The Surprising Things LeadEngine Won’t Do

We’ve all been led to believe that more features = better performance in software.

But as we’ve built the most advanced cold email tool you’ve seen, LeadEngine, we’ve realized something crucial: not all features are helpful.

In fact, some are downright harmful to your deliverability and your ability to start real conversations.

Most cold email platforms include a laundry list of shiny add-ons. Yet, many of these add-ons can land you in spam, inflate (or deflate) your metrics, and even distract your prospects instead of engaging them.

Below is a list of “staple” features we intentionally refuse to include in LeadEngine, along with explanations of how this helps you get better results.

1. No open tracking

Why We’re Leaving This Out

You’ve likely heard the phrase, “What gets measured, gets managed.” But the truth is, open tracking data is notoriously inaccurate.

Many email clients—think Gmail, Outlook, and especially Apple Mail—now pre-block or cache the invisible pixels used to track opens.

This means the tracking data you get often reflects false opens or missed opens and can lead you to think your email campaigns are performing better or worse than they actually are.

Beyond the accuracy problem, hidden pixels can trigger spam filters. Email providers generally treat emails with tracking pixels more suspiciously than plain, untracked emails.

Plus, the big push for user privacy (such as Apple’s Mail Privacy Protection) continues to erode the reliability of open metrics.

How It Helps You

By not relying on faulty open rate data, you’ll focus on what truly matters: real conversations, replies, and deals closed.

Without those extra lines of code in your emails, deliverability improves. And best of all, you’ll no longer have to scratch your head over whether your open rates are inflated, deflated, or somewhere in between.

You can trust the data you do see—like replies—to actually represent genuine engagement.

2. No link tracking

Why We’re Leaving This Out

If you’ve ever clicked a link in an email and noticed it first whisked you through a strange domain, you’ve experienced link tracking in action.

Most email tools redirect you to a tracking server before sending you on to the intended URL. While this might seem useful, it can create suspicion among spam filters and prospective leads alike.

Spam and Deliverability Risks: Email service providers often analyze URLs for suspicious activity. When they see a domain that’s used purely for link tracking or doesn’t match the sender’s domain, it raises red flags.

Damaged Trust: Let’s be honest: People can tell when a link is being tracked. A cold email with complicated URLs screams “marketer,” not “potential partner.” It can sabotage your attempts at a genuine human-to-human connection.

How It Helps You

By skipping link tracking, LeadEngine helps your emails appear (and be) more trustworthy. When a prospect hovers over your link, it’s crystal clear where they’ll land—no shady or mysterious redirects. This transparency improves deliverability and fosters credibility.

After all, you want your recipients to feel comfortable clicking on your links, not suspicious or hesitant.

3. No images

Why We’re Leaving This Out

You might think adding a fancy banner or headshot personalizes your email, but in reality, images often do more harm than good in cold outreach.

Each embedded image is another invitation for spam filters to scrutinize your message. Large or poorly hosted images can be flagged, and your email might end up in the Promotions or Spam tab.

Also, images can distract from the core goal of your cold email: to initiate a conversation. If your message looks too much like a marketing newsletter, it loses the personal touch that’s critical in effective cold outreach.

How It Helps You

When you keep your email text-based and clean, it reads as a personal note, not a mass advertisement. It’s also lighter on code, which typically improves deliverability and helps your core message stand out.

Moreover, you’ll avoid formatting snafus that occur when images don’t display properly across different email clients.

4. No attachments

Why We’re Leaving This Out

Including attachments—like PDFs, slides, or documents—in your first outreach email can actually kill your chances of getting a response. Email security filters are notoriously tough on attachments from unknown senders, and many prospects simply won’t open them out of fear of malware or viruses.

Large attachments can also bloat your email size, leading to potential bounce-backs or slower loads that reflect poorly on your sender reputation.

How It Helps You

By removing attachments altogether (especially in early touchpoints), you keep the conversation streamlined. Instead, if you need to share resources or materials, consider linking to a well-known and secure platform—or better yet, share them after you establish a bit of rapport via a quick reply.

Pro Tip: If a lead replies, that’s your opportunity to say, “Let me send you a short PDF that explains more.” Now they’re invested and less likely to treat the attachment with suspicion.

5. No formatting

Why We’re Leaving This Out

When I say “no formatting,” we mean no heavy HTML, no brightly colored text, no fancy templates, and no over-the-top styling.

Think about it: If you were emailing a friend or colleague directly, would you include multiple fonts, bullet points, or a splashy design? Probably not.

Overly formatted emails can come off as promotional or automated. Spam filters are trained to detect marketing-style HTML.

Plus, a text-based approach feels more like a genuine one-to-one communication—which is exactly what cold outreach is meant to emulate.

Why This Matters for Your Cold Email Success

In essence, LeadEngine is about quality over quantity and authenticity over gimmicks. By removing features that promise fancy metrics or “wow-factor” visuals, we protect your inbox placement and focus your attention on building real connections.

Remember:

• You can’t start a conversation if your email never lands in the inbox.

• Trust is crucial. If your recipient or email providers think you’re overly salesy or suspicious, you’ll see declining results.

• Simplicity sells. A straightforward, text-based email often comes across as honest, direct, and personalized.

What’s Next?

We’re excited to show you how adopting this “less is more” approach will lead to higher response rates and healthier email deliverability.

Stay tuned for our official launch date—and if you’re eager to test-drive LeadEngine, click here to book a demo for our early access group.

Thanks for reading! We appreciate you being part of our mission to clean up cold email and make it work the way it should—authentically and effectively.

— Patrick Spielmann, Founder