name, logo, website screenshot, etc.
Tips that actually work: - Keep it simple. Don’t overload the image. One or two personalized elements are plenty. - Make it look natural. Nobody wants to see their name in Comic Sans on a coffee cup. - Use humor sparingly. If it fits your brand, a little wit can work. If not, just keep it friendly and professional.
3. Add Your Image to Your Outreach Platform
- Hyperise integrates with most outreach tools. Usually, you just drop in a special image URL with your merge tags (e.g., {{FirstName}}, {{Company}}).
- Test it. Send a few messages to yourself and your team with real data. Make sure nothing looks weird.
4. Experiment with Website and Video Personalization (Optional)
- Personalized landing pages: Hyperise can show different images or text to each visitor based on their data. Great for post-click experiences, but only if you have the bandwidth.
- Personalized videos: Cool, but can be time-consuming to set up. Only worth it if you’re targeting high-value prospects.
Pro tip: Start with images in outbound emails. It’s the easiest win. Add the fancy stuff later if you see results.
Step 4: What to Personalize (and What to Ignore)
A little goes a long way with personalization. Here’s what tends to land well, and what falls flat:
What works: - First name (obvious, but don’t rely on just this) - Company name and logo - Job title (sparingly) - Industry-specific references (“Saw you’re in SaaS—love what your team’s building”) - Website screenshots
What to skip: - Overly personal info (referencing someone’s dog from LinkedIn is just weird unless you really know them) - Trying to fake deep familiarity (“Remember when we met at [Event]?” when you didn’t) - Random emojis or “funny” images that don’t fit your brand
Bottom line: Personalization should feel like you put in effort, not like you’re stalking them.
Step 5: Track, Iterate, and Improve
Don’t just “set and forget.” Here’s how to actually get better over time:
- Track open, reply, and conversion rates. Compare results with and without Hyperise personalization.
- Look for patterns. Are certain images or messages getting more replies? Double down on what works.
- Ask for feedback. If you get a response, see if they mention the image or personalization. Sometimes prospects will tell you what stood out.
What to ignore: Vanity metrics like “clicks” on images. Focus on replies and meetings booked.
Pro Tips and Common Pitfalls
- Don’t use personalization just for the sake of it. If the image or message doesn’t add value, skip it.
- Test on yourself and colleagues first. There’s nothing worse than sending out an image with a broken merge tag (“Hi {{FistName}}!”).
- Mind your sending volume. If you’re blasting thousands of emails, even the best personalization can’t save you from spam filters or a bad list.
- Don’t get creepy. Referencing obscure LinkedIn posts or personal details will backfire. Keep it business-relevant.
Real Talk: Does Hyperise Actually Boost Conversion Rates?
If you’ve got a good list and a relevant offer, Hyperise-style personalization can easily double reply rates—sometimes more. But it’s not magic. If your message is off, or your list is garbage, you’ll just be ignored more creatively.
What Hyperise really does best: It gets you noticed. People are more likely to reply to something that feels made just for them, even if they know it’s semi-automated. It’s about starting conversations, not closing with one email.
Keep It Simple, Iterate, Repeat
Don’t overthink it. Start with one personalized image in your next outbound campaign. See if you get more replies. If you do, build on it. If you don’t, tweak your offer or your list before blaming the tool.
Personalization works when it feels genuine—so keep it human, keep it simple, and always test before you scale. Good luck out there.