Boost Your Outreach with Optimized Cold Email Templates
Cold email templates are a game-changer for efficient outreach, but there's a fine line to tread. While B2B email templates offer a foundation to streamline your cold emailing process, blindly relying on them can backfire. The key lies in striking a balance between fully templated emails (a no-go) and entirely personalized messages (effective but time-consuming).
Discover 15 curated cold email templates below, enriched with insights from Rex Biberston, the COO of The Sales Developers. But remember, directly lifting B2B email templates from any source isn't the strategy. Tailoring them to resonate with the sender's voice and ensuring they don't mirror a competitor's content is crucial. Think of these templates as a blueprint, awaiting your customization to truly shine.
Dive deeper into:
15 Engaging Cold Email Templates
Maximizing Template Efficiency
Cold Emailing Best Practices
Crafting Impactful Subject Lines
Writing Engaging Body Content
Scaling Personalization in Emails
10 Cold Email Templates to Elevate Your Outreach Begin with a foundational template and then mold it to resonate with your audience.
1. Tie your B2B sales emails to a recent event
This strategy stands out as it demonstrates that you're not merely broadcasting a generic email to every potential client who might have a slight interest in your offering. Rather, you've identified a particular accomplishment of your ideal customer and aligned it with your product's value.
Subject: Congrats!
Hi {{name}},
Just saw the news about {{trigger event}}. Congrats!
Usually when this happens, {{insert value prop}} becomes a priority. So, I thought you might be interested in finding out how we helped {{similar company}} {{benefit}}.
I know things at {{company name}} must be crazy now, but If you’d like to learn more, let’s set up a quick call.
How does {{specific day and time}} look on your calendar? Alternatively, here’s a link to my calendar or feel free to send me yours
Template from: Replyify.
2. AIDA Strategy
This timeless copywriting technique can be seamlessly integrated into your cold email strategy. AIDA represents attention-interest-desire-action, detailing the essential stages to incorporate in your email content: capture their focus, highlight the relevance to them, cultivate a longing, and guide them on the steps to achieve the benefits you've described.
Subject: Time Saving Software
Hi {{name}},
What would you do with an extra 10 hours each week?
I ask because clients like yourself have seen savings like these – if not more – after adding our software to their tech stacks.
Just ask experts like Gary Vaynerchuk, Tim Ferriss, and Malcolm Gladwell, who we’re happy to count as satisfied customers.
I’d love to set up a time to walk you through a personalized demo. Would you have some free time next week to connect?
3. Be as straightforward as possible.
This cold email format reportedly achieved a 57% open rate and a 21% reply rate (impressive conversion metrics!), probably due to:
The email's subject line presents a compelling offer while maintaining an element of curiosity, prompting the recipient to open the email for further details.
The content of the email promptly outlines what the sender can provide to the prospect (an addition of 100 new clients) and what they request in return (a mere 10 minutes of their attention).
The email leverages testimonials or references as validation of the offer's success for others.
Hello {{name}},
I have an idea that I can explain in 10 minutes that can get {{company}} its next 100 best customers.
I recently used this idea to help our client {{SaaS company/competitor}} almost triple their monthly run rate.
{{Name}}, let’s schedule a quick 10-minute call so I can share the idea with you. When works best for you?
Template from: Heather R Morgan, writing for HubSpot
4. Sujan’s 3-Sentence Format
As the title suggests, this template emphasizes brevity, catering to occupied prospects, and it boasts an impressive response rate. While you don't need to strictly limit your email to three sentences – an introduction, a brief overview, and a request – it's beneficial to keep it concise. Additionally, succinct emails are more mobile-friendly, aligning with the growing trend of mobile usage.
Hi {{name}},
My name is {{your name}}, and I’ll keep this quick.
I’m the founder of a software tool that saves busy executives like you as many as 10 hours each and every week.
Could I have ten minutes of your time next week for a personalized demo that’ll make clear why entrepreneurs like Gary Vaynerchuk, Tim Ferriss, and Malcolm Gladwell love our product?
5. Always Ask for Introduction
This method isn't commonly employed. While conventionally that might raise eyebrows, I believe it's an exception here. It's a well-accepted fact that introductions through mutual acquaintances can pave the way for a positive response. This template innovatively flips this concept, seeking an introduction from an unfamiliar person rather than a shared contact. While it might not resonate with everyone, it's a modest request. If executed correctly, the outcomes might be unexpectedly positive.
Here's an additional cold email example, from the same origin, that effectively capitalizes on this tactic.
Hi {{name}},
I was looking to get introduced to {{person you’re trying to connect with}} from {{that person’s company}}, and saw you were connected to them. I’m not sure how well you’re connected to them, but if the relationship is strong, I’d really appreciate an introduction to chat about ways they can work with {{your company}}.
Please let me know if you feel comfortable doing this and I’ll forward a proper request for the introduction that you can forward to them.
Template from: Scott Britton at Life Long Learner
This strategy isn't frequently adopted. While theoretically, it might seem questionable, I believe it's an exception in this scenario. It's widely understood that securing a favorable response from a potential client is more straightforward when there's a mutual acquaintance involved. However, this template innovatively reverses the norm, suggesting that a stranger make the introduction rather than a known associate. It might not resonate with all, but it's a minimal request. If approached tactfully, the outcome could be unexpectedly rewarding.
Here's an alternate cold email example from the same reference that effectively employs this strategy.
Hey {{Name}},
Was hoping that you might be able to introduce me to {{person you want to reach}} at {{their company}}?
I wanted to connect with him because our email list targets a similar demographic with limited overlap. Seeing as our products are non-competitive, I wanted to touch base to see if he was up for brainstorming ways to leverage our existing user bases to grow both of our lists.
We did this with {{competitor}} in the past, and both parties received a 15% lift in new subscribers.
Any help is much appreciated.
6. Before-After-Bridge (BAB)
This framework is inspired by the team at Buffer. The essence is to swiftly make potential clients envision their lives post-utilizing your product or service. It's straightforward yet impactful. The concept revolves around illustrating life prior to your offering, life post-implementation, and the transition between the two.
Hi {{name}},
If you’re like most executives, you know how frustrating it can feel to have your time wasted.
Our software changes that, freeing up as many as 10 hours each week for clients like Gary Vaynerchuk, Tim Ferriss, and Malcolm Gladwell.
If you’d be willing to give me just ten minutes of your time, I’ll show you how you can achieve the same with our innovative platform. What’s the best time to connect next week for a personalized demo?
7. Reference a Rival's Product
This method focuses on potential clients who are utilizing a product akin to yours, suggesting they might consider switching to your offering. Your task is to emphasize your product's unique selling points to demonstrate why it's a superior option for them compared to their current selection.
Hi {{Name}},
Just ran across your website and noticed you were using {{Your competitor’s product}}. How are you liking it? I run a {{service}} called {{your company}}.
It’s just like {{your competitor’s product}}, only {{key differentiator}}. If you’re up for it, I would love to jump on a quick call with you and get your opinion on how we could make {{prospect’s company}} better (and see if it would make sense for us to work together).
Would {{date and time}} be a good time for you? (If not, I’m flexible, just let me know).
Template from: Bryan Harris of VideoFruit
8. Problem-Agitate-Solve (PAS)
Barriers and hurdles can be exasperating, bothersome, and often expensive. This template capitalizes on that by emphasizing your prospect's difficulties. It underscores the issue confronting the recipient, intensifies the discomfort, and then presents a remedy to mitigate or resolve it.
Hi {{name}},
When’s the last time you finished everything on your daily to-do list?
If you’re like most busy executives, you’re constantly struggling to stay on top of everything – let alone be the effective leader you need to be.
Our software helps motivated entrepreneurs like Gary Vaynerchuk, Tim Ferriss, and Malcolm Gladwell save as much as ten hours per week that can be directed back at your top priorities.
I’d love to give you a personalized demo. When are you free next week?
9. When You're Uncertain If You've Reached Out To The Appropriate Individual
I assume, similar to my experience, you get numerous emails requesting you to guide the sender to the right contact. I'd wager that you seldom reply to these.
The reason is that such emails often don't provide a compelling reason to assist. However, the example above is different. It shows that you've put in some effort to understand whom you're contacting and have aligned your product with their business approach. You're just uncertain if the individual you're addressing is the ideal contact. And those with tight schedules will value this thoughtfulness.
Hi {{name}},
I’m {{your name}} and I lead the business development efforts at {{your company}}. We have recently launched a new solution that {{one sentence pitch – what your solution does}}.
Based on your online profile {{mention profile link}}, it appears that you might be the right person, or at least point me to the right person to talk about {{problem solved by your product}}.
I’d like to speak to someone from {{company name}} who is responsible for {{key decision required to buy or use your product}}.
If it’s you, would you be open to a 10-minute call on {{time and date}} to discuss how {{solution name}} can help your business? If it’s not you, can you kindly point me to the appropriate person?
Thank you for the help!
10. Praise-Picture-Push (PPP)
A touch of genuine appreciation can go a long way, especially when it underscores the potential benefits of your solution. Introducing PPP: Begin with an authentic praise for a recent milestone or success, illustrate the consistent achievements they could realize with your product, and then motivate them to make a move.
Hi {{name}},
Congrats! I just saw that you were chosen as a speaker for the 2019 Inbound Marketing conference next month.
As you’re preparing for your presentation, it’s natural to fall behind on other tasks. If you’re struggling to keep up, I’d love to show you how our software can help you reclaim ten hours or more per week.
Can I have ten minutes of your time next week to give you a personalized demo?
Maximizing Cold Email Template Efficiency Templates are invaluable, inspiring captivating email content that not only engages prospects but also accelerates results. However, they aren't a magic solution.
Blatant copy-pasting is a surefire way to land in the spam folder. A genuine, tailored email always stands out. So, how to harness the power of cold email templates effectively? Rex Biberston sheds light on this, emphasizing:
Repeatability: Templates shine for recurring messages, like post-meeting follow-ups.
Adaptability: What works for one might not for another. Adapt and iterate.
Creativity: Use templates as a source of inspiration, not direct content.
Research-Driven Personalization: Spend dedicated time researching prospects to craft tailored sentences.
Category-Based Personalization: Instead of individual personalization, focus on categories of prospects.
No Fixed Email Length: The length should be driven by content quality, not arbitrary numbers.
Cold Email Campaign Best Practices Effective emails aren't just about words; they're about strategy. Here are some proven practices:
Subject Lines: Your digital handshake. It should be compelling, personalized, and genuine. Testing multiple subject lines can unveil the most effective one.
Body Content: The heart of your email. Start strong, be authentic, and make a clear call-to-action. Highlight tangible benefits and be concise.
Scaling Personalization: While hyper-personalization isn't always feasible, you can still tailor your emails. Segment your audience, research individuals, and use tools like Mailshake to automate and optimize your outreach.
In essence, while personalization is pivotal for successful outreach, it's just one facet. The real magic lies in how you integrate it into your overall strategy.
