Cold Outreach Email Template: How to Write a Cold Email That Gets Responses

Key takeaways

A cold outreach email template allows you to quickly craft tailored emails that effectively connect with new contacts and help you reach your goals. Here are some important things to know:

• To write an effective cold email, focus on personalization, clarity, and value.

• Your goal is to connect with the recipient on a human level while showing how you can meet their needs.

• You can track your metrics to determine what is working and how to improve your offer and response rate. 

Learn more about cold emailing and explore cold outreach email templates to help you write your next cold email. Continue learning about digital marketing campaigns by enrolling in the Google Digital Marketing and E-Commerce Digital Certificate. You’ll have the opportunity to learn email marketing skills, including how to craft your email and analyze its results, as well as advanced e-marketing skills.

What are cold emails?

A cold outreach email is an outbound email you send to someone with whom you have no prior connection or relationship, asking for something or driving increased awareness of your services or products. For example, you might send a cold email to an organization you hope to do business with, a company you would like to work for, an organization that might help you with your research, or to ask for advice or mentoring. 

What is the 30/30/50 rule for cold emails?

The 30/30/50 rule for cold emails refers to the process of prospecting recipients, crafting a compelling email, and following up, and the success derived from each. You can break it down as follows:

• 30 percent of your success depends on researching clients to ensure you target the appropriate audience.

• 30 percent of your success depends on your email’s content and structure.

• 50 percent of your success depends on ensuring that you follow up, as many first emails go unnoticed or do not get a response. According to a Backlink study, follow-up emails are two to three times more likely to elicit a response than the initial email [1]. 

How to write a cold email

To write an effective cold email, focus on personalization, clarity, and value. Your goal is to connect with the recipient on a human level while showing how you can meet their needs. Keep your message concise, engaging, and easy to read. Consider the following as you create templates for your cold emails:

1. Personalization and tone: Tailor your email to the recipient by referencing mutual connections, relevant achievements, or shared interests. Write in a warm, friendly tone that feels genuine and sincere.

2. Recipient focus and value: Emphasize the recipient’s needs more than your own. Provide clear value by including insights, studies, or resources that address their specific challenges and needs.

3. Subject line: Craft a short (under seven words) subject line that is both intriguing and clearly states what the email is about. Include a pre-header containing an industry insight or statistic, and avoid spam-triggering words like “free.”

4. Clarity and readability: Keep your email concise, mobile-friendly, and written at about an eighth-grade reading level for quick understanding.

5. Call to action and testing: End your email with a short, value-driven CTA (one to two words). Before you hit send, consider using A/B testing to refine your subject lines and messaging.

Cold outreach email templates

Using a cold outreach email template is a great way to craft your message as part of your email campaign. Templates like the cold email examples below provide an effective structure while allowing you to customize them to your needs. Whether you are prospecting for a job, seeking a mentor, or looking to sell your products and services through email marketing, you will likely find the following templates helpful.

Reading more: What Is Digital Marketing? Key Channels, Examples, and More

*All data and content in the template examples were invented for the purpose of providing realistic template examples.

Cold outreach collaboration email template

Subject line: Video production partners 

Dear [First name],

I am a media production assistant working at [company name], specifically in video production. I’ve been following your blog and YouTube channel for many years, and I love the way you engage with your audience. I will be in New York next week and was wondering if you have ten minutes to meet with me to discuss a potential future collaboration. I am available anytime Monday through Friday, and I can come to you. 

Best

[Your name]

[Your company]

Cold outreach sales email template

Subject line: Cut hiring costs by 30 percent

Pre-header: 72 percent of companies overspend on recruiting—here’s how to fix it.

Hello [First Name],

I came across your recent [achievement, post, or company update] and thought this might resonate with you. Many [industry] leaders tell me hiring efficiency is a challenge. Our platform helps teams like yours cut recruiting costs by up to 30 percent while improving candidate quality.

Consider this case study on how [similar company] did it: [insert link].

Would you be open to a 10-minute chat to explore how we can help your team as well?

Let’s talk!

[Your name]

[Your company]

Cold outreach business email template

Subject line: Response to your need for professional copy

Dear [First name],

I am the owner of [company name], a company specializing in copywriting and social media content. We share a mutual connection on LinkedIn, and I noticed your comment about the challenges of finding a skilled copywriter for your latest marketing campaign. I wanted to introduce myself and inform you about the services we offer. We have several packages tailored specifically for social media and content development within your niche, available as either a one-time service or an ongoing package. Would you be available for a quick chat this week? I am available Monday to Friday and can accommodate your schedule.

I’ve attached our service brochure for your review, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best wishes,

[Your name]

[Your company]

Best practices for effective cold outreach

Once you master personalizing a cold outreach email template, consider these best practices to ensure your emails land in inboxes, recipients actually open them, and you track your efforts effectively. 

• Consider the time of day: The timing of your emails can significantly impact whether recipients open them. Recipients can easily lose emails sent at night or early in the morning in busy inboxes or mistake them for spam. For maximum open rates, send your emails in the morning on a weekday

• Follow up: People are busy and may have various reasons that prevent them from reading or responding to your email. Sending a short follow-up email is acceptable. A good time to do this is about a week after sending your original cold outreach email. 

• Track your metrics: Keeping track of who you contact, when, and whether you receive a response is a helpful way to ensure your cold outreach efforts are successful. 

• Reply promptly: If you receive a response to your cold outreach email, keep the conversation going by replying promptly and continuing to build the relationship. 

Explore our free resources for cold outreach email template strategies

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