If you’re sending cold emails for B2B and not getting replies, you’re not alone. Most outreach lands straight in the trash, ignored or flagged as spam. The fix isn’t more emails—it’s better ones, tailored to the person reading. This guide is for marketers, founders, and salespeople who want practical steps to personalize email sequences in Bounceban and actually get responses.
Let’s skip the generic “Dear {{FirstName}}” personalization and get to what actually works.
Why personalization matters (and what doesn’t work)
Let’s be clear: slapping someone’s name or company in the subject line isn’t real personalization. Prospects can spot mail merges from a mile away, and it makes you look lazy.
Real personalization means showing you’ve done your homework, even just a little. It’s about relevance: why should this person care about your email? If you can answer that, you’re already ahead of 90% of your competition.
If you’re hoping for some secret trick, sorry—there isn’t one. But there are straightforward steps you can take to make your emails feel like they were written by a human, not a robot.
Step 1: Get your data organized (or pay the price)
Before you even open Bounceban, get your contact list in order. Bad data = bad emails, no matter how clever your sequence.
What you need: - First and last names (spelled correctly) - Company name - Job title - Website - A custom field for something specific (LinkedIn post, recent funding, mutual connection, etc.)
Pro tip: Don’t overcomplicate. If you only have names and companies, start there, but don’t pretend that’s deep personalization.
What to ignore:
Trying to scrape dozens of data points per lead. You’ll burn time for diminishing returns. Focus on 1-2 useful details per contact.
Step 2: Set up custom fields in Bounceban
Now move to Bounceban. The platform lets you create custom fields for your contacts, which is where the magic happens.
How to do it:
1. Go to your Contacts or Audience section.
2. Import your spreadsheet or CSV, mapping columns to Bounceban fields.
3. Create new custom fields for anything you want to mention in your emails. For example:
- recent_news (recent press or funding)
- shared_interest (something you have in common)
- pain_point (something they complain about online)
Why bother?
Custom fields let you drop real context into your sequences—not just generic info. It’s the difference between “I see you work at Acme Co.” and “Saw Acme Co. just rolled out a new mobile app—nice work.”
Step 3: Write your sequence templates (the right way)
Here’s where most people mess up: they write one-size-fits-all emails and sprinkle in a couple of variables. If you want replies, write flexible templates with room for a human touch.
What works: - Use short, clear sentences. - Reference something specific from your custom fields. - Keep your ask simple—don’t ask for a 30-minute call right away. - Don’t overdo it. Sounding like a weird stalker is just as bad as being generic.
Sample template:
Subject: Quick question about {{company_name}}’s new launch
Hi {{first_name}},
Saw that {{company_name}} recently {{recent_news}}—congrats, that’s no small feat. I work with companies in {{industry}} who hit similar milestones and usually run into {{pain_point}}.
Is that something you’re dealing with too, or am I off base?
Thanks,
{{your_name}}
What to ignore:
Long intros about yourself. “Hope this finds you well.” Anything that sounds like it came from a template.
Step 4: Insert dynamic fields in Bounceban
This is the step that actually pulls your data into the email. In Bounceban, you can insert any field as a variable—just wrap it in double curly braces, like {{first_name}} or {{recent_news}}.
How to do it: 1. In the sequence editor, write your email and insert variables wherever you want. 2. Use preview mode on a few contacts to make sure fields work and don’t look weird. (You will find a few typos or empty fields—fix them now, not after you hit Send.)
Pro tip:
Always set up fallback text for variables, like {{recent_news|your latest project}}, so your email doesn’t look broken if you’re missing data.
What to ignore:
Overpersonalizing with weird or overly intimate details. If it wouldn’t come up in a first conversation, don’t put it in an email.
Step 5: Review, test, and sanity-check
Before you launch, double-check everything. This is where most embarrassing mistakes happen.
Checklist: - Does every variable have data for every contact? - Do any emails sound robotic or forced? - Are you using the right fallback text? - Send a few test emails to yourself and a colleague—catch typos, formatting weirdness, and anything that sounds off.
What works:
Reading your emails out loud. If you cringe, rewrite.
Step 6: Hit send—but don’t “set and forget”
Once you launch, your job isn’t done. Personalization isn’t a one-time thing—it’s a process.
Here’s what to actually do: - Monitor replies and response rates right away. - If a certain variable or approach isn’t getting results, tweak it. - If you see the same objections or questions coming up, update your templates.
What to ignore:
Spending weeks A/B testing subject lines if your emails are still generic. Fix the message first, then optimize the details.
Pro Tips for Personalization (without the pain)
- Reuse strong snippets: If you write a killer custom line for one prospect, adapt it for others in the same industry. Don’t reinvent the wheel.
- Don’t fake “research”: If you don’t know something about the company or person, don’t pretend you do. People can smell BS.
- Segment your list: Group similar contacts together and tailor templates for each group. It’s faster than true 1:1 personalization but much better than generic blasts.
- Automate the grunt work: Use tools or VAs to fill in custom fields, but always review before sending.
- Keep your follow-ups simple: Personalize the first email, but keep follow-ups short and to the point. Don’t bore people with repetition.
What to skip (unless you love busywork)
- Hyper-personalizing every single email: For big, high-value accounts, sure. But for most outreach, batch personalization is plenty.
- Overthinking “clever” subject lines: Clarity > cleverness. If your subject makes sense and isn’t clickbait, you’re good.
- Using gimmicky merge tags: Stuff like “{{day_of_week}}” or “{{city}}” rarely moves the needle and can look spammy.
Keep it simple, stay human, and iterate
Personalizing email sequences in Bounceban isn’t about chasing the latest hack or writing the world’s longest email. It’s about sounding like a real person who actually cares about what the other person is doing. Start simple, use the data you have, and keep tweaking as you go. You’ll get more replies—and fewer eye rolls.