“It was a pain,” he says. “And not the kind you forget quickly.”
When Alexis looks back at how he started, he describes it as chaotic but full of learning.
A few years ago, Alexis Lacabane, co-founder of One Thousand Pieces, had the ideas and the drive, BUT….. not the tools.
Cold email didn’t come easy in the beginning. The process was messy, and learning came mostly from doing (and redoing) things that didn’t work the first time.
DNS settings, broken inboxes, random bounces, you name it, he dealt with it.
He was leading sales at a French startup, building outbound campaigns from scratch, and figuring out cold email by trial and error. The tools weren’t great.
Deliverability was hit-or-miss, and the outreach process involved more guessing than strategy. They worked with lookalike audiences and scraped together results, but there was no system. Just effort, and a lot of manual fixes.
Why Something Had to Change
“The biggest problem for outreach was that you had no easy way to get started. You had to know how to set up DNS records”.
Like most folks joining Smartlead in 2025, Alexis chuckles, “have no idea how to set up DNS records”.....and thank goodness for that, because Smartlead made that headache history.
Alexis has been in the game long enough to know what wasn’t working. Manual setup, shaky deliverability, endless hours tweaking DNS settings, but none of it was sustainable. What he needed was a platform that could actually keep up with how fast he wanted to build.
That platform turned out to be Smartlead. This case study breaks down exactly how he made the switch, what changed, and how it helped him drive results for names like Capitalize.io, InfoPay, and Orb. And yep, he shares some raw opinions too.
The Challenge: A Cluttered, Complicated Outbound World
At a certain point, Alexis knew he needed something better. Managing multiple clients was getting messy, and he didn’t want to pay thousands every month just to slap his logo on a platform. He needed something flexible and clean.
“I was looking for a very efficient way to kind of white label without paying the 2.5K retainer”
That’s when he found Smartlead. What caught his attention first was the client access. It wasn’t fully white label, but as Alexis put it, it was “white label enough” to get the job done. And that’s all he needed. Clients could log in, track their own performance, and understand how everything worked.
No confusion, no tab overload. But client access was only part of it. What really stood out was deliverability.
From the beginning, Smartlead enabled us to build client access. Everything has been driven around making people like us revenue.
It wasn’t flashy, it just worked. And that’s what made Smartlead a long-term solution for Alexis.
Winning the Inbox War with Smartlead’s Deliverability
Deliverability used to be one of those things Alexis constantly had to watch. Miss a setting, and suddenly your emails were vanishing into spam. He’s said it before, if you’re not landing in the inbox, nothing else really matters.
That changed when he switched to Smartlead. The structure of the platform made a big difference. Instead of managing servers, domains, and mailboxes separately, he could do it all in one place. It made scaling easier and a lot less stressful.
He also appreciated how thoughtful the warm-up system was. Emails weren’t just sent at random. The patterns mimicked real behavior, and things like skipping weekends added an extra layer of authenticity that helped with inbox placement.
To test what messaging worked best, Alexis used Smartlead’s Spintax feature. It allowed him to rotate value props and figure out which version resonated most, all without having to manage separate campaigns.
And on top of all that, Smartlead’s client access was clean and simple. Alexis gave clients the visibility they needed to understand what was happening and why, which made it easier to align on goals.
Smartlead’s Role in Alexis’ Bold Growth
“I’ve seen the evolution of the tool, and it perfectly aligns with how I evolved myself in my business.”
That’s how Alexis described his journey with Smartlead. The work Alexis does today looks very different from where he started. What was once a lead gen shop gradually became a full GTM operation. Smartlead was a big part of this shift.
As Alexis explained, his own growth as a founder felt mirrored by the evolution of the tool. His team, now spread across Europe, supports B2B scale-ups in the US as well as early-stage startups across Europe. They blend automation, AI, and data tools like Clay and Heyreach to build systems that run smoothly in the background.
In Alexis’ workflow, GTM engineering is all about process. His team scrapes lead data, enriches it, qualifies prospects, and moves them through automated flows that run daily, weekly, and monthly. Smartlead fits right into that mix by handling outbound at scale—and doing it well.
“It’s less sales-driven than it is marketing-driven”
That’s where Smartlead helped again, it gave him the freedom to build targeted campaigns based on real content and intent, not just cold pitches.
Real Results: Million-Dollar Pipelines and Niche Wins
Alexis doesn’t just talk the talk. He’s got the numbers to back it up. His agency has delivered jaw-dropping results for clients across industries, from massive TAMs to hyper-targeted niches.
1. Capitalize.io: Hammering a Massive TAM
Capitalize.io, a CRE database for refinancing opportunities, needed to bombard the market with a high-volume campaign.
A familiar name, a compelling product, and a big TAM meant they needed to move fast. Smartlead's infrastructure let Alexis go from 100 to 350 mailboxes in two weeks, without compromising deliverability.
They relied on Clay for lead scraping, added Spintax to test different angles, and kept messaging simple and direct. One email just started with, “It’s Luke. You know, I’ve built several businesses you’ve heard about. I’m building this new one, Capitalize.” And it worked.
2. InfoPay: Nailing Niche Markets
InfoPay took a more focused approach. The product was designed for markets with specific banking issues, so Alexis' team had to come up with a hyper-specific copy to reflect that.
“We work with those agencies in your geography. They’re saving 50K a year on transfer fees”.
Alexis built messaging around real pain points, like saving money on transfers, and, Smartlead helped ensure those emails landed where they were supposed to. The campaign returned a 5% reply rate, with over 50% of replies being positive, which is rare in targeted campaigns like this.
3. Orb: Soft Touches for Busy AEs
Alexis kept it light when explaining the Orb campaigns. “We were just sending messages like, Hey, we’re working with Versal. I know you’re using the tool. We do pricing and billing systems. Hit me up on LinkedIn if you think this is valuable.”
The idea wasn’t to push or sell too hard, it was about showing up in a helpful, non-intrusive way. What worked here wasn’t volume, it was tone. Alexis knew that a well-placed, friendly note could go a long way. The messaging felt more like a tap on the shoulder than a sales pitch.
And because Smartlead handled all the behind-the-scenes logistics, his team could focus on crafting messages that sounded human, not automated.
Alexis’ Honest Feedback: What’s Great and What Could Be Better
Alexis isn’t one to sugarcoat things. He has been using Smartlead for a long time, and he’s seen it grow from a scrappy tool into something more polished.
"I was probably one of the first to check out Vaibhav’s video on ‘this is my new interface.’ He was so happy about showing off Smartlead,” he recalled with a smile.
Here’s his take on what makes Smartlead shine and where it could level up:
Top Features Alexis Loves
1. “White Label Enough”
First off, Alexis is a huge fan of client access. Thanks to this feature, he doesn’t have to jump through hoops to share access.
It’s not fully white-labeled, but in his words, “it’s white label enough to serve the purpose.” It gives him an easy way to let clients view their campaigns without losing control over the backend.
2. Structure That Supports Growth
He also appreciates how Smartlead handles infrastructure. Servers, domains, and mailboxes are all built in layers, and that structure makes it easier to manage large campaigns without stress. As he put it, “the ability to build this pyramid... is the best of the best.”
3. Consistent From Day One
He’s also shared how consistent the warmup system has been: “The warmup has always been a strong feature... it has improved tremendously over time.”
Weekday-only sends, steady ramp-ups, and a design that mimics real human behavior made it easy to trust. Small things like avoiding weekend sends helped improve results without adding complexity, he believes.
4. Deliverability You Can Count On
Deliverability has always been at the center of Alexis’ workflow. “All of our infrastructures are run on Smartlead,” he shared. No matter how many tools he adds to the mix, Smartlead is the one he counts on to make sure messages land where they should.
Scope for Improvement
Like anyone who works hands-on with a tool every day, Alexis has a few ideas for how Smartlead could get even better.
Global Analytics
“A lot of customers want to know exactly how many leads were touched,” Alexis says. Right now, that means pulling data manually or doing some extra tracking outside the platform. A more visual, detailed dashboard would make those conversations way easier.
Deliverability Dashboard
He’s also pointed out how useful a dedicated deliverability dashboard would be. Warmup is a core part of getting results, but there’s still a bit of mystery around how inbox health is tracked. “It would be extremely helpful if we had a dedicated interface,” he added.
Lead Enrichment
Another feature he’d love to see in Smartlead is automated lead enrichment. He mentioned, “It would add a lot of value because then people will be able to look at the reply and be like, okay, this guy is doing this.” Just having that extra layer of info, like job title or company, can make follow-ups feel more intentional.
CRM Tracking Module
One last thing he brought up was CRM-style tracking. Alexis laughed while describing it: “It’s the dumbest thing ever… just like four blocks and here you go.”
But even a basic setup like that could go a long way for teams who want a quick snapshot of what’s happening.
What Works (and Still Works) in Cold Email
1. Deliverability matters more than anything else
If your emails aren’t hitting the inbox, nothing else matters. Smartlead’s warmup engine, domain setup, and Spintax support made that easier to manage.
2. Outbound is leaning into marketing
It’s about timing, relevance, and content, NOT volume. Alexis adapted by focusing on intent-based messaging, and Smartlead gave him the flexibility to do that well.
3. Scaling doesn’t have to be messy
Whether you’re sending to thousands or running a tight, focused list, the platform helped him scale without friction.
4. Clients like seeing what’s going on
Having a clear dashboard and campaign access gave them confidence in the process.
5. Simple tools are easier to adapt
Smartlead kept things lightweight, which helped Alexis stay agile as outbound trends evolved.
“Smartlead Just Works” - Isn't Just a Quote
Alexis’ journey shows what’s possible when you have the right tools in place. Smartlead wasn’t just another software in the stack. It became the system that helped his agency grow, stay organized, and deliver results at scale.
As Alexis put it, “Smartlead and outreach go hand in hand.” And coming from someone who’s tested more tools than most, it’s hard to argue.
If your team is hitting limits with current tools or struggling to stay consistent, it might be time to try Smartlead to build something scalable and sustainable for long-term growth.
Author’s Details
Nitish Chauhan
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Frequently asked questions
What is Smartlead's cold email outreach software?
Smartlead's cold email outreach tool helps businesses scale their outreach efforts seamlessly. With unlimited mailboxes, fully automated email warmup functionality, a multi-channel infrastructure, and a user-friendly unibox, it empowers users to manage their entire revenue cycle in one place. Whether you're looking to streamline cold email campaigns with automated email warmups, personalization fields, automated mailbox rotation, easy integrations, and spintax, improve productivity, or enhance scalability with subsequences based on lead’s intentions, automated replies, and full white-label experience, our cold email tool implifies it in a single solution.
What is Smartlead, and how can it enhance my cold email campaigns?
Smartlead is a robust cold emailing software designed to transform cold emails into reliable revenue streams. Trusted by over 31,000 businesses, Smartlead excels in email deliverability, lead generation, cold email automation, and sales outreach. A unified master inbox streamlines communication management, while built-in email verification reduces bounce rates.
Additionally, Smartlead offers essential tools such as CNAME, SPF Checker, DMARC Checker, Email Verifier, Blacklist Check Tool, and Email Bounce Rate Calculator for optimizing email performance.
How does the "unlimited mailboxes" feature benefit me?
Our "unlimited mailboxes" feature allows you to expand your email communications without restrictions imposed by a mailbox limit. This means you won't be constrained by artificial caps on the number of mailboxes you can connect and use. This feature makes Smartlead the best cold email software and empowers you to reach a wider audience, engage with more potential customers, and manage diverse email campaigns effectively.
How does Smartlead as a cold emailing tool can automate the cold email process?
Smartlead’s robust cold email API and automation infrastructure streamline outbound communication by transforming the campaign creation and management processes. It seamlessly integrates data across software systems using APIs and webhooks, adjusts settings, and leverages AI for personalised content.
The cold emailing tool categorises lead intent, offers comprehensive email management with automated notifications, and integrates smoothly with CRMs like Zapier, Make, N8N, HubSpot, Salesforce, and Pipedrive. Smartlead supports scalable outreach by rapidly adding mailboxes and drip-feeding leads into active campaigns Sign Up Now!
What do you mean by "unibox to handle your entire revenue cycle"?
The "unibox" is one of the unique features of Smartlead cold email outreach tool, and it's a game-changer when it comes to managing your revenue cycle. The master inbox or the unibox consolidates all your outreach channels, responses, sales follow-ups, and conversions into one centralized, user-friendly mailbox.
With the "unibox," you gain the ability to:
1. Focus on closing deals: You can now say goodbye to the hassle of logging into multiple mailboxes to search for replies. The "unibox" streamlines your sales communication, allowing you to focus on what matters most—closing deals.
2. Centralized lead management: All your leads are managed from one central location, simplifying lead tracking and response management. This ensures you take advantage of every opportunity and efficiently engage with your prospects.
3. Maintain context: The "unibox" provides a 360-degree view of all your customer messages, allowing you to maintain context and deliver more personalized and effective responses.
How does Smartlead ensure my emails don't land in the spam folder?
Smartlead, the best cold email marketing tool, ensures your emails reach the intended recipients' primary inbox rather than the spam folder.
Here's how it works:
1. Our "unlimited warmups" feature is designed to build and maintain a healthy sending reputation for your cold email outreach. Instead of sending a large volume of emails all at once, which can trigger spam filters, we gradually ramp up your sending volume. This gradual approach, combined with positive email interactions, helps boost your email deliverability rates.
2. We deploy high-deliverability IP servers specific to each campaign.
3. The ‘Warmup’ feature replicates humanized email sending patterns, spintax, and smart replies.
4. By establishing a positive sender reputation and gradually increasing the number of sent emails, Smartlead minimizes the risk of your emails being flagged as spam. This way, you can be confident that your messages will consistently land in the primary inbox, increasing the likelihood of engagement and successful communication with your recipients.
Can Smartlead help improve my email deliverability rates?
Yes, our cold emailing software is designed to significantly improve your email deliverability rates. It enhances email deliverability through AI-powered email warmups across providers, unique IP rotating for each campaign, and dynamic ESP matching.
Real-time AI learning refines strategies based on performance, optimizing deliverability without manual adjustments. Smartlead's advanced features and strategies are designed to improve email deliverability rates, making it a robust choice for enhancing cold email campaign success.
What features does Smartlead offer for cold email personalisation?
Smartlead enhances cold email personalisation through advanced AI-driven capabilities and strategic integrations. Partnered with Clay, The cold remaining software facilitates efficient lead list building, enrichment from over 50 data providers, and real-time scraping for precise targeting. Hyper-personalised cold emails crafted in Clay seamlessly integrate with Smartlead campaigns.
Moreover, Smartlead employs humanised, natural email interactions and smart replies to boost engagement and response rates. Additionally, the SmartAI Bot creates persona-specific, high-converting sales copy. Also you can create persona-specific, high-converting sales copy using SmartAI Bot. You can train the AI bot to achieve 100% categorisation accuracy, optimising engagement and conversion rates.
Can I integrate Smartlead with other tools I'm using?
Certainly, Smartlead cold email tool is designed for seamless integration with a wide range of tools and platforms. Smartlead offers integration with HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, Clay, Listkit, and more. You can leverage webhooks and APIs to integrate the tools you use. Try Now!
Is Smartlead suitable for both small businesses and large enterprises?
Smartlead accommodates both small businesses and large enterprises with flexible pricing and comprehensive features. The Basic Plan at $39/month suits small businesses and solopreneurs, offering 2000 active leads and 6000 monthly emails, alongside essential tools like unlimited email warm-up and detailed analytics.
Marketers and growing businesses benefit from the Pro Plan ($94/month), with 30000 active leads and 150000 monthly emails, plus a custom CRM and active support. Lead generation agencies and large enterprises can opt for the Custom Plan ($174/month), providing up to 12 million active lead credits and 60 million emails, with advanced CRM integration and customisation options.
What type of businesses sees the most success with Smartlead?
No, there are no limitations on the number of channels you can utilize with Smartlead. Our cold email tool offers a multi-channel infrastructure designed to be limitless, allowing you to reach potential customers through multiple avenues without constraints.
This flexibility empowers you to diversify your cold email outreach efforts, connect with your audience through various communication channels, and increase your chances of conversion. Whether email, social media, SMS, or other communication methods, Smartlead's multi-channel capabilities ensure you can choose the channels that best align with your outreach strategy and business goals. This way, you can engage with your prospects effectively and maximize the impact of your email outreach.
How can Smartlead integrate with my existing CRM and other tools?
Smartlead is the cold emailing tool that facilitates seamless integration with existing CRM systems and other tools through robust webhook and API infrastructure. This setup ensures real-time data synchronisation and automated processes without manual intervention. Integration platforms like Zapier, Make, and N8N enable effortless data exchange between Smartlead and various applications, supporting tasks such as lead information syncing and campaign status updates. Additionally, it offers native integrations with major CRM platforms like HubSpot, Salesforce, and Pipedrive, enhancing overall lead management capabilities and workflow efficiency. Try Now!
Do you provide me with lead sources?
No. Smartlead distinguishes itself from other cold email outreach software by focusing on limitless scalability and seamless integration. While many similar tools restrict your outreach capabilities, Smartlead offers a different approach.
Here's what makes us uniquely the best cold email software:
1. Unlimited Mailboxes: In contrast to platforms that limit mailbox usage, Smartlead provides unlimited mailboxes. This means you can expand your outreach without any arbitrary constraints.
2. Unique IP Servers: Smartlead offers unique IP servers for every campaign it sends out.
3. Sender Reputation Protection: Smartlead protects your sender reputation by auto-moving emails from spam folders to the primary inbox. This tool uses unique identifiers to cloak all warmup emails from being recognized by automation parsers.
4. Automated Warmup: Smartlead’s warmup functionality enhances your sender reputation and improves email deliverability by maintaining humanised email sending patterns and ramping up the sending volume.
How secure is my data with Smartlead?
Ensuring the security of your data is Smartlead's utmost priority. We implement robust encryption methods and stringent security measures to guarantee the continuous protection of your information. Your data's safety is paramount to us, and we are always dedicated to upholding the highest standards of security.
How can I get started with Smartlead?
Getting started with Smartlead is straightforward! Just head over to our sign-up page and follow our easy step-by-step guide. If you ever have any questions or need assistance, our round-the-clock support team is ready to help, standing by to provide you with any assistance you may require. Sign Up Now!
How can I reach the Smartlead team?
We're here to assist you! You can easily get in touch with our dedicated support team on chat. We strive to provide a response within 24 hours to address any inquiries or concerns you may have. You can also reach out to us at support@smartlead.ai
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