I get hundreds of cold emails and LinkedIn messages every day where someone is trying to sell me something. Everyone has a product or service that they say I can't live without, but very few make it past my delete button.   A "cold" email is an unsolicited email sent to someone who does not have a prior relationship with you, typically used for business. The goal is usually to introduce yourself, present an idea, request a meeting, or offer a product or service in a way that generates interest. I get at least 3 a day where someone says "I can help you write a book or create a podcast." I'm thinking, hmmm, if you did a little research before sending you would know that I have a book and I have a podcast! What a waste of time! I realize they are probably sending the same email to 1000 people and many don't have a book or a podcast, but why would I ever answer if they can't take 5 minutes to do a little research before sending? Surely their approach doesn't work on anyone.   Another one I got this week was from a woman who is a fitness expert with 25 years of experience and she wanted to be on the DO IT MY WAY podcast as a guest. She sent 3-4 paragraphs with all of her credentials and why she would be great and then her email signature just said "Natalie." I'm like, Natalie who? No last name, no website address, no LinkedIn or Instagram profile link. How does she not have an email signature with her website or social media channels if she is soliciting to be on someone's podcast? I'm not going to Google and dig around trying to find info on her to see if she's a good fit. I assume she's not based on her email signature!   Every once in a while, I'll get a really clever email where someone has researched D2 Branding and the clients we work with, they have read our testimonials and even referenced a case study or commented on a specific podcast interview I did. Now, those are the only people who peak my interest!   Email mistakes happen every day but can be avoided if you follow these easy six steps. Check out the latest episode of the DO IT MY WAY podcast to avoid these cold email mistakes and start to get some responses with your outreach.