If you're sending cold emails for B2B and not getting replies, you're not alone. Most sequences flop because they're generic, pushy, or just plain boring. The good news: you can fix that, especially if you're using Inboxautomate. This guide is for anyone who wants honest, usable tips—not recycled “growth hacks”—on getting actual responses from business prospects.
Step 1: Get Your Foundations Right Before Touching Inboxautomate
Before you fire up any tool, stop and ask: who are you emailing, and why should they care?
- Define your ICP (Ideal Customer Profile): “B2B decision makers” is too vague. Get specific: industry, company size, job title, pain points.
- Clean your list: If your list is old, scraped, or random, expect a lot of bounces and zero replies. Use a real email verifier.
- Fix your domain reputation: If your domain’s already flagged as spam, no tool will save you. Warm up new domains and avoid sending big blasts from day one.
Pro tip: You can write the best email in the world, but if it lands in spam, it’s invisible. Don’t skip this part.
Step 2: Write Emails People Want to Read (and Reply To)
Forget everything you’ve read about “perfect” cold email templates. Here’s what actually matters:
- Short is better: 3–5 sentences. No one wants to read your life story.
- No fake personalization: If your “personalization” is just {FirstName}, you’re not fooling anyone.
- Focus on them, not you: Lead with their pain point or a real observation about their business.
- Clear ask: Make it easy to reply—ask one question, not three. “Is this something you’re open to chatting about?” works better than “Let me know if you’d like to schedule a call.”
- No jargon: Write like a human, not a press release.
What doesn’t work: Gimmicks, clickbait subject lines (“Quick question!” is overused), or pretending you “just wanted to connect.” People see through it.
Example: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
- Bad:
Hi {FirstName},
I’m reaching out to synergize our solutions and unlock potential at {CompanyName}. Let’s connect!
- Good:
Hi Sam,
Noticed you’re hiring SDRs—are you still struggling with cold email reply rates?
I’ve seen a few companies in {Industry} double replies with a small tweak. Open to a quick chat?
Step 3: Build a Sequence That Doesn't Annoy People
Inboxautomate gives you a lot of flexibility—but more steps aren’t always better. Here’s how to set up a sequence that won’t get you ignored:
- Limit to 2–4 steps: More than that, and you’re just spamming. Quality beats quantity.
- Vary your follow-ups: Don’t just resend the same email. Reference your last attempt or try a new angle.
- Space it out: Wait 2–5 days between emails. Don’t send daily—people need time to breathe.
- Stop if they reply: Sounds obvious, but check your settings so you don’t keep emailing someone who already answered.
What works:
- A simple bump (“Just checking if you saw this?”) as a second email.
- A different value prop in the last follow-up.
What doesn’t:
- Guilt trips (“I haven’t heard back from you…”).
- Threats to “close your file.” This isn’t 1999.
Example Sequence Structure
- Email 1: Clear value, short intro, one question.
- Email 2 (2–3 days later): Quick bump, maybe a new insight.
- Email 3 (4–5 days later): Last try, different angle, polite close (“If it’s not a fit, no worries—just let me know.”)
Step 4: Set Up Smart Sending in Inboxautomate
Now you’re ready to actually use Inboxautomate. Here’s how to do it without shooting yourself in the foot:
- Set daily limits: Just because Inboxautomate lets you send 500 a day doesn’t mean you should. Start with 30–50. Gradually increase if your deliverability holds up.
- Randomize sending times: Don’t blast all at once. Stagger sends to mimic human behavior.
- A/B test subject lines and body copy: Inboxautomate’s split testing is useful—just don’t test 10 things at once. One variable at a time.
- Monitor replies and auto-stop: Make sure replies (even out-of-office) stop the sequence for that contact.
- Check deliverability reports: Inboxautomate gives you bounce and open rates—watch for sudden drops, which can mean your messages are being flagged.
What to be skeptical of:
- Tools that promise “AI-powered personalization” or “guaranteed inboxing.” No software can break the laws of email.
Step 5: Automate, but Don’t Set and Forget
Automation is great, but it’s not magic. Even with a good tool, you need to keep an eye on results.
- Review replies manually: Sometimes people respond with “Not now” or “Who should I talk to?”—these are not rejections. Follow up like a human.
- Watch for weird replies: If you get a lot of “Who are you?” or “Take me off your list,” your copy needs work.
- Refresh your list: Remove dead emails, update contacts, and never keep blasting someone who never opens or replies.
- Update your sequence: If you’re under 5% reply rate, change your first email. Don’t tweak a word here or there—try a new approach.
What matters most:
- Consistency beats volume.
- Quality contacts beat quantity every time.
Step 6: Ignore the Noise, Focus on the Basics
You’ll see a ton of advice about “hyper-personalization,” “AI-driven icebreakers,” or sending cold emails via LinkedIn InMail. Most of it is noise.
- Templates are starting points, not magic bullets. Write your own based on what you learn.
- Don’t buy into every new “deliverability” hack. If your content is good and your list is clean, you’re 90% of the way there.
What actually works:
- Being relevant, brief, and respectful.
- Following up, but not harassing.
- Tracking what gets replies—and ditching the rest.
Keep It Simple, Iterate, and Don’t Overthink It
Cold email isn’t rocket science, but it’s also not “set it and forget it.” Start with a simple, honest sequence in Inboxautomate. Send a few at a time, tweak based on what real people say, and ignore the hype around “secret” tactics. The basics win—every time.