Demand generation agency, Sopro, has released a report revealing the optimal times and days for businesses to send prospective emails. The research, titled 'The State of Prospecting 2024', provides insights into the effectiveness of marketing email content, including the best times to send emails and which days to avoid.

According to the report, August emerges as the peak month for receiving an 'out of office' reply, making it a crucial period for businesses to understand the best times to send emails. The research found that 67% of buyers prefer to be contacted by email, reinforcing the importance of timing in email marketing strategies.

The report suggests that the best time to send a prospecting email is 11am on a Thursday, while the worst time is 4pm on a Tuesday. Despite often being cited as the least productive day, Friday emerges as the prime time for B2B email outreach with a lead rate of just under 2.15%. Conversely, Wednesday appears to be the worst day overall for email outreach, with a lead rate of just over 1.9%.

The research also found that mornings are generally better for B2B emails, with lead rates peaking at 11 am. This insight could be valuable for businesses looking to optimise their email marketing strategies and improve their prospecting success rates.

In terms of demographic insights, the report found that women are up to 20% more likely to generate sales leads than men. This finding could influence the targeting strategies of businesses and encourage a more gender-balanced approach to prospecting.

The report also identified industries that struggle the most with sales leads. The UK industries that face the most challenges include banking, wine and spirits, and luxury goods and jewellery, all with a lead rate of less than 2%. This insight could be particularly useful for businesses within these sectors looking to improve their prospecting efforts.

Finally, the report revealed that there are an average of four buyers per company involved in the decision-making process underscoring the importance of targeting multiple stakeholders within a company in prospecting strategies.