If you’re running outreach campaigns—sales, recruiting, support, or just trying to get replies—you already know the basics: generic messages get ignored, and personalization is the only way to stand out. The problem? Personalization takes time you probably don’t have.
This guide is for people who want to use Getmagical to make their outreach more personal without spending all day copy-pasting or tweaking templates. You’ll learn how to use Getmagical’s features to save time, stay personal, and avoid the stuff that just looks like spam wearing a nametag.
Why Personalization Matters (and Where Most People Mess Up)
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: nobody likes mass emails that look like they were written by a robot. If you’re using “Hi {FirstName},” and calling that personalization, you’re not fooling anyone.
Good personalization is about relevance, not just dropping in a name. The best outreach feels like it was written for the person on the other end—even when you’re scaling up.
But here’s where most people get it wrong: - They over-automate and lose the human touch. - They waste time personalizing stuff that doesn’t matter. - Or, they skip personalization entirely and blame the tools.
Getmagical’s personalization features can help—but only if you use them the right way.
Step 1: Set Up Your Basics (Don’t Skip This)
Before you start massaging your messages, make sure you’ve got Getmagical installed and hooked up where you do your outreach—Gmail, LinkedIn, wherever. If you’re not set up, you can’t use any of the good stuff.
Key setup tips: - Install the Getmagical browser extension (it’s Chrome-only). - Create your Getmagical account and sign in. - Make sure you have access to your templates (called “magicals”). - Connect to the tools you use most (email, LinkedIn, etc).
Pro tip: If your outreach is mainly LinkedIn, get comfortable with how Getmagical pops up inside message boxes—it’s not always obvious at first.
Step 2: Build Smart Templates (Magicals) That Actually Work
Templates save time, but lazy templates get ignored. The trick is to build templates that are flexible enough for personalization, but structured enough to save you time.
How to build a better template:
- Start with a real message you’d send. Don’t use “Dear Sir or Madam” if you’d never say that in real life.
- Identify what actually needs to be personalized.
- Name? Obviously.
- Company? Probably.
- A line about their work or recent achievement? That’s where you get noticed.
- Use variables where it makes sense.
- Getmagical uses
{VariableName}syntax. - Name your variables something you’ll remember.
- Getmagical uses
- Don’t overdo it.
- If you have more than 3-4 variables, you’re probably creating more work for yourself.
Example:
Hi {FirstName},
I saw your work on {Project/Article/Company}—really impressive. I’m reaching out because {Reason}.
If you’re open to it, I’d love to chat for a few minutes about {Specific Topic}.
Best, {YourName}
What to skip:
- Generic intros (“Hope this finds you well!”)
- Overly complex conditionals (Getmagical isn’t a mail merge tool—it’s for snippets, not full-on automation.)
- Filling every blank with fluff. If you don’t know something, leave it out.
Step 3: Use Variables Wisely—Here’s What Actually Matters
Variables are where Getmagical shines. The key is making them work for you, not the other way around.
What to personalize:
- Name: Use their actual first name (double-check spelling and casing).
- Company or project: Mention something specific, not just the company name.
- Contextual hook: Reference a recent post, mutual connection, or shared interest.
- Reason for reaching out: Be direct and honest.
What not to bother with:
- Their job title (unless it’s relevant to your ask).
- Random trivia (“I see you like hiking.”) unless it’s really natural.
- Overly forced compliments.
Pro tip: Keep a list of your most-used variables and stick to them. Don’t reinvent the wheel every time.
Step 4: Fill In Personalization Fast (Without Going Insane)
Here’s the honest part: even with great templates, you still need to fill in those variables. Getmagical helps, but it’s not psychic—you have to do some work.
The efficient way:
- Do quick research up front. Batch your research—open tabs for all your prospects and jot down the key details you’ll use as variables.
- Use Getmagical’s variable prompt. When you insert a template, Getmagical will ask you to fill in the blanks. Copy/paste from your notes instead of switching back and forth.
- Don’t aim for perfection. Good enough is better than never sending.
Avoid: - Rushing and making mistakes (wrong names, wrong companies). - Spending 10 minutes per message. If you are, your template isn’t working hard enough.
Pro tip: If you’re sending a batch (say, 10-20 messages), do them in one sitting. You’ll get into a rhythm and catch mistakes faster.
Step 5: Test, Track, and Tweak (But Don’t Obsess)
No template is perfect out of the gate. Some messages will flop, some will get replies. The point is to learn and improve.
What to actually pay attention to:
- Reply rates: Are you getting responses? That’s the only metric that really matters.
- Tone: Are people replying like you’re a human or a bot?
- Feedback: If you get a “this feels automated” reply, adjust your approach.
What not to stress about:
- Open rates (unless you’re doing email at huge scale).
- Tracking clicks (unless you’re selling something that needs it).
- “Best practices” you read in marketing blogs.
Pro tip: Change one thing at a time. If you tweak your entire template and add new variables, you won’t know what actually made the difference.
What Getmagical Can’t (and Shouldn’t) Do
A quick reality check: Getmagical is great at saving time and making personalization less painful. But it won’t do your research for you, and it can’t turn a bad pitch into a good one.
- Don’t expect magic. It won’t write messages for you, and it won’t find personal info about your prospects.
- Don’t use it as a replacement for real conversations. If you’re just blasting messages, you’ll get ignored.
- Don’t get lazy. The best outreach is still personal, thoughtful, and relevant.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Overusing variables: More isn’t better. Too many blanks, and your message feels generic again.
- Not updating your templates: If you’re still using last year’s “COVID times” intro, it’s time to refresh.
- Ignoring feedback: If people aren’t replying, something’s off. Don’t blame the tool—fix your approach.
- Assuming everyone wants a chat: Be honest about why you’re reaching out. No one likes vague requests.
Summary: Keep It Simple, Iterate Fast
Personalization doesn’t need to be complicated—or take all day. With Getmagical, you can build templates that make outreach faster and more human, as long as you focus on what actually matters: relevance, context, and a little effort up front.
Don’t get hung up on perfection or over-automation. Start small, see what lands, and tweak as you go. The goal isn’t to send the most messages—it’s to get real replies from real people. That’s where Getmagical actually shines.