Looking to up your cold email game? In this quick guide, we’ll share data-backed insights to help you craft emails that convert. Discover the ideal length for your cold emails and learn how to turn leads into deals.
Our support team, along with Corentin, the co-founder of Mailmeteor, frequently receives questions about email marketing. One of the most common inquiries is: “How long should a cold email be?”
This question often leads to others, such as: “Does the length of a cold email affect its conversion rate?” (Spoiler: Yes, it does.) Or, “Is there an ideal word count that can increase my response rates?”
These are all crucial questions for anyone looking to improve their email outreach. So, in this guide, we’ve decided to provide answers based on data from 10,000+ campaigns and studies from other cold email platforms.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- What is the ideal length of a cold email?
- Why are short cold emails so effective?
- How long should the subject line be?
- Which elements should a cold email include?
- 3 cold email templates under 150 words
Sounds good? Then let’s dive in.
What is the ideal length of a cold email?
According to a Lemlist study, the optimal length for cold emails is 75-125 words. Data shows that emails with around 120 words led to a 52% booking rate, compared to just 20% for emails with 300+ words.
As for very short emails (less than 50 words), they resulted in a 40% booking rate. Which is higher than emails around 200 words (37%), or 250 words (25%). So ideally, your emails should be brief, but not too short.
| Cold Email Length | Booking Rates |
|---|---|
| 50 | 40% |
| 120 | 52% |
| 200 | 37% |
| 250 | 25% |
| 300 | 19% |
Another study by Constant Contact showed that emails with 20 lines of text tend to generate higher click-through rates (0.16%) than emails with 10 lines (0.08%), 30 lines (0.11%), or more (0.10%).
| Lines of Text | Click-through Rate |
|---|---|
| 10 | 0.08% |
| 20 | 0.16% |
| 30 | 0.11% |
| 40 | 0.10% |
| 50 | 0.10% |
To make your cold emails even more effective, remember to use short paragraphs and line breaks. Don’t use formatting (this seems unnatural). But make sure that your message is skimmable and easy to read.
Why are short cold emails so effective?
In the world of cold outreach, brevity isn’t just a virtue. It’s a powerful tool. Studies show that emails between 75-125 words tend to get the best response rates. But why exactly do shorter cold emails pack such a punch? Let’s dive into 5 key reasons:
- They’re respectful: In today’s email-saturated work environment, a concise message demonstrates that you value your recipient’s time. This respect often translates into higher engagement rates.
- They’re instantly digestible: Short cold emails are scannable. Recipients can grasp your message in seconds, significantly increasing the likelihood of prompt decision-making and action.
- They’re crystal clear: Brevity forces you to distill your message to its essence. No fluff, just impact. This clarity often results in more compelling communication and a more enticing call-to-action.
- They’re memorable: Brief emails are more likely to be read in full, ensuring your message sticks. Unlike lengthy emails that risk being skimmed or abandoned, concise messages capture attention and leave a lasting impression.
- They’re intriguing: A short initial email leaves room for future correspondence without overwhelming the recipient. It’s about piquing interest and sparking conversation, not laying out your entire pitch at once.
As Blaise Pascal, the 17th-century French philosopher, observed: “I’m writing you a long letter because I don’t have time to write a short one.” Crafting short emails often requires more effort than writing long ones. But the payoff is substantial.
Remember: crisp, focused cold emails with minimal distractions can significantly boost your click-through rates (CTR) and reply rates. So, take the time to trim your message. Your recipients (and your campaign results) will thank you.
How long should the subject line be?
Most cold email experts explain that short email subject lines are the go-to answer. I’ve experimented with 1-2 word subject lines myself, with decent results.
Short subject lines, like “Important”, “Quick question”, or “Urgent” tend to get good open rates (> 50%) because they pique curiosity.
They create an information gap, leaving the recipient wanting to know more. However, this isn’t necessarily the most efficient strategy.
A study by Backlinko showed that the best cold email subject lines are between 36 and 50 characters.
| Number of characters | Response rate |
|---|---|
| 1-15 | 16.8% |
| 16-35 | 19.6% |
| 36-50 | 22.3% |
| 51-70 | 22.1% |
| 70+ | 20.5% |
In fact, this length generated 32.7% more replies than short email subject lines (1-15 characters). The explanation? Longer subject lines are more specific. Here’s an example: “Quick question about your latest blog post”.
However, don’t overdo it. Cold email subject lines exceeding 70 characters tend to lose impact. And they often get truncated on mobile devices.
Which elements should a cold email include?
While keeping your cold email short and sweet is important, you can’t skip over the key elements that make it effective. Each part plays a crucial role in grabbing attention, building interest, and encouraging a response.
Here’s what you need to include:
- Compelling subject line: Your subject line is the first thing your recipient will see. Make it intriguing, clear, and relevant to their needs. A strong subject line can significantly boost your open rates.
- Personalized greeting: Start your email with a greeting that feels personal and genuine. Using the recipient’s name is a good start, but we recommend taking it a step further by mentioning something specific about them (or their company). Personalization shows you’ve done your homework and aren’t just blasting out generic emails.
- Concise introduction: Quickly introduce yourself and establish credibility. Keep it short – just a sentence or two that explains who you are and why you’re reaching out. Focus on how your background or expertise is relevant to their needs.
- Value proposition: This is the heart of your email. Clearly communicate what’s in it for the recipient. What problem can you solve for them? Make your value proposition clear, specific, and compelling to grab their attention. For added impact, consider including social proof, such as testimonials or case studies.
- Clear call-to-action: A cold email without a clear CTA is like a conversation with no conclusion. Tell the recipient exactly what you want them to do next – whether it’s scheduling a call, replying with more information, or clicking a link. Keep your CTA simple and actionable to increase the chances of a response.
- Professional signature: Include your name, title, and contact information. We’ve written a complete guide to help you craft the perfect signature for cold emails, make sure to check it out :)
Each element should be brief and purposeful. Remember, your goal is to pique their interest and start a conversation. Not to close a deal in the first email. So focus on building rapport and providing value.
3 cold email templates under 150 words
Need a shot of inspiration to craft an effective cold email? Here are 3 short email templates that you can use to kickstart your cold outreach campaign. Feel free to customize them to generate more opens, clicks, and replies.
1. The introduction email (55 words)
Hi [Name],
I hope this email finds you well. I recently read about [Company]’s [project or achievement] in [area]. Impressive stuff.
Given your role in [their position], I thought you might be interested in how we’ve helped companies like [Customer] overcome [specific challenge].
Is this a relevant topic for you?
Best regards,
[Your Signature]
2. The referral email (76 words)
Hello [Name],
I hope you don’t mind me reaching out. [Mutual connection] spoke highly of you and suggested we connect.
I’m reaching out because my company, [Your Company], specializes in [Expertise]. We’ve recently helped [Customer] achieve [Result].
Given your role at [Company], I thought our [Product] might be relevant to your goals in [Specific Area].
Would you be interested in a quick chat to explore if there’s a fit?
Looking forward to your thoughts,
[Your Signature]
3. The follow-up email (53 words)
Hi [Name],
Hope this email finds you well. I just wanted to quickly follow up on my last message about your [Specific Issue].
I believe we can help you achieve [Goal] without [Paint Point], just like we did for {{ Happy Customer }} recently.
Is this subject top of mind for you?
Cheers,
[Your Signature]
The short of it
When it comes to cold outreach and sales emails, longer doesn’t mean better. In this quick guide, we’ve shared data-driven tips to help you craft cold emails that drive more opens, clicks, and replies.
We’ve seen that the ideal length for your cold emails is 75-125 words, which translates to roughly 20 lines. As for your subject lines, aim for 36-50 characters to maximize your reply rates.
That being said, these standards may not apply to every industry, and the result may vary depending on what you’re trying to sell, or the preferences of your target audience. Which is why we recommend running your own tests.
What’s next? Sign up to Mailmeteor and send your first cold email campaign today. Our free plan lets you send up to 50 personalized emails a day. You can also track your emails in real-time and schedule follow-ups.
Happy sending 💌
