Know-How Exchange : E-Marketing

If the people who you're emailing 1) know you and 2) your email is well-crafted, then you might get some interest. Otherwise, zero dollars.

If the recipients of your email know you, like you, trust you, believe in you, and want to follow you, you might see 1 - 2% as a return. This is a long shot though: what value will you lead with? What benefits are you offering?

Why should any of these people help you, much less care about whatever it is your business is? What connection or relationship do the people on your list currently have with you? If this is a cold list, a list of constituents who have never heard of you and who have no idea who you are or what you're about, your chances of success are slim.

I would back up the comments from colleagues above. If you want to raise money by sending cold call emails, as distinct from working through a crowdfunding site, your chances are of getting contributions are very slim for reasons set out above. Even if you work through a crowdfunding site, you need to be aware that for every success story that makes the news headlines, there are many other projects that fail miserably.

If you want to raise funds, there is a quid pro quo involved. What can you offer as an incentive for people you don't know to throw their towel in with you?

You said you want the funds to start a new business venture. What is the nature of the business. Is there some way you can offer a product (for example) for the financial contribution you are asking for? Why have you suggested a contribution of $5 to $10? Why not more, so you need less people to respond?

Have you prepared a comprehensive, written business plan that would have tested and proved your business model and your business objectives. I actually work in this field, if you wanted to have a private discussion about your situation.