Strategy
8 min read

Unlock Higher Responses: Know the Best Time to Send a Cold Email

Want more replies from your emails? Discover the best time to send a cold email and get increased response rates instantly!
Written by
Samruddhi
Published on
October 22, 2024

Did you know that emails sent at the right time can increase response rates by up to 30%? Timing is everything, especially with cold emails.

Understanding when your audience is most active can make or break many marketers and your outreach efforts. In this guide you'll learn the data-driven insights that reveal the best time to send cold emails and get more replies!

Importance of Finding the Best Time to Send Cold Emails

Importance of Finding the Best Time to Send Cold Emails
Importance of Finding the Best Time to Send Cold Emails

1. Maximizes Open Rates and Engagement

If you send emails when people are active, they are more likely to open and read them. Research shows that emails sent in the morning, around 9-11 a.m., often have higher open rates.

Timing matters because it makes your cold emails stand out. If your target audience recipient sees your email at the right time, they are more likely to reply. Cold email outreach remains one of the most effective ways to connect with new clients

2. Reduces the Risk of Getting Lost in the Inbox

Have you ever missed an important email because it got buried under others? The same thing can happen to your cold emails.

Sending them during regular business hours, like early mornings or mid-mornings, reduces the risk of your email getting lost. Knowing the right time of day to send cold emails can keep your messages at the top of the inbox.

3. Improves Campaign Efficiency and ROI

When you send cold emails at the best times, you spend less effort but get better results. This makes your campaigns more efficient. You save time and money, and you increase your chances of getting more sales.

Using data and analytics, like open rates and response rates, can help you find the best time to send cold sales emails. That way, you can make every cold email campaign count.

"Need expert guidance on how to improve your cold email strategy? Alore can help you plan and execute with ease. Contact us to get started."


Optimal Times to Send Cold Email Campaigns

Optimal Times to Send Cold Email Campaigns
Optimal Times to Send Cold Email Campaigns

1. Leverage Data to Find Your Audience’s Peak Time

Using data can show you when your target audience is most active. Studies reveal that cold emails sent in the morning, especially between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., often have higher open rates.

For example, Mailchimp data shows emails sent during this time frame see up to 20% higher engagement compared to other times.

Here’s how to do it:

  • Use Analytics Tools: Track your past cold email campaigns to see when open rates are highest. Platforms like Google Analytics or your email marketing software can give insights on peak activity times.
  • Monitor Open Rates: Look for patterns. If you notice your emails get more responses in the morning, that’s your peak time.
  • Test Different Times: Start by sending emails at different times of the day (early morning, afternoon, etc.) and track which time brings the best results.

2. Account for Time Zones: Send in Local Morning Hours

If you’re emailing people across different regions, time zones can be a big factor.

Sending a cold email in the morning from your location might mean sending it in the middle of the night for your recipient. This can cause the perfect message in your email to get lost or ignored.

Here’s how to do it:

  • Schedule Emails Based on Recipient's Time Zone: Many email marketing tools, like Mailchimp or HubSpot, let you schedule emails to send at a specific local time for each recipient. Use this feature to ensure your email lands in their inbox during their morning.
  • Adjust for International Campaigns: If you’re running campaigns across multiple regions, stagger your email times so everyone receives them during their local business hours.
  • Target Early Morning Hours: Sending emails early in the morning, around 8-9 a.m. local time, ensures your email is one of the first they see when they start their workday. Studies suggest this can increase open rates by up to 30%.

3.Utilize the Power of the “Second-Shift” Hour

Sometimes, sending emails during regular business hours isn’t enough.

Have you ever noticed people checking their phones or laptops in the evening, maybe after dinner? This is called the “second-shift” hour. It's personal time when people catch up on emails they missed during the day.

How to schedule for it:

  • Adjust for Time Zones: Make sure to consider your recipient's time zone. Sending an email at 8 p.m. in New York won’t work if your audience is in Los Angeles.
  • Experiment and Track: Test sending emails at different evening times and see which brings the best results. Tools like Google Analytics can help you check your email campaign performance.

4. Consider Industry-Specific Timing Trends

Different industries have different patterns. What works for one might not work for another. Understanding your industry’s email habits can help you find the best time to send a cold email.

How to find the right time to make your company name:

  • Research Data: Look for studies or reports on your industry’s email habits. For example, marketing emails often perform best on Tuesdays, while B2B emails might work better on weekdays.
  • Learn from Competitors: Check when your competitors are sending emails. You can use tools that monitor email campaigns to get insights.
  • Ask Your Audience: Sometimes, it’s best to go straight to the source. Ask your customers or clients when they prefer to receive emails.

Best Days to Send Cold Emails: What the Data Reveals

Best Days to Send Cold Emails: What the Data Reveals
Best Days to Send Cold Emails: What the Data Reveals

1. Tuesday Takes the Lead for High Engagement

If you want your cold emails to get noticed, try sending them on a Tuesday. Data shows that emails sent on Tuesdays tend to have higher open rates. Why?

Because most people start their week on Monday by catching up on emails, meetings, and tasks. By Tuesday, they have more time to check new emails.

How to use this tip:

Schedule Emails in Advance: Use email campaigns to plan and schedule your messages to go out on Tuesday mornings. You can even use tools like Google Analytics to check your email campaign performance.

Experiment and Track Results: Start by sending cold emails on different days, but pay close attention to how they perform on Tuesdays. You might find that Tuesday is your sweet spot for engagement.


2. Wednesday: The Midweek Momentum

Wednesday is another good day for sending cold emails.

Many people call it the “midweek momentum” because it’s a day of the week when people are still focused and productive. They are past the Monday rush but not yet thinking about the weekend.

How to schedule for midweek success:

Plan for Morning Hours: Sending emails early on Wednesday morning, between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., ensures that your message is one of the first they see when they start their day.

Consider Time Zones: If your recipients are in different time zones, adjust your email campaigns so they receive your message during their local business hours. This way, you avoid sending emails at the wrong time slot, which could lower your chances of getting replies.


3. Avoid Mondays and Fridays for Better Results

Sending cold emails on Mondays or Fridays can lower your chances of getting a response. Why? Think about how busy Mondays are. People start their week by catching up on emails and meetings.

Your cold email might get lost in the rush. On Fridays, many are preparing for the weekend. They might not have time to open new emails, or they could miss it entirely.

How to avoid this problem:

Send Emails on Midweek Days: Instead of Mondays and Fridays, plan to send cold emails on days like Tuesday, Wednesday, mid morning, early afternoon, or even Thursday.

Experiment and Track Results: Use tools to monitor email open rates and see how your emails perform on different days. That way, you can adjust your strategy based on real data.


4. Experiment with Thursdays for Last-Minute Opportunities

Thursdays can be a great day for sending cold emails. It’s near the end of the work week, but people are still focused on getting things done.

If someone hasn’t replied to an earlier email, research suggests sending a follow-up on Thursday could get their attention.

How to make the most of Thursdays:

Send Emails in the Morning: Send your cold emails early, around 9-11 a.m. This way, your message will be one of the first things they see when they check their inbox.

Test with Different Audiences: Different industries might respond better on different days. Track the performance of your campaigns to see if Thursday brings you higher open and response rates.

"Struggling with low deliverability? Improve your chances with Alore’s domain reputation management. Get in touch with our sales experts to learn how."


Improve Cold Email Success with Alore’s Sales Automation

Improve Cold Email Success with Alore’s Sales Automation

To truly unlock the potential of your cold email campaigns, consider integrating Alore’s powerful sales automation tools. Alore offers an all-in-one platform designed to improve your outreach efforts.

With features like tailored follow-ups, domain reputation management, and targeted retargeting, Alore maximizes the chances of your emails landing in the recipient’s inbox and driving engagement.

1. Advanced Sales Automation: Alore streamlines your cold email process through automation, ensuring timely and efficient outreach campaigns without manual effort.

2. Improved Deliverability: With features like domain reputation management, Alore helps your emails land in recipients and potential customers' primary inboxes rather than spam filters or folders.

3. Tailored Follow-Ups for Better Engagement: Automated, personalized follow-ups keep prospects engaged, increasing the likelihood of responses without overwhelming your team.

4. Data-Driven Optimization: Alore’s analytics tools provide insights on open rates, click-throughs, and engagement, helping you analyze results as you refine your strategies for optimal results.

"Enhance your cold email results effortlessly with Alore's smart automation—contact our sales team now and see the difference!"


How to Use Data to Optimize Cold Email Campaign Performance

How to Use Data to Optimize Cold Email Campaign Performance
How to Use Data to Optimize Cold Email Campaign Performance

1. Analyze Open Rates to Refine Cold Email Subject Lines

Open rates tell you how many people opened your email. A low open rate could mean that your subject line isn’t grabbing attention. Think about when you last got an email with a dull subject. Did you open it? Probably not.

Why it’s important:

First Impression Matters: The subject line is the first thing people see. A catchy and clear subject line encourages them to open your email.

Improve Engagement: When more people open your email, you have a higher chance of getting replies or clicks.

How to implement:

  • Test Different Subject Lines: Try sending the same email with different subject lines to see which one gets more opens. This is called A/B testing. For example, try using questions, numbers, or even emojis in your subject line.
  • Look at Open Rate Data: Track your email campaign performance to check which subject lines work best. If you notice one gets more opens, use a similar style in future emails.
  • Use Tools: Email marketing tools like Mailchimp or HubSpot can show you detailed open rates. These tools help you understand what your audience likes and dislikes.

Tip: Using personalized subject lines can make your cold email stand out in a crowded inbox.


2. Leverage Click-Through Data for Content Adjustments

Click-through rates (CTR) show how many people clicked on a link inside your email. This tells you if your email content was interesting enough for people to take action.

Why it’s important:

Measure Interest: If people are clicking your links, it means they find your content useful. A low CTR might mean your content is confusing or not engaging specific audience.

Improves Sales and Engagement: Higher click-through rates can lead to more sales, sign-ups, or other actions you want people to take.

How to implement:

  • Check CTR Reports: Most email platforms provide reports showing which links got the most clicks. Use this information to figure out what topics or calls-to-action (CTAs) work best.
  • Adjust Email Content: If certain parts of your email get more clicks, you know what your audience likes. Use this to shape your next email campaigns. You might want to change how you write your CTAs or add more interesting details.
  • Try Different Formats: Sometimes, a simple change can make a difference. Try using buttons instead of links, or bold colors for your CTAs to see if this improves your CTR.

3. Segment Engagement Data to Personalize Follow-Ups

Engagement data shows how people interact with your emails. It can tell you who opened your emails, who clicked links, and who didn’t respond. By using this data, you can create more personalized follow-ups.

Why it’s important:

Targeted Communication: When you send personalized emails, people feel like you're speaking directly to them. This can lead to higher response rates.

Better Results: If someone clicked on a link in your first email but didn’t reply, they’re interested. A follow-up email that addresses their needs can encourage them to respond.

How to implement:

  • Create Different Follow-Up Lists: Group your contacts based on their actions. For example, one list for people who opened the email but didn’t click, and another for those who clicked but didn’t reply.
  • Customize Your Message: Send follow-ups that match each group’s behavior. For example, if someone clicked on a product link, you can mention that product in your next email.
  • Use Email Tools: Email campaign tools like Mailchimp or HubSpot can help you track open rates and clicks. They also make it easy to segment your audience.

"Want to make data-driven decisions with your email campaigns? Let Alore's powerful analytics help you optimize every step."


4. Time-of-Day Data for Scheduling Optimization

The optimal time of day or week to send cold your emails matters. Some people check their emails in the morning, while others do it after work. Looking at time-of-day data helps you find the best time to send a cold email.

Why it’s important:

Higher Open Rates: Sending emails when your target audience is most active means more people will see them.

Maximize Engagement: If your audience is more likely to read emails in the evening, avoid sending cold emails to them in the morning could mean your email gets buried in their inbox.

How to implement:

  • Track When Emails Are Opened: Use tools like Google Analytics to check when your emails are getting opened. Look for patterns. For example, you might find that most of your target audience opens emails between 8-10 a.m. or during lunch breaks.
  • Test Different Times: Try sending cold emails at different times of the day and see which gets the best response. Start with early mornings or regular business hours, but don’t be afraid to test late afternoon or evening times.
  • Adjust Based on Time Zones: If your target audience is spread across different time zones, make sure to schedule your emails to match their local time. That way, you avoid sending emails at the wrong time.

5. Utilize Response Rate Analysis to Improve Outreach Strategies

Response rates show how many people replied to your cold emails. Analyzing this data helps you understand what your outreach emails worked and what didn’t.

Why it’s important:

Measure Effectiveness: A high response rate means your message connected with your target audience. If it’s low, it’s time to change your approach.

Increase Engagement: By understanding what made people respond to same message, you can craft better emails and increase your chances of more replies.

How to implement:

  • Track Response Rates: Use email marketing tools to track how many people reply to your campaigns. Look for patterns. Did more people respond when you sent emails early mornings or during regular business hours?
  • Adjust Your Messaging: If a specific email campaign had a higher response rate, analyze its content. Repeat what worked—like a friendly tone, a clear call-to-action, or a catchy subject line.
  • Experiment with Timing: Try sending cold emails at different times and track the response rates. It will help you find the best time to send a cold email that gets results.

"Ready to streamline your cold email outreach? Connect with Alore’s sales team today and discover how our automation tools can INCREASE your campaign performance."


Conclusion

Finding the best time to send a cold email can greatly improve your response rates. Use data, test different times, and adjust your approach. With the right strategy, you’ll see more success and better engagement. Keep experimenting and learn from each campaign. Happy emailing!

What is Alore?

Email Warmer

Generate real engagement to Warm Up Your Email Address without any human intervention

Drip Campaigner

Send emails that generate new business opprotunities for you

Collaborative Inbox

Improve team performance & customer experience - manage multiple email addresses from one place