When online business owners are asked what is holding them back from growing their business, the most common response is cold market networking. Many people in social selling are either uncomfortable with the idea of cold messaging or unsure of how to approach it. Most of us have been on the receiving end of what not to do - someone has sent you a generic and spammy message that you either ignored or deleted. This type of message leaves a bad taste in people's mouths and makes them afraid to approach new customers because they don’t want to be that person. The good news is, there is a way to approach cold messaging that allows you to meet new people who want to talk to you and are open to building a connection. Let’s discuss six effective tips and strategies that will help you send out cold messages online that get noticed and generate positive responses.

 #1: Do your research

When it comes to cold messaging, it's important to remember that quantity isn’t going to get you the best results. Who you are sending your messages to, and the quality of that message matters. Simply throwing spaghetti at a wall and hoping something sticks is not an effective approach. Instead, take the time to do some research before sending out that first message. By browsing through your recipient's social media profile, you can gain valuable insight into their interests, needs, and preferences. This information allows you to craft a message that is tailored specifically to their unique situation, demonstrating that you are genuinely interested in them as an individual. Taking this extra step can increase the likelihood of a positive response and establish a strong foundation for future communication.

#2: Personalize your message generic

 Copy-paste messages are a big turnoff and the main reason why cold messaging has a bad name. When receiving this type of message, most people will ignore or delete it without a second thought. It's understandable why this is the case. After all, who wants to receive a message that feels like it was sent to hundreds of other people? It's impersonal and lacks the human touch that we all crave. Don’t waste your time sending out robot messages. If you want to increase your response rate, you need to make your message stand out. Personalize your message by addressing the recipient by name and mentioning something specific about them that caught your attention. By taking this extra step, you show that you have taken the time to research and understand the person you are reaching out to. It's a small gesture, but it can go a long way in building a connection. Personalization doesn't mean you have to spend hours researching each person you want to message. A little bit of effort can go a long way. Quickly browse their Facebook profile to get a sense of their interests and recent activities. You can craft a message from there that speaks to their specific situation and needs.

#3 Keep it Short and Sweet

In today's society, it is an undeniable fact that people have short attention spans. We live in an age of technology and are constantly bombarded with information at the touch of a button. From the moment we wake up to the moment we go to bed, we are inundated with messages and notifications from various online sources. If something doesn't immediately catch our attention, we are quick to forget about it and move on to the next thing. It is important to keep this in mind when we are crafting your online messages. Your messages to new clientele should be concise and to the point. The moment you send out a message that is more than a couple of lines long, you risk losing people’s attention. Communicate your main points clearly and avoid using jargon or technical terms that your recipient might not understand. To further enhance the effectiveness of your messages, consider breaking down the information into smaller parts. Not only does this make it easier for the recipient to digest, but it also encourages a back-and-forth dialogue that can lead to a more productive conversation. By keeping your messages concise and breaking them down into smaller parts, you make your communication stand out and keep your company information top of mind.  

#4 Be Respectful and Polite

When sending out cold messages, it is important to always be respectful and polite throughout the entire interaction. Remember that you are reaching out to people who don’t know you yet. Some hesitation and distrust are to be expected. Not everyone will respond to you, and not every response that you receive will be positive. Even when you have done your research, you can’t make assumptions about people’s interests or availability. Not everyone will be interested in what you have to offer, and that’s okay. The best thing you can do in that situation is simply move on to the next person. Avoid using pushy or aggressive language, especially when you find yourself on the receiving end of it. Focus your time and attention on individuals who are interested in your words. In doing this, you can concentrate on building the relationships that are going to be the most valuable to you. #5 Follow up appropriately When it comes to cold messaging, follow-ups are a crucial part of the process. Not receiving a response to your initial message doesn’t necessarily mean that the recipient isn’t interested. You aren’t yet far enough in the process to make any assumptions. Messages get lost, overlooked or forgotten about on a regular basis. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the recipient isn’t interested. It is just as likely that you caught them at a time when they were busy. 

Following up appropriately is key to getting a conversation going. You want to strike a balance between being excitedly persistent and being pushy or annoying. A simple: “Hey, how is your day going?” can remind the recipient about your initial message and can be just what's needed to get the ball rolling. A follow-up message is another opportunity for your message to be seen and it gives the receipt a second chance to respond. Wait 24-48 hrs before following up to a message with no response and try a different time in the day to get the best results.

 #6 Provide value

A great way to make your cold message stand out among the rest is to make sure that you can provide value to your recipient. Craft a conversation where you can share relevant information, offer a solution to a problem or provide a unique perspective to an issue that interests them. In doing this, you demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in your field and show your potential customer that you understand their wants and needs. Showing value helps to generate interest and increases your chances of a positive response. When you understand your potential customer and what they are looking for it is easier to build the trust that leads to a long-term relationship. 

Final Thoughts Sending cold messages doesn’t have to be a scary and daunting task. Messaging new people is one of the easiest and most effective ways to build new relationships. Using these tips and strategies, you can send effective messages that get noticed and receive positive responses. Remember that cold messaging is all about building relationships with new people.  Relationships are built on trust, mutual respect and common interests. Take the time to craft your messages carefully and keep an open mind about the responses you receive. The more you reach out, the more you can refine your approach until you find what works best for you. Lastly, try and find the fun in cold messaging! One of the biggest benefits of running an online business is that you constantly get to meet and help new people. Enjoy the process of building new relationships and growing your business.

Written By: 

Jennifer Gillap