Hunter.io

In 2025, we called this a "cold email" competition. But as we watched the winners climb the bracket, we realized something: none of the winning entries actually felt cold. Today, success belongs to the researchers, the problem-solvers, and the human beings who know how to turn a cold lead into a warm conversation. Messaging Madness 2026 is back to find the writers who can bridge that gap. We’ve set four distinct scenarios for this year’s tournament, from an AI CRM Founder targeting a CSO to a Recruitment CEO fighting talent "bleed" in Real Estate. Your mission? Pick one, research the pain points, and write the email that gets the reply. The Tournament Path: ✅ The Selection: Hunter's internal judges pick the Top 64 entries. ✅ The Bracket: 16 writers per scenario face off in a head-to-head tournament. ✅ The Public Vote: The community decides who moves forward and who gets eliminated. ✅ The Prize: One champion walks away with $1,000 and the glory. Are you ready to show the world that outreach isn't about volume, it's about value? The buzzer for entries sounds on March 10th. Don't miss your shot. Submit your entry here: https://lnkd.in/gSGsD5uK

Cold email is out, high-stakes outreach is in. Messaging Madness 2026 is officially open, and we’re looking for the top 64 writers to battle it out in a bracket-style tournament. None of the "spray and pray" tactic allowed, just pure, relevant, unignorable copy. The Stakes: 🏆 Winner: $1,000 Cash 🏅 Final Four: 1 Year of Hunter Starter 🗳️ The Judge: The public (and your prospects!) Choose your scenario, write one killer email, and beat the buzzer before March 10. Whether you're a Founder, CEO, or AE, it’s time to prove your skills. Claim your spot in the bracket: https://lnkd.in/gSGsD5uK

The entries are in. The judges have spoken. The Madness is about to begin. 🏀 On March 16, we reveal the 64 elite outreach writers who made the cut for Messaging Madness 2026. From Founders to AEs, these competitors are going head-to-head for the $1,000 grand prize, and you hold their fate in your hands. Mark your calendars: 📢 March 16: Bracket Announcement 🗳️ March 17: First Round Voting Begins Get ready to vote for the outreach that actually earns the reply. See the full schedule here: https://lnkd.in/gSGsD5uK

You’re sending cold emails. But barely getting replies. We analyzed 11 million cold emails to understand why. What did we find? It’s not the tools. Not the templates. It’s the message: • No personalization = 2.8% reply rate • Personalized + manually edited = 6.5% See what else makes cold email work in 2025.

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