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Personalization can make or break your outreach. Done right, it shows prospects you get them. Done wrong, it feels lazy, forced, or flat-out wrong.

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Let’s break down the most common mistakes and how to avoid them.

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1. Using Only Surface-Level Details

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The problem: Grabbing easy details from LinkedIn — job title, company, alma mater — and calling it a day.

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Why it fails: It’s giving ✨ mass email ✨. Prospects can spot generic outreach a mile away.

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✅ How to fix it: Dig deeper. Go beyond the basics and connect to something meaningful (a project they led, an industry shift, or company initiative).

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Psst! Tools like Bebop.ai can help you pull that in just seconds!

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2. Personalizing the Opener but Not the Offer

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The problem: You have a strong intro, but a weak follow-through. You hook them with a tailored opener… and then drop in the same generic pitch you send everyone.

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Why it fails: It feels like a bait-and-switch. Personalization isn’t just for the first line. It needs to carry through the entire email.

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✅ How to fix it: Tie personalization to the value you’re offering. Make sure the problem you highlight, the proof you share, and the CTA you include all reflect their world, not just yours!

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3. Ignoring Their Current Reality

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The problem: Pitching growth hacks to a company that just announced layoffs.

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Why it fails: It can come off as insensitive or give off a general lack of awareness.

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✅ How to fix it: Review before you hit send — industry trends, recent news, and company updates. A little context goes a long way in making your outreach land at the right moment.

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4. Overdoing the Flattery

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The problem: You lay it on thick. Suddenly your prospect is more buttered up than a bread roll at Texas Roadhouse.

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Why it fails: Forced praise feels fake. If it’s not authentic, it risks undermining your credibility.

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✅ How to fix it: Be specific and genuine. If you’re complimenting someone’s work, point to why it stood out and how it’s relevant to what you’re offering.  

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5. Over-Automating Without Human Review

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The problem: “Hi [First_Name]...” Yep, the placeholder gremlin strikes again.

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Why it fails: One little error can destroy the whole message. Instead of reading your pitch, your prospect has already hit delete.  

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✅ How to fix it: Take one minute to re-read before sending. Automation should help personalization, not sabotage it!

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Key Takeaways

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Personalization isn’t about sprinkling in a name or flattery — it’s about showing relevance, empathy, and timing. If you avoid these mishaps, your outreach won’t just get noticed, it’ll get responses 🚀