If you’re tired of sending out cold, generic messages that get ignored, you’re not alone. Whether you’re in sales, customer success, or HR, getting people to actually engage with your outreach is tough. This guide is for anyone who wants to use Packedwithpurpose to send outreach that doesn’t sound like it was written by a robot—and actually gets results. I’ll show you how to set up a personalized campaign from scratch, what to focus on, and what’s just fluff.
Let’s skip the hype and get to what works.
1. Know Your Audience (and Why That Matters)
Before you even log in, ask yourself: who are you reaching out to, and why would they care? It’s easy to skip this, but it’s the difference between a message that gets deleted and one that starts a real conversation.
Don’t just segment by job title or industry. Get specific. Think about: - What’s going on in their business right now? - What do they struggle with (or aspire to)? - How familiar are they with you or your company?
Pro tip: Jot down a one-sentence description of your “ideal recipient.” If you can’t do that, you’re not ready to personalize anything.
2. Build or Import Your Contact List (Quality Beats Quantity)
Packedwithpurpose lets you upload contacts via CSV, connect your CRM, or add them one by one. Here’s what matters: - Clean data: Double-check names and emails. Nothing kills personalization like “Hi [FirstName].” - Useful fields: Beyond name and email, include things like company, role, last interaction, or even hobbies if you have them. - Segment early: Tag or group contacts by something meaningful (recent event attendee, VIP client, new lead, etc.)
What to ignore: Don’t waste time gathering every possible data point “just in case.” If you won’t use it, skip it.
3. Craft a Message That Sounds Like a Human
Templates are fine as a starting point, but the magic’s in the details. Packedwithpurpose has some built-in templates, but they’re just that—templates. Here’s how to make your message not sound like everyone else’s:
- Use their name, but don’t stop there. Reference something specific—maybe a recent win, a shared connection, or a topic you know they care about.
- Keep it short. No one reads walls of text from strangers.
- Lead with relevance. Why are you reaching out to them, specifically?
- Don’t fake enthusiasm. If you wouldn’t say it out loud, don’t write it.
Example (what works):
Hi Sarah,
Noticed your team just launched the new app—congrats! I thought you might appreciate a little something to celebrate.
Example (what doesn’t):
Dear Valued Prospect,
I hope this message finds you well. At Packedwithpurpose, we’re committed to leveraging best-in-class solutions…
See the difference?
4. Personalize the Gift (or Content) Selection
Packedwithpurpose is about sending thoughtful, meaningful gifts—not generic swag. Here’s how to make your campaign stand out:
- Choose gifts that fit your audience. If your recipient’s vegan, don’t send them a cheese basket. If you don’t know, pick something universally appealing.
- Tie the gift to your message. If you’re celebrating a milestone, make the gift about that. If you’re following up after an event, pick something related.
- Let them choose (when in doubt). Packedwithpurpose lets you offer recipients a choice of gifts. This is a safe bet if you’re unsure.
What to skip: Don’t overthink the “wow factor.” The point is to show you’re paying attention, not to outdo everyone else.
5. Set Up Your Campaign in Packedwithpurpose
The platform’s not rocket science, but here’s the streamlined approach:
- Start a New Campaign: Click “Create Campaign” (the name doesn’t matter—just make it clear for yourself).
- Select Recipients: Add your cleaned, segmented list.
- Choose Your Gift(s): Pick a single item or let people choose. If you’re personalizing at scale, use data fields to match gifts to segments.
- Write Your Outreach Message: Use dynamic fields (like {FirstName}, {Company}), but check for errors. Preview a few before sending—seriously, mistakes happen.
- Schedule or Send: You can send now, or schedule for later. Avoid Mondays at 9am and Fridays at 4pm—your message will get buried.
Pro tip: Test with a small batch first. You’d be amazed how often a weird typo or wrong link sneaks in.
6. Track Results and Actually Learn From Them
Packedwithpurpose gives you basic tracking—opens, clicks, gift redemptions. Don’t just glance at the dashboard and move on.
- Look for patterns: Did certain segments respond better? Was there a drop-off after a specific message?
- Follow up: If someone opened but didn’t redeem, a quick check-in can work wonders (something like, “Let me know if the link didn’t come through.”)
- Don’t obsess over open rates: People are busy. Focus on real engagement—replies, meetings booked, or gifts redeemed.
What’s not worth your time: Chasing down every single non-responder. Some people just aren’t interested, and that’s fine.
7. Iterate (Keep It Simple)
You don’t need to overhaul your campaign every time, but small tweaks go a long way.
- Swap out one line in your message and see if replies change.
- Try a new gift option and watch redemption rates.
- Ask recipients for feedback. (A quick “Did you like this?” never hurts.)
Don’t get bogged down in “optimizing” every tiny detail. The most important thing is that you sound like yourself and that your outreach feels genuine.
A Few Honest Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)
Let’s be real—personalization isn’t magic. Here’s what trips people up:
- Too much automation: If you set it and forget it, your message will sound like everyone else’s. Keep it personal, even at scale.
- Overcomplicating segments: You’ll never have perfect data. Start with broad, meaningful groups, then get more granular over time.
- Trying to be clever over being clear: A straightforward, sincere message beats a forced pun or a complicated theme every time.
Wrap-Up: Keep It Real, Keep It Simple
Personalized outreach is about showing you care enough to pay attention, not about flashy tech or the perfect turn of phrase. Start with a clear idea of who you’re talking to and why. Use Packedwithpurpose to handle the logistics, but don’t lose the human touch.
Test, tweak, and—most importantly—don’t make it harder than it needs to be. The best campaigns are the ones you actually send. Good luck!