CC & BCC in Gmail: The Overlooked Tool That Could Make or Break Your Cold Emails
Luka Pecavar
Welcome to the world of email etiquette, where one misstep can label you a noob, a spammer, or worse—a privacy-violator. And smack dab in the middle of this delicate dance of digital communication is the often-misunderstood CC field in Gmail.
Let’s break it down, not like a boring tech guide, but like two friends talking over coffee about why your email game might need a makeover—and how CC and BCC could be your best allies if you send a lot of cold emails.
What is CC?
CC stands for Carbon Copy. Back in the olden days (pre-WiFi, pre-Instagram, pre-Gmail), people used carbon paper to make duplicates of documents. CC in Gmail is basically the digital equivalent—you’re sending a copy of your email to someone who isn’t the main recipient, but still matters.
The CC’d person can see the message, chime in if needed, or simply be “in the loop.”
Example:
You're emailing a potential client. CCing your team lead? Smart move. They’re informed and can jump in later if things get difficult.
Where is CC Field in Gmail?
In Gmail, the CC field appears when you click the “Compose” button to start a new email, then click “CC” on the right side of the “To” field.
Follow the below steps to find the CC option in Gmail on your desktop and phone.
On Desktop:
Open Gmail and hit "Compose."
You’ll see “To.” Right next to it? CC and BCC in faint grey.
Click CC and a new line appears—magic!
Add the relevant email addresses.
Write your message, review, and hit Send.
On Mobile:
Tap the pencil icon (top right) to start composing.
Tap the down arrow beside the “To” field.
CC and BCC options will unfold like a hidden drawer.
Add your addresses and proceed like a pro.
When Should You CC Someone? (And When You Really, Really Shouldn’t)
Use CC when:
You want someone to observe the conversation but not necessarily respond.
You’re being transparent about communication.
You want to loop in a third party or stakeholder.
Don’t use CC when:
You’re emailing multiple people who don’t know each other. (Hello, privacy breach.)
You’re trying to appear exclusive or personal in your cold email.
You think it looks “cool” to include your whole team. It doesn’t.
BCC: The Ninja of Email Fields
BCC = Blind Carbon Copy. As stealthy as it sounds. The BCC’d person receives the email, but their email address is hidden from everyone else.
Use BCC to:
Send mass emails without exposing your entire contact list.
Respect privacy in cold email campaigns.
Avoid “Reply All” nightmares.
Don’t use BCC to:
Spy on someone.
Pretend someone’s not included when they are. It’s shady, and people can find out.
Why CC and BCC Matter in Cold Emailing
Here’s where things get spicy. If you're sending cold emails, you're probably:
Reaching out to leads
Following up with prospects
Trying to warm up your funnel like it’s a cozy blanket
So, how does CC help?
Social Proof: CCing someone credible (like a mutual connection) adds legitimacy.
Multi-person Outreach: Want to reach both the marketing manager and the CEO? CC makes it easy without writing two different emails.
Internal Transparency: Your sales manager wants to stay in the loop? Drop them in the CC.
How does BCC help?
Mass Outreach: One cold email, many recipients, and no exposed email addresses.
Clean Follow-ups: Want to BCC your CRM system or your assistant? Perfect for tracking without clutter.
No Inbox Explosion: Avoids a thousand “unsubscribe” replies from strangers if your campaign goes sideways.
Common Mistakes Cold Emailers Make with CC/BCC
Even the savviest cold emailers can fumble when it comes to using CC and BCC correctly. A tiny oversight—like CCing too many people or BCCing your boss without warning—can turn a clean outreach into an inbox disaster.
So avoid them, learn about these common mistakes, and steer clear of’em.
Using CC Instead of BCC
Imagine emailing 100 leads and CCing them all. Now everyone knows who else you emailed. It’s awkward, unprofessional, and might land you in spam folders—or worse, the block list.
BCCing Your Boss (Without Telling Them)
If you BCC your manager for a cold pitch and the client forwards your email back to them, guess what? You’ve just created an office drama.
Reply-All Disasters
More CCs = more risk someone will hit “Reply All.” Now your cold pitch becomes a group chat. Not ideal.
So How Can You Be Smart About CC/BCC in Cold Emailing?
Use CC for strategic visibility. Loop in key players who might help nudge the deal forward.
Use BCC for campaigns. Protect your leads’ privacy and avoid the wrath of anti-spam gods.
Segment your outreach. Don’t mass blast everyone with the same message. Use tools that let you customize.
Pro Tip: Use Manyreach to Supercharge Your Cold Emails
Let’s face it—manually managing CCs, BCCs, personalization, follow-ups, and open rates is like playing email Jenga. Enter Manyreach—your cold email MVP.
Automate personalized emails (yes, even at scale)
Track opens, clicks, and replies without being creepy
Set smart follow-ups that don’t scream automated bot
Keep your domain reputation clean
And yes, you can intelligently use CC and BCC fields within the platform to maintain that human touch while scaling your outreach. Manyreach takes the chaos out of cold emailing and replaces it with clean, high-converting efficiency.
Cold Emailing CC/BCC Use Cases That Actually Work
Use Case 1: The Warm Intro
You email a prospect but CC a mutual friend who recommended you. That CC = instant trust.
Use Case 2: Group Decision Makers
You’re pitching software to a company. CC the marketing lead and the CTO. Everyone’s aligned, fewer email chains.
Use Case 3: Internal Sync
You BCC your CRM or assistant. They log the email, you stay focused on selling. Chef’s kiss.
Tips to Keep Your Cold Emails Out of Spam (While Using CC/BCC)
Limit the number of recipients. Gmail doesn't love 50 people in one email, especially if they’re all cold leads.
Personalize your emails. Tools like Manyreach help you automate this.
Avoid spammy phrases. No “Act Now!” or “Limited Time Offer!”
Use a clean signature with real contact info.
FAQs
Q1: Can I CC and BCC people in the same email?
Absolutely. Gmail lets you mix and match. Just be strategic. Example: You can “To” the lead, “CC” your manager, and “BCC” your CRM tool. Keep it clean, though—too many fields can feel crowded and spammy.
Q2: Will the recipient know I’ve BCC’d someone?
Nope! That’s the whole point. The BCC field is private. However, don’t use it for sneaky stuff—you never know who might forward what.
Q3: Can I BCC myself on emails to keep records?
You can and should! It’s a handy way to store conversations in your inbox. Or, use tools like Manyreach to automate logging into a CRM.
Q4: What happens if someone replies to an email with BCCs?
Only the visible “To” and “CC” folks get the reply. BCC’d recipients are invisible and won’t get any follow-ups unless you manually include them later.
Q5: Is it rude to CC someone without asking?
It depends, if the conversation is professional and the person has context, it’s fine. But if it’s sensitive or unexpected, shoot them a heads-up message first.
Final Thoughts: Master the Art of the CC (and BCC)
Whether you’re a cold email warrior or just trying to keep your emails neat and professional, understanding CC and BCC is a game-changer. These aren't just tiny fields hiding in Gmail—they're strategic tools that can shape perception, build trust, and keep your outreach efficient and elegant.
Use them wisely. Respect your recipients. And automate the heavy lifting with something like Manyreach, so you can focus on closing deals—not clicking through drafts.
Happy emailing, and may your openings be high and bounce rates low.
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