In a world of social media and instant messaging, it can sometimes seem like sending an old-fashioned email is pointless. But in fact, they’re more relevant than ever before especially when it comes to landing new business.
Here are some of my favorite cold email templates. Use these as inspiration for your next outreach campaign!
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Learn practical cold email techniques. |
| 2. Implement templates to enhance outreach. |
| 3. Adapt templates for various scenarios. |
| 4. Customize templates for personalization. |
| 5. Experiment with different subject lines. |
| 6. Craft compelling value propositions. |
| 7. Include clear and actionable CTAs. |
| 8. Follow up strategically for better results. |
| 9. Segment your audience for targeted outreach. |
| 10. Emphasize recipient benefits and pain points. |
| 11. Avoid spam triggers to ensure deliverability. |
| 12. Measure and analyze campaign performance. |
| 13. Continuously refine your cold email strategy. |
Cold Email Formula #1: The Friendly Intro
For our first cold email formula, we’re going to start with a warm intro. Just like the title of this article, your email should be friendly and welcoming from the get-go.
Use A Friendly Subject Line
Your subject line is one of the most important elements of your cold email because it’s what people see when they open up your message in their inboxes.
Always use a friendly, engaging headline that gives them an idea about what you’re about to share with them. For example: “I’d love to see if there’s any overlap between our businesses!” or “How are you doing today?”
Building effective cold email templates is a key skill in modern marketing. These templates can significantly enhance your outreach efforts, as highlighted in the article “Cold Email Templates That Convert.”
Use A Friendly Greeting
As soon as someone reads your subject line, they’ll look at who sent it so it should also be eye-catching enough for them to click through to read more!
Some templates that work well include “Hi there,” “Hey” or simply using their name if possible (if not then just avoid using too much text).
Include an introduction that’s personal but still professional It’s OKAY TO BE PERSONAL IN A BUSINESS EMAIL!
This is especially true when dealing with cold emails because many people tend not reply unless they know who sent it; therefore it helps if we do something personal right off the bat.
So they don’t feel like this letter was just automated by some generic software program into their inboxes without any care taken into crafting each message carefully crafted by hand every single time before hitting “send.”
Cold Email Formula #2: The Inbound Warm-Up
Here’s the second cold email template you can use: the Inbound Warm-Up. Using this formula, you reach out to a prospect after they have already reached out to your company in some form.
For example, if someone comes onto your website and leaves their details on a form that includes an “interested in” field, then you’ve already got a lead!
This will give you something to talk about when contacting them again as well as show that you’re not just spamming random people but interested in what they are interested in.
Don’t forget though, that even with this template there’s still no guarantee that it’ll be successful – we’re just giving it another chance at getting someone’s attention.
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Cold Email Formula #3: The Referral Request
You can use this cold email template to ask for referrals. Referrals are a great way to find new opportunities and expand your network.
Use this template if you’re looking to:
- Ask your existing contacts for referrals, introductions, recommendations, and connections
- Find out who else knows someone in the company you’re targeting
- To get started with this template just replace the contact’s name with your own!
Cold Email Formula #4: The Partnership Pitch
If you already have a product or service that’s generating revenue, you can use this template to connect with potential partners. In this cold email template, you’ll explain how your company solves a specific problem for the reader.
Then, you’ll tell them why your solution is better than other options available on the market. Pro tip: Don’t forget to include some information about how their customers will benefit from working with you!
Cold Email Formula #5: The Past Due Invoice
Dear [contact name],
I hope this message finds you well. In our previous correspondence, I discussed how much I enjoyed working with your company and offered a few ideas to help improve your website. However, I received no response from you or anyone else at [company name].
It appears that the invoice for these services has gone past due. If you’ll be in touch within the next week with payment arrangements, it would be much appreciated.
If we do not hear back by Thursday, May 3rd at 5 pm PST, we will take steps toward resolving this issue in other ways via collection agencies and legal counsel (if necessary).
Thank you in advance for understanding how important prompt payment of invoices is too small businesses like ours!
Crafting cold emails that get noticed requires attention to detail. Check out these 10 tips for sending cold emails to elevate your outreach game and improve your response rates.
Cold Email Formula #6: The Self-Aware Follow-Up
In this template, you acknowledge that the recipient may have an issue with your lack of response. You admit that it was a mistake on your part, and then explain why it happened.
This shows that you’re not afraid to admit when you make mistakes, are willing to learn from them, and are someone who can be trusted.
By explaining why you were unable to respond in time, they will understand why they were left waiting so long for a reply. They’ll also see that you took responsibility for your actions and didn’t try to weasel out of answering them at all (which would show a lack of integrity).
Cold Email Formula #7: The Call to Action Close
The call to action close is the last sentence in your email and it’s very important. It tells the recipient what you’d like them to do next, whether that be setting up a meeting, signing a contract, or buying your product.
You’ll want to make sure your call to action (CTA) is clear, but not too long. Short calls-to-action work best because they’re easy to read on mobile devices and they don’t distract from the rest of your message.
If you want someone else’s attention, be specific about what you need from them. If they don’t know what action they should take after reading your email then there’s a good chance they’ll take no action at all!
That said, don’t make things too complicated either or else people will tune out before getting through half of the CTA sentence!
Make sure each email has an easy way for recipients who aren’t interested in working with you at this time still let them contact someone from your company easily via the phone number or email address so that both parties can stay engaged until it makes sense for everyone involved.”
Cold Email Formula #8: The Nice Rejection
You want your emails to be as polite, respectful, and encouraging as possible. This is especially important if you’re rejecting someone. Here are some sample rejections:
- When rejecting a customer who has sent an email about an issue with their product:
- “I’m sorry to hear that the product doesn’t work for you! Let me know if there’s anything else I can help with.”
- When rejecting a job applicant who has sent an application form:
- “Thank you so much for applying! Unfortunately, we won’t be able to take any new applicants at this time.”
- When rejecting your girlfriend after she canceled your date three times in one week due to “work issues”:
- “I get it! You’ve had such a crazy week at work and I don’t blame you for canceling on me :)”
- When rejecting your friend because their dog keeps licking its butt in public (or whatever reason):
- “Sorry 🙁 That dog is gross :)”
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Cold Email Formula #9: The Interview Request
You’ve written an email, sent it, and now you’re waiting for a response. What should you do until then?
The best thing to do is be patient. After all, your cold email template needs time to work its magic! But if you want to keep things moving along in the meantime, there are some things you can do. For example:
If the company has a job board on its website or LinkedIn page (which most do), check it regularly for new job listings.
That way if something comes up that matches your skill set and passions, you’ll know right away instead of waiting around wondering whether they’ll ever post anything else worthwhile.
If they don’t have any openings but still seem like an interesting place to work at first glance (especially if they seem interested in what they’re selling).
Consider sending off another message with an updated resume attached asking them how many people are typically hired from outside sources each year you might be surprised by how open companies are about sharing this kind of information!
Try reaching out again after about two weeks; if no one responds within 24 hours or so after sending out emails with this type
Cold Email Formula #10: The Event Follow-Up
Here’s one last email template you can use to follow up with event organizers. This will work especially well if there were any issues at the event or if you just want to make sure that they received your previous email.
Use the event organizer’s name in the subject line.
Refer to your previous communication in the first sentence: “I’m following up on our conversation at [event]. The attendees were interested in [product] because…”
Include a short paragraph about your relationship with the host and how much of an impact they’ve made on your career or business. This is also a good place for another testimonial from people who attended!
If relevant, share some stats about how many people attended and what kind of ROI was generated for them through attending this event or meeting with you during it (if applicable).
Don’t get too salesy here just let us know that there are real-world results available from this connection!
Cold Email Formula #11: The Free Trial Follow-Up
If you’re running a free trial of your product or service, here’s how to make the most of it:
Send an email within 24 hours of sign-up for the trial. The first thing you want to do is check in with them and get them excited about what they can expect from the trial. (If you don’t have a great onboarding process, this is a great time to start one.)
Explain why they should be using your product/service during the trial period. Don’t inundate them with features just give them enough information so that they understand how it might help their business or personal life.
Include links to download instructions and other resources related to setting up their account on your website.
You may also want to include any support materials that would make them feel comfortable trying out your product or service early, for example, if there are tutorials available on YouTube or other similar channels, include those as well!
Make sure there’s a link for new users who haven’t yet signed up for an account (or at least have an easy way for new users to join).
Cold Email Formula #12: The Brain Teaser Pitch
The Brain Teaser Pitch is a classic cold email template that’s been used by some of the most successful salespeople in history. It was first popularized by Robert Cialdini in his book Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, which is also one of our favorite sales books.
So how does it work? You begin with an introduction and then state your purpose for writing to find out whether this prospect would be interested in doing business with you or not.
Then you present them with a problem they might have (e.g., “I’m sure you get frustrated when…”) and explain how the solution to that problem will make them more money (e.g., “by saving time”).
Finally, you ask for a sale (“Would it be OK if we got started today?”). If all goes well, your prospect will respond positively!
Looking for the ultimate blueprint for successful cold email marketing? Dive into this comprehensive guide to discover the strategies and tactics that can help you maximize the impact of your cold email outreach.
Cold Email Formula #13: The Time Crunch Reminder
The first step is to take advantage of your audience’s sense of urgency. People want to feel like they’re missing out on something, so make sure you create a sense of scarcity and urgency in your emails.
Here are some ways you can do this:
Use the words “now” or “today” in your subject line or message. For example: “I need to meet with you today.”
Make it clear that there’s only one available time slot left for a meeting or phone call.
This can be done by mentioning that another colleague/client will be attending the meeting/call with them at another time if they don’t choose yours right away, or by saying something like “I’m afraid this will be our last opportunity…”
If someone feels like their options are limited, they’ll likely feel more inclined to act quickly!
Conclusion
There you have it! Thirteen proven cold email templates that you can use to get more clients and close more deals. Now it’s time to put one into action. Pick a template, change the details, and start sending out your emails today!
Further Reading
The Cold Email Template That Won 16 New B2B Customers: Discover a real-life success story of a cold email template that led to the acquisition of 16 new B2B customers.
5 Cold Email Templates That Will Generate Warm Leads for Your Sales Team: Explore a collection of cold email templates designed to generate warm leads and boost your sales team’s effectiveness.
Cold Email Templates: A Guide to Effective Outreach: Dive into a comprehensive guide on cold email templates, providing insights into crafting effective outreach messages.
And here’s the FAQs section using Markdown:
FAQs
How do I improve the open rates of my cold emails?
Increasing open rates requires attention to subject lines, personalization, and offering value in your emails.
What’s the key to crafting a compelling cold email template?
A compelling cold email template should address the recipient’s pain points, provide a clear value proposition, and include a strong call to action.
Are there any best practices for following up on cold emails?
Yes, follow up strategically by offering additional value, reminding recipients of the initial email’s content, and providing options for further engagement.
How can I make my cold email outreach more personalized?
Segment your audience, research recipients, and tailor your message to their specific needs and challenges.
How do I avoid my cold emails ending up in the spam folder?
Avoid spam-triggering words, use authentic sender names and addresses, and maintain a healthy sending reputation by avoiding excessive email volume.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.