Cold email templates

Opening emails, each built on a different reason to write: a problem, a trigger event, a shared contact, a genuine compliment or a useful resource.

• First touchSimple introductionThree short emails: who you are, one useful detail, a polite close.3 emails over 8 days · fill-in starter
• First touchAsk before pitchingAsks whether a short pitch is welcome before sending one. Low pressure, good reply rates.2 emails over 4 days · fill-in starter
• First touch · AgenciesAgency or freelance servicesFor design, development or marketing services: one observation, one offer, no hard sell.3 emails over 11 days · fill-in starter
• First touchProblem-first openerLeads with one problem the reader probably has, asks if it's real for them, and only then mentions what you do.2 emails over 4 days
• First touch · SaaSAfter a funding roundCongratulates a company on a recent raise, then connects it to a concrete next problem that growth usually brings.3 emails over 12 days
• First touchNew in the roleFor someone who just started a new job: acknowledges the first-90-days pressure and offers something small and useful.2 emails over 6 days
• First touchThey're hiring for a role you supportUses a public job posting as the reason to write, and offers help with the work that role will do.2 emails over 4 days
• First touchMutual connectionMentions a real person you both know who suggested you get in touch, and says exactly why they thought of it.2 emails over 5 days
• First touchSpecific compliment, then a questionOpens with a sincere, specific observation about their work, then asks one relevant question. Uses an AI line if you have one.2 emails over 5 days
• First touchOffer a useful resourceOpens by offering something genuinely useful (a guide, benchmark template or checklist) and asks permission before sending it.2 emails over 5 days
• First touchOne-question openerThe shortest possible first email: one sentence of context and a single question they can answer in a word.3 emails over 9 days
• First touchAI first line, plain pitchA personal first line written per lead from their website, followed by a short, plain description of your offer.2 emails over 4 days
• First touchHow peers handle itShares how similar companies approach a problem, without claiming numbers, and asks how they handle it today.2 emails over 5 days
• First touchNew office or locationUses an announced expansion (new office, store or site) as the reason to offer help with what opening a site involves.2 emails over 5 days
• First touch · SaaSThey changed toolsWrites after a company adopts or leaves a platform, offering help with the work that a switch creates.2 emails over 5 days
• First touch · SaaSSaaS: onboarding review offerA product consultancy offers SaaS companies a short, specific review of their sign-up and first-run experience.2 emails over 5 days
• First touch · SaaSSaaS: founder to founderA founder writes to another founder plainly and briefly, the way founders talk to each other.1 email
• First touch · SaaSSaaS: cancellations and failed paymentsWrites to SaaS finance or growth leads about customers lost to failed card payments, a problem many teams don't measure.2 emails over 5 days
• First touch · AgenciesAgency: show one relevant projectAn agency shares one relevant past project instead of a full portfolio, chosen for the prospect's industry.2 emails over 6 days
• First touch · AgenciesAgency: one search observationAn SEO agency opens with one specific, checkable observation about the prospect's site in search results.1 email
• First touch · RecruitingRecruiting: software for agenciesSells a tool to recruitment agency owners by focusing on one daily frustration, not a feature list.2 emails over 4 days
• First touch · Real estateReal estate: lease coming upA commercial tenant broker writes to businesses whose office lease is likely ending, offering to represent them.2 emails over 6 days
• First touch · Real estateReal estate: vendor to property managersA maintenance services company introduces itself to property management firms with practical details.1 email
• First touch · ConsultingConsulting: small diagnostic firstA consultant offers a short, fixed-scope diagnostic as a low-risk first step before any larger engagement.2 emails over 6 days
• First touch · ConsultingConsulting: share a point of viewA consultant shares a short, opinionated view on an issue in the prospect's industry and invites a response.2 emails over 5 days
• First touch · ConsultingConsulting: interim coverAn interim executive offers to cover a gap after a senior departure, with clear availability.1 email
• First touch · E-commerceE-commerce: checkout observationOpens with something specific noticed while going through the prospect's checkout, as a real customer would.1 email
• First touch · E-commerceE-commerce: pitch to a retail buyerA brand pitches its products to a retailer's buyer with the details buyers need: fit, margin structure and minimums.2 emails over 7 days
• First touch · E-commerce, ManufacturingE-commerce: packaging supplierA packaging supplier writes to online brands about a practical shipping problem: breakage or oversized boxes.1 email
• First touch · IT services and MSPsMSP: IT for a growing teamA managed IT provider writes to growing companies where IT is likely handled by whoever knows most about computers.2 emails over 5 days
• First touch · IT services and MSPsMSP: calm security review offerOffers a basic security review without fear tactics, focused on simple, common gaps.1 email
• First touch · IT services and MSPsMSP: support for an in-house IT teamOffers co-managed IT to companies that already have a small IT team, positioned as support rather than replacement.1 email
• First touch · Financial servicesAccounting firm: year-end helpAn accounting firm writes to small business owners ahead of year-end, offering help with the practical work.1 email
• First touch · Financial services, SaaSFractional finance leadA part-time finance lead offers help to founders who've outgrown their bookkeeper but don't need a full-time hire.1 email
• First touch · Financial servicesSoftware for advisory firmsA software vendor writes to operations leads at advisory firms about an admin problem, without touching investment topics.1 email
• First touch · HealthcareHealthcare: scheduling for clinicsA scheduling software company writes to clinic practice managers about missed appointments, with no health claims.2 emails over 5 days
• First touch · HealthcareHealthcare: supplier to practicesA medical supplies distributor introduces itself to practice managers with delivery and ordering details, not product claims.1 email
• First touch · Education and academia, AgenciesAcademia: website for a research labA design studio offers a professor or lab lead a clearer website to present their research, publications and openings.2 emails over 7 days
• First touch · Education and academia, SaaSEducation: software to a departmentAn education software company writes to a department head about a teaching admin problem, timed around the academic calendar.1 email
• First touch · Legal services, SaaSLegal: software for law firmsA legal software company writes to law firm managers about client intake admin.1 email
• First touch · Legal services, AgenciesLegal: marketing for law firmsA marketing agency writes to law firms with an offer that stays within professional advertising rules.1 email
• First touch · ManufacturingManufacturing: become a qualified supplierA contract manufacturer asks a procurement lead how to get on their approved supplier list.1 email
• First touch · ManufacturingManufacturing: maintenance servicesAn industrial maintenance company writes to plant managers about unplanned downtime, offering an assessment.1 email
• First touch · LogisticsLogistics: freight broker to shippersA freight broker writes to shipping managers about a specific lane or problem, not a generic capacity pitch.2 emails over 5 days
• First touch · Logistics, E-commerceLogistics: fulfilment for online brandsA fulfilment warehouse writes to online brands that are outgrowing packing orders themselves.1 email

Variables like {{first_name}} are filled from each lead; {{ai_line}} needs Write AI lines, which uses your own AI provider account. Check any template with the free spam word checker or subject line tester after you edit it.