100 Words You Should Never Use in a Cold Email

Crafting an effective cold email can often seem like a daunting task. You want your message to stand out and capture the recipient's attention, but not for the wrong reasons. Using certain words can make your email come across as overly salesy, spammy, or unprofessional, which can deter potential leads before they even have the chance to engage with your content. This first impression is crucial; therefore, choosing your words wisely is essential. In this blog post, we’ll explore the key words to avoid when writing cold emails and provide some positive alternatives to ensure your messages are well-received. We'll also discuss strategies for maintaining a professional tone while still being engaging, helping you turn those cold leads into warm prospects.

Why Words Matter in Cold Emails

Words hold immense power, especially in written communication. Every word you choose can significantly influence how your message is perceived and whether it resonates with your intended audience. In the fast-paced world of digital communication, particularly with cold emails, selecting the wrong words can have unintended consequences. The wrong choice of language can trigger spam filters, causing your carefully crafted message to never reach its destination. It can also reduce your credibility as a professional, making your message appear inauthentic or insincere. Ultimately, these factors can greatly decrease your chances of achieving success in your communication efforts, leading to missed opportunities and unfulfilled goals. Therefore, it's crucial to be deliberate and thoughtful with your word choice to ensure your message not only reaches its audience but also leaves a lasting impact.

The 100 Words to Avoid

Here’s a comprehensive list of words that can make your cold email appear spammy or unprofessional:

1. Act now

2. Amazing

3. Bargain

4. Best price

5. Buy

6. Cheap

7. Click here

8. Congratulations

9. Deal

10. Discount

11. Earn

12. Exclusive

13. Fast cash

14. Free

15. Guarantee

16. Hurry

17. Incredible

18. Limited time

19. Lowest price

20. Offer

21. Opportunity

22. Promise

23. Risk-free

24. Sale

25. Satisfaction

26. Special offer

27. Urgent

28. Win

29. Winner

30. Prizes

31. 100%

32. Affordable

33. As seen on

34. Auto

35. Avoid

36. Be your own boss

37. Best deal

38. Bonus

39. Boss

40. Cancel anytime

41. Cash

42. Claims

43. Clearance

44. Cost

45. Credit

46. Debt

47. Double your

48. Eliminate

49. Extra

50. Fee

51. Financing

52. Fortune

53. Gift

54. Hidden

55. Home-based

56. Increase

57. Instant

58. Jackpot

59. Join millions

60. Lottery

61. Money-back

62. Multi-level

63. No cost

64. No obligation

65. No strings attached

66. Obligation-free

67. Offer expires

68. Once-in-a-lifetime

69. Opt-in

70. Outstanding

71. Overcome

72. Pay zero

73. Pre-approved

74. Prize

75. Profits

76. Promise you

77. Quick

78. Quote

79. Refinance

80. Remove

81. Reserves

82. Risk

83. Save big

84. Score

85. Selected

86. Solution

87. Spam

88. Success

89. Trial

90. Unlimited

91. Unsecured

92. Unsubscribe

93. Urgent

94. Vacation

95. Valued

96. We guarantee

97. Weight

98. Winning

99. Work from home

100. Zero

Why These Words Should Be Avoided

1. Salesy and Spammy: Words like "buy," "guarantee," and "free" are often associated with spam and may get your email flagged by spam filters. They also make your message sound more like a sales pitch than a professional communication.

2. Lack of Professionalism: Using words like "cheap," "cash," and "prizes" can undermine your credibility and make you appear less professional.

3. Overused Phrases: Overly common phrases such as "act now" and "limited time" can make your email blend into the background noise of countless other emails using the same language.

4. Pressure Tactics: Words like "urgent," "hurry," and "risk-free" apply unnecessary pressure, which can be off-putting to many recipients.

Positive Alternatives to Use

Instead of using the words listed above, here are some positive alternatives that can make your cold emails more effective and engaging:

1. Instead of "act now," use "take advantage of this opportunity."

2. Substitute "amazing" with "impressive" or "remarkable."

3. Replace "buy" with "invest in."

4. Use "value" or "special pricing" instead of "best price."

5. Change "cheap" to "cost-effective" or "affordable."

6. Opt for "click to learn more" over "click here."

7. Try "celebrate" instead of "congratulations."

8. Use "offer" or "invitation" in place of "deal."

9. Alternative to "discount" could be "special pricing for you."

10. Instead of "earn," use "gain" or "achieve."

11. Use "exclusive access" or "reserved for you" instead of "exclusive."

12. Substitute "fast cash" with "quick returns" or "rapid growth."

13. Use "complimentary" or "free of charge" in place of "free."

14. Employ "commitment" or "pledge" instead of "guarantee."

15. Try "limited opportunity" instead of "limited time."

16. Use "special pricing" or "exclusive offer" in place of "lowest price."

17. Alternative to "offer" could be "opportunity for you."

18. Substitute "promise" with "commitment" or "assurance."

19. Use "important" or "time-sensitive" instead of "urgent."

20. Try "chance to win" instead of "winner."

Conclusion

Crafting a successful cold email involves more than just pitching your product or service; it’s about engaging your audience with professional, respectful, and compelling language. By avoiding the 100 words listed above and opting for positive alternatives, you’ll not only improve your chances of getting past spam filters but also increase your likelihood of engaging your recipients.

Remember, the goal is to make your cold emails sound personal, genuine, and valuable. With these tips in mind, you’re well on your way to mastering the art of professional communication through email.

For more cold email tips and advice on email etiquette, stay tuned to our blog. Happy emailing!