When Do CROs Actually Reply? A Data-Backed Guide to Closing Revenue Leaders

Apollo’s analysis of real email performance data reveals Chief Revenue Officers engage most at unconventional times, with Saturday 3 AM showing 25.53% open rates compared to traditional weekday timing.

What Are the Best Times to Email Chief Revenue Officers?

According to Apollo's analysis of millions of email interactions, Chief Revenue Officers engage most when traditional business hours end. The data from thousands of sends to C-suite executives shows the highest engagement occurs during weekend early morning hours when CROs review weekly metrics and prepare strategic plans.

Why Do Chief Revenue Officers Open Emails at 3 AM on Saturday?

Saturday at 3 AM outperforms typical business hours by significant margins. This timing achieves 28% better performance than Tuesday at 4 AM (19.97% open rate) and 21% better than Wednesday at 5 AM (20.01% open rate).

Weekend Metric Reviews

• CROs use weekend quiet time to review weekly performance metrics without meeting interruptions

Strategic Planning Sessions

• Early morning hours provide uninterrupted time for strategic thinking and planning

Global Time Zone Considerations

• International CROs may be in different time zones during their standard business hours

Reduced Inbox Competition

• Fewer emails arrive during off-hours, increasing visibility for your message

What Email Templates Get Replies from Chief Revenue Officers?

Revenue-focused, ROI-driven emails massively outperform generic outreach when targeting Chief Revenue Officers. Templates emphasizing cost visibility, risk management, and revenue enablement show the highest engagement rates.

High-Performing CRO Subject Line Patterns

• software spend at {{company}} - Direct cost implications

• {{company}} tech expenses - Budget optimization focus

• {{company}} IT health report - Risk and savings assessment

CRO-Focused Email Openers

"Wondering, do you know which software solutions {{company}} currently pays for?"

Focus: Cost visibility and budget control

"How confident are you about the current cybersecurity setup at {{company}}?"

Focus: Risk management and compliance

"Is your current tech stack helping {{company}} scale—or holding back growth?"

Focus: Revenue enablement and efficiency

What Is the Optimal Email Length for Chief Revenue Officers?

Our analysis of successful CRO outreach campaigns reveals specific word count ranges that maximize engagement across different email stages.

Optimal Email Length by Outreach Stage

High-Performing First Touch Template (87 words)

Hi {{first_name}},

Wondering, do you know which software solutions {{company}} currently pays for?

If your tech spend is a black box, and you find yourself paying for solutions that you've never heard of, it might be worth a chat.

I'm [Name], [Title] at [Company]. We help companies like {{company}} reduce IT overhead by 30-40% while improving efficiency.

I'd be happy to take a quick look at your current setup to help find you some savings.

Interested in connecting?

Thanks,

[Name]

How Should SDRs Follow Up with Chief Revenue Officers?

Successful multi-touch campaigns targeting CROs follow a specific pattern based on analysis of real campaign performance data.

1. Email 1: Value-Focused Opener

• Lead with specific ROI proposition

• Ask targeted question about their revenue operations

• Keep under 100 words

2. Email 2: Social Proof and Urgency

• Reference specific results ("30-40% cost reduction")

• Add urgency without being pushy

• Ultra-short format (under 50 words)

3. Email 3: Breakup and Redirect

• Ask if they're the right person for revenue decisions

• Offer to connect with someone else

• Shows respect for their time and hierarchy

What Email Mistakes Kill CRO Response Rates?

Common email mistakes dramatically reduce response rates when targeting Chief Revenue Officers, based on performance data analysis.

Subject Line Mistakes

• Generic greetings: "Reconnecting" (shows low engagement)

• Vague promises: "Can we help?" (too broad for CRO priorities)

• No personalization: "Happy {{day}}!" (screams automation)

Timing Mistakes

• Following "Tuesday morning" conventional wisdom

• Sending during traditional business hours when CROs are in meetings

• Ignoring weekend engagement opportunities

Content Mistakes

• Emails over 150 words for cold outreach

• Generic messaging without revenue focus

• Multiple follow-ups without changing approach

How Can SDRs Implement This CRO Email Strategy?

Actionable implementation steps for SDRs and sales executives to optimize their Chief Revenue Officer outreach based on this data.

Immediate Actions

• Schedule email sends for Saturday 3-5 AM or Sunday 6 AM in CRO's timezone

• Include company name in subject line for immediate relevance

• Lead with specific ROI proposition, not generic pleasantries

• Keep first emails between 75-100 words

• Follow up with ultra-short 25-50 word messages

Long-term Strategy

• Track open rates by send time to validate timing optimization

• A/B test subject lines with revenue-focused messaging

• Develop CRO-specific value propositions for each industry

• Create email templates that emphasize cost savings and risk mitigation