So you’re in B2B sales and need to send drip emails that actually get read—not spam folders. You want to automate follow-ups, keep things personal, and move deals forward without turning into a robot. If that sounds like your life, this guide’s for you.
I’ll walk through how to use Scaledmail to set up, schedule, and send drip campaigns—without sugarcoating what works and what’s just marketing fluff.
Why Use Drip Campaigns for B2B Sales?
Let’s get this out of the way: Drip campaigns aren’t magic. They won’t close deals for you. But when done right, they keep you top-of-mind and move real prospects through the pipeline—without you manually chasing after every lead.
Here’s what a solid drip campaign actually gets you: - Consistent follow-up (so leads don’t disappear after one email) - Time saved (set it and forget it—mostly) - Personalization at scale (without sounding like a template) - Better data (track what works, skip what doesn’t)
What it won’t do: - Fix a bad offer - Rescue a terrible list - Replace real conversations
If you’re cool with that, let’s get into it.
Step 1: Set Up Your Scaledmail Account
If you’re reading this, I’ll assume you’ve already signed up for Scaledmail. If not, go do that first (I’ll wait).
Once you log in: - Connect your email account — Scaledmail works best when you use your actual work address, not a generic “info@” or Gmail. This boosts deliverability and trust. - Warm up your domain if it’s new—seriously, don’t skip this if you want to hit inboxes. Scaledmail and other tools often have a built-in feature for this. Give it a couple of weeks if you’re starting from scratch.
Pro tip: Double-check your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records. If your eyes glazed over, ask your IT person or Google it. It matters for getting your emails seen.
Step 2: Build (or Clean) Your List
Don’t feed bad data into your campaign—it’ll just waste your time and trash your sender reputation.
What matters: - Quality beats quantity. Start with the right people, not every address you can scrape. - Use real names and company info in your CSV or spreadsheet—Scaledmail uses these for personalization. - Remove obvious junk: catch-all domains, role emails (like sales@), and bounced addresses.
Importing: - Go to “Lists” in Scaledmail. - Upload your CSV. Map columns like “First Name,” “Company,” “Email,” etc. - Use tags or segments for different audiences (e.g., “Software,” “Manufacturing”). This helps if you’re sending tailored messages.
Pro tip: If you’re reusing an old list, run it through a validation tool first. Nothing kills a campaign faster than 30% bounces.
Step 3: Write Your Drip Sequence
This is where most people blow it. Don’t just write one email, copy it three times, and change the greeting.
Classic B2B drip campaign structure:
1. Email 1: Introduction
Quick, direct, focused on the recipient’s pain or problem. No “hope you’re well” fluff.
2. Email 2: Value add
Share something useful: a case study, insight, or resource (not a whitepaper nobody asked for).
3. Email 3: Social proof or testimonial
Show how you’ve helped someone like them.
4. Email 4: Gentle nudge
“Just checking in” but with a reason. Maybe ask if you should close the loop.
5. Email 5: Breakup or feedback
Be polite, wish them well, and ask if they have feedback. Sometimes this gets replies.
How to actually write these:
- Keep it short. Five sentences is plenty.
- Use the recipient’s name and company (Scaledmail fields like {FirstName} and {Company}).
- Don’t fake personalization. If you don’t know something, leave it out.
- No jargon. No “synergies.” Be real.
Ignore:
- Over-designed HTML emails. Plain text works better for B2B outreach.
- Sending more than 5-6 touches. If they haven’t replied by then, move on.
Scaledmail tip:
Use the sequence builder to add steps, set delays (e.g., “Wait 3 days before Email 2”), and add conditional branches if you’re feeling fancy. But don’t overcomplicate. Start simple.
Step 4: Set Up Personalization and Variables
This is where Scaledmail earns its keep.
- Insert merge fields in your emails (
{FirstName},{Company}, etc.) - Write fallback text. Example: “Hi {FirstName|there},” covers you if the name’s missing.
- Test with a sample contact—Scaledmail lets you preview and send test emails to yourself. Always do this.
Warning:
Don’t go wild with variables. If you try to personalize every line, you’ll make mistakes. Stick to the basics (name, company, maybe one custom field).
Step 5: Schedule Your Campaign
Now for the actual automation part.
- Choose your list or segment.
- Double-check your sending window. B2B emails do best Tuesday–Thursday, mid-morning (think 9–11am in the recipient’s time zone). Mondays and Fridays are graveyards for cold outreach.
- Set your daily sending limits. Scaledmail lets you throttle sends so you don’t trip spam filters. Start low (25–50/day) and ramp up.
- Pick your start date and time. Make sure you’re not launching when you’ll be out of office.
Pro tip:
Stagger sends if you’re testing different messages. A/B testing is built-in—just set up versions of your sequence.
Step 6: Monitor, Tweak, and Don’t Freak Out
You’ve hit “Start.” Now what?
- Track opens and replies from your Scaledmail dashboard.
- If your open rate is below 30%, check your subject lines and sending domain.
- If nobody replies after three emails, your message needs work—or your list is off.
- Pause or edit sequences any time. You can tweak copy, change schedules, or remove contacts on the fly.
Ignore: - Open rate “vanity metrics.” Focus on replies and meetings booked. - Overreacting to unsubscribes. Some people just aren’t interested.
What Works, What Doesn’t, and What to Skip
Works: - Short, personal, relevant emails - Targeted lists and clear value props - Consistent, non-pushy follow-ups
Doesn’t work: - “Spray and pray” to giant, unqualified lists - Gimmicky subject lines (“Quick question…” from a stranger—please) - Over-automating to the point where you can’t spot a hot lead and jump in manually
Skip: - Over-designed templates - Crazy long sequences - “AI-written” emails that sound like, well, robots
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate, and Don’t Get Cute
Drip campaigns with Scaledmail aren’t rocket science, but they do take some care. Get your list right, keep your messages human, and use automation to follow up—not to replace your judgment.
Start with one sequence, watch what happens, and adjust. Don’t believe anyone who tells you they’ve “cracked the code”—the only real secret is showing up, paying attention, and not making things harder than they need to be.
Go send some emails. The rest, you’ll figure out as you go.