When it comes to cold outreach, simplicity sells. And nothing is simpler—or more effective—than a Yes/No question.
These quick asks lower the barrier to response, feel natural, and drive up your reply rates. Here’s how to use them and why they work so well.
They Lower the Response Barrier
Open-ended questions require time and thought. Typically, they start with "How," "What," "Why," and "When."
Questions like:
“What’s your biggest marketing challenge right now?”
“How do you currently approach lead generation?”
“Why haven’t your ads delivered consistent ROI?”
Asking these questions in cold outreach can lower reply rates because they require a considered response - something your prospects don't have the time (or often the patience!) for. They require reflection, effort, and time. And when you’re a stranger in someone’s inbox, that’s a tall order.
Yes/No questions, on the other hand, are easy to answer and low-risk. You’re not asking them to explain anything. Just to react.
Instead of:
“What’s your biggest marketing challenge right now?”
Try
"Are you finding it challenging to generate a return from paid advertising?"
Three more effective Yes/No swaps:
❌ “How do you currently handle email deliverability?”
✅ “Are you currently using any tools to improve email deliverability?”❌ “What’s your process for sourcing leads?”
✅ “Do you use verified B2B data in your current outreach?”❌ “Why haven’t your cold emails worked in the past?”
✅ “Would you be open to testing a campaign that boosts reply rates?”
They Start Conversations, Not Commitments
Cold outreach isn’t about closing. It’s about starting.
Yes/No questions give your prospect a pressure-free way to engage. It’s not a contract. It’s just a tap on the shoulder.
Once they reply—even with a “maybe”—your automation pauses and you pick it up, human to human.
This shifts your message from monologue to dialogue. And that’s where real opportunities start.
They Boost Reply Rates
Across Outreachly campaigns, Yes/No questions consistently outperform open-ended messages in reply and conversion rates.
Why they work:
✅ They feel conversational, not corporate
✅ They create momentum with minimal effort
✅ They eliminate analysis paralysis
The magic is in the psychology. People say no to things they don’t understand.
How to Use Them in Outreachly
Add a Yes/No question at the end of your:
LinkedIn connection message
First or second email touchpoint
Manual follow-up (voicemail, video, or task)
Keep it:
Short (under 10 words is ideal)
Specific to your offer or insight
Relevant to the prospect’s likely pain point
Here are a few to test:
“Open to chatting for 10 mins this week?”
“Is improving your email performance on your radar?”
“Would you be interested in cutting CPL by 70%?”
🚀Success! You’re now asking the kind of questions that get answers—because when prospects engage, conversions follow.