Cold email reply rate/sending tactics in the EoY

I think for the past 2 month my cold email reply rate is just about 2-4%. Mainly targeted alum but also trying to reach out to ppl not in my school (username checks out) starting this past two weeks. 

I tried to keep my email (no matter initial outreach or follow-up) short and concise - body part 100 words, have some personalization and 1-2 questions to make it even more personalized(, like I'm interested in your transition from a to b firm or c to d group, etc., but more diverse than that).

That said, just sent around 100 emails this week and response is like abt 3-4 responses and idk if it's normal. I fully understand that bankers are self-burning 24/7 so it's normal to have really low responses but according to many others on WSO possibly a reply rate around 10% is much normal. I don't know what I did wrong.

Also, I asked ppl who I networked with recently and turns out most people will be working remotely in the end of two weeks this month with less thing to do. On that end, is it good for me to schedule calls with them in the 2 weeks or it's better for me to push the calls after new year? (I know sending cold emails pisses ppl off during these two weeks but don't know if people favor me send cold emails next week to arrange a call between Dec 22-31 on working days other than 24/25).

Muchas gracias

Can I schedule a call with bankers on the last 2 wks of the year

yea
35% (25 votes)
hell nah
65% (47 votes)
Total votes: 72
8 Comments
 
Most Helpful

From the perspective of someone in MO trying to move to FO, I've recently been in touch with a few connections trying to set up time to grab coffee. One of them asked for times next week and the other suggested a time in mid January. Both are VP equivalents who I've spoken with fairly extensively and feel that I have legitimate professional relationships with. 

I think it really depends on who you're trying to talk to, but I don't think you're likely to get many cold email responses right now. Somewhat counterintuitively, I think that means if you're going to send emails, send them to juniors you don't have a good shot getting responses from. That way you don't waste a shot emailing someone who otherwise would likely respond.

 

Worth mentioning that with the guy who suggested earlier, its a slightly time sensitive meeting. Don't know if otherwise he wouldn't have pushed. 

 

For the people that have a good chance of responding, do you think it would be better to send out emails during the last week of December or first week of January? Mainly targeting local boutiques but also alumni at Big 5/BB. Trying to work around the holidays and bankers' vacation time.

 

People aren’t responding to shit now. We are trying to close deals before the new year and nobody is trying to work after Dec 20th. I imagine our bankers on our deals are cranking even harder than we are. People just aren’t trying to start something new, then have to pick it up again after Christmas. They would rather hold off starting until January. I think that attitude translates to the cold email responses as well.

 

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