--- name: ai-cold-email description: Generate personalized cold outreach emails using AI version: 1.0.0 author: KOINO Capital license: MIT tags: [sales, email, outreach, cold-email, lead-generation] --- # AI Cold Email Generator Generate high-converting cold outreach emails personalized to your prospect. Uses the **Observation > Question > Offer** framework that consistently outperforms generic templates. ## Usage Provide the following about your prospect: | Field | Required | Example | |-------|----------|---------| | **Prospect Name** | Yes | "Sarah Chen" | | **Company** | Yes | "Meridian Logistics" | | **Industry** | Yes | "Third-party logistics / freight" | | **Pain Point** | Yes | "Manual load matching wastes 15+ hours/week" | | **Your Name** | Yes | "Alex Rivera" | | **Your Company** | Yes | "FleetMind AI" | | **Your Offer** | Yes | "AI-powered load matching platform" | | **Prospect's Role** | Optional | "VP of Operations" | | **Recent Trigger** | Optional | "Just expanded to 3 new warehouses" | | **Mutual Connection** | Optional | "Met at FreightWaves LIVE" | ## Output You will receive **3 email variants** plus a **3-touch follow-up sequence**. --- ## Step 1: Research & Personalization Before writing, analyze the inputs and build a prospect profile: 1. **Observation**: What specific, verifiable thing can you reference about the prospect or their company? (recent news, job change, company growth, public statement, industry trend affecting them) 2. **Question**: What genuine question could you ask that demonstrates you understand their world? 3. **Offer**: What specific, low-commitment value can you provide? (not "let's hop on a call" -- something they can use immediately) --- ## Step 2: Generate 3 Email Variants ### Variant A: The Short Punch (50-75 words) **Structure:** ``` Subject: [Observation-based, no clickbait, under 6 words] [First name], [1 sentence: specific observation about their company/role] [1 sentence: question that implies you understand their pain] [1 sentence: concrete offer with zero commitment] [Signature] ``` **Rules:** - No "I hope this finds you well" - No "I wanted to reach out" - No company pitch in the first email - Subject line references THEM, not you - Total email under 75 words ### Variant B: The Value Lead (100-150 words) **Structure:** ``` Subject: [Question format referencing their specific situation] [First name], [Observation paragraph: 2 sentences max. Reference something specific about their company, industry move, or public content. Show you did homework.] [Bridge: 1 sentence connecting their situation to a pattern you've seen] [Value: 2-3 sentences describing a specific insight, benchmark, or framework relevant to their pain point. Give this away for free.] [Soft CTA: Ask a question, don't demand a meeting] [Signature] ``` **Rules:** - Lead with value they can use TODAY even if they never respond - The insight should be genuinely useful, not a teaser - CTA is a question, not a calendar link ### Variant C: The Case Study Drop (150-200 words) **Structure:** ``` Subject: [Result] for [similar company/role] [First name], [1 sentence observation about their specific challenge] [2-3 sentence mini case study: "We worked with [similar company type] who had [same pain point]. They were spending [X hours/dollars] on [manual process]. After [your approach], they [specific result with numbers].] [1 sentence: what made their situation similar to the prospect's] [Offer: share the full breakdown, a relevant resource, or a specific recommendation -- NOT just "let's chat"] [Signature] ``` **Rules:** - Case study must be from the same industry or analogous situation - Include at least one specific number (hours saved, % improvement, dollars) - If you don't have a real case study, use an industry benchmark instead - CTA offers something tangible --- ## Step 3: Subject Line Variations Generate **5 subject lines** for each variant (15 total), following these rules: - Under 6 words - No ALL CAPS - No exclamation marks - No "Quick question" or "Touching base" - At least 2 should reference the prospect's company or situation specifically - At least 1 should be a question - At least 1 should reference a number or result --- ## Step 4: Follow-Up Sequence ### Follow-Up 1 (Day 3): The Bump + New Value ``` Subject: Re: [original subject] [First name], [1 sentence: reference original email without "just following up"] [New value: share a relevant article, data point, or insight they would genuinely find useful -- even if they never buy from you] [Restate soft CTA differently than the first email] ``` ### Follow-Up 2 (Day 7): The Pattern Interrupt ``` Subject: [Something unexpected -- industry hot take, contrarian opinion, or humor relevant to their world] [First name], [2-3 sentences: share a genuine perspective on their industry that shows you think about this space deeply. This should NOT be a pitch. It should be something they'd forward to a colleague.] [1 sentence: tie it back to how this relates to their specific situation] [CTA: even softer -- "curious if you see it the same way"] ``` ### Follow-Up 3 (Day 14): The Clean Break ``` Subject: Re: [original subject] [First name], [2-3 sentences: acknowledge they're busy, provide one final piece of value (a resource, benchmark, or tool recommendation), and give them a clean exit] [Something like: "If the timing isn't right, no worries at all. But if [pain point] becomes a priority, here's where to find me: [link]"] ``` **Rules for all follow-ups:** - NEVER say "just following up" or "circling back" - Each follow-up must add NEW value, not just remind them you exist - Tone should get progressively more casual, not more desperate - The breakup email should leave them thinking "that person was genuinely helpful" --- ## Quality Checklist Before sending any email, verify: - [ ] Opens with something about THEM, not about you - [ ] No jargon or buzzwords ("synergy", "leverage", "circle back") - [ ] A stranger could read this and learn something useful - [ ] CTA requires less than 60 seconds of their time to respond - [ ] You'd actually want to receive this email yourself - [ ] Subject line would make you curious enough to open - [ ] No more than 1 link in the entire email - [ ] Reads well on mobile (short paragraphs, no walls of text) - [ ] Specific to THIS prospect -- not a template with [brackets] filled in - [ ] Follow-ups each add genuinely new value --- ## Anti-Patterns (Never Do These) | Bad | Why | Do Instead | |-----|-----|-----------| | "I hope this email finds you well" | Generic, wastes their time | Jump straight to the observation | | "We're the leading provider of..." | Nobody cares about your ranking | Show what you did for someone like them | | "Would love to pick your brain" | You're asking, not giving | Offer a specific insight first | | "Let me know if you'd like to hop on a quick call" | Too much commitment for a cold email | Ask a question they can answer in 1 sentence | | Sending the same template to 500 people | Low conversion, damages reputation | Batch by persona, personalize the observation | | Following up 5+ times | Desperation kills deals | 3 follow-ups max, then move on | --- *Powered by [KOINO Capital](https://koino.capital) -- AI-powered business systems that close deals while you sleep.*