We’ve round up the top cold email template and examples in use today, and give our thoughts on the good, bad, and downright ugly parts of each.

Cold Email Categories:

  • General Cold Email Example
  • Cold Email Followup Template
  • Cold Email to Decision Maker
  • Cold Email After Voicemail
  • Cold Email Breakup Template

10 Successful Cold Email Rules – The LeadFuze Grading Criteria

  1. Catchy subject line & first line
  2. Short
  3. Personalized not just “personalization”
  4. All about them… not you
  5. Easy to understand value prop
  6. Value offered before CTA
  7. No obvious red flags
  8. Not an obvious canned template
  9. Easy call to Action
  10. CAN-SPAM Compliant

General Cold Email Template

The general cold email is your first attempt to start a conversation with a prospect.

Cold Email Example 1

cold email template 1

Thoughts:

  • Breaks a LOT of rules!
  • Might have worked a few years ago…But not anymore.
  • Multiple CTAs lead to disaster

Cold Email Example 2

cold email template 2

Thoughts:

  • Generic “stab in the dark”
  • Should have homework done already
  • Hop on call is a weak CTA
  • Multiple CTA (big ask)
  • Old school VITO technique (go high- push down, but this was good ole days)
  • Can only send specific date to one person- better to blast a better value prop to 1,000 leads

Cold Email Example 3

Cold Email template 3

Thoughts:

  • Short..but bad intro
  • hard to book call first email (especially without giving value)

Cold Email Example 4

Cold Email template 4

Thoughts:

  • LONG, brick text
  • “I/we” rather than “you”

Full Cold Email Video Commentary:

Summary:

The goal of this initial cold email is to simply start a conversation. You need a compelling value prop communicated in a crystal clear way.

Cold Email Example to Decision Maker

The cold email to ask for the decision maker is a popular template used today. Does that mean it works? Hint: NO.

Cold Email to Decision Maker 1

Cold Email example to Decision Maker 1

Cold Email to Decision Maker 2

Cold Email example to Decision Maker 2

Cold Email to Decision Maker 3

Cold Email example to Decision Maker 3

Thoughts:

  • Predictable Revenue was a book written 6 years ago, about stuff they were actually doing 10 years ago. It doesn’t work as well anymore.

Cold Email to Decision Maker Commentary:

Cold Email Template – Follow Up

The cold email follow up template is used after your first cold email failed to generate a response.

Cold Email Follow Up Template 1

Cold Email Follow Up Template 1

Thoughts:

  • makes you want to review the first email(s)
  • one clear question is good

Cold Email Follow Up Template 2

Cold Email Follow Up Template 2

Thoughts:

  • asking for a specific person after you have tried to start a conversation

Cold Email Follow up Commentary:

Cold Email Template – After Voicemail

The cold email to ask for the decision maker is a popular template used today. Does that mean it works? Hint: NO.

Cold Email After Voicemail 1

Cold Email example After Voicemail 1

Thoughts:

  • Missing context, was this a web form asking to be contacted?
  • No value prop whatsoever – should be included even if this was a web form

Cold Email After Voicemail 2

Cold Email example After Voicemail 2

Thoughts:

  • good subject line
  • good opportunity to make a commitment and build trust

Cold Email After Voicemail 3

Cold Email example After Voicemail 3

Thoughts:

  • No hook, no value
  • wasted, useless question “how you doing”

Cold Email after Voicemail Commentary:

Cold Email Breakup Template

The cold email breakup template is your final attempt to start a conversation with a prospect (after prior emails have gone unresponded).

Cold Email Breakup Template 1

Cold Email Breakup Template 1

Thoughts:

  • breakup email “fad” … effective 3-4 years ago, but now used so much by everyone
  • do you really want to promise to not follow up again?

Cold Email Breakup Template 2

Cold Email Breakup Template 2

Thoughts:

  • Nobody “closes” files anymore, not really believable
  • Great next step CTA

Cold Email Breakup Template 3

Cold Email Breakup Template 3

Thoughts:

  • If you say you are removing the fluff… ACTUALLY remove the fluff
  • Add better benefits .. make them questions- “is managing your content difficult?”

Cold Email Breakup Commentary: