If you’re running sales, you know the real struggle isn’t sending one good email—it’s following up again and again without dropping the ball or sounding like a robot. This guide is for sales pros, SDRs, and anyone who needs to keep outreach organized and human. We’ll walk through how to create and manage sales cadences using Salesbolt, without getting lost in the weeds or spamming your prospects into oblivion.
Let’s get into it.
Why Sales Cadences Matter (And What to Ignore)
A sales cadence is just a fancy way of saying “an organized plan for following up.” It’s the series of emails, calls, and LinkedIn touches you send to a prospect over days or weeks. If you’re still winging it, you’re probably missing follow-ups or reaching out too late.
What actually works: - A clear, repeatable process so nothing slips through the cracks. - Mixing up your touchpoints (email, phone, LinkedIn, etc.). - Reminders so you don’t forget to follow up.
What doesn’t: - Overcomplicating it with 15-step cadences. - Blindly copying someone else’s “winning template.” - Spamming people every 24 hours.
If you’re new to sales cadences, start simple. If you’re already running a system, use this as a gut check to make sure it’s actually helping, not just creating busywork.
1. Setting Up Your First Sales Cadence in Salesbolt
Let’s walk through the basics. The setup in Salesbolt is straightforward, but you’ll get more out of it if you plan your outreach steps first.
Step 1: Map Out Your Cadence Outside the Tool
Before you click anything, jot down: - How many touchpoints? (E.g., 5–7 is plenty.) - What channels? (Email, calls, LinkedIn, etc.) - How many days apart? (Don’t badger people every day.)
Pro tip: If you’re not sure, a good starter cadence is: 1. Day 1: Email 2. Day 3: LinkedIn message 3. Day 6: Phone call 4. Day 9: Follow-up email 5. Day 12: Final touch (your choice)
You can always tweak this later.
Step 2: Create a New Cadence in Salesbolt
- Log in to Salesbolt.
- Navigate to the “Cadences” or “Sequences” section (sometimes these names change—don’t overthink it).
- Click “Create New Cadence.”
Give it a name you’ll recognize. “Q2 Inbound Follow-Up” is better than “Sequence 1.”
Step 3: Add Your Steps
For each step: - Type of touch: Choose email, call, LinkedIn, or custom. - Timing: Set how many days after the last step. - Content: Add templates or talking points.
Don’t stress about making every message perfect. You’ll iterate as you see what works.
Step 4: Add Prospects
- Import leads directly from your CRM, CSV, or even manually.
- Double-check that your contacts are legit and not already bombarded by your team.
If you’re scraping lists or buying leads, pause and make sure you’re not about to get flagged for spam. Quality over quantity, always.
Step 5: Turn It On and Watch Closely
- Start the cadence for a small test group.
- Keep an eye on replies, bounces, and opt-outs.
- Tweak timing or messaging if you notice immediate problems.
2. Managing and Iterating on Your Cadences
Setting up is the easy part. Sticking with it—and not annoying your prospects—is where most people drop the ball.
Stay Organized
- Dashboards: Use Salesbolt’s dashboard to track who’s where in your cadence.
- Reminders: Set daily tasks for manual steps (calls, LinkedIn, etc.).
- Pausing: If someone replies, pause their cadence right away. No one likes getting a follow-up after they’ve already responded.
Review Results Regularly
Once a week (seriously, put it on your calendar), check: - Reply rates: What’s getting responses? - Bounce/unsubscribe rates: Are you burning your list? - Engagement: Calls picked up, LinkedIn connects, etc.
If a step isn’t working, cut it. There’s no prize for sticking to a broken process.
Avoid Automation Overkill
Salesbolt makes it easy to automate, but don’t let it run wild: - Personalize at least the first touch—even a little. - Resist the urge to add more steps if you’re not seeing results. More isn’t always better.
Don’t Ignore Compliance
- Make sure you’re following privacy laws (GDPR, CAN-SPAM, etc.).
- Salesbolt does some compliance checks, but it’s your neck on the line if you break the rules.
3. Pro Tips for Better, Saner Outreach
- Keep your templates short and human. No one likes a wall of text or obvious automation.
- Don’t chase cold leads forever. If someone hasn’t replied after 5–7 touches, let them go. Move on.
- Rotate your messaging. If you’re using the same subject line for every prospect, you’ll get flagged.
- Batch your manual steps. Block time each day for calls or LinkedIn, so you’re not context switching all day.
- Coordinate with your team. Make sure you’re not doubling up on the same prospects. Salesbolt can help here, but it’s not foolproof.
What to Skip (Seriously)
- Overly complex branching cadences. Unless you’re an enterprise team with a dedicated ops person, you’ll just confuse yourself.
- “Best time to email” hacks. There’s no magic hour. Just send it when you can, and move on.
- Chasing vanity metrics. Opens and clicks are nice, but replies and meetings booked are what matter.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate, and Don’t Be Annoying
Sales cadences work best when they’re simple, consistent, and a bit personal. Salesbolt is a solid tool to help keep you on track—but it won’t save you from bad habits or sloppy outreach. Start with a basic cadence, watch your results, and don’t be afraid to change what’s not working.
Don’t let the software boss you around. Use it to make your life easier—so you can focus on real conversations, not just checking boxes. Keep it tight, review often, and your outreach will become something you can actually rely on.