Cold email sequence for digital marketing — 21% response rate
7 steps over 30 days. 5 emails, 1 phone call, 1 LinkedIn message. 255 prospects contacted.
Charles Perret
Founder of devlo.ch · March 2026
The 7 keys in the sequence
5 emails, 1 phone call, 1 LinkedIn message — over 30 days.
Why this sequence works
255 prospects and a 21% response rate for this 8-step campaign run over 30 days, targeting SMEs and architectural firms in Belgium. The approach is data-driven: the first email includes the prospect’s actual Google ranking, creating an element of surprise.
The strategy of showing a prospect their current ranking on Google (“you appear 23rd when searching for ‘architectural firm Wavre’”) is a powerful emotional trigger. The decision-maker immediately realises the lost revenue and the potential for improvement.
Touch #8 (the breakup email) with its humorous reply options (A/B/C/D, including “I’ve ended up on a desert island and Rio isn’t answering”) takes the sting out of the rejection and elicits one last smile — and often a reply.
What you can learn from this campaign
- Show the prospect's actual Google ranking. Data-driven personalisation that creates a sense of surprise and urgency.
- Use before-and-after images. Showing visually what the service can do is more effective than text alone.
- Offer payment plans with monthly instalments. Makes the service accessible to the smallest SMEs.
- A humorous break-up email works. The "desert island" question always brings a smile and often a reply.
When to use this sequence
Digital marketing agencies
SEO, Google Ads, website redesign, social media — this series is aimed at local SMEs.
Targeting SME managers and the self-employed
CEOs, managers and founders of companies with between 1 and 20 employees are your ideal audience.
The Belgian and French markets
The French-language version, featuring local references, is tailored to these markets.
Offer with personalised search
If you carry out a preliminary SEO analysis of each prospect, this data-driven approach works.
Who can use this sequence?
Local digital marketing agencies
If you’re targeting SMEs with SEO, social media and website redesign services.
SDRs aimed at SME managers
The data-driven approach (actual Google rankings) can be applied directly.
Freelancers in web marketing
Adapt the sequence to suit your own services and client portfolio.
SaaS platforms for SEO and analytics
If your tool helps SMEs improve their online presence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I display a prospect’s Google ranking in an email?
Manually check the prospect’s search ranking for relevant keywords (“architectural firm + city”). Include their exact ranking in the email. This data-driven personalisation takes two minutes per prospect but creates an element of surprise that significantly boosts open and response rates.
Why are humorous break-up emails effective?
Options A/B/C/D, featuring the "desert island" scenario, take the sting out of rejection and turn the final email into a positive experience. The prospect can reply without committing (option B: "call me back in three months") or be persuaded to make a call (option C). This technique generates a response rate twice as high as a standard breakup email.
How can this module be adapted for another SME sector?
Keep the 8-point structure and the light-hearted tone (emojis, humour in the PS). Replace the ‘Google diagnosis’ with an equivalent term from your sector (free audit, diagnosis, benchmark). The summer or seasonal offer (Touch #6) can be adapted to any time of year.
Want a customised sequence for your industry?
devlo designs and executes bespoke B2B cold email campaigns. ICP, buying signals, multi-channel sequences — we take care of everything.
Last updated: March 2026
