
The study was conducted by Ziemek Bućko, content manager at Hunter.io, a platform for finding email addresses. The results of the analysis and the conclusions drawn from it were published on the company blog: What’s the Best Word Count for Cold Emails.
Bućko analyzed data from 34 million emails requesting contact to determine the optimal length of the sent message in terms of obtaining a response. The results indicate that shorter emails requesting contact have a higher response rate than longer ones.
- The average reply rate for the entire sample was 3.7%.
- Emails with a length of 20-39 words had statistically the highest response rate (4.5%).
- Messages with a length of 60-79 words (4%), 80-99 words (4%), and... 160-179 words (also 4%) achieved results clearly above the average.
The conclusion: shorter emails are more likely to be read and replied to. This is valuable advice for those who are engaged in prospecting and sales on a daily basis.
This also signals that the most frequently cited guidelines from Boomerang, recommending cold emails of 50-125 words, are now outdated. Moreover, as Ziemek Bućko emphasizes, they date back to 2016, which in the evolution of e-marketing is prehistoric. Furthermore, many commentators have overinterpreted some of the conclusions from the Boomerang study regarding its scope and methodology.
Length Matters, But...
However, the Hunter.io analyst emphasizes that the length of the email requesting contact is just one of many factors influencing the response rate. Other equally important factors include:
- Subject line: It should be clear, concise, and compelling enough to encourage the email to be opened.
- Message content: It should be personalized, valuable, and contain a call to action.
- Target audience: Emails requesting contact should be sent to the right people who are potentially interested in your offer.
From here, it’s easy to conclude that the optimal length of an email is a statistical curiosity that alone will not guarantee success. It is one of the factors worth considering from a UX perspective, but the key to success lies in the proper combination of all elements of the cold mailing puzzle.
For more information and data regarding the analysis, visit: https://hunter.io/blog/cold-email-word-count/
COMMERCIAL BREAK
New articles in section Marketing and PR
AI will take up to 70% of traffic from online stores. TrustMate Report
KFi
There is a quiet but radical change happening online. Traditional SEO, which for decades determined brand visibility, is losing its relevance. Now, it's no longer search engines that define a company’s online presence, but generative artificial intelligence.
How to find topics for communication
Aleksander Pawzun
"We have nothing to say" is a phrase heard all too often. Yet practice shows that every business has the potential to tell stories. You just need to learn how to spot them and turn them into content that appeals to your audience.
How to reduce food waste? Packaging design matters
KFi
Researchers from China have proven that visual packaging elements and consistent messaging can be effective tools in the fight against global food waste. They published research results showing that designers and marketers can make a real difference.
See articles on a similar topic:
Modern Mobile Communication. How Companies Build Loyalty by Phone
KFi
Companies can no longer treat mobile communication channels as a side element of their operations. An effective mobile strategy is becoming a cornerstone of customer contact, a tool for improving service, and a way to optimize internal processes. If they know how to use it.
Foreign online stores face distrust in Poland. See TrustMate Report
KFi
Poland’s e-commerce market is booming, yet foreign online stores still struggle to earn consumer trust. Why do Polish shoppers prefer local sellers? A new report uncovers the roots of this distrust and reveals what international brands must do to bridge the gap.
Artificial Intelligence in B2B Sales. Forrester's Predictions for 2025
BARD
B2B boldly experimented with generative artificial intelligence in 2024, but next year, industry leaders plan to focus on sustainable solutions that increase revenue.
Email Marketing Done Right. How to Avoid Ending Up in SPAM
BARD
One in three Poles receives between 10 and 20 promotional emails daily, and more than half receive at least 10, according to a study by Redlink. For an email to stand out among the competition and be read by the recipient, three key factors are essential, capturing the most attention from recipients.