How to track email engagement metrics in Leadsotters for better outreach

If you’re sending cold emails or doing sales outreach, you know the drill: most emails get ignored. But every now and then, you strike gold with a message that actually gets opened, read, and replied to. So what’s the difference? Usually, it comes down to tracking what’s working — and what’s falling flat. This guide is for anyone using Leadsotters who wants real answers from email engagement metrics, not just vanity numbers.

Below, I’ll break down exactly how to track the right metrics in Leadsotters, what to pay attention to, and what you can safely ignore. You’ll get honest advice on using the data to actually make your outreach better — not just stare at charts.

Why Bother Tracking Email Metrics?

Let’s be real: most outreach dies in the inbox. If you’re not tracking what happens after you hit send, you’re flying blind. Metrics aren’t just about “feeling good” because you got a few opens — they help you:

  • See if your subject lines are any good
  • Spot which leads are actually interested (or at least awake)
  • Figure out which emails are getting flagged as spam
  • Know when to double down or change course

But don’t get lost in the weeds. There are a hundred things you could measure, but only a few that matter for most people.

Step 1: Know Which Metrics Actually Matter

Before poking around in Leadsotters, get clear on what’s worth your time. Here’s the short list:

  • Open Rate: How many people opened your email? Tells you if your subject line and sender info are working.
  • Reply Rate: Did anyone write back? This is the gold standard for cold outreach.
  • Click Rate: If you include links, are people clicking? Not always relevant, but useful if you’re sending resources.
  • Bounce Rate: How many emails never made it? High bounce means you need to clean your list.
  • Unsubscribes/Spam Reports: If people are unsubscribing or marking you as spam, you’re doing something wrong.

What to ignore:
Don’t obsess over “delivered” numbers (almost everything gets delivered unless you have a terrible list). “Time spent reading” is often unreliable and hard to act on.

Step 2: Setting Up Tracking in Leadsotters

Leadsotters does a decent job tracking the basics out of the box, but you need to turn tracking on and check your settings. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Enable Tracking
  2. Go to your campaign setup in Leadsotters.
  3. Make sure “Open Tracking” and “Click Tracking” are switched on before you launch.

  4. If you’re using custom domains, set up your tracking domain according to Leadsotters’ instructions. This avoids spam filters hating you.

  5. Check Privacy Settings

  6. Some leads will block open tracking (thanks, Apple Mail). Expect open rates to be a bit off, especially with B2B.

  7. Clicks and replies are more reliable because they require action.

  8. Integrate Your Inbox

  9. Connect your email account to Leadsotters, so replies are tracked automatically.
  10. If you skip this, you’ll only see opens/clicks, not replies — which misses the point.

Pro Tip:
Avoid using too many images or tracking pixels. These can trigger spam filters and mess up your stats.

Step 3: Launch Your Campaign and Let the Data Flow

You’ve set up tracking. Now send your campaign — but don’t hover over the dashboard refreshing every five minutes. Give it at least 24-48 hours for the first batch of data. Here’s what to watch for:

  • Early open spikes: Means your subject line is working, but if replies are zero, your message might be off.
  • No opens at all: Either your list is dead, or your emails are landing in spam. Time to check your sending reputation.
  • Clicks but no replies: People are curious, but not convinced. Maybe your CTA is too weak.

What NOT to do:
Don’t react to every tiny fluctuation. Patterns matter more than one-off results.

Step 4: Analyze Metrics in Leadsotters

Here’s how to actually use the data inside Leadsotters:

a) Filter by Campaign

  • Look at metrics for each campaign. Is one campaign crushing it on replies while another flops? Dig in.
  • Compare subject lines and templates to see what’s connecting.

b) Segment by Lead Source

  • If you can, tag or segment leads by where you got them (LinkedIn, list, event, etc.).
  • Sometimes, your list source matters more than your copy.

c) Spot Outliers

  • Did one email suddenly get a pile of spam reports? That’s a red flag.
  • Is one lead opening your email a dozen times but never replying? Might be internal forwarding, or just curiosity.

d) Track Over Time

  • Don’t judge a campaign after one day. Watch trends over a week or two.
  • If open/reply rates drop over time, your list might be burning out or you’re hitting spam traps.

Pro Tip:
Export your data and look at it in a spreadsheet if you want more control. Sometimes the Leadsotters dashboard gets crowded with old campaigns.

Step 5: Actually Use What You Learn

Metrics are pointless unless you act on them. Here’s what to do next:

  • Low Open Rate?
    Try new subject lines. Make them short, specific, and human. Skip the clickbait.

  • High Opens, Low Replies?
    Rewrite your email body. Are you asking too much? Is your “ask” clear? Are you being too salesy?

  • Lots of Bounces?
    Clean your list. There are plenty of free tools for this — don’t pay for garbage leads.

  • Spam Reports or Unsubs?
    Ease up. Make your emails less aggressive, and make it easy to opt out.

  • Good Results?
    Don’t overthink it. Duplicate what’s working, and test one change at a time.

What to ignore:
Chasing “perfect” metrics. You’ll always get some bounces and unsubscribes. Focus on steady improvement, not perfection.

Common Pitfalls (and How to Dodge Them)

  • Chasing vanity metrics:
    Opens are nice, but replies pay the bills. Don’t get obsessed with open rates.

  • Not testing enough:
    Always A/B test subject lines or body copy. Just don’t change everything at once — you’ll never know what worked.

  • Ignoring deliverability:
    If your emails aren’t getting delivered, nothing else matters. Use a reputable sending domain, avoid spammy language, and warm up new email accounts slowly.

  • Overcomplicating it:
    Don’t drown in data. Pick one thing to improve each week.

Keep it Simple and Iterate

Tracking email engagement in Leadsotters isn’t rocket science, but it’s easy to get lost in the noise. Start by tracking opens, replies, and bounces. Make small tweaks, see what moves the needle, and don’t sweat the stuff you can’t control (like leads who never open anything). Focus on progress, not perfection — and remember, the best outreach is the stuff that actually gets answered.

If you’re ever stuck, just go back to basics: real people, clear messages, and emails you’d actually want to open. That’s always what works.