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Sales and Business Development 3w

What does a CRM Helps Sales Teams Do?

Sales and Business Development

 1mo

The Art Of The Cold Email


This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at PSU chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

It always starts the same way: a blank screen, a blinking cursor and the quiet, creeping suspicion that you are about to bother someone who is far too important to answer you. Your fingers hover over the keyboard as you reread the name at the top of the email for the... fifth time, wondering if there is a more impressive way to say hello than just... "hi."

Cold emailing feels a little like showing up to a party you weren't technically invited to, knocking on the door anyway and hoping someone inside decides you're worth letting in. It is equal parts confidence and delusion, built on the fragile belief that you, a college student with a half-finished résumé and a Google Doc full of drafts, deserve a moment of someone else's time.

But here is the thing no one tells you at first: that uncomfortable feeling is literally the entire point.

The art of a cold email is not about perfection; it is about permission. Specifically, the permission you give yourself to take up space in conversations you have not yet been invited into.

At some point, you stop overthinking the greeting and start typing.

You introduce yourself, trying to strike that impossible balance between confident and not arrogant, personable but still professional. You mention how you found them, crafting the sentence carefully so it feels intentional and not like you fell down a LinkedIn rabbit hole at 2 a.m. or went through so many hoops to locate their email. You explain why you are reaching out, which somehow feels like trying to summarize your entire ambition in three sentences or less.

And then comes the hardest part: asking.

Asking for advice, for a conversation, for ten minutes of their time, for an opportunity you might not even know exists. It feels small when you write it, but it carries weight because it requires vulnerability. You are admitting that you do not have all the answers, and more importantly, that you believe they might.

You reread the email once. Twice. Maybe ten times. You delete a sentence, rewrite another and swap out one word because it sounds too stiff, then swap it back because now it sounds too casual. You debate exclamation points like they are life-altering decisions.

Eventually, you hit send.

And then...nothing.

No immediate reply. No confirmation that it landed well. Just the quiet whoosh of an email disappearing into the void, leaving you alone with your thoughts and a growing urge to check your inbox every five minutes.

This is where most people decide cold emailing "doesn't work."

But the truth is, the magic of a cold email is not in the instant response; it's the act itself.

Because sometimes, a few hours later, or a few days later, sometimes even weeks...a reply appears. It is rarely as intimidating as you imagined. Sometimes it is warm, even enthusiastic and sometimes it leads to a conversation that turns into an opportunity, or a connection, or just a moment of reassurance that you are on the right path.

And sometimes, there is no reply at all, but don't worry because that part matters too.

Because every unanswered email still counts as proof that you showed up for yourself. That you chose to try instead of waiting to be chosen. That you were willing to risk being ignored in exchange for the possibility of being seen.

Over time, you get better at it. Your emails become clearer, sharper, more you. You stop trying to sound like what you think "professional" means and start sounding like someone worth responding to. The process becomes less about impressing and more about connecting.

And slowly, almost without realizing it, you stop feeling like you are crashing the party.

You start to understand that there was never really a closed door... just one you had to knock on first.

That is the art of a cold email. Not in the perfectly phrased sentence or the strategically placed line break, but in the quiet decision to reach out anyway.

Take it from someone who has landed internships and opportunities that would've never been possible before pressing send. more
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Sales and Business Development

 1mo

We just launched a new email finder browser extension for B2B sales and business development teams.

It helps you quickly find contact details directly from LinkedIn profiles to speed up prospecting and outreach.

Check it out

In our internal tests, it outperformed other tools we... compared against in finding verified email addresses.

It’s free to try, and as a thank-you to our existing users, we’re giving the first 100 users 500 free credits.

Once installed, just contact support and we’ll add the credits to your account. Optional feedback is always appreciated.

 more
1   

Jimnah Kirege
Sales and Business Development 7mo
I am an Architect and i just recently choose to open a company as a contractor. anyone with pointers on how i can get the company well positioned to compete for construction tenders with the best in the industry

  • Price Arredondo

    2mo

    Jimnah,
    My thoughts given you are in start up phase: Have you researched this industry in your area, i.e. how competitive is it? What is the current... condition of the construction market--active, slow, etc. Do you want to be a residential or commercial contactor? What is your experience? What is your capacity in term of project size? Are you going to use subs or hire as employees? How competitive is your market area? Very important to prepare a business plan and do thorough research. more

  • Raymond E Lee

    3
    6mo

    Have you considered using an Ai system to help with segmenting and outreach, it will do much of the heavy lifting and in your voice or tone (either... figuratively via emails and marketing, or literally via a CRM system) more

    2
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Michael Omondi
Sales and Business Development 5mo

Does cold calling and visits work anymore when prospecting to small and medium businesses?
1   

  • prasad r

    12
    4mo

    Face to face is the most effective way ! , phone call comes next. Social media is effective only if product is attractive.

  • Eric Maher

    1
    5mo

    Its the only way to grow a business, there are no short cuts

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prasad r
Sales and Business Development 9mo
I wish to create an E-Commerce website which should run in multiple countries. This site stands as an intermediate between clients and service providers, i don't know the challenges i may face in future. Any advice from experienced ones are of huge value to me now.
6   
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Janes Kemunto
Sales and Business Development 4mo

In B2B IT consulting /sales, what are the niche professional ways to add value to your clients especially when relationship building apart from educational materials which they already have?
2   

  • Kinyera ivan ouma

    4mo

    I think understanding the client's needs is the first priority, we normally start by pouring out without listening

Janes Kemunto
Sales and Business Development 4mo

What makes the difference between a good sales leader and a bad one?
1   

  • Muhammad Adnan

    6
    4mo

    a mindset shift from me" (closing deals) to "we" (building a high-performing unit) through clear vision, consistent communication, and emotional... intelligence.  more

    1

Janes Kemunto
Sales and Business Development 5mo

Hi there my Name is Janes from Kenya….. looking to connect with someone with experience in international trade and market intelligence in East Africa.
3   

prasad r
Sales and Business Development 5mo

Which all effective ways we can reach customers online ?
2   

  • arnold ntimani

    7
    5mo

    There’s a bunch of ways to reach customers online! Social media is huge Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, even TikTok. Email newsletters work really well... too. You can also use Google or Facebook ads, post helpful content like blogs or videos, or even team up with influencers. The trick is to know who your audience is and keep trying what works. more

Juju Letsell
Sales and Business Development 7mo
Hey everyone, I’m Anca!
I’m really happy to be here and connect with like-minded people. A little about me: I’m a divorced mom who’s been working hard to build a solid future for myself. About a year ago, I decided to take a leap of faith into dropshipping.
It wasn’t easy in the beginning—there were plenty of late nights, mistakes, and moments I wanted to give up. But sticking with it really... paid off, and I’m now making around $30k monthly from my dropshipping business .
For me, this journey has been about more than just income—it’s about independence, resilience, and proving to myself that no matter what life throws at you, you can always rebuild stronger.
I’m excited to learn, share, and grow with you all here. If anyone is curious about dropshipping or just wants to chat about business and mindset, I'd love to connect. more
13   

  • prasad r

    12
    5mo

    I wish to know more about it. will be happy if you contact me .. please

  • Isaac Lewin

    1
    6mo

    I work in e-commerce also. I wonder how many returns you go through. I winder what your online reputation is and how you keep control of the quality... of the products you sell. How much are you spending on ads each month to make 30k? You said all the right things to catch my attention, even looking in the marketing tab in your Shopify store and not analytics… I’d love to connect! more

    1
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Anonymous member


Sales and Business Development 1y

What way can sales be increase?
3   

  • Fredrick Kyeyune

    6mo

    Consistency in creating awareness of your products and services targeting potential customer areas

    1

  • Fredrick Kyeyune

    6mo

    Consistency in creating awareness of your products and services targeting potential customer areas

    1
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Anderson Komenan
Sales and Business Development 1y

What is the impact of weekly meeting on the sales force?
3   

  • moses johnson

    7mo

    How can one discover his business potential

  • Glynda Sampson

    10mo

    The impact keeps everyone aligned on goals and strategies, while boosting motivation and accountability. Plus, regular check-ins quickly track trends... or issues, allowing for timely adjustments. Overall, they help foster a collaborative culture and drive sales performance. more

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Glynda Sampson
Sales and Business Development 10mo

What is the best software for Project Management?
3   
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Joshua Malki-tsedek
Sales and Business Development 9mo
💭 Ever wondered why some businesses spend heavily on ads but still struggle with sales, while others with smaller budgets keep growing steadily?

Here’s the secret I’ve observed working with SMEs and startups:
👉🏽 Sales without strategy is noise.
👉🏽 Marketing without sales alignment is waste.
👉🏽 The real growth happens when your brand story, customer trust, and sales engine move in... sync.

I’ve seen businesses pour money into flashy campaigns, but because there was no sales structure, the awareness died in two weeks.

On the other hand, I’ve helped product owners who didn’t even have billboard money, yet we turned simple campaigns + consistent sales follow-up into lasting customer loyalty.

What this says is simple:
📌 It’s not about having the loudest voice, but about having the clearest strategy.

That’s why the best opstion is to focus on building systems where every marketing effort connects directly to revenue and retention. No noise, no waste; just growth.

💬 I’d love to hear your thoughts: Do you think businesses should prioritize better marketing or stronger sales structures first?

#Sales #Marketing #Strategy #BusinessGrowth  more
4   

Sales and Business Development

 3y
How often do you communicate with your key customers?
57 votes
1   

  • Kimberly Chavez

    5
    9mo

    Personally, less and more informative communication sessions feel more personal than if you were to do one repetitively, so I will go with a few times... a month. Too much communication might feel overwhelming and create a negative image in the customer's mind but also not too little which might lead to the customer forgetting you or your brand. Just enough to reinforce your brand in their mind is key. Of course, only you know what strategy works for your business models as they are distinctly different. more

    1

  • Robert Jullu

    5
    2y

    Every week because they are the backbone to our sales output.

    1
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Anonymous member


Sales and Business Development 1y
HOW DO I GAIN MORE EXPERIENCE

  • Kimberly Chavez

    9mo

    If you just want to gain experience, I recommend either signing up for internships at high profile company’s, who knows you might get lucky or are... charismatic enough to get it: if you get the internship, you may gain a valuable connection to higher in hierchy company which makes you more likely to get hired by lower in hierchy companies, not to mention your chances of getting a permanent job there which might have better pay and benefits; for con I would say, you get rejected or get accepted but they aren't teaching you anything in which case you got to use your mind to dry that place of its worth, ask questions, think of innovative solutions to problems, and maybe even volunteer for some stuff that other's find troublesome but that might help enrich your knowledge. You can also try going into volunteering and working your way into a leadership position, this might increase your networking and leaderships skills but will come with the con on little to no money as a reward. You may also try out for remote jobs like being a phone caller representative, waiter, fast food employee or anything that is social because if you can stand those jobs any other will feel like a piece of cake even if it isn't : cons are of course the drain in both mental and physical health but at the end of the which job is not hard
     more

    1

  • Isaac Lewin

    1y

    Watch videos of those doing what you want to do. Listen to them. Call people and ask questions. Go into places you want to work physically and tell... them you want to work there and negotiate your pay.  more

OKEKE CYPRIAN
Sales and Business Development 2y
can someone manage two offices at a time ?
3   

  • Rabia Niazi

    9mo

    Yes, you can, when the offices are under one roof, you can assign different employees of each religion to each of you. That was a great job, Khad.

  • Jules Ngake

    1y

    Exactement

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Betty Namutosi
Sales and Business Development 1y
how to i carry on my spare parts businesses

Sales and Business Development

 1y

7 etiquette rules successful professionals always follow


Have you ever walked into a meeting and immediately sensed that some people just get it?

I used to think it was all about having an impressive title or a super-polished résumé.

But over the years, I've realized that a lot of this success mojo boils down to simple etiquette rules -- the kind our parents or mentors might've tried to teach us, but we never fully appreciated until we saw them in... action.

Etiquette may sound old-fashioned, but in a professional setting, it can truly elevate your game.

It's how you build and maintain relationships, stand out for the right reasons, and show respect for everyone's time and effort.

Ready to see where you can improve? Let's dive into seven etiquette rules that successful professionals follow, day in and day out.

One etiquette rule that successful professionals respect is striking the right balance with eye contact.

When I first started working in a busy marketing agency, I remember feeling a bit uncomfortable locking eyes with people for too long.

At the same time, I knew that looking away every second would make me appear insecure or uninterested.

You can find a happy medium by focusing on the other person's eyes while they speak, taking subtle breaks to glance away if it feels too intense.

Keeping genuine eye contact shows you're paying attention and value what the other person has to say.

That slight connection of the eyes can build trust in a matter of seconds, whereas constant darting glances could send the message that you're bored or distracted.

So yes, keep that gaze steady, but remember to stay natural. A relaxed, authentic approach goes a long way.

I used to think being "fashionably late" was okay, especially if I had a plausible excuse. But if there's one thing I've learned from successful professionals, it's that reliability starts with punctuality.

Showing up on time says, "I respect your schedule as much as my own."

The same goes for following through on commitments. If you say you'll finish a project by Friday, do it -- or at least communicate well in advance if you're running behind.

Failing to do so can create a ripple effect of inconvenience for others.

According to Forbes, consistent follow-through is one of the most underrated skills in building professional credibility.

When you prove you're dependable, people naturally trust you more, and that trust often leads to stronger partnerships and referrals.

One simple trick that helped me improve my punctuality was budgeting extra time for unforeseen delays -- an unexpected phone call, a traffic jam, or even a quick coffee detour.

By padding my schedule, I was rarely running late, and people quickly noticed and appreciated the difference.

You would think that the best way to stand out is to jump in with solutions, ideas, and personal anecdotes.

Not so fast.

The most respected and successful people actually spend most of a conversation listening.

There's a reason for this: truly hearing someone out is a form of respect. It says, "Your ideas matter to me, and I want to understand them before I chime in."

It also gives you the information you need to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively.

I've found that when I let others speak uninterrupted, I pick up on key details -- nuances of tone, shifts in emotion, and even unspoken concerns.

This skill can be honed with practice. If you catch yourself itching to talk, take a breath and tune in.

A good listener asks relevant questions based on what was just said, a tactic that also helps clarify any misunderstandings.

As author and organizational psychologist Adam Grant puts it:

"Listening is a way of offering others our scarcest, most precious gift: our attention. Once we've demonstrated that we care about them and their goals, they're more willing to listen to us."

Implementing that advice changed the way I handle client calls, coaching sessions, and everyday chats with colleagues.

Growing up in two different cultures -- born in Tokyo, later moving to Sydney -- I came to realize how easy it is to unknowingly offend someone if you don't understand their customs or personal boundaries.

This is true in any professional setting, especially when you're dealing with international teams or a diverse client base.

Respecting differences doesn't just mean pronouncing someone's name correctly or acknowledging their cultural holidays.

It means taking the time to learn about matters like:

For instance, in some cultures, direct eye contact can be perceived as assertive or even rude, while in others it's considered essential for trust.

I try to approach every new connection with open curiosity, asking genuine questions when appropriate.

This not only enriches my understanding but often ends up strengthening relationships.

Psychology Today has emphasized the importance of cultural intelligence in the workplace, noting that empathy for different backgrounds can elevate team morale and spark creativity.

After all, the more perspectives you invite, the richer the results.

Sometimes you have to give tough feedback, and it's never easy.

Early on, I made the mistake of delivering harsh critiques without cushioning them with empathy. Unsurprisingly, it didn't go over well.

Now, I approach those moments by focusing on what can be improved and offering a helpful suggestion rather than a blunt statement of fault.

Telling someone they "messed up" might make them feel defensive, but explaining the impact of their mistake and then guiding them toward a better approach can spark real change.

You'll often see successful leaders start with something positive before delving into the areas that need improvement.

For instance, "Your presentation had great insights. One way to strengthen it could be adding more real-life examples to make it more relatable."

Notice that this phrasing acknowledges the person's effort while gently steering them in the right direction.

In our hyper-connected world, digital etiquette isn't just a bonus -- it's crucial.

Sending an email full of typos or oversharing in a professional Slack channel can tarnish your brand quicker than you think.

I once had a client who almost lost a major deal because someone on their team wrote a hastily typed, borderline disrespectful email to a potential partner.

Successful professionals consistently maintain a respectful tone online, whether they're messaging coworkers, posting on social media, or commenting on public forums.

It's about remembering that once something is out there in the digital space, it's nearly impossible to retract fully.

Truth is, your online behavior can be as telling as an in-person interaction.

If you treat digital communication with the same level of care you'd show in a face-to-face meeting, you'll stand out for all the right reasons.

My grandfather once told me, "A rising tide lifts all boats," and that's stuck with me as I've built my career.

The idea is that success is rarely a solo endeavor. Recognizing this reality keeps you grounded and approachable.

When working in groups, public acknowledgments of teammates' efforts can be a simple but powerful gesture.

In private, a sincere note -- whether handwritten or via email -- can do wonders for maintaining strong bonds.

The key is authenticity: people can sense when your praise is contrived.

Sincerely recognizing others' efforts fosters loyalty and goodwill. In my experience, it also creates an environment where everyone is more willing to go above and beyond.

From a mindset perspective, regularly reflecting on what you're grateful for can keep you from getting lost in the hustle.

Whether it's the supportive colleague who helps troubleshoot tech issues or the barista who knows your usual order -- each moment of gratitude reconnects you with the bigger picture of collaboration and kindness.

Professional etiquette isn't about lofty rules or stiff formalities. It's simply how you show respect, empathy, and integrity in your everyday interactions.

When you're mindful of how you make other people feel, you end up cultivating deeper trust, stronger connections, and a more authentic personal brand.

So whether you're starting a new job, running your own business, or just looking to make a strong impression, these seven rules have the power to elevate both your professional persona and your relationships. more
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