How to Automate Cold Emails with Make

Have you ever found yourself spending countless hours manually sending cold emails? You’re not alone! In today’s digital landscape, automation isn’t just a luxury – it’s a necessity. According to a recent study by Salesforce, businesses that automate their email outreach see a 14.5% increase in sales productivity. The good news? Make allows you to automate repetitive tasks and create workflows that handle the sending, tracking, and follow-up of your cold emails. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to automate cold emails with Make.

Let’s begin!

In this article show

What is Make?

Make is a no-code integration platform that enables you to connect apps and services through workflows called “scenarios.” These scenarios automate tasks between different apps, reducing the need for manual intervention.

Make can integrate email platforms like Gmail or Outlook with CRM tools, databases, and spreadsheets for cold emailing to create a seamless system.

Step-by-Step Guide to Automate Cold Emails

1. Define Your Objective

Before diving into the automation process, clarify the purpose of your cold email campaign. Identify the following:

Your target audience.
The value proposition of your email.
Metrics for success (e.g., open rates, reply rates, or click-through rates).

2. Prepare Your Contact List

Make sure your contact list is clean and organized. Here are some tips:

Use a spreadsheet to store your contact data (e.g., names, email addresses, company names).
Ensure the data is appropriately formatted, as Make will pull information directly from this source.
Verify email addresses using tools like Hunter.io or NeverBounce to minimize bounce rates.

As an example here, I use to store data on Airtable :

3. Set Up Your Email Platform

You’ll need an email platform to send your cold emails. Popular choices include:

Gmail: For personal emails with a human touch.
Outlook: For corporate communication.
Email Marketing Platforms: Tools like Mailchimp or SendGrid can handle bulk emails.

Ensure your chosen platform is integrated with Make by setting up the necessary API keys or OAuth connections.

4. Create Your Scenario in Make

Follow these steps to set up your automation in Make:

A. Start a New Scenario:

Get Your Free Make Account

B. Choose Your Triggers:

Select a trigger app to initiate the workflow. For example:

Google Sheets: When a new row is added (representing a new contact).
Airtable: When a record is updated or just on make, use the “search records” module to pick specific records

C. Add Email Actions:

Add an email module (e.g., Gmail or Outlook) to send emails.
Map the recipient’s email address and other variables (e.g., name or company) from your contact list.

D. Personalize Your Emails:

Use placeholders in your email body to personalize each message. For instance:

“Hi {{Name}}, I noticed your work at {{Company}}…”

E. Schedule Your Emails:

Add a delay module or set up a scheduler to send emails at specific times or intervals. This ensures your emails are spaced out to avoid spam filters.

How to Schedule Automations in Make

F. Add Follow-Ups:

Use conditional logic to send follow-up emails based on recipient actions. For instance:

Send a follow-up email if the recipient doesn’t reply within 7 days.

G. Test Your Scenario:

Run a test to ensure the emails are being sent as intended.

5. Monitor and Optimize

Once your automation is live, track its performance and refine your approach:

Tracking tools like Mailtrack or Mixmax can be used to monitor open and reply rates.
Analyze your results to identify patterns (e.g., best sending times or effective subject lines).
Make adjustments to your email templates and automation logic a

Tips for Effective Cold Email Automation

Keep Emails Personal: Although automated, your emails should feel personal and tailored to the recipient.
Avoid Spam Triggers: Use professional language and avoid excessive links or promotional phrases.
Provide Value: Focus on how you can help the recipient rather than just pitching your product or service.
Stay Compliant: Ensure your emails comply with GDPR, CAN-SPAM, and other relevant email marketing regulations.

Conclusion

Implementing Make’s powerful automation features allows you to transform your cold email outreach from a time-consuming task into a streamlined, efficient process. Remember to regularly monitor your campaigns and make adjustments based on performance data. Start small, test thoroughly, and gradually scale your automation as you become more comfortable with the platform.

FAQs

Q: Do I need coding knowledge to use Make for email automation?

A: No. Make is a no-code platform that creates automation workflows using a visual interface. It lets you set up email automation through drag-and-drop modules and uncomplicated configuration options.

Q: How many emails can I send per day using Make automation?

A: The daily email limit depends on your email provider. Gmail allows up to 500 daily emails, while business accounts may have higher limits. Make helps you schedule emails within these limits to maintain deliverability.

Q: Is it possible to track email performance with Make?

A: Yes. It can integrate with email tracking tools like Mailtrack or connect to analytics platforms to monitor open, reply, and click-through rates. You can also set up automated reports to track campaign performance.

Q: What happens if an email bounces or fails to send?

A: Make can detect failed email deliveries and automatically handle errors. You can set up error-handling workflows to flag bounced emails, update your contact list, or trigger alternative actions when delivery fails.

Q: Can I personalize emails for each recipient using Make?

A: Yes. Make allows you to personalize emails using dynamic variables from your contact database. You can also automatically insert recipient names, company details, and other custom fields into your email templates.

How to Automate Cold Emails with Make

What is Make?