I'm working on a project and trying to get customers before building the product. I've started doing cold emails in the last month and here is what I've learned:
- Do not use your real domain to send emails - go to namecheap and buy a lookalike domain for $10 (or more if you want to scale).
- In google workspaces, buy a mailbox ($7/month) or more if you want to scale (up to 3/domain). Each mailbox supports 50 emails / day without triggering spam.
- Set up forwarding from your new mailbox to a mailbox you check frequently so you don't miss any emails.
- Setup your DNS - you need to set text records for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
- Find an email warmup service. I use instantly. I think you can warmup 2 mailboxes for free (I pay $37/month for unlimited). This takes 2 weeks.
- Create an account on Apollo. You can start with the free tier if you are only using 1 mailbox. For more than 1 you need the premium plan ($99/month)
- Create a Sequence on Apollo. You should have at least 3 email steps (Day 1, 4, 10) and a/b test the emails to see what's working. Your emails should be VERY short, not include links (can trigger spam), and your CTA should be "Can I send you more information?". You don't want to ask for a meeting until the person has responded. Also include the opt out at the end.
- Find leads using Apollo's search. Make sure to use the filters Email Status --> verified and Date Refreshed in Apollo --> 3 months ago. These prevent email bounces which can hurt your mailbox reputation.
- Optional - you can run export leads from Apollo and verify email yourself. I haven't done this step yet, it's extra cost and overhead. So far on Apollo I have a small bounce rate (~5%) but my deliverability is good enough.
- Now you are ready to start sending so activate the sequences.