Cracking the Code: How to Write a 7-Step Email Sequence that Captures CEOs’ Attention

In today’s hyper-connected world, reaching a CEO’s inbox is easy. But getting them to respond can seem next to impossible. The average open rate for CEOs is below 15%, and connect rates on LinkedIn are sub 20% success.

When it comes to prospecting CEOs via cold email, several alarming statistics highlight the challenges of reaching this high-level audience. Before you go into doom and gloom, there is hope if you want to be successful in prospecting to the CEO. Here are some key stats:

Response Rates:

• Extremely Low Response Rates: The average response rate for cold emails hovers around 1-5%. When targeting CEOs, this rate can be even lower, often less than 1%, as CEOs are typically too busy to respond to unsolicited messages.
• CEO-Specific Response Rates: Studies have shown that less than 0.5% of CEOs respond to cold emails. This means you might only receive one response out of 200 cold emails sent to CEOs.

Engagement Challenges:

• High Disinterest: According to some reports, over 90% of cold emails sent to CEOs are ignored or deleted without being read.
• Time Sensitivity: CEOs are known to spend very little time on each email. Your email will likely be discarded within seconds if your subject line or opening sentence doesn’t immediately grab their attention.

Personalization Impact:

• Significant Drop-off Without Personalization: Emails that lack personalization or relevance to the CEO's specific needs or company have a nearly zero chance of being opened or responded to.
• On the other hand: personalized emails can boost open rates by up to 50% and response rates by up to 30%. Still, these figures remain low, and many SMBs and founders can’t afford to install Clay at $5-8k a month for software and operator costs for the sake of personalization.??

Volume of Emails Received:

• Overwhelming Volume: CEOs can receive anywhere from 100 to 1,000 emails daily, making it extremely difficult for cold emails to stand out in their inbox.

Effectiveness of Follow-Up:

• Multiple Touch points Required: It often takes 8-12 follow-up emails to receive a response from a CEO, if at all. Many sales reps give up after 1-2 attempts, contributing to the low response rate.

Trust and Credibility:

• Lack of Trust in Cold Emails: CEOs are highly skeptical of cold outreach due to the prevalence of spam and irrelevant messaging. See Proof, below;)??

These stats underscore the difficulty of reaching CEOs through cold email and the importance of crafting highly targeted, personalized, and compelling messages to increase the chances of engagement.

CEOs are bombarded with hundreds of emails daily, each vying for a slice of their precious time. To break through the noise, you need a strategy that slices like a swiss army knife.

Enter the 7-Step Email Sequence—a strategic approach that leverages the power of psychology to engage, persuade, and convert CEOs.

But this isn’t just any sequence. It’s a method I’ve battle-tested, refined, and perfected through years of in-the-trenches experience, helping businesses like yours connect with top executives and turn those connections into lasting partnerships.

This is a sneak peek into the Magnetic Method.

Day 1:  The Hook - Agitate the Pain

The Executive Human Psychology Behind It: The human brain is wired to avoid pain. But before someone takes action to relieve that pain, they need to feel it. Day 1 is about bringing the pain point to the surface and making it personal. Activate the senses with your words.

- Start with a story: Use a scenario that mirrors the CEO's specific challenges. The more relatable, the better.

- Twist the knife: Delve into the consequences of ignoring the problem. Make it tangible. Use metrics or vivid imagery to make the pain real.

- Hint at a solution: Just a hint—enough to spark curiosity without giving it away.

Example: “Imagine missing out on a $1M opportunity because of a simple LinkedIn oversight. It happens more often than you think. And it’s costing you big.”
        

Day 2: The Vision – Paint the Positive Future

The Executive Human Psychology Behind It: After feeling the pain, the brain seeks actively relief. Day 2 is where you introduce the possibility of a brighter future, one where their problem is solved.

- Recap the problem: Remind them of the pain and bring it to the surface, but keep it brief?

- Introduce the "idea" of a solution: Present your solution as the key to unlocking a better future.

- Seek buy-in and express curiosity.

- The human brain is wired to say no in all sales situations, so flip the script and ASK for a "no."

Example: “Curious, would you be against adding 4-6 quality meetings with people who are experiencing the problem your solution is solving in real-time?"        

Day 3: The Proof – Show, Don’t Tell

The Executive Human Psychology Behind It Trust is everything, especially when dealing with CEOs who are naturally skeptical. Day 3 is your chance to build credibility by showcasing real-world results.

Share a case study, but tell it in 50 words or less—that is so challenging. Choose a success story that closely resembles the CEO’s industry or situation.

- Highlight metrics: Deal Economics are everything. Numbers don’t lie. Show them the quantifiable impact of your solution.  Add another link that cures the curiosity re: ROI.  Use as much "real" as you can here and stray away from glossy PDF's and well-produced customer videos that seem bias or "swayed."  Keep it natural, keep it real.

- Overcome objections: Address common concerns directly, showing you understand their hesitations.

Example: “When Sarah, a CEO just like you, implemented this strategy, she saw a 237% increase in inbound leads within three weeks—without adding a single extra dollar to her budget.”
        

Day 4: The Details – Lay Out the Plan

The Executive Psychology Behind It: With trust established, the CEO is ready to hear the specifics. On day 4, you clearly outline how your solution works and what they can expect.

- Break down the process: Explain your approach step-by-step.

- Highlight unique features: What sets your solution apart? This is where you differentiate yourself.  Nuts and bolts.  Be brief.

- You should mention pricing carefully: If applicable, you can just introduce pricing as an investment, not a cost.

Example: “For less than a Friday night at your favorite local eatery, you can access a complete LinkedIn optimization toolkit that guarantees a 4.5X ROI in 40 days.  No contact.  We want to prove it to you, ((first name)). If you pick the meal, we can't fault you.  You just need to tell us what it is so we know next time we are in town."        

Day 5: The Urgency – Create a Compelling Reason to Act Now

The Executive Psychology Behind It: Scarcity and urgency are powerful motivators. Day 5 is when you nudge the CEO toward making a decision—today.

- Recap the benefits: Summarize the key advantages of your solution.

- Introduce urgency: What happens if they don't solve the problem?  What are real-life examples that you can share that will place them directly in the center of the pain?

- Include a clear CTA: Make it easy for them to take the next step.

Example: “Company ABC kept their data on-site vs. cloud deployment and incurred an additional $1.2 million in expenses due to a legacy belief this was the optimal path.  Where would you allocate that additional capital, ((name))?   Here are a few examples on the re-investment that we've seen."        

Day 6: The Reminder is done by telling a 2nd story that is different from the first– Follow Up with Gentle Persistence

The Executive Psychology Behind It: CEOs are busy. Sometimes, they need a nudge. Day 6 is your gentle reminder to ensure your offer stays top of mind.

- Acknowledge their hesitation: Show empathy and understanding of their busy schedule.

- Remind them why solving their problem is not only worth their time, but they potentially cannot solve this problem quickly enough without you.

- CTA reminder: Keep it straightforward—remind them how to take action.

Example: “Example 2 - (case study 2 in 50 words or less, told in a storytelling format.).  Do you see a common thread in this story within your environment at ______?"
        

Day 7: The Close –  Scale of 1-5?

The Executive Psychology Behind It: If they’re still on the fence, Day 7 is when you bring it all together and ask for the sale with confidence.

- Reaffirm the benefits: Highlight the ROI and positive future they can achieve.

- Overcome final objections: Address any lingering doubts they may have.

- Close the loop: Use a direct, confident call-to-action to finalize the deal.

Example: ”On a scale of 1-5, ___________, ((ask the big question on the problem!!), 

for example...

"How would you rate your sales team's performance in 2024 on a scale of 1-5?"

"How would your sales team rate your leadership on a scale of 1-5?"

"How happy are you with your team's Q3 performance, on a scale of 1-5?"        

Bringing It All Together: The Power of Consistency

The 7-Step Email Sequence isn’t just a series of emails—it’s a journey. Each step is designed to move the CEO closer to a decision, using proven psychological principles that guide their thinking.

But here’s the secret sauce: This sequence is most powerful when coupled with a daily content strategy that reinforces your message. As your emails land in their inbox, your content on LinkedIn, blogs, or other platforms should echo the same themes, building a consistent narrative that positions you as the go-to solution for their challenges.

This approach—rooted in the Magnetic Method—combines the art of storytelling with the science of persuasion. It’s not about hard selling; it’s about guiding the CEO through a decision-making process that feels natural, logical, and, most importantly, compelling.

---

Ready to go get that next CEO or Executive Decision Maker in the Funnel?

If you’re serious about taking your B2B outreach to the next level, implement this sequence and watch the results unfold.?

Even more serious?

We will write the sequences, work on your prospect data list to configure and manage that for you, and fully deploy and manage your campaign.

Let's chat.

Peace,

Steve