If you’re using outreach tools and not seeing replies, you’re not alone. Most “sequences” just end up in spam, or worse—completely ignored. This guide is for anyone who wants to actually get responses using Nimbler, not just send more emails into the void. Whether you’re new or just tired of low conversion rates, let’s cut through the fluff and get to what actually works.
Step 1: Set Realistic Goals (Seriously)
Before you start cranking out sequences, get honest about what you want. “Book 10 meetings a week” sounds nice, but is it doable with your list, offer, and time? Here’s what matters:
- Know your numbers: If your average reply rate is 5%, don’t expect 50%. You’re not magic.
- Start small: Test on a few dozen leads before blasting your entire list.
- Track actual conversions: Opens and clicks are fine, but replies and meetings booked are what matter.
Pro Tip: Write down your starting numbers. You’ll want to see progress, not just activity.
Step 2: Clean Your List—Don’t Skip This
Nothing kills outreach like a dirty list. The biggest rookie move is importing 5,000 emails and hoping for the best.
- Only import leads you actually want to talk to.
- Remove obvious junk: Gmail addresses, outdated contacts, and anyone who hasn’t worked at the company in a year.
- Use Nimbler’s enrichment tools to fill in missing data, but don’t trust them blindly. Spot check a handful.
What to ignore: Buying random lead lists. They’re usually full of dead ends and spam traps. It’s lazy and it shows.
Step 3: Map Out Your Sequence (And Keep It Short)
The more steps you add, the more it feels like spam. Most people don’t need a 7-touch sequence. Here’s what works:
- 3–4 steps is enough: One intro, a polite follow-up, maybe a third nudge, and a breakup/last-chance email.
- Mix up channels: Don’t just email. Try LinkedIn or phone if it makes sense for your audience.
- Space it out: Daily emails are a fast way to get blocked. Give a couple days between touches.
Example sequence: 1. Email 1: Short intro, clear reason for reaching out. 2. Email 2 (2–3 days later): Quick bump, slightly different angle. 3. LinkedIn connection or message (optional): Only if relevant. 4. Email 3: Final nudge—short and direct.
What doesn’t work: Templates that sound like templates (“Just circling back…”). People spot these a mile away.
Step 4: Write Like a Human, Not a Robot
You’ve seen the outreach emails everyone ignores. Don’t be that person.
- Ditch the jargon: Talk like you would in person.
- Be direct: Say why you’re reaching out in the first sentence.
- Keep it short: 4–6 sentences max. If you wouldn’t read a long email from a stranger, neither will they.
- Personalize, but don’t fake it: A line about their recent blog post is fine if you actually read it. Otherwise, skip it.
A/B test subject lines and first sentences. The rest matters less if they don’t open.
What actually works: A clear ask (coffee, call, demo) and a reason it makes sense for them.
Step 5: Set Up Your Sequence in Nimbler
Once you’ve got your copy ready, building the sequence in Nimbler is straightforward, but don’t just click through the defaults.
- Import your cleaned list (see Step 2). Double check it before launching.
- Build your steps: Add each touchpoint, setting delays of 2–3 days between them.
- Personalization tokens: Use them sparingly. First name, company, maybe one other field if you’re sure the data is right.
- Set sending windows: Schedule emails to send during work hours in the recipient’s timezone. No one likes a 3am sales pitch.
Things to skip: Over-automating. If you’re using more than basic merge fields, expect mistakes and awkward emails.
Step 6: Monitor Replies—Not Just Opens
It’s tempting to obsess over open and click rates, but these don’t pay the bills.
- Focus on replies and meetings booked.
- Tag real replies: In Nimbler, mark which responses are positive, neutral, or negative.
- Update your sequence: If you get feedback (even a polite “not interested”), tweak your messaging. Don’t ignore signals.
Pro Tip: If you’re getting “not interested” a lot, your offer or targeting is off. Fix that before you send more.
Step 7: Iterate—But Don’t Overthink It
Most people tweak for days and never send. Don’t fall into that trap.
- Send to a small batch, get real replies, then adjust.
- Only change one thing at a time: If you edit subject lines, leave body copy alone so you know what’s working.
- Drop what doesn’t work: If a step gets no replies after 100 sends, cut it.
What to ignore: Fancy reports and dashboards. Focus on conversations, not vanity metrics.
What Works, What Doesn’t, and What to Ignore
Works: - Short, direct emails with a clear ask. - Clean lists and solid targeting. - Following up—but not endlessly.
Doesn’t work: - Long, meandering emails. - Overly clever or tricky subject lines. - Sending daily emails for weeks.
Ignore: - Hype about “AI-powered” anything that promises 10x replies. - Anyone selling you “secret templates.” There aren’t any.
Keep It Simple, Keep It Human
Most outreach fails because it’s too complicated—or too robotic. Stick to clean lists, short sequences, and messages you’d actually reply to. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of done. Try something, see what happens, and fix what’s broken. That’s how you get real results in Nimbler (or anywhere else, honestly).