Entrepreneur

99% of the cold emails I receive have obviously done zero pre-qualifying. They’re simply using a shotgun approach to see if anybody bites. By externalizing the work of determining if there’s even an apparent need/fit, they create so much noise and digital litter that I’ve almost become completely inured to it. Almost. It is still annoying.

It’s extremely rare that an email shows any evidence whatsoever that the sender has even looked at my website or profile(s) to see whether their offering or ask is relevant to me.

I consider this approach disrespectful as it attempts toaster the time and attention of thousands of random recipients, and it leaves a bad aftertaste, which I associate with the sender (person and brand).

On the extremely rare occasion that someone has actually bothered to determine whether I might need their product or services, and simply mentions why they have a reasonable suspicion that they’re a good fit, I do respond.

But this requires them to spend time looking at my work and understanding me, before asking me to look at and understand theirs. Almost no one does this. All of the tactics people use to appear like they’ve done their homework (without actually doing it) are painfully obvious. And if you’re looking for people who are easily fooled, I definitely don’t want to do business with you.