======================================== COLD OUTREACH EMAIL TEMPLATES 5 Proven Templates + Follow-Up Sequence SoloStack — solostack.madethis.app ======================================== Before you send ANY cold email, run the 20-minute research routine (see bottom). Personalization is the difference between a 3% reply rate and a 20%+ reply rate. ---------------------------------------- TEMPLATE 1 — "I Noticed Your Job Post" Use when: Responding to a job board listing or LinkedIn post ---------------------------------------- SUBJECT: Re: [Job Title] post Hi [First Name], I saw your post looking for a [role/service] — I've done this work for [similar company type], where I [specific result: "reduced churn by 18%" / "cut their proposal-to-close time in half" / etc.]. I'm not looking for a full-time role, but I take on a small number of freelance engagements each quarter. If a freelancer could solve this without the overhead of a hire, I'd love to hear more about the project. Worth a 15-minute conversation? [Your name] [Portfolio link or LinkedIn] P.S. [Recent relevant work or credibility signal: "Just wrapped a similar project for [type of company] — happy to walk you through what I did."] PERSONALIZATION NOTES: - Reference the specific job description detail (not just the title) - Mirror their language (if they say "growth" not "marketing," use "growth") - Check their company's recent news/funding — mention it if relevant ---------------------------------------- TEMPLATE 2 — "I Helped Someone Like You" Use when: You have a relevant case study to lead with ---------------------------------------- SUBJECT: Helped [similar company] with [result] Hi [First Name], I helped [similar company name, or "a [industry] company like yours"] [specific result — "go from 0 to 12 paying clients in 60 days" / "cut their onboarding time by 40%" / etc.]. Based on [specific thing you noticed about their business — website, LinkedIn, recent post], I think there's a similar opportunity for [their company name]. The approach was [1 sentence on what you did]. I could walk you through it in 15 minutes if you're curious. [Your name] [Portfolio / LinkedIn] P.S. Happy to send the case study before the call — just reply and I'll share it. PERSONALIZATION NOTES: - Be specific about the result — "grew revenue" is weak, "added $12k MRR" lands - Name the similar company if you have permission to share it - The "I think there's an opportunity for you" line only works if you can back it up with something specific you noticed about their business ---------------------------------------- TEMPLATE 3 — "Quick Question About [Their Business]" Use when: You want a softer opener with a genuine curiosity hook ---------------------------------------- SUBJECT: Quick question about [specific thing] Hi [First Name], I noticed [specific observation about their business — "your onboarding sequence doesn't have a re-engagement email" / "your LinkedIn content doesn't link back to your services page" / "you're running ads to a page with no social proof"]. Is that an intentional decision or something you've been meaning to address? Asking because I've fixed this exact issue for [type of company] and it [result]. Happy to share what I learned — no strings attached. [Your name] [LinkedIn / portfolio] PERSONALIZATION NOTES: - The question must be genuinely specific — never generic ("I noticed your website") - Only use observations you can support with real insight - This template works best when you've done at least 10–15 min of research - The "no strings attached" line only works if you mean it — offer real value ---------------------------------------- TEMPLATE 4 — "Referral From [Name]" Use when: A mutual connection mentioned this person ---------------------------------------- SUBJECT: [Mutual name] thought we should connect Hi [First Name], [Mutual name] suggested I reach out — they thought you might be working on [context: "building out your content strategy" / "looking for help with your proposal process" / etc.]. I'm a [your service/role] who specializes in [specific niche]. I've worked with [relevant reference or type of company] on exactly this kind of project. Would it make sense to jump on a quick call to see if there's a fit? [Your name] P.S. [Mutual name] said [something specific they shared — "you're working on a rebrand" / "you just closed a funding round" — only include if true and specific]. PERSONALIZATION NOTES: - Mention the referrer in the subject line — open rates jump significantly - Get permission from the referrer before name-dropping them - If you have ANY context about why the referrer thought you'd connect, use it ---------------------------------------- TEMPLATE 5 — FOLLOW-UP SEQUENCE Send these ONLY after no reply to Template 1–4. Never send more than 2 follow-ups. ---------------------------------------- FOLLOW-UP #1 (Send 3 days after initial email) SUBJECT: Re: [Original subject line] Hi [First Name], Just bumping this up in case it got buried. I know you're busy — if this isn't relevant right now, no worries at all. If the timing ever shifts, I'm easy to reach. [Your name] --- FOLLOW-UP #2 (Send 7 days after Follow-Up #1 — final) SUBJECT: Re: [Original subject line] Hi [First Name], I'll leave this one here — I don't want to clog your inbox. If you're ever looking for [your service] in the future, I'd love to be your first call. [Portfolio/LinkedIn] if you want to see my work. All the best, [Your name] --- NOTE ON FOLLOW-UPS: - Follow-up #1 is a soft bump — no new pitch, just presence - Follow-up #2 is a graceful exit — leave on a good note - After 2 follow-ups with no reply, stop. Move the lead to "nurture" in your tracker. - Never send a third follow-up with "just checking in" — it reads as desperate ======================================== THE 20-MINUTE RESEARCH ROUTINE Do this before writing any cold email. ======================================== STEP 1 (5 min) — LinkedIn - What's their current role and how long have they been there? - Recent posts or activity (gives you a conversation hook) - Mutual connections (potential referral bridges) - Recent job postings (signals growth areas and pain points) STEP 2 (5 min) — Their website - What's their homepage promise? What customer problem do they claim to solve? - Do they have social proof? (testimonials, case studies, logos) - Look for gaps: no blog, no email capture, outdated copy, no social proof — these are outreach hooks if you fix them for clients STEP 3 (5 min) — Recent news - Google "[company name] news" and "[founder name] interview" - Recent funding, product launches, hires, or press — all valid hooks - Twitter/X or LinkedIn for recent announcements STEP 4 (5 min) — Craft the opener - Write ONE sentence that proves you did your homework - Bad opener: "I've been following your company and love what you're doing" - Good opener: "I saw your post about hiring your first marketing person — that's exactly the stage where a consultant can buy you 6 months of runway before a full hire." ======================================== Want the full SoloStack template library? Proposal templates, contracts, onboarding checklists, invoices. solostack.madethis.app ========================================