From Inbox to Interest: Crafting Cold Emails That Convert
If you're an entrepreneur trying to grow your business, you know the hustle of getting your name in front of the right people. But here's the problem: most cold emails sound like they were written by sleep-deprived robots with a thesaurus addiction. They’re long, lifeless, and packed with enough jargon to make your eyes glaze over.
Let’s fix that. This guide breaks down how to write cold emails that sound like a real human wrote them and actually get replies.
1. Start with the Subject Line
Your subject line is your first impression and your gatekeeper. It’s the difference between someone opening your email or yeeting it straight into the trash.
What works:
Short and curiosity-driven: "Saw your post on [topic]" or "Quick idea for [Company]"
Specific and relevant: "[First Name], thought this might be useful"
What to avoid:
ALL CAPS
Clickbait (“You won’t believe this secret…”)
Cringe sales lingo (“Explode your revenue now!”)
Pro tip: Write 3–5 subject lines for each email and test which ones perform best.
Brian Lamanna, a popular sales industry voice, advises keeping subject lines simple and curiosity-driven: “If it feels like something a friend might send you, you’re on the right track.”
2. Make It About Them, Not You
Nobody wants a cold email that reads like a resume. Start by proving you actually know who they are. Mention something specific like an article they wrote, a spicy LinkedIn post, or something clever they’re doing with their brand.
Instead of this:
“I’m a growth consultant with 10+ years of experience helping businesses like yours.”
Try this:
“Loved your recent post on building operational resilience - especially your point about simplifying your stack. I work with founders on that exact problem.”
Personal relevance beats self-promotion every time.
DemandJen, a sharp outbound strategist, puts it this way: "It’s not about showing off your pitch - it’s about showing up with context. Relevance is the real cheat code."
3. Keep It Short and Conversational
Most people read email on their phones—between meetings, coffee sips, or toddler meltdowns. If your message looks like a novel, it’s not getting read.
Stick to 3–5 sentences. Structure it like this:
Personal hook
Relevance to a challenge they face
Quick pitch on how you can help
Call to action
Example:
Hey [Name],
Saw your recent launch—congrats! It reminded me of a founder I worked with who had a great product but no time for outbound. I run Outventa, where we build non-cringey outbound campaigns that actually get replies.
Worth a chat?
4. Use a Clear and Low-Pressure CTA
Don’t come in hot asking for a 30-minute call like it’s a second date. Keep it chill:
"Open to learning more?"
"Can I send over a few ideas?"
"Ever tried outbound before?"
Make it feel like the start of a real conversation, not a sales ambush.
5. Follow Up (Without Being Annoying)
Most replies don’t come from the first email. They come from the second or third. That’s not ghosting; it’s inbox chaos. Follow up 3–5 business days later with a polite nudge.
Example:
Just bumping this up in case it got buried. Happy to send a quick rundown if it’s relevant—no pressure at all.
Brian Lamanna recommends a "calm confidence" in follow-ups: “No need to over-apologize or over-explain—just gently remind them you’re here.”
Final Thoughts
Cold emails don’t have to be awkward, robotic, or embarrassing. Done right, they’re just smart, timely conversations with strangers you’d actually want to work with.
If writing cold emails makes you break out in hives - or you’d rather be doing literally anything else - Outventa’s here for you. We build done-for-you outbound campaigns that sound like you, not a sales script.
No spam. No fluff. Just leads that don’t make your skin crawl.
Let’s make your inbox your best sales channel.