Ever gotten an email that used your name five times and still felt like it was meant for someone else? This blog shows real personalization fails where marketers guessed intent, misread data, or blasted “custom” messages that ignored what people actually did.
Ground your emails in behavior and simple intent signals so every message feels like recognition, not surveillance.
Stop Creepy ‘Personalized’ Emails That Miss the Mark 🎯
Read the full article here »
Published: December 8, 2025
Personalization can build trust or break it instantly. This piece highlights real mistakes where teams guessed at intent, misused data, or leaned on first-name tricks. The lesson is simple: relevance beats data quantity.
Upside: Use these stories as a pre-campaign checklist. Base messages on behavior, segment by journey stage, and follow up on real signals. For example, send targeted pricing follow-ups to people who viewed pricing, not generic blasts to everyone.
Impact: Bad personalization feels invasive and noisy, which harms deliverability and brand trust. Simpler segments and clear intent signals lift engagement and replies. Done right, personalization becomes recognition, not surveillance, and your list becomes a real asset.
Bootstrapped Wealth Lessons From Cold Email To Real Estate 💼
Published: April 14, 2025
Prof. M and I dig into how I built and sold my first tech startup. I cover using cold email to land major brands, then pivoting into real estate, and finally into Email Outreach Company. Product-market fit beats hype.
Upside: If you are early, lift a clear roadmap. Start with one channel you control, like outbound email, to test offers and audiences quickly. Fund growth through revenue and small experiments instead of chasing big rounds.
Impact: Skill stacks compound. Cold email, research, and deal-making powered my real estate plays and current client work. Treat each stage as practice, not a verdict, and you give yourself room to build real wealth.
Cold Email Metrics and “Enough” Growth in One Play 🎙️
Published: November 26, 2025
On School for Startups Radio, Brad Giles and I tackle growth from two angles. I explain why one positive reply per 1,000 can be a win if the system is dialed in. Brad warns that bigger can mean more pressure than profit.
Upside: Treat email like a predictable engine, not a lottery ticket. Focus on deliverability, list quality, and tight copy. Track meetings per thousand sends, not vanity metrics. Brad adds a simple growth filter: does the next move build an enduring business or feed an ego?
Impact: Outreach and strategy both signal how you treat people. Thoughtful cold email respects a buyer’s time. Disciplined scaling protects teams and owners from burnout. Together, they point to companies that grow on purpose and last.
My Last $.02
Personalization is powerful. When it misses, it is creepy and noisy. Segment by journey stage and actions like pricing views or key page visits. Send fewer, sharper emails that respect attention.
Over time, relevance turns your list into a durable asset instead of a place to flex how much data you have.
Until next time, happy emailing!
Adam