We train recruiters in how to
write first approach emails to candidates they’ve never met. Bit niche? Well, these tips are pretty useful for any ‘cold’ sales email.
Professional networking site
LinkedIn has made finding good candidates easy. But it’s also made candidates
more discerning. That means you have to work harder than ever to get their
attention.
According to LinkedIn, the
average InMail response rate is just 25%. Whether you’re a full-time recruiter,
or just looking to improve your response rates, these tips will help you cut
through the noise.
1. Quality not quantity
A bigger mailing list doesn’t necessarily equal better results. Instead
of taking the ‘spray and pray’ approach, concentrate on a smaller number of
high-quality prospects.
Stalk them online before you sit down to write your email or InMail. If
you know what time they shower in the morning, you’ve gone too far. But
checking out their LinkedIn and social media profiles and post for any shared
connections or interests is a must. That’s because you need to…
2. Find a connection
If your email looks like a copied-and-pasted job spec, it will either:
A) Be ignored
B) Be deleted
A) Be ignored
B) Be deleted
Use the information you discovered earlier – like a shared language,
hobby or employer – to create a personal connection. Weave it into a catchy subject
line. Then follow it up in the first line of the email before getting to your
pitch.
“Hello Tony! I hear you’re a fellow craft beer enthusiast…”
