Last Updated on July 29, 2023 by Emmanuel

Cold-emailing a big company’s CEO has become common in today’s business world, but only bold and fearless individuals dare to try this audacious practice.
Bypassing traditional channels to reach out to a top decision-maker directly typically entices those wanting to pitch their ideas or seeking opportunities.
But has anyone ever cold-emailed the CEO of a big company? Please tell us if it did work in the comment section.
This article examines the benefits; drawbacks and tell you the strategies likely to maximize your success by leveraging such opportunities.
Table of Contents
What is cold-emailing?
Cold-emailing sends an unsolicited message to someone through email, hoping he will read and reply.
The strategy helps to connect to high-profile individuals you otherwise wouldn’t have access to.
But you must cold-email correctly to avoid being seen as pushy and unprofessional.
Below are a few things to remember before considering cold emailing a high-profile decision-maker.
- Write your email well and check if it doesn’t contain typos to make an excellent first impression.
- Tell the recipient directly why you email him and your expectations.
- Stay polite and respectful as you cold email a vital personality.
Why would you cold-email a big company’s CEO?
Several reasons explain why you might use cold emails to contact CEOs of big companies.
You might search for an internship or a job, and going straight to the top is more beneficial.
Or you have a product or service that can benefit specific companies and want to connect directly to the decision-makers.
You can also cold-email CEOs for advice or feedback about your business ventures.
These are a few examples, but for whatever reason, cold-emailing CEOs can help you to get noticed effectively.
Many have used this strategy to get their feet in large companies’ doors; you, too, can try it; the outcome may surprise you.
Have a compelling reason to reach such high profiles before emailing to prevent your messages from being deleted or ignored without being read.
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How to increase success when cold-emailing high-profile CEOs?
You don’t have a guarantee that a big brand’s CEO will read your cold email and respond to it.
However, this communication method can increase your chance of success; consider the following tips:
First, take the time to research the company, its CEO, its priorities, and its pain points.
It would be best if you also determined the added value you intend to offer the company to maximize teh chance of being answered.
After gathering this essential information, write a well-compelling email clearly and concisely the recipient will likely respond.
Besides, check the spelling and grammar errors your email may contain before hitting the send button; it avoids being seen as adventurous.

How many words suit a cold email?
You are trying to connect with busy individuals; be as brief and concise as possible.
Please get to the point and write a cold email that might not contain more than one hundred twenty words, including the introduction, brief message, and conclusion.
Don’t overwhelm the CEO; these personalities typically read and reply to such messages during busy working hours; unless they have spare time to devote to them.
Your email can also be less or longer depending on why you send it; adjust your word count accordingly.
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How long do CEOs take to respond to cold emails?
We need to determine the timeline for CEOS to respond to cold emails, but most would respond to over 85% of these messages on the first day.
Besides, around six percent of these emails would get answers on the second day after the recipients have received them.
However, the timeline may also vary by the recipient’s schedule and willingness to respond; stay patient until they respond or don’t consider your message.
It will help if you don’t expect an immediate response when cold-emailing a big company’s CEO; they need more time to devote to everything.
Who has cold-emailed CEOs with success?
Some individuals have sent cold emails successfully, but we will give you a sample of one.
In “The 4-Hour Work Week,” best-selling book Tim Ferriss tells how he cold-emailed dozens of CEOs to propose a business venture.
The results were so astounding that many recipients, including the CEO of Yahoo, responded positively to the proposal.
Those who have read the four of our workweek books were happy to learn about such a huge success; cold emailing is a powerful strategy; use it correctly.
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Is there a difference between a cold email and a warm email?
The familiarity between the sender and the recipient distinguishes both emails.
An unsolicited email sent without prior interaction or personal relationship is called a cold email.
Conversely, you can send a warm email to a recipient you have contacted before or have a relationship with.
That said, the recipients are =likelier to ignore or delete cold emails, while they typically read and respond the warm ones.

Do I need to follow up after a cold email?
Following up on cold emails can be challenging because recipients think you are persistent and willing to pressure them.
Remember, cold emails are unsolicited; many find that following up on them is pushy and intrusive.
Someone who doesn’t respond to your initial email doesn’t likely find interest in your proposal, and you can’t change his mind.
Final Thoughts
Many use cold-emailing a big company’s CEO as a bold and effective strategy to connect with decision-makers, which can open doors to several opportunities.
Of course, the strategy can be intimidating initially, but careful preparation and well-crafted messages increase the chances of getting answers.
Personalize your email by highlighting your value proposition, and communicate concisely and respectfully.
Furthermore, know that all attempts don’t yield satisfying results, but yiu have nothing to lose.
Take that leap of faith to cold-email the CEO of a big company; it might perhaps lead to something interesting.
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