Hey there,
The other day, one of our customers asked me:
“What’s a good open rate for cold emails?”
It’s a great question, and I thought it might be useful to share my answer with all of you. So, let’s dive in.
What are open rates, anyway?
Simply put, your email open rate is the percentage of recipients who open your email out of the total number of emails sent (excluding bounces).
For example, if you send 100 emails and 20 people open them, your open rate is 20%. Now, onto the million-dollar question.
What’s a good open rate for cold emails?
The average open rate for cold emails is around 44%.
But here’s the kicker – top-performing campaigns can achieve open rates of 80% or even higher!
How can you track your open rates?
Most email trackers work by adding a small image – called a tracking pixel – at the bottom of each email you send.
Every time someone opens your email, it downloads that tiny image, and Mailmeteor records this in its database.
How to boost your open rates?
If your open rates are lower than 40%, here are 5 battle-tested strategies that you can use to pump up those numbers:
1️⃣ Clean your email list
Regularly remove inactive subscribers and invalid email addresses. A clean list means better deliverability and engagement rates.
2️⃣ Improve your subject lines
Use numbers and specific data. Keep it concise (40 characters or less). Spark curiosity or provide value.
3️⃣ Optimize your sender identity
Use a recognizable name (like “John Smith” or “John from Mailmeteor”) and add a professional profile picture.
4️⃣ Personalize beyond the First Name
Get creative with your subject line. Try [Title + Last Name]. Or reference relevant details about the recipient’s company, location, or industry.
5️⃣ Time your sends
Test different sending times to find your audience’s sweet spot. Consider your recipient’s time zone.
Remember, improving open rates is an ongoing process. Keep testing, refining, and you’ll see those numbers climb!
Got any open rate success stories or tips you’d like to share? Hit reply and let me know - I’d love to hear from you :)
Happy sending,
Laura
P.S. Want more metrics to know how well you’re doing compared to others? Check out our complete guide on cold email statistics.