AI Email Personalization at Scale with Advanced Data Enrichment

Table Of Contents

1. What's the Biggest Issue with AI Email Personalization Tools?
2. How Most AI Tools "Personalize" Emails
3. How LavaReach Does Real AI Personalization at Scale
4. Effective AI Email Personalization Starts with Data
5. How to Write Personalized Emails with LavaReach AI Tool
6. How to Use LavaReach Advanced AI Enrichment
7. Top 7 AI Email Personalization Tips
8. FAQs

As a co-founder of LavaReach, I've seen my fair share of AI-generated emails. Let me tell you, most of them are about as personal as a robocall. AI email personalization is a problem that's been bugging me for a while now.

Here's the thing: personalized outreach is crucial for sales teams. It's the key to boosting response rates and booking more meetings. But when your entire email is written by AI, it often comes off as generic and impersonal. That's where most AI email personalization tools fall flat on their AI face.

And don't even get me started on the usual suspects like ChatGPT. I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling a bit worn out by the "Hi [Name], I hope this email finds you well" opener. I'm sure, I'm not alone with this one.

So, how do we use the power of AI to hyper-personalize emails without sounding like AI? It's a question our team has been wrestling with since we started LavaReach. And I think we've finally cracked the code!

It's not about letting AI write your entire email. It's about using AI and other tools strategically to enhance your human touch. At LavaReach, we've developed a method that combines the efficiency of AI with the warmth of personal communication.

In this guide, I'm going to show you how to leverage AI for your email marketing efforts or cold outreach without losing that crucial human element. I'll share my tips on how I use AI email personalization tools to create content that resonates with our prospects on a personal level.

Trust me, when done right, your prospects won't even realize you've used AI. They'll just know that your email spoke to them in a way that generic messages never could.

What's the Biggest Issue with AI Email Personalization Tools?

Let's talk about fully AI-generated emails. You know the ones, they sound like they were written by a robot trying to pass a Turing test. Not exactly the personal touch we're aiming for in our cold outreach efforts, right?

So you open your inbox, and there it is. Another AI-crafted message trying to pass as human. It's got all the facts right, but something's off. The personality is missing. The spark that makes you feel like someone's actually talking to you? Gone. It's too... sterile, if you will.

That's the problem with most AI email personalization tools out there. They're like that overeager intern who memorized the company handbook.

Tools like Apollo promise effortless AI email personalization at scale. "Just input some data," they say, "and we'll craft the perfect email!" Sounds great, doesn't it? But in reality, it's a fast track to the spam folder. Not only that, but you also risk ruining the health of your domain.

Why? Because when AI takes over the entire writing process, it misses the nuances. The little details that make an email feel personal. Sure, it might mention your prospect's company name or recent achievements. But it lacks the human touch that makes someone think, "This person gets me."

I've seen many sales reps rely on these tools, crossing their fingers and hoping for a miracle. After all, it's the numbers game, right? But hope isn't a strategy. And in sales, if you're not standing out, you're just adding to the noise.

Let me tell you about this absolute gem of AI email personalization I came across recently. It's a real masterpiece if you ask me!

My friends at DeckLinks, who run a platform for sharing and tracking sales decks, received this beauty. The AI-powered genius behind this email somehow decided that DeckLinks must be in the business of... wait for it... decking solutions! You know, like for patios and such.

I can just imagine the AI scratching its virtual head, thinking, "Deck? Links? Must be about building decks! Brilliant!"

The email goes on to praise DeckLinks for their "high-quality decking solutions" and even applauds their commitment to sustainability in the construction industry. Because apparently, every company with "deck" in its name must be busy hammering away at eco-friendly porches. Brilliant.

But wait, it gets better! The AI, in their infinite wisdom, thought this would be a "great angle for media coverage." I'm sure the press would be thrilled to cover how a sales deck tracking platform is revolutionizing the world of outdoor living spaces.

This is what happens when AI tries to be too clever for its own good.

At LavaReach, we believe in smart personalization, not... whatever this is. We're all for using AI to enhance outreach, but maybe, just maybe, we should make sure it knows the difference between a sales deck and a wooden deck first.

How Most AI Tools "Personalize" Emails

You know those AI writing tools that promise to revolutionize your cold outreach? They're like that friend who swears they can cook but only knows how to microwave frozen dinners.

Here's how it typically goes down: You feed these tools some basic info about your prospect - maybe their name, company, and a quick blurb about your offering. Then you hit that magical "generate" button and cross your fingers.

What pops out? Well, it's technically a "personalized" email. But let's be real, it's about as personal as those "Hot singles in your area" ads. Wait... you haven't seen them? These tools are essentially playing Mad Libs with your sales pitch.

You've got about as much control over the output as a cat has over a laser pointer. You're at the mercy of an AI that thinks throwing in a prospect's name every other sentence counts as personalization.

So, you end up with messages that sound like they were written by AI trying to impersonate a used car salesman. They're generic emails wearing a "Hello, my name is Personalized" sticker.

Sure, these AI tools automate repetitive tasks. You can churn out cold emails faster than a teenager can send emoji-filled texts. But in the world of sales outreach, quantity without quality is like bringing a stick to a gunfight.

At LavaReach, we saw this problem and thought, "There's got to be a better way." And guess what? We found it!

How LavaReach Does Real AI Personalization at Scale

At LavaReach, we're not just throwing AI at the wall and seeing what sticks. No, our approach is all about putting you in the driver's seat. We're giving you the power to create hyper-personalized emails that actually sound like a human wrote them. How? By blending user-generated text, variables, and AI in a way that makes sense.

Think of our AI-powered email builder like a high-tech DJ mixing board. You've got three tracks to work with:

• Static text: This is your voice, your style. It's the foundation of your email, giving it that authentic, human touch. After all, you know your product and your audience better than any AI ever could.
• Variables: Think of these as your personalization power-ups. They're dynamically filled with data about your prospect or their company. Name, company, custom data, things like that. It's like magic, but better because it actually works.
• AI-generated prompts: This is where things get really interesting. You can mix and match different text or variables within the prompt, giving you the flexibility to craft your perfect output. It's like having a creative writing assistant who never sleeps.

The beauty of our approach is that you're calling the shots. You decide where to use your own voice. Where to plug in personalized data, and where to let our AI work its magic.

For instance, you might use your own words for the intro and closing, sprinkle in some variables for the recipient's details, and then let the AI generate a personalized opening line based on the company's recent achievements.

Sure, the learning curve might be a bit steeper than your average "click and pray" AI tool. But trust me, it's worth it. Once we've got your template set up, you're golden.

Effective AI Email Personalization Starts with Data

Let me tell you about the secret sauce that makes our AI email personalization at LavaReach the best in business: data. And I'm not talking about knowing your prospect's dog's favorite treat (though that might be a great idea and an interesting ice-breaker!).

You see, having data is one thing. Knowing how to use it effectively? That's a whole another story.

At LavaReach, we're talking about customizing messages based on real, meaningful sales triggers. Not just "Hey {FirstName}, hope you're having a great day!" but actual, relevant business insights that make your prospects pay attention.

Let me show you what I mean by that. We start with the basics - company summaries and such. But that's just the start. We've got a whole shebang of data enrichment capabilities that'll make your sales team salivate.

Website traffic stats, revenue ranges, funding history, recent job postings, job changes, revenue growth rates, etc.

But here's how we take the AI email personalization to another level. We've got this cool thing called Orgchart enrichment. Want to know if Company X has a sales team? Or who's on their finance team? Boom. Done. Think of our Orgcharts as a corporate structure X-ray vision.

And then there's our AI enrichment. This is where things get wild. You can ask our AI anything about a company. "Does this company need an AI chat bot?" Go for it. Craft a custom prompt, and our AI will create a custom column with the answer. And guess what? That becomes a variable you can use in your cold email personalization.

The best part? All this data becomes variables you can use in our email builder. You're not just personalizing with names and company names anymore. You're personalizing with deep, relevant insights that show you really understand your prospect's business.

When you use LavaReach for AI email personalization, you're not just sending emails. You're starting conversations with personalized content that your prospects can't ignore.

How to Write Personalized Emails with LavaReach AI Tool

First off, forget about those sales reps using ChatGPT to "personalize" emails. They're like that friend who thinks quoting movie lines counts as original conversation. Lots of words. Zero substance.

Here's how you can craft personalized emails with LavaReach AI:

You've got your static text - that's you being your charming, human self. Then you've got variables - those little green nuggets of personalized data. And finally, AI-generated prompts in purple.

You might start with something like, "Hey {first_name}, I noticed that {company_name}..." and then let our AI finish the sentence based on the company summary. But you tell LavaReach AI to keep it snappy, under 10 words. Boom! You've got a punchy, personalized opener that flows right into your pitch.

And flow is key. You want your email to read like a smooth jazz solo, not a disjointed mess of AI-generated paragraphs. So LavaReach AI will help you blend your own writing style with personalized elements.

For example: You start with that AI-generated opener based on the company summary. Then you transition into your main pitch - your words, your style. Sprinkle in some variables like the prospect's name or company to keep it personal. Maybe end with another AI-generated bit, like a personalized P.S. line based on some data point.

So what you end up getting is highly personalized emails that sound like it came from a real human being. They got that natural flow, that human touch, but they're AI enriched with data to make them hyper-relevant to each prospect.

And here's where it gets really exciting: once you've got your cold email templates dialed in, you can apply it to your ENTIRE LEAD LIST. Bam! We're talking personalization at scale. Each cold email still feels like it was handcrafted for that specific prospect.

This isn't just email personalization. This is email personalization on steroids, if you ask me!

How to Use LavaReach Advanced AI Enrichment

You know how researching prospects can be a real time-vampire for sales teams? You're spending two to five minutes per website, trying to gather intel on 100 companies. Before you know it, your whole day's gone, and you're left wondering where all those hours went. Sound familiar?

Well, we've taken that eight-hour slog and shrunk it down to 30 seconds. Yeah, you read that right. Treinta. Segundos. For 100 websites!

So, how does LavaReach AI Enrichment work? Let's say you're after some details about a company - maybe their HQ location, or how many manufacturing sites they've got, or where all their factories are. Typically, sales reps would be clicking around their website, trying to piece it all together.

But with our Advanced AI Enrichment, sales reps just tell it what they're looking for, and it does all the heavy lifting.

You start with your basic info - company website, location, industry, employee size, what they do. That's your standard AI enrichment. But now, here's where we take it up a notch.

You apply the AI enrichment and give it a prompt. Something like, "Tell me the HQ location and list out all the manufacturing sites, factories, and facilities with their locations." And hit that 'enrich' button.

In seconds, LavaReach will pull all that info for you. It'll tell you they're headquartered in Texas, that they've got a factory in Taiwan, another in Minnesota, and so on. And it's doing this for every single company on your list, all at once.

Now, imagine dropping that kind of specific, relevant info into your outreach emails. That's the kind of advanced personalization that can hep you get more responses. You're not just saying, "Hey, I see you're in manufacturing." You're saying, "I noticed you've got a new facility in Taiwan - how's that affecting your supply chain?"

And you're not spending hours digging for this info. You're getting deep, relevant insights fast.

Top 7 AI Email Personalization Tips

I've seen AI email personalization give sales reps a whole new way to screw up. But when done right, it's absolutely amazing.

Here are my top tips for nailing AI email personalization:

1. Don't Forget the Human Touch.

AI is powerful, BUT it can't replace your expertise. Blend AI-generated email content with your own insights. Your prospects can smell a fully AI-generated email from a mile away, and trust me, it doesn't smell of roses... it smells of lazy sales tactics.

2. Level Up Your Personalization Game.

Forget about using AI to just fill in {first_name} and {company_name}. Use AI to analyze your prospect's recent tweets or LinkedIn posts. Then, craft a hook that ties their latest business challenge to your solution. You're not just personalizing. You're contextualizing.

3. Test, Test, and Test Again.

A/B test everything – subject lines, opening lines, CTAs. Let your AI tool crunch the numbers and optimize your cold email outreach in real-time.

4. Leverage Your CRM Data.

Put your CRM data to work. Use AI tools to cross-reference it with public info. Generate insights that'll make your prospect think you're a mind reader. "Hey {FirstName}, noticed your company's been expanding into {NewMarket}. Bet that's putting some strain on your {Department} ..." That's personalized content that actually means something. It's not there to checkoff the "personalization" box.

5. Master Your Variables.

Variables in LavaReach can really make your emails feel personal without relying too heavily on AI. Well-placed variables can do wonders for making your prospect feel like you're talking directly to them.

6. Start Small and Scale Up.

Begin by personalizing emails manually. Maybe just use AI for subject lines at first. Compare response rates to your usual approach. If it's working, expand from there. If not, tweak your prompt or try a different approach or switch to LavaReach :)

7. Get Psychological (Ethically).

Use AI to personalize email content based on psychological profiles. Have it analyze a prospect's online presence to determine their personality traits, then tailor your message accordingly. I personally never tried it but it's worth a shot!

Remember, at LavaReach, we're not just trying to make cold emails sound personal. We aim to be so relevant that your prospects think you're a damn mind reader! It's about leveraging AI email personalization to do what would be impossible at scale with manual email personalization.

FAQs

How does AI email personalization differ from traditional email marketing?

AI email personalization uses artificial intelligence to analyze data and create highly relevant emails. Unlike traditional email marketing that relies on segmentation, AI tools can customize emails based on user behavior, preferences and other insights. This results in more engaging content for each recipient.

Is AI email personalization suitable for both B2B and B2C businesses?

AI email personalization is beneficial for both B2B and B2C. In B2B, AI can help sales teams create more targeted cold emails and improve lead nurturing. For B2C, AI can personalize product recommendations, offer tailored promotions and enhance customer engagement based on individual preferences and purchase history.

How does AI email personalization impact email deliverability?

AI email personalization can positively impact email deliverability by improving engagement rates. When emails are more relevant and personalized, recipients are more likely to open, read, and interact with them. This increased engagement signals to email providers that your messages are valuable.

About Daniel Zhao

Daniel Zhao is a multiple time founder with years of first-hand experience in B2B sales and revenue leadership. He has a consistent track record of helping companies experiment and implement outbound in SaaS and other industries. Throughout his career, Daniel has set up numerous outbound motions for the first time for companies that previously had not found success with sales led customer acquisition.