How to write a cold email (5 templates included)

Open up your email program and read open your spam folder, and (if you're anything like us) you'll see hundreds of cold emails. But cold emails don't need to be spam; they can provide value, create connections, and deliver business success.

Writing cold emails is harder than formal emails because there's no real structure. In fact, you should be creative to try and build a connection. Boring doesn't win in the cold emailing business.

We're going to show you how to write cold emails, with 5 samples covering:

• Cold email to a prospective customer
• Cold email to a prospective client
• Cold email proposing a partnership
• Cold email invitation to an event
• Cold email for connection

Our 101 guide to cold emails continues with a breakdown of the format before we build a template together. At the end, we deliver pro tips from cold emailing experts.

To make your work a lot easier, you can also take advantage of HIX.AI cold email generator, which can help you write a cold email in an instant.

What is a cold email?

Cold emails are messages sent to someone you don't know. That's the easiest explanation, but behind that is a huge amount of email science and sales talk.

Great cold emails generate emotion and create connections. They're engineered to get results, using some tried and tested techniques to encourage action. In most cases, cold emails are used to raise awareness of your business, brand, product, or service.

Cold emails are all about numbers. The more you send, the more likely you are to be successful. But before you start writing, you need to develop some solid emails, understand the format, and focus on your USP.

Want to know how? There's a lot to learn, but here are 5 cold email samples to get you started.

5 cold email templates

Cold emails are all about personality. If you're simply going to copy us, you're not going to be successful (sorry!). Instead, use these cold email templates to learn how to create cold emails and get inspiration from some of the tricks that we use.

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Read also: How to Craft Polite Candidate Rejection Emails

Cold email proposing a partnership

You can't conquer the business world alone, but you need to form partnerships. How? This cold email proposes an international partnership between firms. This email is, as you'll see, more serious than the previous samples.

Dear [Recipient's Name],

I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to propose a potential partnership between our two firms. As experienced experts in our respective fields, I believe that collaborating could create significant opportunities for both parties.

Let's schedule a meeting to discuss this proposal in more detail. Please let me know if the proposed schedule works for you, or if you would prefer to suggest an alternative time. I am open to your suggestions and eager to explore the potential of a partnership.

Thank you for your attention, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best regards,
[Your Name]

Complete guide to cold emaling

First, we've got to be honest with you. There are hundreds of books written about how to write a cold email. It's a skill that people spend their entire careers mastering. So you'll understand why we're going to struggle to condense all that learning into 800 words. It won't stop us from trying!

Cold emails are about grabbing interest. You'll need a superb subject line to catch the eye and encourage a click. Once you've got it, you need a bold body copy that's going to inspire them to learn more. But it can't just be funny; it must offer value. Finally, there must be a CTA either encouraging them to connect, contact you, or make a purchase.

While you'll need to spend time crafting cold emails (and testing them), we're going to help you by building a template based on three parts:

1. Cold email subject line
2. Body copy
3. Sign off/next steps

Ready to create a connection? Then let's get into it!

Cold email subject line

It's out with the traditional and in with the clickbait! Yes, cold emails live and die by the subject line. Get it right, and you can count on lots of clicks and engagement.

How do you know what works? Many marketers run A/B tests where they send out the same email with different subject lines to see which is more successful.

• This product could change your life! (Maybe)
• We're searching for a new partner
• You're wasting time on your admin (and we can help)
• Are you making these 5 common mistakes?
• Don't open this email (unless you want to make money)

Writing great cold email subject lines is an art form, so practice, practice, and then practice some more... Learn from what works and what doesn't.

Cold email body copy

Body copy is where you make your impact, shaping your message around your audience. In traditional emails, you start with a personalized greeting, but in cold emails, anything goes.

In fact, un-traditional approaches are often more successful than simple (and dull) emails.

We're going to build a cold email for your SEO-writing service. We start with an attention-grabbing intro:

"Is your SEO agency letting you down? Too many rely on outdated tactics and cut-price content – and it's hitting your ranking. Wouldn't you like to work with a better agency?"

This is a catchy opener that hits the reader straight away. If they're suffering from poor-quality SEO, they'll read on. Now explain what you're offering, and provide evidence to back up what you're saying.

"We're a leading SEO copywriting agency that's built a reputation for getting results. Want to see some? Here's what we achieved for (client). (Insert client testimonial)."

You've got their attention, and hopefully, they're interested. Lots of cold emails offer incentives to encourage someone to contact you.

"You don't want to sign an expensive contract, and you don't have to. We're offering new customers the chance to try our SEO copywriting service for just $50 today. Sound good?"

We've given them an intro, we've hooked them in, they've got an exclusive offer, and now it's time to lock in the deal with the next steps and our sign-off.

For more details about how to start an email, click here.

Cold email sign-off/next steps

People don't want to feel under pressure, but in a cold email, you want to encourage them to act (and not ignore your email). So adding a time limit is a powerful technique.

"We've only got limited space, and we're filling up. So our exclusive offer is only available today.

Don't worry if you don't take us up on the offer. I'm sure one of your competitors will."

This works as it's a little cheeky, but it's also serious too. It adds some peril for the person reading it. What if a competitor takes us up on the offer?

Now, wrap things up with a CTA.

"If you want to chat, you can contact me at (insert details). I'm ready and waiting to talk about how our content can supercharge your SEO..."

That's a powerful cold email. Even so, response rates will still struggle to achieve 1% – unless you follow our 5 tips for clickable cold emails.

5 tips for creating clickable cold emails

Cold emails are an essential part of the digital marketing toolkit. In fact, if you can create cold emails with a high click-through rate, you'll never find yourself struggling for work.

1. Start from basic principles (and build from there) – Cold emails are about educating your customer, so assume they know nothing about what you do and build from there. That doesn't mean patronizing them, but it does mean that you'll need need to provide basic information.
2. Making them smile is key to being successful – Cold emails are bold and never boring. Focus on making the reader smile. Find a way to subvert the way they think or approach a familiar subject with a fresh angle. Basically, be creative.
3. Introduce peril – People are fundamentally lazy and won't act unless there's a reason to do so. Suggesting their competitors could take advantage, or they could miss out on a deal can inspire them to act. Try it!
4. Include exclusive offers – Whether you're inviting someone to an event, offering a service, or pushing a product, exclusive offers are a great idea. They make the person feel special (even if you're sending the same email to millions of people).
5. Cold emails are a numbers game – You need to try, try, and try again with cold emails. That means creating various subject lines and body copy that you can test and refine. If you're finding it hard to get creative, outsource the job to HIX.AI cold email generator.

Conclusion

Cold emails have a bad name (we're looking at you, spam), but they can be hugely successful – if you get them right. Nobody creates super-successful cold emails from scratch. You need to learn the format, find some inspiration, and be bold. Push boundaries, introduce peril, and chase success!