Stop Sending the Same Cold Emails Everyone Ignores

Everyone is following the same cold email (or we can call it outbound. Same same.) formula. You know the one. Buy the same data everyone is using, automate everything, write a quirky email, blast it to everyone, and get near 0% results. 

It’s like watching 50 companies show up to a party in the same suit and then wondering why nobody remembers their name the next day. If you’re tired of seeing your cold email land in the “maybe someday” folder, let’s talk about what actually works, because you deserve better than the same old playbook.

Start With Warm Prospects (Yes, Even Your Old Zoom Pals)

Here’s the golden rule. Start with warm prospects. If you’ve interacted before, your outbound to these people will always return the best results. Always start here. 

And no, I don’t mean “warm” like “they liked my comment once in 2018.” I mean:

• You’ve had a call, even if it was a while ago
• They replied to your email (even if it was “not now”)
• You met at an event and swapped at least one awkward story
• Someone intro’d you and you didn’t immediately delete the thread

If you’re not sure who qualifies, here’s a quick checklist:

Warm Prospect Checklist

• Did I have a real conversation with them (voice or email)?
• Did they show any interest, even if they didn’t buy?
• Would they remember my name (or at least fake it)?
• Has it been less than 18 months since we last talked?

If you can tick two or more, congratulations you have a warm list. Mine it before you even think about going cold again.

Deliver Something Memorable (And Please, Skip The Logo Mug)

Let’s fix the other outbound stereotype: the “personalized” email that’s actually just {FirstName} merge tags and a GIF of someone waving. 

Instead, deliver something memorable. Send a package with a handwritten note as your “cold email” and follow up a few days later. It doesn’t have to be expensive but DO NOT PUT YOUR LOGO ON IT.

Seriously. If you want to get ignored, slap your brand all over a notebook and watch it disappear into the swag graveyard. But send something unexpected? You get remembered. I once sent a quirky kitchen gadget (an avocado slicer, for the record – nobody forgets the person who enables better guac) and got a reply the next day. The note just said, “Saw you posted about making guacamole on LinkedIn. Thought you’d like this.” No pitch. Just relevance.

The magic isn’t in the size of the gift. It’s in the fact that you cared enough to do something different and didn’t treat them like a line in your CRM.

Turn Your Linkedin Connections Into A Real Warm List

LinkedIn is a goldmine if you stop thinking of it as just a billboard for your latest blog post.

Here’s what you do. Use LinkedIn 1st and 2nd-degree connections pulled from Upwork, filter out friends and clients, and you get another list of warm prospects.

How? 

Export your connections. Take out folks you already know well or who pay your bills. What’s left is a real, actionable list of people who at least know your face, and who won’t treat your outreach like a cold call from an unknown number.

If you’re feeling extra, map these contacts back to the Warm Prospect Checklist above. You’ll find a few gems you forgot about – people who might just be ready for a new solution now.

Stop Writing Case Studies. Write Press Releases Instead.

Case studies have their place, but they’re starting to blend together. Everyone’s got one, and they all say some version of, “Client was struggling, we showed up, now they’re happy.” 

Press releases beat case studies. Write a press release about a client success, publish it, then email it as an attachment to similar prospects to show what you can do for them. 

The difference? A press release feels like news. It gets attention. It shows you’re not just telling stories – you’re creating results that others notice.

Try this template to make it easy

Press Release Skeleton

• Headline “Company X achieves Y result after working with [Your Company]”
• First paragraph covers who, what, when, where, and why anyone should care
• Quote from your client (with permission)
• Quick bullet points of what changed (“In 3 months, pipeline grew 67%”)
• Link to the full press release or landing page

Send that to prospects in similar industries. It’s not a “look at us” brag, it’s “here’s what’s working in your space.” 

Big difference.

Mix In Your Own Moves (And Tell Me What Works)

Outbound doesn’t have to be a copy-paste parade packed with unread cold emails. Try what I’ve shared, but make it yours. Maybe you’ve got a story about a handwritten crossword puzzle, or you turned a “no” into a “yes” with a clever follow-up. I want to hear those.

Drop your ideas or topics you want covered in the comments or reply back. Keep this conversation moving, and I get to learn from what you’re seeing work out there.

Let’s wrap this up

• Everyone’s using the same cold email tactics. Don’t be everyone.
• Start with warm prospects. Always.
• Make your outreach memorable – handwritten notes and small, thoughtful packages beat automated emails every time.
• Use LinkedIn to build a real, warm list (not just a numbers game).
• Swap out case studies for press releases. Frame your wins as news, not homework.
• Most important: keep it human. That’s what gets you the response.

Want to grow your pipeline without feeling like a robot? Schedule a 15-minute call and let’s build your next campaign – no avocado slicer required (unless you want one).

Jason Bagley Founder, Growth Experts

I'm a business builder, the founder of Growth Experts, sometimes public speaker, and a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization. Mostly though, I’m just a dad to Eva & Cruz and a husband to Karina.