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How to write a cold email that gets replies

Short cold emails written from research on each company, in your voice.

Write a cold email to [type of buyer] about [what you sell] that gets replies.

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How to write a cold email that gets replies

Write a cold email under 100 words that is about the reader, not you. Open with a specific reason you're writing to them now, say in one sentence what result you deliver for companies like theirs, add one piece of proof and end with one easy question. Use a short, plain subject line, and follow up two or three times.

  1. 01

    Research one real reason to write

    Before writing, find something true and recent about the reader's company that connects to what you offer: a job post, a launch, a new market, a tool they use, a problem they've written about. Don't recite facts they already know about themselves just to sound personal. The reason should point at a need, so it explains why your email matters to them this month.

  2. 02

    Write a plain, short subject line

    Use two to six words that read like a note from a colleague: "[company] hiring", "question about [topic]", "[mutual contact] suggested I write". Skip hype, emoji and fake "Re:" prefixes. The subject only has to get the email opened by the right person, so keep it honest about what's inside. Lowercase is fine if it matches how you normally write.

  3. 03

    Open with them, not you

    The first line shows up in the inbox preview, so make it about their situation: the reason you found and the problem it usually creates. Don't start with your name, your company or "I hope this finds you well." A good test: if the first line could be sent unchanged to fifty companies, rewrite it until it couldn't.

  4. 04

    Say what you do in one sentence

    Describe the result you deliver for companies like theirs in plain words: "We help [type of company] [result] without [pain]." Add one piece of proof if you have it, such as a similar customer, a number with its source or a short example. Leave out feature lists, your company history and anything the reader would have to look up to understand.

  5. 05

    Ask one easy question

    End with a single low-effort ask. "Worth a 15-minute call next week?" or "Is this on your list this quarter?" both work. For readers who won't commit to a call, offer something short instead, like an example or a two-line plan. Keep the whole email under 100 words and read it on a phone before you send it.

  6. 06

    Follow up, then stop

    Send two or three follow-ups three to five days apart, each adding something new: a short example, a different angle or a direct question. Reply in the same thread so the context stays visible, and stop as soon as they answer on any channel. Revnu writes the email and the follow-ups from research on each company, in your voice, and sends them once you approve.

3 cold email examples

The hiring signal email

Subject: [role] hire Hi [first name], Adding a [role] usually means [problem] has outgrown the team, and the new hire spends their first months on [tedious part]. We take [tedious part] off the plate for [type of company], so the new [role] starts on [higher-value work] from week one. Worth a 15-minute call before they start? [Your name]

The problem-first email

Subject: [problem] at [company] Hi [first name], Most [job title]s at [type of company] we talk to lose [time or money] every [week or month] to [problem], usually because [cause]. [Your product] [does the job] so [result]. [Similar customer] [result they got]. Is [problem] on your list this quarter, or is it already handled? [Your name]

The mutual connection email

Subject: [mutual contact] suggested I write Hi [first name], [Mutual contact] mentioned you're working on [goal] at [company]. We helped [similar company] with the same thing by [short description of method]. Happy to share what worked in a short call, or send the two-line version by email if that's easier. Which would you prefer? [Your name]

Why Revnu for writing cold emails

A generated cold email is only as good as what the writer knows about the person reading it. Revnu researches each company first, then writes a short email in your voice that gives them a reason to reply.

  1. 1Reads your website so the email describes what you actually do.
  2. 2Researches the company you're writing to and finds the line worth opening with.
  3. 3Writes the email and the follow-ups, and sends them once you approve.

Short, specific, about them

The emails that get replies are short, mention something true about the reader's business and ask one easy question. Revnu writes to that standard and won't open by repeating the reader's own homepage back to them.

One email is the start

Most replies come from the second or third message. Revnu writes the whole sequence, spaces it out, stops when someone replies and answers the replies it can.

Frequently asked questions

Will it sound like me?

It learns your voice from your website and the emails you approve, and you can edit any draft before it goes.

What are some best practices for writing effective cold emails?

Keep it under 100 words, write to one person and open with a reason specific to them. State the result you deliver, not your features, and ask one easy question. Send from a real person's name, warm up new mailboxes, verify addresses so you don't bounce, and follow up two or three times. Judge changes by replies, not opens.

How long should a cold email be?

Short enough to read on a phone in under 30 seconds, which usually means 50 to 125 words. Long emails bury the one reason the reader should care. If there is more to say, offer to send it or link to a single page. Cutting a draft by a third almost always improves it.

How do I write a cold email for a job?

Use the same shape: a specific reason you're writing to that person at that company, one line on what you'd bring, one piece of proof such as a project or result, and a small ask like a 15-minute chat or who to speak to. Write to the hiring manager or someone on the team rather than a general inbox, and keep it under 150 words.

What should I avoid in a cold email?

Long introductions about yourself, feature lists, attachments, several links, more than one ask and flattery that could apply to anyone. Avoid opening by repeating facts the reader already knows about their own company. Don't fake familiarity with "Re:" subjects or "as we discussed". Each of these makes the email look mass-sent, which is the fastest way to get ignored.

Is this free?

You start with a free trial. Revnu asks for a card when you sign up and starts on what you typed straight away. After the trial, plans start at $99 a month. Cancel any time in Settings.

Does anything run before I sign up?

No. Nothing is checked or generated on this page. Revnu does the work inside your account, where it can read your website, keep what it finds and carry on from there.

Hand it to Revnu

Write a cold email to [type of buyer] about [what you sell] that gets replies.

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