Customizing Templates
Customizing templates is essential for scaling your outreach efforts while maintaining a personal touch. Well-crafted templates help you automate messages for LinkedIn and email campaigns while ensuring that each message still feels tailored to the individual prospect.
Why Customizing Templates is Important
Efficiency at Scale
Templates allow you to reach a large audience quickly without writing individual messages from scratch. You can personalize key elements using variables, saving time while improving engagement.
Consistency Across Campaigns
Using templates ensures that your messaging remains consistent across campaigns, maintaining your brand voice and the key value propositions you’re promoting.
Easier A/B Testing
Customizable templates make it easier to run A/B tests by letting you tweak specific variables—such as subject lines or message content—and track which version performs best.
How to Customize Templates
Step 1: Choose a Template Format
Start by selecting the template type you need:
Connection Requests: For LinkedIn connection requests.
Follow-up Messages: For follow-up messages after the initial outreach.
Email Outreach: For multi-channel outreach combining LinkedIn and email.
Cold Outreach: For introducing your product or service to new prospects.
Step 2: Add Variables for Personalization
Insert dynamic fields (variables) that will automatically populate based on your prospect’s data. Common variables include:
[First Name]: Personalizes your greeting.
[Company Name]: Tailors the message to the company they work for.
[Job Title]: Adds a professional touch.
[Industry]: Relevant when discussing specific industry challenges.
[Mutual Connections]: Creates a sense of familiarity if you share connections.
For example:
Hi [First Name],
I see that you’re working at [Company Name] as [Job Title]. I’d love to connect and learn how your team is tackling [industry-specific challenge]. Let’s connect!
Step 3: Personalize for Relevance
Beyond using variables, tweak the message content to make it relevant to each prospect or campaign. You can:
Mention recent company news (e.g., expansion, product launch).
Refer to mutual connections or interests to build rapport.
Address specific pain points that are relevant to the prospect’s industry or role.
For example:
Hi [First Name],
I noticed that [Company Name] recently expanded into [New Market]. Congratulations! We’ve worked with companies in [New Market] to help them streamline [specific process]. I’d love to share how we can help.
Step 4: Structure the Call-to-Action (CTA)
Ensure your CTA is clear, concise, and action-oriented. Avoid vague requests. Examples include:
“Would you be available for a 10-minute call next week?”
“Let’s connect to discuss how [your solution] can help [Company Name].”
“I’d love to share some insights that may help your team with [specific challenge].”
Best Practices for Customizing Templates
A. Keep it Short and Engaging
Prospects are more likely to respond to brief, well-structured messages. Avoid overwhelming them with long paragraphs. Keep your introduction concise and get to the point quickly.
B. Focus on Value
When customizing templates, focus on the value you can bring to the prospect. Show how your product or service can solve their specific problem, and always include a benefit-driven CTA.
C. Test and Optimize
Use A/B testing to determine which template variations perform best. Test different subject lines, messaging styles, and CTAs to see which results in higher open and response rates.
D. Avoid Over-Personalization
While personalization is important, overdoing it can make the message feel forced. Keep it natural and relevant to avoid overwhelming the prospect with too many personalized details.
Managing and Updating Templates
Step 1: Save Frequently-Used Templates
Once you’ve created a winning template, save it for future use. You can have different templates for various outreach scenarios:
Cold Outreach: When contacting a prospect for the first time.
Warm Follow-ups: For leads who’ve shown interest but haven’t responded.
Re-engagement: For leads who went cold after previous engagement.
Step 2: Update Templates Regularly
Keep your templates up to date with the latest market trends, product updates, and customer feedback. Regularly refresh them to reflect new insights or approaches you’ve learned through testing.
Step 3: Organize Your Template Library
Create folders or tags for different types of templates so you can quickly find what you need. For example:
Sales Outreach
Product Announcements
Follow-up Sequences
Re-engagement Campaigns
Example of a Customizable Template
Subject: "Let’s connect, [First Name]"
Message: Hi [First Name],
I came across [Company Name] and was impressed by how you’re handling [specific challenge]. I work with companies like yours to [briefly mention your value proposition]. Would you be open to a quick chat next week to discuss how we can help [Company Name]?
Best,
[Your Name]
[Your Company]
Why Customizing Templates is Important
Efficiency at Scale
Templates allow you to reach a large audience quickly without writing individual messages from scratch. You can personalize key elements using variables, saving time while improving engagement.
Consistency Across Campaigns
Using templates ensures that your messaging remains consistent across campaigns, maintaining your brand voice and the key value propositions you’re promoting.
Easier A/B Testing
Customizable templates make it easier to run A/B tests by letting you tweak specific variables—such as subject lines or message content—and track which version performs best.
How to Customize Templates
Step 1: Choose a Template Format
Start by selecting the template type you need:
Connection Requests: For LinkedIn connection requests.
Follow-up Messages: For follow-up messages after the initial outreach.
Email Outreach: For multi-channel outreach combining LinkedIn and email.
Cold Outreach: For introducing your product or service to new prospects.
Step 2: Add Variables for Personalization
Insert dynamic fields (variables) that will automatically populate based on your prospect’s data. Common variables include:
[First Name]: Personalizes your greeting.
[Company Name]: Tailors the message to the company they work for.
[Job Title]: Adds a professional touch.
[Industry]: Relevant when discussing specific industry challenges.
[Mutual Connections]: Creates a sense of familiarity if you share connections.
For example:
Hi [First Name],
I see that you’re working at [Company Name] as [Job Title]. I’d love to connect and learn how your team is tackling [industry-specific challenge]. Let’s connect!
Step 3: Personalize for Relevance
Beyond using variables, tweak the message content to make it relevant to each prospect or campaign. You can:
Mention recent company news (e.g., expansion, product launch).
Refer to mutual connections or interests to build rapport.
Address specific pain points that are relevant to the prospect’s industry or role.
For example:
Hi [First Name],
I noticed that [Company Name] recently expanded into [New Market]. Congratulations! We’ve worked with companies in [New Market] to help them streamline [specific process]. I’d love to share how we can help.
Step 4: Structure the Call-to-Action (CTA)
Ensure your CTA is clear, concise, and action-oriented. Avoid vague requests. Examples include:
“Would you be available for a 10-minute call next week?”
“Let’s connect to discuss how [your solution] can help [Company Name].”
“I’d love to share some insights that may help your team with [specific challenge].”
Best Practices for Customizing Templates
A. Keep it Short and Engaging
Prospects are more likely to respond to brief, well-structured messages. Avoid overwhelming them with long paragraphs. Keep your introduction concise and get to the point quickly.
B. Focus on Value
When customizing templates, focus on the value you can bring to the prospect. Show how your product or service can solve their specific problem, and always include a benefit-driven CTA.
C. Test and Optimize
Use A/B testing to determine which template variations perform best. Test different subject lines, messaging styles, and CTAs to see which results in higher open and response rates.
D. Avoid Over-Personalization
While personalization is important, overdoing it can make the message feel forced. Keep it natural and relevant to avoid overwhelming the prospect with too many personalized details.
Managing and Updating Templates
Step 1: Save Frequently-Used Templates
Once you’ve created a winning template, save it for future use. You can have different templates for various outreach scenarios:
Cold Outreach: When contacting a prospect for the first time.
Warm Follow-ups: For leads who’ve shown interest but haven’t responded.
Re-engagement: For leads who went cold after previous engagement.
Step 2: Update Templates Regularly
Keep your templates up to date with the latest market trends, product updates, and customer feedback. Regularly refresh them to reflect new insights or approaches you’ve learned through testing.
Step 3: Organize Your Template Library
Create folders or tags for different types of templates so you can quickly find what you need. For example:
Sales Outreach
Product Announcements
Follow-up Sequences
Re-engagement Campaigns
Example of a Customizable Template
Subject: "Let’s connect, [First Name]"
Message: Hi [First Name],
I came across [Company Name] and was impressed by how you’re handling [specific challenge]. I work with companies like yours to [briefly mention your value proposition]. Would you be open to a quick chat next week to discuss how we can help [Company Name]?
Best,
[Your Name]
[Your Company]
Updated on: 14/09/2024
Thank you!