5 min read · 2026-06-19
The biggest hurdle of cold email is answering the question "why should I trust you?" Mentioning a specific connection in the opening — a shared industry event, a product they import, or a trade show you both attended — improves open rates. Getting the recipient's name and company right is the bare minimum for personalization.
Keep it under 150 words. Limit your product pitch to one or two key specs, and close with a single, clear call to action — a sample request or a short online meeting. Multiple CTAs dilute focus.
Writing in the local language pays off. In countries where English is not a primary business language (Japan, Vietnam, Arabic-speaking markets, and others), leading with a local-language paragraph and appending an English version below is a practical bilingual format that professionals actually appreciate.
Timing matters too. Tuesday through Thursday mornings in the recipient's local timezone tend to yield better response rates. If you use an automation tool, be sure to schedule sends according to the destination timezone, not your own.