Discover 14 strategic outreach cadence strategies to help you identify and engage with a diverse spectrum of prospects.
1. The Warm Connection
The warm connection strategy involves leveraging mutual connections (or referrals) to build trust from the beginning.
The sequencing starts with a direct message that references the shared connection. After the warm introduction, send a follow-up email with more details about the role, project, or cause.
Warm connections require personal attention. Recruiters who prospect donors for fundraisers can research tools like the fundraiser platform by Givecampus to learn how automating administrative tasks can enable more valuable one-on-one time with prospects.
2. Targeted Skills Campaign
These campaigns are designed for passive prospects with specific assets, such as:
● In-demand skill sets (for new talent hires)
● Demonstrated experience (for new CEOs)
● Fundraiser track records (for donor prospects)
This strategy works well with LinkedIn outreach, especially if there isn't a known mutual connection. LinkedIn itself fills that gap with "degrees" of professional connection.
The sequencing starts with a personalised LinkedIn message, or InMail, followed by an email that describes the role, cause, or project, highlighting how the prospect's experience fits the project.
3. Content-First Cadence
This outreach sequence leverages authoritative content like Whitepapers, industry reports, or webinars that establish the company you represent as a thought leader. It's an education-first strategy that works well with prospects in STEM industries
4. Role-Specific Teaser
When prospecting in-demand yet passive candidates, consider sending an email that reveals only a few, yet intriguing, details, inviting the prospect to learn more. This sparks curiosity, increasing the chances of an inbound inquiry.
5. High-Priority Inbound Leads
Recruiters need a rapid-response cadence strategy for quality leads who actively engage with prospecting content, like filling out a contact form on a project landing page.
This scenario underscores the importance of having an autoresponse strategy that confirms the lead's action.
6. Re-engagement Cadence
It never hurts to have a re-engagement cadence in your toolbox. You can automate these communications, as well. You may decide to run a re-engagement campaign after a prospect data audit. Sending an email about a company or cause milestone to pique interest is an example.
7. Boomerang Candidate Drip
This strategy nurtures a sense of continued connection with long-term former or retired employees, keeping them informed about company changes, milestones, fundraisers, and new opportunities.
8. Alumni Outreach
This sequence shares similarities with boomerage campaigns, but they're more geared toward alumni from universities and organisations. They can include boomerage success stories, like an alumni who's now a program director.
9. Closing the Loop Cadence
If a cadence goes unanswered, send a polite message letting prospects know you're closing the communications loop on a specific role, cause, or project, but are happy to stay in touch. This strategy keeps the door open for future possibilities.
10. Lead Event Follow-Up
Craft a specialised cadence for leads who attended a recruiting event, whether it was an industry expo or a conference about a cause. Send an immediate (or auto) follow-up via email, connect on LinkedIn a few days later, referencing a relevant point from a shared conversation at the event.
11. Event Speaker Follow-Up
Industry event speakers are valuable thought leaders. Send a personalised message referencing their talk, including thoughtful questions. Subtly introduce a relevant opportunity in your communication.
12. Referral Program Promotion
Send a cadence to all current employees, donors, or students highlighting the referral program. Remind them of bonuses, events, or scholarships, showcasing successful past referrals to encourage participation.
13. Campus Hire Pre-Onboarding
Good onboarding inspires long-term contracts. Introduce a nurturing-style cadence for accepted campus hires, engaging them further before their official start dates. These communications could include welcome videos, prep checklists, and company culture content.
14: Job Alert Cadence
Whenever a new opportunity arises, have an immediate, semi-automated sequence ready for your pool. Your platform could send personalised alerts when opportunities matching certain profiles become available. Make this strategy a part of long-term lead relationship management.
Start Recruiting (the Right Way)
This quarter, set an objective for smart prospecting that optimises lead generation and conversion rates. Audit your current cadence strategies to see where you can improve communications and engagement.
* Image Source: Gemini
