How many cold email follow-ups should you send?

The key to effective cold email outreach is balance. You don’t want to overwhelm your prospects, but you also don’t want to miss out on opportunities.

How Many Follow-Ups?


The magic number for follow-up emails is between 4 and 9.

Here’s why:
I’ve analyzed data from 10 years of campaigns and studies on millions of emails. The results consistently show reply rates increasing with every follow-up—up to 9 emails. Beyond that, responses plateau, and your risk of being flagged as spam rises.

Why Bother Following Up?
People are busy. Your first email can easily get lost in a crowded inbox. A follow-up isn’t nagging—it’s a polite nudge that gives your prospect another chance to connect.

What is a Follow-Up?
A cold email follow-up is simply a message sent to someone who didn’t respond to your initial email. Its goal? To spark their interest and get them to engage.

Best Timing for Follow-Ups

Timing matters. Here’s a research-backed schedule:

  1. Wait 2 days after your first email.
  2. For the next emails, allow 3-5 days between each.
  3. Keep your campaign within a total of 10-25 days.

This gives prospects enough breathing room while keeping your emails fresh in their minds.

Results of Follow-Ups

  • The first email gets the highest individual reply rate, around 4.5%.
  • Replies drop slightly with each follow-up, but the combined effect is what matters.
  • Sending up to 10 emails can raise your total reply rate to 22% or more.

Examples in Numbers

Let’s say you email 300 prospects:

  • With one email, you might get 14 replies.
  • By following up, you could generate 60+ replies in total.

The numbers speak for themselves—persistence pays off.


Tips for Writing Follow-Ups

  1. Add Value: Each email should offer something new—data, a benefit, or a solution to their problem.
  2. Stay Polite: Avoid guilt-inducing phrases like, “Did you even see my last email?”
  3. Be Concise: Keep it short—120 words max.

Here’s an effective example:

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *