How to Know If Your Cold Email Is Working (Using Mailtrack)
Stop guessing. Start tracking. Here's how to diagnose exactly what's wrong with your cold emails.
Install Mailtrack First
Mailtrack is a free Gmail extension that shows you:
✓ = Email delivered
✓✓ = Email opened
This tells you EXACTLY where your email is failing.
The 3 Diagnostics
1️⃣ They Never Opened It = Weak Subject Line
What you see in Mailtrack: Single checkmark (✓) for days
What this means: Your subject line didn't grab attention. It looked like spam or was too boring to click.
Fix it:
Make it specific (mention their company/project)
Create curiosity without being clickbait
Keep it under 50 characters
Test: "Redesigned your [X]" vs "Quick idea for [Company]"
Example fixes:
❌ "Web design services"
✅ "Redesigned your case study page"
❌ "Collaboration opportunity"
✅ "Saw your [Client Name] campaign"
2️⃣ They Opened But Didn't Reply = Weak Body
What you see in Mailtrack: Double checkmark (✓✓) but no response
What this means: Subject line worked, but your email didn't deliver value. They read it and thought "so what?"
Fix it:
Your first sentence must be relevant (reference the trigger)
Show don't tell (link to proof or attach mockup)
Make the offer ultra-specific
Lower the friction (reviewing a design vs scheduling a call)
Common body mistakes:
Too long (keep it under 100 words)
No proof (claims without evidence)
Vague offer ("I can help you grow")
Example fixes:
❌ "I'm a designer who helps businesses grow online"
✅ "I redesigned [Company]'s checkout page and they saw a 23% conversion lift. Here's the case study: [link]"
❌ "Would love to discuss how we can work together"
✅ "Want me to send the mockup? Takes 2 minutes to review"
3️⃣ They Replied "Not Interested" = DOUBLE DOWN
What you see: Any response at all, even if it's negative
What this means: You did something right. They:
Opened it (good subject line)
Read it (engaging enough)
Took time to reply (you're on their radar)
This is not a rejection. This is a conversation.
What to do: Send a short, respectful follow-up that adds value:
Hey [Name],
No worries at all—timing might not be right.
I already built the mockup for practice anyway, so here it is: [link]
Feel free to use it or just steal the ideas. Either way, good luck with [specific project/goal].
[Your name]
Why this works:
Real example: One of my students got "not interested" from an agency. He sent the mockup anyway. The CEO replied 3 days later: "Actually, can you do this for our other site too?"
The Weekly Tracking Routine
Send 10-20 emails per week and track them in a simple spreadsheet:
Email Subject Opened? Replied? Result Agency A Saw your X campaign ✓✓ No Weak body Store B Redesigned your checkout ✓ No Weak subject Coach C Your [Topic] post hit different ✓✓ Yes Meeting booked ✅
After 20 emails, you'll see patterns:
Low open rate (below 40%) = Fix subject lines
High opens, low replies = Fix email body
Getting replies = Keep doing what you're doing
The Numbers You Should Hit
Beginner benchmarks:
If you're below these, diagnose with Mailtrack and fix the weak link.
Quick Mailtrack Tips
Don't obsess over it - Check once a day max
Give it 3-5 days - Some people take time to respond
If they opened 3+ times - They're interested but hesitating. Send a soft follow-up
Track your subject line variants - Test different approaches and see what gets opened
The Golden Rule
No opens? → Fix subject line Opens but no replies? → Fix body "Not interested" replies? → Follow up with value
Every response is data. Use it.
