Cold email gets a bad reputation because most people do it wrong. But the data from millions of B2B cold emails tells a different story: done right, cold email is one of the most effective ways to reach recruiters.
What Response Rates Should You Expect?
Let's set realistic expectations:
- Average response rate: 4-8.5%
- Good response rate: 10-15%
- Excellent response rate: 15%+ (top performers hit 40%+)
If you're getting 5%+ responses, you're doing better than most. If you're below 3%, something in your approach needs fixing.
The Factors That Move the Needle
1. Personalization (+30% Response Rate)
Personalized emails boost response rates by 30.5%. This doesn't mean just using their first name. Reference:
- A recent company announcement
- A post they shared on LinkedIn
- Something specific about the role or team
2. List Size Matters
Smaller, targeted campaigns average 5.8% response rates compared to 2.1% for larger lists. Quality over quantity.
3. Subject Lines
47% of recipients open emails based on subject line alone. Best performers:
- Reference a mutual connection if you have one
- Mention a specific skill or role
- Keep it under 50 characters
- Avoid spam trigger words (free, urgent, opportunity of a lifetime)
4. Email Length
50-200 words perform best. Recruiters are busy—get to the point.
5. Timing
Best times to send:
- Day: Tuesday through Thursday
- Time: 8-11 AM or 1-3 PM (recipient's timezone)
- Avoid: Monday mornings (inbox cleanup) and Friday afternoons (weekend mode)
6. Follow-Up Strategy (Critical)
Here's where most people fail: reply rates soar by up to 49% after the first follow-up. Yet 70% of people give up after one email.
Follow-up schedule:
- First follow-up: 3-4 days after initial email
- Second follow-up: 4-5 days later
- Third follow-up: 5-7 days later
The Perfect Cold Email Structure
- Hook (1 sentence): Why you're reaching out, personalized to them
- Value (2-3 sentences): What you offer, with specific achievements
- Ask (1 sentence): Clear, low-commitment next step
- Sign-off: "Thanks in advance" performs 36% better than other closings
Who Responds Most?
Interesting data point: C-level executives respond 23% more often than non-C-suite employees, with average reply rates of 6.4%. Don't be afraid to reach out to senior people—they often have more flexibility in their inbox management.
Why Cold Email Beats LinkedIn InMail
LinkedIn InMail has become oversaturated. Recruiters receive hundreds of messages weekly—most go unread.
Email lands in a less crowded space. It feels more personal. And it shows you made extra effort to find their contact information.
The hardest part? Getting verified recruiter email addresses. That's where having access to a quality database becomes invaluable.