"No One Opens Cold Emails" and 5 Other Lies You Shouldn't Believe

Cold email marketing gets a bad reputation, with myths and misconceptions that make it seem impossible to get results.

It typically comes from people who’ve never tried it or don’t know the right way to execute cold emailing.

Many of the most common claims about cold email marketing are exaggerated or outright false.

In this post, we debunk some of the biggest lies about cold email so you can use it effectively.

Lie #1: No One Opens Cold Emails

The myth that no one opens cold emails is completely bogus. While open rates are lower for cold outreach compared to warm leads, they definitely aren't zero.

A well-crafted cold email campaign can achieve 10-20% open rates on average. And for targeted, high-quality prospect lists you can boost rates as high as 40%.

The key to getting high open rates are:

• Personalizing your outreach

• Writing compelling subject lines

• Identifying the right prospects

• Avoiding spam filters by following deliverability best practices.

With the right approach, a significant number of prospects will open and read your cold emails.

Lie #2: People Will Mark Your Emails as Spam

Another common myth is that people will instantly mark your cold emails as spam. But people are unlikely to mark you as spam after just one email.

As long as you avoid spammy tactics, use relevant content, and target prospects carefully, your emails will usually make it to the inbox.

You may get some spam reports if you send low-quality, high-volume emails. But tuning your outreach and focusing on relevance will keep spam complaints minimal.

Lie #3: Cold Emails Will Damage Your Sender Reputation

Some claim that cold outreach will tank your sender reputation and hurt email deliverability. It's true that your sender score may dip slightly when you first start cold emailing in bulk.

However, we recommend NEVER using your primary domain for cold emailing. If you want to take cold emailing seriously, you should buy a separate domain(s) for sending cold outreach emails.

Always make sure you comply with anti-spam laws and have proper opt-out measures in place.

Lie #4: It only works for bottom-of-the-barrel services

This myth assumes cold outreach is only effective for promoting cheap, spammy offers.

But many Fortune 500 companies use cold outreach to connect with potential customers. Microsoft, IBM, Intel and other leading brands incorporate cold email and outreach in their marketing.

The key is providing value and promoting offerings that solve real problems.

A B2B SaaS startup can generate trials through cold outreach to corporate teams. And an e-commerce site selling premium outdoor gear may use cold outreach to connect with enthusiasts interested in new products and sales.

Cold outreach effectiveness depends on your ability to help people, not your perceived business size or quality. Top-tier services and premium brands can drive results through properly targeted and valuable cold outreach campaigns.

Lie #5: You need a huge list to make it worth it

Many think you need thousands of prospects for cold email success. In reality, targeted campaigns to just 100-300 top prospects can drive conversions. The key is outreach quality, not quantity.

With hyper-targeted messaging, you can achieve solid response rates even with smaller lists. Prospects will see you understand their specific needs.

Mass blasting generic emails to giant lists is actually less effective. With smaller batches you can carefully craft each message while avoiding spamminess.

Remember, cold email is about long-term relationships. A few dozen strong prospects engaged consistently over time can be better than a giant list contacted once.

Focus on targeted, relevant prospect lists of any size. With quality over quantity, even small yet focused cold email campaigns can drive sales.

Lie #6: The response rates are abysmal

Many people claim cold email is a waste of time since response rates are typically low, often 2-5% on average. But for specialized businesses with high-value products/services, even low response rates deliver results.

A single cold email conversion can provide higher ROI than other channels thanks to the low costs.

Additionally, with hyper-targeted outreach and personalization, response rates over 10% are achievable.

Don't obsess over low initial response metrics - focus on long-term value. A few quality conversions from cold email can be hugely profitable despite overall low response rates.

For the right business model, cold email remains extremely efficient in terms of customer acquisition costs and lifetime value.

Conclusion: Disregard the Lies, Embrace the Opportunity of Cold Email

Despite the persistent myths and misconceptions surrounding cold email marketing, the truth is that it remains one of the most effective tactics for generating new business when executed properly.

By avoiding common assumptions and exaggerations, you can craft targeted cold email campaigns that engage prospects and drive conversions.

Focus on personalization, relevance and delivering consistent value rather than trying to "trick" people into quick sales.

With a strategic foundation and the right long-term approach, cold email provides an unmatched channel for cost-efficiently building strong customer relationships over time.

Don’t let myths deter you from one of today’s most powerful yet underutilized marketing techniques.

Apply the tips in this post, tune your strategy as you go, and let the results speak for themselves.