T3Tony profile picture
T3Tony profile picture

T3Tony

Regional Sales MAnager

Valued Contributor
Catalyst
Contributor
+2

Using exclamation points in prospecting emails?

How do you feel about using exclamation points when sending prospecting emails?!?!?!???


How many do you use on average?


With being remote do they express excitement or just look unprofessional?


👑 Sales Strategy
☁️ Software Tech
10

30 comments

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softwarebro
Politicker
7
Sales Director
Depends on the age of your prospect. Personally, I mimic the writing style of the prospect. To directly answer your question - I think using one or two ! is completely fine. 
LordBusiness
Politicker
2
Chief Revenue Officer
This is on POINT.   Too many exclamation points in cold prospecting is off putting though. 
T3Tony
Valued Contributor
1
Regional Sales MAnager
@LordBusiness Agreed, recently had a prospect tell me he couldn't figure out if I was excited or yelling at my screen lol.
T3Tony
Valued Contributor
0
Regional Sales MAnager
So what you're telling me @softwarebro is the !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! isn't needed lol.
SADNES5
Politicker
0
down voters are marketing spies
sorry, thought I hit reply with my other comment!
E_Money
Big Shot
4
💰
Rule of thumb for me has always been to mirror prospects' email style. If they use exclamation points, then I do too. If they use emojis, then I do too. etc.

That being said if it is a cold email I stick to 1 or less. Just in case.
T3Tony
Valued Contributor
2
Regional Sales MAnager
Golden nuggets right here!
Savagedoge
Tycoon
1
Account Executive
Any punctuation marks in the multiples looks stupid imo. I use exclamation marks fairly generously otherwise though. I'd love to hear other's opinions on this!
CuriousFox
WR Officer
1
🦊
I would keep it around two to seem playful, yet serious. 
T3Tony
Valued Contributor
0
Regional Sales MAnager
Firm but playful..... just like my golf game.
DentalSales
Good Citizen
1
Managing Director
Personally, I try to avoid using ! at all costs. It removes credibility for me, when I see them. 

If I am emailing someone who uses them often, typically very junior people or, worse, MARKETING, I may use one after saying thanks. 

Thanks!
SADNES5
Politicker
0
down voters are marketing spies
ugh, marketing. I think you meant to say "MARKETING!", but they're all on a team building retreat. 
SADNES5
Politicker
1
down voters are marketing spies
I write how I talk, but it depends on how many touch points you have. @softwarebro makes a good point to anchor in with using the same language/writing style/length when you have rapport established or when you're getting the foot in the door. 
POSitive
Opinionated
0
Senior Account Manager
I keep the sheer excitement of an exclamation point minimal when it's someone you never met or spoke with before. Until you know their personality I keep it chill.
T3Tony
Valued Contributor
0
Regional Sales MAnager
Like cucumber chill?

POSitive
Opinionated
1
Senior Account Manager
Like cucumber in a gin & tonic chill. 
SalesPharaoh
Big Shot
0
Senior Account Executive
I use them a lot actually especially if I'm promoting something.
T3Tony
Valued Contributor
0
Regional Sales MAnager
Like this many !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?
RaymondRisotto
Politicker
0
Account Executive
If they dropped one, I'll usually drop one
T3Tony
Valued Contributor
0
Regional Sales MAnager
Monkey see Monkey do. I like it.

CaneWolf
Politicker
0
Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract
Did anybody actually test this? Maybe being the exclamation point seller would work before everyone starting copying it.

Who knows maybe Subject line: AMY! and ending every sentence with an exclamation point could work.


Mehak
Politicker
0
Co-Founder
For me more than one exclamation mark is equivalent to capital letters is equivalent to yelling
deviantzen
WR Lieutenant
0
Consultant
IT'S LIKE ALL CAPS...generally avoid but would use for certain stylistic applications
SlanginSaaS
Opinionated
0
Strategic Account Executive
I use them if I am sending an email on Friday and ending it with Have a great evening! 

As everything if working more hours while home, try to use it to emphasize relaxing and doing something you enjoy outside of work.
SaaSsyB
Opinionated
0
SDR Manager
I can only speak from the SDR point of view.  I use them all the time. I am an SDR and I have zero shame for my excitement in an email! As long as they are used when appropriately, it don’t see the problem.  
SalesPharaoh
Big Shot
0
Senior Account Executive
Personally I think it's fine but make sure you put it in something that is promotional in nature and not addressing that person so there wouldn't be misunderstandings.
eRecruiter
Good Citizen
0
Executive Manager
In a cold email, it's got to be 1 or none. Imagine stopping someone in the street and exclaiming how great your product is and how important it is they speak with you?!

Oh wait... 
Chep
WR Officer
0
Bitcoin Adoption Specialist
Most of the time I don't use them unless I really want to get my excitement across for a very specific reason like hey prospect I saw we attended the same university for undergraduate!
SalesOctopus
Valued Contributor
0
Enterprise Business Development Representative
100% depends on the situation, but I definitely use exclamation points in certain scenarios. Never more than one though.
MR.StretchISR
Politicker
0
ISR
Rule of thumb for me has always been to mirror prospects' email style. If they use exclamation points, then I do too. If they use emojis, then I do too. etc.

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