Cold Email Templates That Actually Get Responses (With Examples)

Cold emails have an average response rate of just 1-5%. But with the right approach, you can significantly beat that average. The difference between emails that get ignored and emails that get responses comes down to structure, personalization, and value.

The Anatomy of a High-Response Cold Email

1. Subject Line (Make Them Open)

Your subject line must create curiosity or promise value in under 60 characters.

High-performing subject lines:

• "Quick question about [Company Name]"
• "[Mutual Connection] suggested I reach out"
• "Idea for [specific problem they have]"
• "[Their Company] + [Your Company] synergy"

Avoid:

• "Introduction" (too vague)
• "Amazing opportunity!!!" (too salesy)
• "Can I have 5 minutes of your time?" (too demanding)

2. Opening Line (Show You Did Research)

Never start with "My name is..." or "I'm reaching out because..." Instead, lead with something about them.

• "I saw your talk at [Conference] on [Topic] — really insightful point about..."
• "Congratulations on [Recent Achievement]."
• "I noticed [Company Name] recently [launched/expanded/announced]..."

3. Value Proposition (One Sentence)

Explain what you can do for them in one clear sentence:

• "We help [similar companies] reduce email response time by 40%."
• "I have an idea that could help your team with [specific challenge]."

4. Social Proof (Optional but Powerful)

• "We've worked with [Similar Company A] and [Similar Company B]..."
• "[Number] companies use our solution for..."

5. Clear, Low-Friction CTA

Don't ask for a 30-minute meeting in your first email. Start small:

• "Would it make sense to chat for 15 minutes this week?"
• "Would you be open to seeing a quick demo?"
• "Is this something your team is currently thinking about?"

Template 1: Partnership Outreach

Subject: [Your Company] x [Their Company] collaboration idea

Hi [Name],

I've been following [Their Company]'s work in [industry] — your recent [project/launch] caught my attention.

At [Your Company], we help [target audience] with [value prop]. I think there could be a natural synergy between what we do and [Their Company]'s mission.

Would you be open to a quick 15-minute chat to explore this?

Best regards,

[Your Name]

Template 2: Sales Outreach

Subject: Quick idea for [Their Company]'s [department]

Hi [Name],

I noticed [Their Company] is [growing/launching/expanding]. Companies in similar stages often struggle with [specific pain point].

We recently helped [Similar Company] solve this exact challenge, resulting in [specific metric].

Would it make sense to chat briefly about how this could work for your team?

Thanks,

[Your Name]

Template 3: Networking

Subject: Fellow [industry] professional — quick hello

Hi [Name],

Your article on [Topic] really resonated with me, especially the point about [specific detail].

I work in [related field] and I'd love to connect. No pitch — just genuinely interested in exchanging ideas.

Would you be open to a quick coffee chat (virtual works too)?

Best,

[Your Name]

Generate Perfect Cold Emails Instantly

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