Last Updated on November 2, 2022 by Emmanuel
The adage that it’s not what you know but rather who you know still holds, and connecting with the right people is always beneficial if you want more success.
But have you ever cold-emailed the CEO of a big company, and what were the results?
Many say it is not worth it, while for others, it can be an effective way for busy executives to notice you.
The most important thing is researching and crafting a well-written email demonstrating why you are worth the CEO’s time.
Of course, sending such emails doesn’t guarantee the recipient will read and respond to them, but he who risks nothing obtains nothing.
So, let’s discuss the topic further in the following sections.
What is cold-emailing?
Cold-emailing sends an unsolicited message to someone through email, hoping he will read and reply.
Many agree that it can be a great way to get in touch with high-profile people you otherwise wouldn’t have access to.
But you must cold-email correctly to avoid being seen as pushy and unprofessional.
Experts in the matter recommend a few things to remember before considering cold-emailing.
- Write your email well and check if it doesn’t contain typos to make an excellent first impression.
- Be direct and tell the recipient why you are emailing him and your expectations.
- Stay polite and respectful in your cold email, and remember you are sending it to an important person.
Why would you cold-email the CEO of a big company?
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 feel that going straight to the top is more beneficial.
- Maybe you have a product or service the company can benefit from and want to connect directly to the decision-maker.
- You can also cold-email CEOs to ask for advice or feedback about your business ventures.
These are a few examples, and for whatever reason, cold-emailing CEOs can effectively get noticed.
Many have used this method to get their feet in the doors of large companies, and you, too, can do it.
Ensure you have a compelling reason for reaching out to such high profiles before sending your emails.
Doing so will prevent your message from being deleted or ignored without even being read and wasting your time.
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How to increase your chances of success when cold-emailing the CEO of a big company?
There is no guarantee that a CEO of a big company will read your cold email and respond to it.
Please find below the tips on how to increase your chance of success with these emails.
First, take the time to research the company, its CEO, its priorities, and its pain points.
Determining the added value you intend to offer the company is also better.
When you have gathered this information, write a well-compelling email clearly and concisely.
Besides, check the spelling and grammar errors the email may contain before hitting the send button to avoid being seen as adventurous.
How many words are suitable for a cold email?
Remember you are trying to connect with someone with a busy schedule; hence the need to be as brief and concise as possible.
Please get to the point and write a cold email that might not contain more than 120 words, including the introduction and the reason for reporting it.
Avoid overwhelming the CEO, who will likely read and reply to it during working hours or spare time.
Your email can also be a bit less or longer depending on why you send it, so adjust your word count accordingly.
How long do people take to respond to cold emails?
Many say that the recipients respond to over 85% of cold email emails on the first day.
In the second position comes around 6% of these emails that get answered on the second day after sending them.
However, please don’t take this as gospel because it depends on the recipient’s schedule and willingness to respond.
It will help if you don’t expect an immediate response when cold-emailing a big company’s CEO.
Who has cold-emailed CEOs with success?
Some people have sent cold emails successfully, but we will give you a sample of one.
In one of his best-selling books, “The 4-Hour Work Week,” Tim Ferriss says how he cold-emailed dozens of CEOs about his business venture.
The results were astounding because many of the recipients, including the CEO of Yahoo, responded positively to the proposal.
Those who have read the 4- Hour Work Week book were happy to know about such a huge success showing how cold emailing is a powerful tool if used correctly.
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What is the difference between a cold email and a warm email?
The main difference between a cold and a warm email is the familiarity between the sender and the recipient.
An unsolicited email sent without prior interaction or personal relationship is called a cold email.
On the other hand, you can send a warm email to a recipient you have contacted or have a relationship with the sender.
That said, the recipient is likelier to ignore or delete a cold email, while he typically reads and responds to a warm email.
Should I follow up after a cold email?
It can be challenging to follow up on cold emails because recipients think you are persistent and willing to put pressure on them.
Remember, cold emails are unsolicited, and 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.
Who is the most successful CEO?
Final Thoughts
That’s what we can say in this article on whether you have ever cold-emailed the CEO of a big company.
You can send such emails if you genuinely want to contact them and think they will likely respond positively.
A few people like Tim Ferriss have successfully done it, while those who try to pitch ideas or sell something to CEOs will probably fail.
But remember, CEOs are always busy and receive many unsolicited emails daily, meaning they will unlikely respond to yours.
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