Cold Outreach

Cold Outreach Skill

Core Principles

The test: Would you send this to a friend? If not, it's too salesy.

The goal: Get a response, not make a sale. The first message gets a conversation, not a deal.

The rule: Shorter is always better. If it can be 3 sentences, don't write 6.

The Formula

1. Hook (1 sentence): Why you're reaching out. Specific, not generic.
2. Relevance (1-2 sentences): Why this is relevant to THEM, not you.
3. Ask (1 sentence): One clear, low-friction ask.

Total: 3-4 sentences maximum for the first message.

What Makes a Good Hook

Bad hooks:

• "I hope this message finds you well"
• "I came across your profile and was impressed"
• "I wanted to reach out because..."

Good hooks:

• "Saw your post about [specific thing] - [your reaction or connection]"
• "We just shipped [thing] and thought of you because [specific reason]"
• "You mentioned [specific thing] at [event/interview/post]..."
• "Mutual connection [name] suggested I reach out"

Templates by Use Case

Sales / Partnership Outreach

[Specific hook about their work or company]

[1-2 sentences on why this is relevant to their situation/goals - not what you want]

Would you be open to a 15-minute call this week?

Job / Networking Outreach

[Specific hook about their work or a project of theirs]

[1 sentence on what you're working on / what you're looking for]

Would you be up for a quick call? Happy to keep it to 20 minutes.

Partnership Outreach

[Specific observation about their product/company]

[1-2 sentences on how collaboration could benefit THEM, not you]

Worth a quick chat?

Personalization Checklist

Before sending, verify:

• The hook is specific to THIS person (could not be copy-pasted to 100 others)
• The relevance is about their situation, not yours
• The ask is low-friction (15 min call > 1 hour meeting)
• No "I hope this finds you well" or similar filler
• Under 100 words for the body

Subject Lines

For email:

• Good: "[Mutual connection] suggested I reach out", "Quick question re: [their product/talk]"
• Bad: "Partnership Opportunity", "Quick Question", "Following Up"

Keep subject lines under 8 words. No clickbait.

Follow-Up

If no response after 5-7 days, one follow-up is appropriate:

Hey [Name],

Following up on my note below. [One new piece of value or context].

Still interested in connecting?

Never send more than 2 messages to someone who hasn't responded.

Output Format

When generating outreach:

1. Show the message
2. Explain the hook choice (why this specific angle)
3. Flag anything that might be too generic or salesy
4. Offer an alternative version if the angle is unclear