How to Follow Up on a Cold Email (With Templates That Work in 2025)
May 22, 2025
How to Follow Up on a Cold Email (With Templates That Work in 2025)
Sending a cold email is just step one. The real magic? The follow-up.
In 2025, getting a reply often takes 2–5 emails. Whether you're booking sales meetings, pitching partnerships, or running outbound campaigns, learning how to follow up on a cold email effectively can boost your reply rate by over 50%.
This guide breaks down:
- ✅ When to send follow-ups
- ✅ How many follow-ups to send
- ✅ What to say (with templates)
- ✅ How to automate it with tools like Bridgely.io
📬 Why Cold Email Follow Ups Matter
Even the best cold emails get ignored. People are busy, distracted, or just not ready.
But here’s the good news:
70% of replies come from a follow up, not the first message.
That’s why sending multiple cold email follow ups — spaced and phrased correctly — is critical to getting results.
📅 How Many Follow Ups Should You Send?
The sweet spot for most outbound campaigns is 3 to 5 follow-ups:
- 1st follow-up: 2–3 days after the initial email
- 2nd cold email: 3–5 days later
- 3rd cold email follow up: 5–7 days later
- Optional: 1–2 more spaced over 2–3 weeks
Persistence pays — just make sure you're providing new value with each message.
⏱️ When to Follow Up on Cold Emails
Here’s a timeline to follow:
| Follow-Up | Timing | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Day 3 | Quick reminder, test intent |
| 2nd | Day 6–7 | Add value, social proof |
| 3rd | Day 10–14 | Use urgency or a new CTA |
| 4th+ | Optional, spaced | Reframe or ask for feedback |
The best time to send? Mid-morning, Tuesday–Thursday.
✍️ Cold Email Follow Up Templates (B2B Ready)
Use these battle-tested templates for your campaigns:
📨 Template 1: Friendly Reminder (1st Follow-Up)
Subject: Quick nudge 👋
Hi {{FirstName || 'there'}},
Just checking in on my last email.
Would love to hear your thoughts — does this sound like something you'd be open to discussing this week?
🧠 Template 2: Value-Add (2nd Cold Email)
Subject: A quick idea for {{Company}}
Hi {{FirstName || 'there'}},
I noticed you’re [mention insight]. Based on that, I think we could help you [insert quick win].
Happy to send over a few use cases or chat live if easier. Interested?
🚪 Template 3: Breakup + Final Nudge (3rd Cold Email Follow Up)
Subject: Should I close your file?
Hey {{FirstName || 'there'}},
Haven’t heard back — totally get it might not be a priority now.
Should I close the loop for now, or is this still on your radar?
🧰 Tools to Automate Follow Ups
Manually tracking follow-ups is a productivity killer. Smart outbound teams use tools like Bridgely.io to automate cold email follow up sequences with:
- 📩 Smart scheduling based on engagement
- 🔄 Auto-pausing when replies are received
- 🧠 AI-generated follow up copy (based on intent)
- 🔗 LinkedIn follow-up steps included
- 🧪 A/B testing for subject lines and timing
Free follow up automation included in every Bridgely.io plan.
🧠 B2B Cold Email Follow Up Tips (That Still Work in 2025)
- Personalize at the sentence level — not just {{FirstName}}
- Include a soft CTA (e.g., “worth chatting?” instead of “book now”)
- Vary subject lines across touchpoints
- Don’t just "bump" — add value, reframe, or provide new info
- Use intent signals (e.g., LinkedIn views, email opens) to trigger follow-ups
✅ Final Thoughts: Follow Up Like a Pro
If you're not following up, you're leaving replies (and revenue) on the table.
Now you know how to:
- Follow up on a cold email the right way
- Use cold email follow up templates that work
- Automate everything using a modern platform like Bridgely.io
Ready to close more conversations?