How a $20 Gift Accomplished What Months of Cold Emails Couldn't

In the competitive world of B2B sales, while cold emails can generate decent open rates, replies often remain disappointingly low. Breaking through crowded inboxes to land valuable meetings may be simpler than you expect—and it might just cost you $20.

Alex, an Oracle sales rep, spent months trying to connect with a key CIO through traditional emails and calls without success. He realized he needed a new approach, so he turned to research.

He listened to the entire podcast where the target CIO was featured, searching for personal insights. He noticed the CIO mentioned being a fan of Edgar Allan Poe. Alex sent an Edgar Allan Poe-themed mug with his business card and a handwritten note. This small, thoughtful gesture finally opened the door that countless cold emails couldn't.

"It was an account that he had been trying to break into forever, but he got creative and got his attention." — Zach Wright, cofounder of Syft AI

Why does gifting work so well for cold outreach?

A well-chosen gift stands out because it's personal, unexpected, and creates an emotional connection that traditional emails can't match.

• Personal Touch: A carefully selected gift feels genuine compared to mass emails.

• Unexpected Moment: A physical item stands out when prospects are accustomed to ignoring sales messages.

• Emotional Connection: Thoughtful gestures spark trust and curiosity.

• Pattern Interrupt: As Wright notes, "It's a pattern interrupt and that's how you create a relationship."

How can you add strategic gifting to your own sales process?

The key is to use sales gifting strategically, matching your efforts to the value of the prospect.

• Do Meaningful Research: Go beyond LinkedIn—listen to podcasts, read interviews, and check social profiles to find genuine interests.

• Match the Gift to Prospect Value:

  • Tier 1 (High value): Premium items ($100-300)

  • Tier 2 (Mid value): Thoughtful gifts ($50-150)

  • Tier 3 (General leads): Simple tokens ($15-40)

• Send Gifts at Key Moments: Practice progressive gifting throughout the relationship, from your first outbound sales attempt to a post-meeting follow-up.

The Psychology Behind a Thoughtful Gift

"It doesn't have to be expensive, but it's thoughtful," explains Wright. When you send a gift based on genuine interests, you demonstrate an investment in understanding who the prospect is. This stands out among generic messages and positions you as a potential partner, rather than just another salesperson.

If you're wondering how to manage personalized gifts at scale, tools like RevSend can help. They connect with over 10,000 apps through Zapier and Make.com. Whether you use Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach, or Salesloft, you can trigger gifts when updating CRM records or scheduling meetings, then track deliveries and follow-ups in one place.

Find your own "Edgar Allan Poe" moment.

FAQs

How can I use gifting to get a meeting with a new prospect?

You can use a thoughtful gift to get a prospect's attention and create a personal connection, which can be the "pattern interrupt" needed to secure an initial meeting.

How do you choose the right gift for a prospect?

The best gifts are based on meaningful research into the prospect's personal interests. The gift's value should align with the prospect's potential value to your business.

What is the ideal budget for a sales gift?

The budget for a sales gift should be tiered based on the prospect's value. For high-value accounts, a more premium gift is appropriate, while lower-tier leads may only require a simple token.

How can I send personalized gifts to many prospects at once?

Tools like RevSend integrate with popular sales platforms such as Salesforce and Outreach to help you automate and scale your personalized gifting efforts.

Find your own "Edgar Allan Poe" moment. Book a demo today