I’ve been sending out cold emails for a while now, helping B2B brands fill up their pipelines and set up modern outbound lead generation strategies.

Here’s the deal: I’ve seen outbound lead generation from every angle—whether it’s as a tool provider, a user, or a consultant. And the big question on everyone’s mind is: Is outbound dead?

All the usual trends seem to scream, “Yes, it is.”

But here’s the twist: we’ve cracked the code to do what only 0.001% of people are doing—and we’re getting even better results.

Want to know how? Let’s go!

Challenges in Cold Email Campaigns 

A. Microsoft:

Emailing through Microsoft ESP has become more challenging, especially for new domains or mailboxes.

Deliverability rates often suffer, preventing your message from reaching prospects' inboxes.

Tools like InboxInsights can identify these deliverability issues with tailored email audits designed specifically for Microsoft platforms.

B. Google’s Gemini Updates:

Google has stepped up its email security game with the Gemini update in Gmail, implementing advanced spam detection mechanisms.

Additionally, Google has removed open tracking for cold emails, which previously relied on invisible tracking pixels.

This change complicates tracking deliverability and campaign effectiveness. Emerging tools like Pulse by Folderly now provide alternative insights into spam rates and overall performance to help marketers adapt.

C. LinkedIn’s Limitation:

LinkedIn continues to be the best platform for B2B lead generation.

However, it comes with strict daily connection limits (10-30 requests).

These limits decrease scalability, making it challenging to build a high volume of conversations quickly. At best, users may generate 5-30 conversations per month, with only a fraction resulting in qualified leads.

Furthermore, overly generic or spammy messaging risks account bans, leading to lost connections and reduced trust.

So, how to succeed on LinkedIn?

Post every day (at least 5 days/week)

Let me explain why: 

What’s the most essential thing for you when it comes to purchasing services or products in B2B?

It’s trust!

You can’t make impulsive purchases, since it is the money of the company you spend. You need to see the value of the solution/service offered. Also you need to trust the supplier that this is exactly what will help you.

But how to build trust? 

The answer is

Content is the new Marketing

So, you need to create good engaging valuable content every single day and post regularly in order to gain trust and authority.

People need to trust you. Once they do it, they will trust your company.

But how to achieve this?

You need to do 3 things: 

1. Post everyday

2. Be an expert in your field 

3. Let people know that you’re an expert and a good person

Cold Email Strategies Through the Decades

• 20 Years Ago: Cold emails were basic, with minimal personalization and limited access to quality contact databases.

• 10 Years Ago: LinkedIn opened access to public B2B data, and tools for finding email addresses began to emerge.

• 5 Years Ago: The market became saturated with email search tools and cold email platforms, leading to heightened competition.

Shifting to Quality-Driven Outbound Strategies

If today's outbound look like:

Quantity > Quality

The new outbound will look more like this:

Quantity + Quality

Outbound Lead Generation is Changing

Modern outbound isn’t about reaching everyone—it’s about finding the right people.

Here’s what works today:

1. All-bound, not just outbound: Combine inbound and outbound strategies for better results.

2. Relevance is everything: Focus on the top 1-2% of contacts who need your solution right now and match your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP).

Out of 10,000 contacts, only 100 are golden leads. These are the ones who matter. Instead of mass outreach, prioritize quality over quantity.

The future of outbound is smarter, faster, and more focused. Are you ready to find your golden leads?

Building a brand with email outbound

The old playbook vs the new playbook ⬇️

Email outbound has evolved into a precise, technical science.

Sales reps, therefore, should be focused on calling & building relationships.

Not email operations.

Adapting Payment Models for Agencies

Lead generation agencies must experiment with payment structures to appeal to diverse clients.

Starting with low-risk options like commission-based fees can help attract initial clients.

Over time, consider introducing

→ Fixed setup fees
→ Pay-per-call models, or monthly retainers.

The ideal model depends on your client’s business objectives and budget constraints.

Scaling Your Lead Generation Agency

To scale effectively, delegation is key. Handling every task on your own isn’t sustainable as your client base grows.

- Hire SDRs to manage recurring tasks like account management and campaign optimization.

- Partnering with an experienced COO or operations expert can free you to focus on strategy and scaling initiatives.

Winning Clients Through Personalization

Personalization is key because it makes your message relevant and engaging. It shows you understand your audience’s needs, builds trust, and increases the likelihood of a response. In a world of generic outreach such as:

1. What DFY Meetings will deliver for them

2. The exact timeline

3. Campaign ideas

4. Expected results

5. Pricing 

6. What times his team is available

7. Agreeing on approval points, etc.

Creating a customized video for each client instead of hopping on a traditional call proved to yield better results.
Creating personalized landing pages. Involve your clients in the decision-making process to build trust and reduce perceived risks.

This tailored approach ensures higher conversion rates and fosters long-term relationships.

Optimizing Your Cold Email Sequences

The best email sequences vary depending on your audience.

For broader markets, keep emails concise; most responses come from the first message.

In niche markets, longer sequences with multiple follow-ups tend to yield better results.

Test and iterate to find what resonates most with your target audience.

Minimum cold email campaign benchmarks:

(don’t launch a campaign unless you have these numbers)

1) 3,000 Net New Leads ☑️

If you want to A/B test 5-6 variants, this will give you 500-600 emails with each.

Even if you aren’t A/B testing, this number will give you enough campaign data to make educated decisions.

2) 2-Step Sequence ☑️

This will send 7,000 emails total.

Create your:

→ Email 1 (I recommend direct-response)

Subject: Quick question for you

Hi [First Name],

Are you currently looking to [solve pain point, e.g., "get more leads without spending more on ads"]?

I have a simple idea that could help.
Let me know if you'd like details.

Best,
[Your Name]

→ Email 2 (I recommend pitching a sales asset)

Subject: A resource you might like

Hi [First Name],

I wanted to share this quick [resource, e.g., "guide" / "case study"] on [specific topic].

It’s helped others like you [achieve desired outcome, e.g., "scale lead generation efficiently"].

Here’s the link: [Insert Link]

Let me know your thoughts!

Best,
[Your Name]

This will give you the best chance of getting responses.

3) 10 Domains, 20 Inboxes ☑️

10 of these are active, the other 10 stay warming up.

Rotate them each month.

This will ensure your emails actually get delivered and seen, versus landing in the spam folder.

That’s all.

I wouldn’t launch a campaign if I didn’t have those things in place.

Top Tools to Boost Outbound Efficiency

Here are tools that streamline outbound campaigns:

• Airtable: CRM and project scheduling.

• Notion: Managing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

• Jotform: Collecting and tracking data.

• Slack: Enhancing team communication.

• Zapier: Automating repetitive tasks.

For email outreach, platforms like Apollo and Hunter are reliable options for sourcing and reaching prospects.

Closing thoughts

By personalizing your approach, building a strong social presence, and delivering consistent value, you can achieve exceptional results in outbound lead generation.

At AcquisitionX, we help B2B marketing leaders generate more qualified leads through cold email and LinkedIn strategies. Want to learn how we can elevate your LinkedIn content game?

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