Popular advice: "Track open rate to see if outreach is working." Myth. Open rate is the vanity metric pixels inflate and Apple Mail fakes. Read the numbers in this order:
— Reply rate first — the only number tied to a human deciding.
— Positive-reply rate next — replies that aren't "unsubscribe."
— Then bounce rate — a list-health signal, not a copy signal.
— Opens last, if at all, and never as proof of anything.
If opens are up and replies are flat, your subject line is writing checks the body can't cash. Read replies, not opens.
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Which numbers to read after a send, in order
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