How to Write a Perfect Cold Email
What’s the definition of perfection?
It varies from person to person and can’t be measured. However, if you want to learn how to write a good cold email to get your prospects' attention, here's a framework:
A short and attention grabbing subject line
I’m a bit skeptical about the available definition of "attention-grabbing." And it’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Let’s say! You have an ad agency. And you are sending a cold email to someone who doesn’t want copywriting services right now. Then they might not persuade with your subject line.
A great subject line is
“A quick question, [first name]”
But you can think of something that will intrigue your prospect.
State with the first name
Always try to identify the appropriate stakeholders... and always address them by their first name. You can find the right person to contact through the team page of the company’s official website or through a LinkedIn search.
How do you know who to contact?
You should reach out to anyone between the C-level authorities (CEO, CFO, CMO, COO, etc.), the Vice President (VP of content, etc.), or the Director (Director of content, etc.).
Who you should contact is determined by the nature of your business.
A great opening sentence
Again, the definition of "great" here means something that will show that you know about their business (and not just send the same email to everyone).
It is super important because it states that you are literally interested in doing business with them. A praise or congratulations message or something they have shared on social media could be useful as an opening sentence.
For example,
“Hey Sam,
I noticed you have been featured in PC Magazine. And I totally agree with your point about "argumentative reality" (something specific they told them). "Thank you for sharing.”
Your introduction and credibility
Now that you have their attention, your task is to give them reasons to be interested in your deal. And that could be possible if you add some credibility.
For example,
“I’ve been featured in Entrepreneur, the Guardian, and the Huffington Post.” or “I have been working as a designer for the past 10 years and have worked at Google, Microsoft, etc.”
I can understand that some of you might not have that much credibility to show. So, you can share the benefits of hiring you or using your product. You can show case studies and portfolio materials here.
Call-to-action sentence
Finally, you need to tell them exactly what you want them to do.
For example,
“If it feels right, let me know how your calendar looks"; “hit reply to book a call this week"; or “are you available for a quick 15-minute call this week?”
Also, you can use your Calendly link to book a slot.
Email signature
An email signature is crucial for building instant credibility. So. Set it swiftly. Also, a professional email address is a plus. However, if you are just starting out, this is acceptable.
Here are some examples of cold emails I sent in the past.
And don’t forget to follow-up. It’s a sword.
I hope you find it helpful. Feel free to ping me if you have any questions.
Originally published in Quora.
