Selling software development services to CTOs and CIOs?

Then you’ll need hyper-tailored outreach approach to stand out from competitors!

But how to write cold emails that will stand out in their inboxes and push engagement?

In this article, Tristan, Co-founder of Stepward, offers strategic tips to effectively communicate your software services and convert prospects into paying customers.

Cold email mistakes to avoid if you want to book more meetings

Here’s an example of a bad cold email that targets CTOs and CIOs of real estate companies

Here are Tristan’s insights on what needs to be improved to get more replies:

Mistake #1 → Wrong target audience

Ensure your email content targets the pain points of the exact person you’re talking to. Here, the focus is more on sales, so this email would target better salesperson or CMO than a CTO/CIO.

Mistake #2 → Unclear intent

This email looks more like a follow-up than an initial email. Make sure to introduce your prospects to your product service before pushing sales so they are fully aware of how it can help them achieve their goals.

Mistake #3 → CTA is unclear

This CTA doesn’t clearly tell whether leads should respond or wait for another email. Instead, make the next step obvious and easy to accomplish!

Mistake #4 → Lack of personalization

Instead of at the end of your email, add a personalized icebreaker as an intro line. This will help you catch prospects’ attention right off the bat and push them to read the rest of your cold email.

How to write a cold email for a high conversion rate

Here is how Tristan would rewrite the previous cold email and his tips for booking more meetings!

Tip #1 → Link personalization to email topic

Personalize your icebreaker and introduce the topic in a friendly and non-intrusive way. This will help you grab prospects’ attention and intrigue about the rest of your cold email.

Tip #2 → Adapt email content to specific target

Mention opportunities and difficulties specific to the person you’re talking to. Since this email is targeting CTOs/CIOs it doesn’t focus on sales and marketing goals as the previous one.

Tip #3 → Help prospects visualize their desired outcome

Mention use cases to help your leads visualize how your solution can help them. Maybe some new ideas will pop out, and they will be even more willing to talk to you.

Tip #4 → Use value-oriented approach

Make sure your email offers free value, even in the initial message. Push your prospects to engage by getting the value in the next step of the sales funnel.

Cold email template to replicate for more replies

Subject Line: Last VR update for your visits

Hello {{firstName}},

I see you’ve {{implemented/not implemented}} VR into your business.

Have you heard about Vision Pro, Apple’s upcoming VR game-changer? It’s creating a buzz for its simplicity, immersion, and innovation. Gen Z, a massive market in real estate, is especially interested.

I’ve thought of several ways this could benefit your clients: virtual tours, neighborhood exploration, renovations, and more. However, using this tech effectively needs specific skills and time.

Is your team equipped to develop for this new platform? It’s a whole new coding landscape.

If you’re interested, are you free this week to chat? I’ve got some tips to share.

Thanks,

{{signature}}

The key takeaways

Here are Tristan’s critical strategies for successful cold emails to CTOs and CIOs in software development:

-> Start with personalized icebreakers linked to the email topic
-> Adjust the email content to address the specific challenges of CTOs/CIOs
-> Use practical examples to help recipients visualize the benefits
-> Offer immediate value in your communication, leading to a clear call-to-action

You can watch Tristan’s complete cold email teardown here!

PS: Want more tips? Request outbound experts to review your cold emails here!