FoundersOnly

A cold email structure that respects the reader

#1

There is no magic template, and anything copied widely stops working. The structure below holds up because it is short and honest.

Subject: a few plain words about their situation. Nothing that pretends to be a reply.

Line 1: why them. Something specific and true that shows you chose this person. If you cannot write this line, they should not be on your list.

Line 2: the problem. One sentence naming a problem that people in their position commonly have.

Line 3: what you do about it. One sentence. No feature list.

Line 4: a small ask. A question they can answer in one line, or an offer to send something. Not a 30-minute call.

Sign-off: your name, and a way to say no.

Things that improve replies

  • Send fewer, better-targeted emails.
  • Write as you would to a colleague.
  • Follow up once or twice, briefly, then stop.
  • Send from a real person at a real address.

Things that hurt

  • Fake familiarity
  • Several links and attachments
  • Long paragraphs about your company
  • Automation that gets the recipient's details wrong

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