cold-email-sequence
A working cold sequence is four touches over two weeks, each with a different angle. If they reply at any point, the sequence stops. If they open but don't reply, branch to a softer angle. If they don't open, change the subject line and angle entirely.
Inputs to gather
- ICP / persona — who is this targeting? (Role, company shape, trigger.)
- Offer — one sentence on what we sell and the outcome we deliver.
- Proof point — one customer quote, case study, or metric we can cite.
- Personalization variables —
{{first_name}}, {{company}}, {{recent_event}}, etc.
- CTA preference — meeting, reply with yes/no, content asset?
Sequence shape
| Touch |
Day |
Angle |
Subject line shape |
Length |
| 1 |
Day 0 |
Pain — name their problem precisely |
Question or fragment |
≤ 90 words |
| 2 |
Day 3 |
Proof — one peer's outcome |
"How {{peer}} did X" |
≤ 90 words |
| 3 |
Day 7 |
Peer / pattern — observation about their segment |
Insight |
≤ 110 words |
| 4 |
Day 14 |
Parting — "closing the loop" |
"should I close the loop?" |
≤ 50 words |
Branching:
- Replied → stop sequence, hand to AE.
- Opened ≥ 2x, no reply → on Touch 3, switch to a question-only email (no pitch).
- No opens → on Touch 2, swap subject style (fragment → question or vice versa).
Hard rules
- Subject line: ≤ 6 words, lowercase unless proper noun.
- Body opens with a sentence about them, not about us.
- One link maximum per email. Track it.
- One CTA per email. Either a meeting time or a yes/no question.
- No
{{first_name}} in the first sentence — too obvious.
- No "hope this finds you well", "quick question", "just checking in", "circling back."
Output format
## Touch 1 — Day 0 — Pain
Subject: <subject>
Preview: <first 70 chars>
---
<body>
CTA: <the ask>
P.S. <optional, one line>
Why this works: <one line on the angle and the personalization hook>
Repeat for Touches 2-4. End with:
## Branching logic
- Replied → stop, route to AE
- Opened 2+ no reply → on Touch 3 swap to <variant>
- No opens after Touch 1 → on Touch 2 swap subject to <variant>
## Variables to fill
- {{first_name}}
- {{company}}
- {{recent_event}} ← most likely to be empty; populate from research before send
1---2name: cold-email-sequence3description: Use to draft a 4-touch cold email sequence with behavior-based branching. Each touch has a different angle (pain, proof, peer, parting). Output is paste-ready for any sequencer (Apollo, Outreach, Smartlead). Drafts only; never sends.4---56# cold-email-sequence78A working cold sequence is **four touches over two weeks**, each with a different angle. If they reply at any point, the sequence stops. If they open but don't reply, branch to a softer angle. If they don't open, change the subject line and angle entirely.910## Inputs to gather1112- **ICP / persona** — who is this targeting? (Role, company shape, trigger.)13- **Offer** — one sentence on what we sell and the outcome we deliver.14- **Proof point** — one customer quote, case study, or metric we can cite.15- **Personalization variables** — `{{first_name}}`, `{{company}}`, `{{recent_event}}`, etc.16- **CTA preference** — meeting, reply with yes/no, content asset?1718## Sequence shape1920| Touch | Day | Angle | Subject line shape | Length |21|---|---|---|---|---|22| 1 | Day 0 | **Pain** — name their problem precisely | Question or fragment | ≤ 90 words |23| 2 | Day 3 | **Proof** — one peer's outcome | "How {{peer}} did X" | ≤ 90 words |24| 3 | Day 7 | **Peer / pattern** — observation about their segment | Insight | ≤ 110 words |25| 4 | Day 14 | **Parting** — "closing the loop" | "should I close the loop?" | ≤ 50 words |2627Branching:28- **Replied** → stop sequence, hand to AE.29- **Opened ≥ 2x, no reply** → on Touch 3, switch to a question-only email (no pitch).30- **No opens** → on Touch 2, swap subject style (fragment → question or vice versa).3132## Hard rules3334- Subject line: ≤ 6 words, lowercase unless proper noun.35- Body opens with a sentence about *them*, not about us.36- One link maximum per email. Track it.37- One CTA per email. Either a meeting time or a yes/no question.38- No `{{first_name}}` in the first sentence — too obvious.39- No "hope this finds you well", "quick question", "just checking in", "circling back."4041## Output format4243```44## Touch 1 — Day 0 — Pain45Subject: <subject>46Preview: <first 70 chars>47---48<body>4950CTA: <the ask>51P.S. <optional, one line>5253Why this works: <one line on the angle and the personalization hook>54```5556Repeat for Touches 2-4. End with:5758```59## Branching logic60- Replied → stop, route to AE61- Opened 2+ no reply → on Touch 3 swap to <variant>62- No opens after Touch 1 → on Touch 2 swap subject to <variant>6364## Variables to fill65- {{first_name}}66- {{company}}67- {{recent_event}} ← most likely to be empty; populate from research before send68```
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