How Long Should a Cold Email Be & 9 Tips to Make It Perfect

When you're crafting a cold email, length matters. A cold email that's too short can come off as insincere or spammy, while one that’s too long can overwhelm and bore your reader. So, how long should a cold email be? In this article, we will explore the ideal cold email length, and how to increase cold email deliverability.

Inframail's email infrastructure can help you achieve your objectives, such as crafting awesome and impactful cold emails. Our solution optimizes your email deliverability to maximize engagement and response rates.

Why Does Cold Email Length Matter?

man asking important questions - How Long Should a Cold Email Be

Nobody today has the luxury of reading long emails or emails with many paragraphs and fat sentences between:

Meetings
Lunch breaks
Deep-focus work
Water cooler conversations,

We rarely have enough time to skim through the little text on phones or websites. According to the art of skimming:

We read the headlines
Subheadings
Bullet points
Any bolded words in between
Anything that looks out of the ordinary

That means big chunks of text anywhere remain unread just like the terms and conditions of every product or website. Your cold emails could meet a similar fate if you don’t update the format to fit people's reading patterns today. It should be:

Short
Bulleted
Neatly formatted with enough breaks
Shouldn’t look like the preface to a book

Why Does Cold Email Length Matter?

The length of your cold emails is crucial, far more than you might expect. The right balance can be the key to shifting from:

Open rates
Impressive click-through rates
Higher number of appointments and closed deals

While optimizing subject lines and intros can enhance open rates, the real game-changer lies in what comes after the email is opened. It's about the content and the call to action. That’s what truly influences your cold emails’ effectiveness. Each email contains rates showing how effectively you move prospects from reading your email to engaging in meaningful conversations.

Look at it this way: People receive a plethora of emails daily. A good subject line might draw them in, but a lengthy, text-heavy email will lead to quick dismissal. They might ignore it, archive it, or mark it as spam. That's why it's vital to keep your cold emails concise. Short, direct messages respect the prospect's time and are more likely to be read and acted upon. Each word in your email should serve a purpose, pushing the reader towards the action you want them to take.

How Long Should a Cold Email Be?

The ideal length of a cold email should range between 50-125 words according to multiple sources. That’s about 5-15 lines of text in an email in your cold email outreach. Response rates to emails that were 75-100 words long were a whopping 51%, a study by Boomerang which surveyed up to 40 million emails reported. Another study conducted by email software, Constant Contact, revealed a 16% click-through rate for emails with approximately 20 lines of text.

Therefore, we recommend that cold emails be 5-15 lines of text or 50-150 words. That is succinct, scannable, and strong enough to capture the 8-second attention span of readers today. You can test out longer lengths of up to 15 lines in your follow-up emails. As long as they include credible information and a clear and valuable pitch that is relevant to the reader, they are enough. Long and winding emails will get buried in the sea of emails people receive every day.

How Many Lines Should a Prospecting Email Include?

A prospecting email should be 5-15 lines long or up to 150 words. Since people’s attention spans are the most valuable currency in the world right now, and everyone (literally) is vying for their attention, you have to make your emails shorter and the copy more effective.

Pro Tip:

A/B tests different:

Cold email subject line lengths
Email body copy
CTA
Optimizes for better open rates and higher response rates

Why Short Cold Emails?

In B2B sales, a good cold email stands between you and a deal. That means a lot is riding on the ‘good’ aspect of your email. Essentially, what makes a cold email good is how well it values the prospect’s time. One way to write an effective cold email is to keep it short.

Here’s why ‘short’ is good:

It’s easier to read. When there is a mountain of text we have to go through, we tend to put it off unless it was sent by our boss or it was a book.
If it’s short and easier to read, prospects can give your email a quick scan and decide to reply or ignore it within seconds.
Clear call-to-actions at the end of these emails also unburden the reader of the decision-making process. This specifically targets today’s email readers. It’s common knowledge that the attention span is dwindling to a few seconds. That’s true for all of us professionals.

Studies show that even company-wide emails from leadership have only about 50% open rates–an indicator of information overload among people today. So, shorter cold emails respect the decision makers' time. It’s mobile-friendly. Up to 42% of people read emails from their smartphones and shorter emails look the best on mobile phones. It’s best to consider that most decision-makers are checking their emails on their smartphones. So short, bulleted, and neatly formatted emails that are easily scannable make for an effective cold email strategy.

When to Write a Short Message

Short emails work particularly well when you aim to direct prospects to a link for more details. You should consider keeping a cold email short in the following situations:

Initial contact: When reaching out to someone for the first time, it’s advisable to keep the email short. Long emails from unknown senders can be overwhelming and may not get read.
Busy professionals: If you’re targeting busy professionals who receive a high volume of emails, a short and to-the-point email is more likely to grab their attention and get a response.
Mobile users: Many people check their emails on mobile devices, where long emails can be challenging to read. Short emails are more mobile-friendly and increase the chances of engagement.
Clear and specific requests: A shorter email is more effective when your email has a specific purpose or request, such as scheduling a meeting or asking for a brief response. It’s easier for the recipient to understand and respond to a clear call to action.
Follow-ups: In follow-up emails, especially if I’ve previously established contact, keeping the email brief and reminding the recipient of my previous conversation can be more effective in prompting a response.

Five Short Cold Email Templates Under 150 Words

1. Short Cold Email Highlighting Value Proposition

Subject line: Congrats! Have you thought of {{business value}}?

Hi {{FirstName}},

I learnt that {prospect’s company} has {company action}. Congratulations. (I stumbled on the news because I follow updates in {targeted industry}.) I’m assuming when this happens, {business value} will become a priority? Our {solution} actually helped {prospect’s competitor} get in their new direction quite quickly – something I thought you might be interested in reading more about. Let me know if you’d like to read a case study of how we helped {competitor}--maybe it could help your team, too.

Hope you have a productive {day of the week},

{Your name}

Pro Tip: Not using capitalized letters in the opening of a sentence is a form of pattern interrupt in cold emailing. Nearly all emails open with “Hi,” “Hello,” and “Hey” and mostly start with “I,” which prospects can easily ignore.

To stand out and get the prospect’s attention, you could write in a way that breaks the monotony starting with lowercase, a couple of periods.

2. Short Cold Email With a Compliment

Subject Line: It’s finally great to connect with a sales legend

Hi {FirstName},

I have to say this right off the bat: Your work and your posts on {social media} are inspirational! I just bagged a deal last week using your {call/email template}. So thank you. I’d love to pick your brain on {their specific skill}. I believe you can hit {their goal} with {your service}. Here’s a video I’ve made that summarizes how I’d {explain how your service helps them}. If you think this is valuable for your business, let me know if you have 15 minutes.

Have a stress-free day,

{your name}

3. Short Cold Email to a C-Suite Executive

Subject Line: {Personal element you found on their LinkedIn/internet} with {Prospect company}

Hi {prospect name, your {prospect’s marketing collateral)--the one you shared last month on {medium}-really helped us {how their collateral helped solve your pain point}. Thank you! You hosted/posted/created/executed X {collateral} this year. Is it safe to assume that you may be struggling with {their pain point}? I’m asking because {your product/service} was built solely out of our need to target this very problem, and thought it could help you out.

Can I send you a 3-minute demo of how exactly using this {product/service} solves {problem} for you?

Have a productive Monday,

{sign-off}

4. Short Cold Email for Networking

Subject Line: How are you staying so productive?

Hey {prospect name},

I know this is out of the blue. But I came across your recent LinkedIn post on improving productivity, and–crazy coincidence–I had just started practicing time blocking last week. Definitely going to test out the rest of your tips.

Here's a book one of my former manager swear by on productivity tips for SDRs–{amazon link}. I was actually scouring the web for SDR productivity tips because I'm scaling my team. I'd love to know your thoughts on improving the team's productivity. I’d be over the moon if you’d be kind enough to share your insights and how you arrived at them.

Hoping to connect,

{sign-off}

5. Follow-up Email After No Response From Cold Email

Subject Line: A gift for you and {prospect’s company}

Hi {prospect name}, I know you might be caught up with {problem} considering the recent economic changes. I’m going to go out on a limb here and assume that {metric} is crucial to your team right now? I noticed that you had checked out our {website landing page} I had sent last week. If it helps, you could test run the {product} for 2 weeks.

Your two weeks of the free trial will start when you activate the following link - {include link}. {Persona} I know personally have boosted their productivity 3x after their team adopted {your tool}. Feel free to redeem the free trial anytime in the next 2 months.

It’d be my pleasure to answer any questions,

{Sign-off}

When Should a Cold Sales Email Be Longer?

In our analysis, even emails with 200+ words sometimes got replies – as long as they were valuable, readable, and targeted to the prospect. Some studies have shown that longer emails can be more successful, particularly with follow-ups. Follow-up emails typically need more context, as your prospect may have forgotten your first message. You may need to add some extra information so they understand your request.

Even though this email goes over the sweet spot of 120 words, it is:

Skimmable: the paragraphs are short and well-spaced.
Readable: the language is simple and easy to understand.
Targeted: it mentions the creator’s content and gives a specific offer.

Which is why it was still successful! In cases where prospects are unfamiliar with your business, longer emails come into play. While a brief subject line can grab attention, a longer email is necessary to provide vital information and introduce your brand. Offering sufficient details is essential because prospects are likely to take action with a solid understanding of your business. This becomes especially crucial when your call to action involves deeper engagement and conversion. In such situations, a longer email helps build authenticity and trust in sales.

9 Tips to Create a Powerful Cold Email While Keeping the Perfect Length?

woman giving a presentation - How Long Should a Cold Email Be

1. Make Your Writing Simple

Long, complex passages can turn off cold email readers. A follow-up email that’s relaxed and informal is far more appealing than a professional one. Aim for an approachable tone to increase your chances of getting your emails opened and read. Be yourself. Communicate with a purpose.

Your email will receive greater attention from recipients if it appears as though you are discussing a customer success story. Adding personality to your emails is another crucial step. Include a current event or business concern, along with your feelings. A little humor might also be appropriate. These techniques function.

2. Write a Clickable Subject Line

Keep your subject lines between 1-8 words, and make them short, sharp, and exciting. They should be unique and personalized to your prospects:

Mentioning their recent activity
Addressing a pain point
Bringing up a common interest, etc.

Be Clear and Concise

Summarize the purpose: Ensure your subject line reflects your email’s main point or offer.
Keep it short: Aim for a length that is easily readable. Generally, keeping it under 50 characters ensures that most email clients do not cut it off.
Avoid jargon: Use simple and easily understandable language. Spark interest.

Create intrigue

Use a subject line that makes the recipient curious about the email’s content without misleading them.

Use action words: Verbs and action-oriented language make your subject line more compelling.
Personalize: Mentioning the recipient’s name, company name, or a reference to a recent event can make for a catchy subject line. Avoid clickbait tactics.
Be honest: Ensure your subject line accurately represents the email’s content. Avoid overpromising or sensationalizing.
Steer clear of spam triggers: Avoid using all caps, excessive punctuation, or spammy phrases like:
- Free
- Buy now
- Urgent

Here are a few examples of clickable subject lines:

Hey {{firstname}}, congrats on your funding round!
Build {{companyname}} like {{commoninterest}} little surprise for you {{firstname}}!
For the data proving which subject line convert
Plus 10+ examples of subject lines with 80%+ open rates
Read the complete guide to cold email subject lines.

3. Make Your Greeting Catchy

Use the {{firstname}} tag to show you’ve put more effort in than a basic “hey,” or “hi there.” A graphic comparing non-personalized greetings "Hey there, hey, hello" versus "Hi {{firstName}}, Yo {{firstName}}.

There is a red X next to Hey there and a green check mark next to the personalized versions Whether you use a more formal “Hello” versus a simple “Hey” will depend on your reader. Do your research to know what your prospects respond best to!

4. Turn Your Intro into a Hook

The exact hook to use will vary based on:

Your target audience
Cold email strategy
The type of industry you’re in.

It determines the reader’s first impression and whether they read the rest of the email.

Here are a few successful examples:

Make an irresistible offer: “Mind if I bring you more customers, for free?”
Give value: “Here’s some feedback on {{companyname}}…”
Mention mutual connections: “While interviewing Timothy Yetch, he told me to…

Use our guide on how to start an email for a full breakdown of a cold email intro that converts, plus real examples.

5. Craft a Compelling Middle

Come up with a quick storyline your prospects can relate to. You can turn to their pain points, identify their challenges, and convince them that you are part of the solution. Remember to be:

Specific
Add as much relevant personalization as you can
Show understanding of your prospect.
Communicate the benefits that only you can offer.

6. Finish With a Strong CTA

Stick to these rules for CTAs:

Don’t have more than one call-to-action.
Keep it short and sweet.
Remove friction: for example, use a scheduling link to book a time.

7. Sign Off

Keep your signature simple, with just these details:

Your name
Your title
Name of company

Links to your social media accounts, if relevant. Don’t add too much fancy formatting or GIFs, or it will distract from your call-to-action.

8. Proofread and Edit

Before you send your email, it’s essential to review and refine it to ensure it conveys your message effectively and professionally.

Check for errors: Rigorously proofread your email to eliminate spelling or grammatical mistakes, ensuring professionalism and clarity.
Keep it professional: Ensure the tone is respectful and professional. Avoid slang and complex jargon, and keep your message concise and straightforward.

9. A/B Test the Email Length

The above pointer discusses the industry standard, but humans are unique. They can react differently to short emails, so always test the length of your email. Finding the optimal email length that resonates with your prospects will increase the likelihood of a successful campaign.

Create multiple emails; in one variant, you can limit your email length to 25 to 50 words and have a clear CTA.
You can be more descriptive.
Your call-to-action includes more specifics and requests a response or a lead.
Get the performance report; the email with the most clicks is the ideal length for your email campaign.

Start Buying Domains Now and Setup Your Email Infrastructure Today

Cold emailing can be tedious and stressful, especially when you lack the right email infrastructure to support your outreach efforts. This is where Inframail comes in.

At Inframail, we are revolutionizing cold email infrastructure with unlimited inboxes at a flat rate. We provide:

Microsoft-backed deliverability
Dedicated IP addresses
Automated technical setup

It helps:

Agencies
Recruiters
Sales development representatives

The Benefits of Using Inframail for Your Cold Email Campaigns

Running cold email campaigns with Inframail comes with a ton of advantages.

Our service boasts automated:

SPF
DKIM
DMARC setup

Unlike traditional providers that charge per inbox and leave you wrestling with technical configurations, Inframail streamlines the entire process. We handle the complex infrastructure setup while you focus on reaching more prospects.

InfraMail provides the robust email infrastructure you need without the usual technical headaches and per-inbox costs, whether you're an:

Agency looking to scale outreach
A recruiter connecting with candidates
An SDR driving sales

Start buying domains now and setup your email infrastructure today with our email infrastructure tool.

Why Does Cold Email Length Matter?

Nobody today has the luxury of reading long emails or emails with many paragraphs and fat sentences between:

Meetings
Lunch breaks
Deep-focus work
Water cooler conversations,

We rarely have enough time to skim through the little text on phones or websites. According to the art of skimming:

We read the headlines
Subheadings
Bullet points
Any bolded words in between
Anything that looks out of the ordinary

That means big chunks of text anywhere remain unread just like the terms and conditions of every product or website. Your cold emails could meet a similar fate if you don’t update the format to fit people's reading patterns today. It should be:

Short
Bulleted
Neatly formatted with enough breaks
Shouldn’t look like the preface to a book