Are you looking to take your cold email game to the next level? I‘ve got you covered.
In this comprehensive 4,300 word guide, we‘ll unpack:
- Why cold email is still a lucrative tactic
- Best practices for crafting effective messages
- The top 10 AI writing assistants for cold outreach
- In-depth review of 10 leading solutions
- Pro tips for success with AI email tools
- A peek into the future of AI in marketing
By the end, you‘ll have unparalleled insight into leveraging artificial intelligence to skyrocket campaign performance. Sound good? Let‘s get started!
Cold Email Is Far From Dead – The Revenue Numbers Speak For Themselves
Many marketers think cold email is old school or dead. But the data tells a far different story. This outreach channel continues driving substantial returns across industries when executed correctly.
Consider these statistics:
- 200% higher conversion rates vs phone or social media outreach
- $44 return generated per $1 spent, amongst the highest marketing ROI
- 760% more effective than social posts at acquiring customers
- Companies see email drives 41% more revenue than social media
With 42 billion messages sent daily and 306 billion emails per year, inboxes remain a vibrant marketplace.
And email marketing spend is projected to grow to $26 billion by 2027 as businesses double down on what delivers results.
The key lies in relevance + personalization.
Let‘s look at some tips to stand out…
Hook Attention with Thoughtful Subject Lines
Keep subject lines around 50 characters to ensure full visibility on mobiles. Then clearly highlight the value you offer:
✅ "Quick question on optimizing supply chain costs"
Asking questions often compels opens:
✅ "Got 25 minutes next Tuesday to discuss inventory workflows?"
Personalize Every Email with Relevant Details
Using first names and company details demonstrates you customized messaging:
✅ "Hi [first name], given [company‘s] expansion into LATAM, have you considered streamlining cross-border payments?"
Adding recent triggers shows you did research:
✅ "Congratulations on raising your Series B…"
Structure Content in an Easy-to-Scan Format
Break text up with short paragraphs and headers. Bullets and numbered lists also aid skimming. Paint the key pain point first before transitioning into your solution. Finally, make it stupid simple for readers to convert or continue conversations.
But crafting such targeted emails at scale is tough.
This is where AI comes to the rescue.
Top 10 AI Assistants for Cold Email Outreach
Artificial intelligence makes light work of the heavy-lifting in outbound campaigns. Let‘s break down the top 10 contenders:
| Tool | Key Capabilities |
|---|---|
| Reply | AI-generated emails with deliverability toolkit |
| Mailshake | End-to-end solution with voicemails and live chat |
| Woodpecker | Deliverability diagnostics and productivity features |
| Quicklines | Subject line writing focused AI |
| SalesHandy | Chrome extension for easy outreach |
| Phrasee | AI optimization for marketing language |
| PersistIQ | Sequence emaisl with robust analytics |
| TacticalCRM | Workflow automations with calendar sync |
| Lemlist | Team inbox with shareable templates |
| Right Inbox | Highly customizable email templates |
I‘ve categorized them across 3 dimensions:
Core writing automation – Tools like Reply, Phrasee and Quicklines fully generate content with AI. Others need heavy inputs.
Secondary capabilities – Mailshake, Woodpecker and Right Inbox enable workflow automations around core writing.
Premium capabilities – SalesHandy, Lemlist and PersistIQ offer sophisticated orchestration features suited to large teams.
Now let‘s compare 10 leading solutions across 8 categories to identify strengths and weaknesses:
| Tool | Core writing AI | Secondary tools | Premium tools | Deliverability | Integrations | Analytics | Pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reply | ✅✅✅ | ✅ | ✅✅ | ✅ | ✅✅ | $$ | AI focus | |
| Mailshake | ✅✅ | ✅✅ | ✅✅ | ✅ | ✅ | $ | All-rounder | |
| Woodpecker | ✅ | ✅ | ✅✅✅ | ✅ | ✅ | $ | Deliverability | |
| Quicklines | ✅✅✅ | ✅ | Free | Subject lines | ||||
| SalesHandy | ✅✅ | ✅ | ✅✅ | ✅ | ✅✅ | ✅✅ | $$ | Enterprise |
| Phrasee | ✅✅✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅✅ | $$ | Language optimization | ||
| PersistIQ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅✅ | ✅ | ✅✅ | ✅✅✅ | $$ | Analytics |
| TacticalCRM | ✅ | ✅✅ | ✅ | ✅✅ | ✅✅ | $ | Workflows | |
| Lemlist | ✅ | ✅✅ | ✅ | ✅✅ | ✅ | $$ | Teams | |
| Right Inbox | ✅ | ✅✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | $ | Customization |
$ = Under $50/mo, $$ = $100+/mo
As you assess tools against needs, track tangible metrics pre and post rollout to quantify impact.
Now let‘s analyze the pros and cons of 5 solutions more closely.
Reply – Impressively Accurate AI Writing
Reply deploys powerful AI called Reply Brain to write ridiculously good emails.
Key Strengths:
✅ Similar to a human copywriter for quality
✅ Built-in deliverability tools like spam/error checks
✅ Suite of workflow automations
Potential Weaknesses:
❌ Message length restricted per plan
❌ Contacts need manual importing vs automation
❌ Steeper learning curve than some competitors
Verdict: Ideal for teams who value AI writing over other facets. Reply shines where accuracy matters most.
Mailshake – Reliable Launch Pad For All Campaigns
Mailshake‘s end-to-end platform makes light work of engagements.
Key Strengths:
✅ Easy-to-use workflows for beginners
✅ Activity capture from web and socialmedia
✅ Generous and unlimited free version
Potential Weaknesses:
❌ Customization more complex for developers
❌ Contact limits unless on paid plans
❌ Reporting needs more depth
Verdict: A great workhorse covering all basics, especially for early stage companies.
Quicklines – Specialized AI For Irresistible Subject Lines
As the name suggests, Quicklines focuses on opening lines.
Key Strengths:
✅ Huge database for varied subject lines
✅ Easy integration with calendars
✅ Affordable including freemium access
Potential Weaknesses:
❌ Email copy needs external creation
❌ No analytics on subject line efficacy
❌ Contacts need manual importing
Verdict: Perfect for solopreneurs prioritizing catchy subject lines on a bootstrap budget.
Woodpecker – Making Inboxes Happy
Woodpecker‘s tools ensure your emails get to the right inboxes.
Key Strengths:
✅ Strong diagnostics to fix deliverability
✅ Useful productivity features like templates
✅ Generous free version to try out
Potential Weaknesses:
❌ Light touch on core copywriting itself
❌ No end-to-end workflow automation
❌ Contact needs third party integration
Verdict: An easy-to-use solution if your focus is inbox placement over conversions.
PersistIQ – Getting Granular With Email Analytics
PersistIQ offers a suite of analytics capabilities for data-driven marketers.
Key Strengths:
✅ Powerful statistics enriched with demographic data
✅ Automate complex conditional sequences
✅ Custom objects to map CRM data relationships
Potential Weaknesses:
❌ Email assistant more simplistic
❌ Higher learning curve for extensive features
❌ Premium pricing may deter smaller teams
Verdict: A must-have for growth marketers who love crunching campaign numbers.
I hope these clear comparisons help you make informed decisions.
Now let‘s tackle tips to extract maximum value from AI assistants.
7 Pro Tips To Boost AI Email Tool Efficacy
Here are actionable strategies optimize artificial intelligence for cold calling:
1. Combine AI Drafting With Manual Refinement
Use tools for initial content creation. But customize with human nuance before sending. Such targeted details make messaging memorable.
2. Assess Deliverability And Readability
Inbox placement is the first step. But clicks and conversions matter more. Understand email formatting to help readers scan better.
3. Map Time Savings To Revenue Growth
Tools promise dramatic productivity gains. Quantify hours saved and redirect effort towards selling activities.
4. Prioritize Features Aligned To Current Maturity
Many feature-rich platforms tempt scope creep. Stick to capabilities solving top pains to maximize ROI.
5. Continually Scrutinize Contact Data Responsibly
While outreach automation needs personal data, verify sources ethically. Seek consent when possible or mask sensitive elements.
6. Maintain Humans In The Loop
Despite advancements, AI lacks nuanced human understanding. Maintain supervision mechanisms for recommendations.
7. Use Multi-Factor Metrics For Impact Analysis
Assess email opens, clicks, responses, meetings booked before-and-after tool adoption rather than just deliverability or writing quality.
Continued learning combined with agile technology adoption accelerates growth.
Speaking of rapid advancement, let‘s gaze into the future.
Peeking Into The Crystal Ball – Where Will AI Go Next?
Here are two trends to watch as artificial intelligence matures:
Smarter Sentiment Interpretation
Today‘s tools focus on writing accuracy. Soon AI will dynamically customize messaging based on micro-expression analyses of prospect photos or calls using computer vision and voice recognition.
No-Code Demystification
Currently, working with AI needs technical skill. But soon no-code aides will enable easy decision flow building so anyone can take advantage of predictive recommendations.
Exciting times ahead!
AI cold email tools have immense potential to impact sales cycles positively while unlocking human creativity for higher value tasks.
Key Takeaways – It‘s Time To Embrace AI Assistance
Let‘s recap core learnings:
- Cold email outreach drives unmatched ROI but needs personalization and nuance at scale
- AI writing assistants help draft and send tailored, trackable emails faster
- Choosing solutions that align to your growth stage and feature needs ensures maximum value
- Combining artificial intelligence with human creativity counterbalances individual weaknesses
- Advancements in AI will continue making sophisticated capabilities more accessible
I hope this guide helped demystify the landscape of solutions promising to turbocharge results. Don‘t leave revenue on the table. Join the AI revolution to hit ambitious goals!
What questions do you still have on cold email and AI tools? Let‘s discuss in the comments below!
