How NOT to incorrectly email all of your contacts

Backstory:?

I recently lost access to my college email — a very sentimental tool that both enabled me to and in retrospect is a tool to reflect on what mattered to me at any given point in the last four years.?

So, I emailed all 3K+ contacts to inform them of my new emails and was blown away by the positive responses (and a couple snarky ones too). It also gave me the excuse to catch up with acquaintances via email or phone who I hadn’t connected with in a while. I definitely would’ve changed some parts of the process in retrospect and several people asked me how I orchestrated this, so I thought to share some key takeaways

How I did it:

1. Download all of your google contacts as a Csv.

2. Import the Csv into Mixmax

3. Set up a sequence to send an email to all recipients?

4. Set “time thats best for recipient”?

5. Mix max took a few weeks to automatically send ~3k emails?

Don’t:

- procrastinate. Send the email from your original .edu address rather than your personal one because that one is what people are used to receiving emails from you.?

- Write a spammy email because then Gmail will disable your account. ???????? (just in case, keep your colleges IT office on speed dial … princeton fixed this very quickly for me)

- Put recipient in the to or cc box. Either use bcc or a service that personalizes by name. Otherwise it’s awkward and inevitable when that one person hits reply all

- Email list Servs. I accidentally emailed all cs undergrads. While it was awkward I had a few students graduating in 2024 reach out ????♀? so I accidentally made new friends

Do:

- Export all of your contacts. Don’t let you precious CRM disappear with your .edu email

- Use a fancy tool that sends emails for you. I swear by mix max. Maybe there’s a better tool out there? If so, lmk and comment below!

- Use the variables to personalize first name. It’s still obvious that you sent a mass email BUT shows some effort.?

- Create a calendly link, it helps when people reply and wanna catch up.

- Include a mini life update (in 2-3 bullets, what’s going on with you? I know sharing is awkward but I had so many positive responses to my life updates and it opened up space for people to share their own updates)

Some interesting stats:

- Open rate: 65%

- Click rate: 12%

- Reply rate: 2%

- Lots of emails bounced back. Fascinating to see where people’s career transitions?

- Only 1 person took me up on my offer for a 5 minute favor. I want to systematize the “5 minute favor” concept but is there a point if no one takes you up on it?

My email template (feel free to borrow, as I was also inspired by friends):

Hi {name},

If you're receiving this email, we have emailed sometime in the last four years. My new email is?___. I would love to catch up and see how you've been!?

Until then, here are some life updates:

- Currently building?Machine Learning?for Radiology at Nines

- Started?Yustha?Yoga:?a?South Asian-Inspired Athleisure brand?with my sister, Astha.

- Making?one friend a week. Who should we interview next?

-?5 minute favors:?What's top of mind for you and how can I help??

I'd love to hear from you!

Cheers,

Ayushi

https://ayushisinha.com/