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How do you write a cold email pitch?



How do you write a cold email pitch?


Cold email pitches are a necessary evil of the digital age. With social media being so popular nowadays and with people sharing more often than ever before on platforms like Facebook or Twitter, it’s not uncommon to see someone share an article or video from somewhere else online. It can be easy to think “I saw this first—it must have been good!” but there’s no guarantee that person shared something they liked. The truth is, we all need to know what works and what doesn't work. This means knowing which types of content people will respond well to, as well as crafting an effective message that speaks to them directly.

It's important to note that just because you're sending out a cold pitch email does NOT mean that you should stop writing altogether. You still want to keep engaging with influencers through other channels, such as responding to their tweets or comments on LinkedIn or even reaching out via direct messages (DM). That said, if you've written a great response and you don't hear back from the person who originally sent you the link, then you may consider using one of these cold email templates to try again.

What is a cold pitch email?

A cold email is simply any kind of sales-oriented communication where you send a request to another individual without having previously established contact between the two of you. For instance, you could ask someone to connect with you over coffee, or you might offer to meet up at a networking event. A cold email has nothing to do with whether or not you know each other.

The main difference between a cold email and a warm email is that you're approaching someone outside of your normal network. In most cases, you won't already have some sort of connection with the recipient. If you have met them before, then you would technically call it a "warm" email instead. Cold emails come in many different forms, depending on exactly what you'd like to accomplish with them. Below, I'll describe three common scenarios: one for B2B businesses, one for startups, and one for journalists.

How do you write a cold email pitch for a media relations purpose?

If you're trying to reach out to a journalist, PR professional, CEO, CMO, etc., you probably want to use a standard format. Here are several examples:

For business executives:

Hi [your name],

[Your company] recently launched our new product/service X, and we thought you might find this interesting. Would love to chat further if possible -- let me know if you have time. Thanks!

Best,

Yours truly,

Or...

Attached herewith please find a PDF document detailing xyz. Please feel free to distribute within your organization.

Thank you so much for your consideration.

Sincerely yours,

And finally, if you're trying to reach out to a reporter, you may wish to follow along with these guidelines:

Hello [name],

Thanks for taking the time to speak with us today. We wanted to provide you with a quick update regarding our latest release. Our team was able to achieve feature Y by working together collaboratively and following a rigorous process of planning and testing. As always, we appreciate your feedback and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Regards,

Company Name

These formats can also apply equally to startup founders, bloggers, CEOs, marketers, and others. If you're interested in learning more about how to compose a successful pitch, check out my guide below.



How do you write a media email pitch?

Media outreach is extremely tricky, especially since everyone wants to sound authentic and genuine. There really isn't a set formula for every type of pitch to a specific outlet, but there are certain things you can include in your message to make sure it stands out among the crowd. Following are a few tips to help you craft a winning pitch:

Don't forget to mention why you reached out. People usually care more about what you say rather than what you look like (unless you're pitching yourself), so make sure you explain why you contacted them specifically. Is it because they wrote something nice about your company? Did you notice an article they liked? Perhaps you were inspired by a tweet? Be honest and upfront about how you found them.

Be brief. Most outlets receive hundreds upon thousands of emails per day. They typically only read the ones that stand out, so don't waste anyone's time. Keep your sentences short and sweet, focusing primarily on the actionable points of your pitch. Don't worry too much about grammar and punctuation, either. Just focus on making it clear what you're asking for.

Make it personal. Everyone loves talking about themselves, so don't hesitate to talk about yourself throughout the pitch. Tell them a little bit about yourself, including anything cool you did last week or your favorite hobby. Letting them know you understand their struggles makes them feel valued, so they'll likely open your email sooner.

Ask for permission. Before hitting Send, double-check to ensure you haven't accidentally included the word "please." When contacting journalists, PR professionals, etc., always ask for approval beforehand. Otherwise, they'll assume you forgot to add that part and delete your entire email.

Here's an example of a pitch for a news story:

Hey Jessica,

We noticed you covered [company name]'s recent launch in your blog post yesterday. My colleague at [another company] had mentioned that he had seen this piece while browsing around, so I thought you might enjoy reading ours.

Our team worked hard to create a solution to address [problem]. By incorporating user research into our development strategy, we were able to produce an innovative product that [customer uses].

Would you mind checking out our website? We'd love to hear your thoughts. Thank you so much!

Best,

Joe Shmoe

Now that you have a solid idea of what to put in your email, go ahead and start sending those pitches out! And remember, persistence pays off: sometimes you have to keep going until you actually land a reply. Good luck!

How do you pitch to media relations?

Pitching to media relations is slightly different from pitching to general contacts. Instead of looking for articles about your company, you're hoping to secure interviews and cover stories. While both situations require similar strategies, there are a couple major differences. First, you'll need to submit your requests early enough to beat out other companies' submissions. Second, you'll need to follow up after the interview, ensuring you stay top of mind.

To avoid missing deadlines completely, prepare far in advance. Consider submitting your request as soon as you discover the publication's deadline, and follow up several days later to confirm receipt and discuss details. Make sure to attach relevant documents to support your claims, such as screenshots or photos. Finally, don't forget to thank the editor or writer who took the time to listen to your pitch. Doing so shows that you respect their opinion and value their input.

When writing an email marketing campaign, there are many different things to consider. You have to think of the right time and place to send out your messages to maximize their impact on your target audience. The same goes for sending personalized pitches to new potential clients or partners. If you want to increase your chances of getting a response from someone, be sure that every component of your email has been thought through carefully.

In this article we’ll take a look at some tips for crafting a good cold email pitch so that you can land more meetings with prospects. When it comes down to it, though, what makes a great pitch isn't just its content -- it's also the way that you deliver that content.

Keep reading to learn our top tips for writing effective cold emails!

How do you start a PR pitch email?

Your first step should always be asking yourself whether you need to send a pitch before you even begin drafting one. It depends entirely upon who you're targeting and why they'd be interested enough to read your email. Are you pitching a company whose products work well together, perhaps? Or might you be trying to promote a new event? Either way, once you've decided where you'll send your initial email, you'll find that all subsequent drafts will flow much easier if you keep in mind certain guidelines.

Be brief but not too short. Don't bombard people with information that doesn't actually matter to them. This may sound obvious, but you might forget this rule after seeing other companies' email campaigns. Take a lesson from those examples and try to limit your subject line to only three words (and no longer than five). Also, don't use any unnecessary punctuation marks such as commas or periods. Keep it simple and direct, like "We'll be hosting a special press conference next week." That said, you could still add something personal by including links to recent news stories and upcoming events.

Don't overuse emojis. Emoji usage is becoming increasingly popular among marketers, especially because they allow users to express themselves without having to type actual text. But while emoji definitely adds a bit of personality to a message, using too many of them in your pitch can feel forced and weirdly impersonal. Stick to two or three at most, and avoid using them within the body of your email itself.

Always include a call-to-action. Whether you're promoting a sale or simply requesting feedback, the last thing you want to do is leave readers confused as to exactly what they're supposed to do next. Make it easy for recipients to know what action to take by adding a clear CTA button near the bottom of your email that leads directly back into your sales funnel. For instance, a newsletter signup page would probably contain a link to a landing page full of product details.

If you're looking to build rapport with a prospective client, then it's important to establish trust and open up lines of communication early on. A good starting point here is to include a "warm" introduction in your email. In other words, introduce yourself and tell them a little bit about yourself, your business, and/or your role at the organization. Not everyone wants to be sold to, and being genuine is essential in establishing a strong connection. You can say something along the lines of "I'm excited to hear about [your project] since I was involved with similar projects in [previous jobs]." Then, continue building relationships further by following up with another email containing relevant data.

This approach sets you apart from others who may offer generic introductions, leaving the recipient unsure of their intentions. By taking the initiative to reach out personally, you give off the impression that you care about connecting with them personally.

What's a cold pitch?

Cold pitches happen whenever you contact someone who hasn't previously agreed to receive communications from you. Cold emails are typically sent to people who already know you exist, but haven't reached out to you yet. They're often used to initiate professional connections between businesses and individuals. As such, they require a lot less effort than traditional networking approaches.

There are lots of ways to go about creating a cold pitch, depending on which industry you belong to and who you're contacting. However, regardless of the method, each must adhere to six basic rules. These are:

1) Be specific. Your goal is to identify one particular person rather than a group of people. Otherwise, you risk opening yourself up to spam filters and making it harder for anyone to respond to your email.

2) Include a compelling headline. People tend to skim headlines quickly, so you shouldn't waste valuable space describing everything that follows. Instead, focus on selling your story in the first few sentences.

3) Personalize your email. Your title needs to showcase your name, and you should never assume that your reader knows who you are. Try to include details that will help your prospect remember you later, such as your company name or location.

4) Use a conversational tone. While you won't necessarily talk face-to-face with someone you're reaching out to via email, you should aim to convey the feeling that you're talking with a friend instead of a stranger.

5) Answer questions honestly. Never lie or misrepresent anything about your company or services. Doing so could lead to legal problems or hurt your reputation.

6) Always end with a question. At the very least, you should ask if they received your message. Even better, you can follow up with additional questions or requests based on whatever answer they provide.

How do you make a cold pitch?

Before you hit Send, it pays to check that your email looks polished and professionally written. After all, how else will your recipient recognize your brand and decide whether they wish to engage with you? Here's how to ensure that your email reads well across platforms.

Use headers properly. Headers consist of metadata that identifies the sender, date, and file format. They're designed to display above the main body of your email, so they should appear bolded and separated from the rest of the content.

Check spelling and grammar. No matter how hard you try, typos and grammatical errors will inevitably creep into your work. To prevent this, run your draft through Grammarly.com or WordReference.com beforehand. Both tools will highlight mistakes automatically, saving you from embarrassing blunders.

Make sure your design fits your branding. Many companies use templates as part of their workflow, but it's worth remembering that each piece of copy should reflect your own style. If you plan to use a theme, however, stick to one consistent color scheme throughout the entire email.

Avoid common pitfalls. There are several phrases commonly found in bad cold emails that you should steer clear of at all costs. These include:

1) "Hi!" - Avoid saying hi unless you really mean it. Most people aren't going to reply to a greeting anyway, so it's pointless to try to impress them with your enthusiasm. Focus on providing value instead.

2) "Thanks…" - Just say thanks. Sure, you may appreciate hearing nice things about yourself, but most customers won't be moved by empty flattery. Besides, it's rude to force someone to listen to you drone on when they clearly have nothing to say back.

3) "Please…," "Thank you…" - Stop using please and thank you altogether. Unless you're specifically addressing a request for assistance, you should omit both phrases completely.

4) "You're welcome…" - Say goodbye to this phrase forever. It sounds condescending and implies that the person you're speaking with owes you something. Plus, you should never imply that you accept unsolicited criticism.

5) "Let me…" - Letting people finish their thoughts shows respect and encourages engagement. Otherwise, it feels like you're interrupting them.

6) "Here's what…." - Saying what you're offering upfront is a major turnoff. Nobody likes to be pressured to buy something. Instead, let your reader choose when they want to move forward with buying your service.

7) "I hope..." - It takes a lot of courage to share your feelings, so save this phrase for situations where you genuinely believe it applies. If you're merely repeating what somebody else told you, then just say "thank you".

Why is it called a cold email?

The term 'cold' refers to the fact that you're not expecting a warm reception from whoever receives your email. This means that you shouldn't expect a quick response. And although you'll certainly encounter resistance, there's no reason to worry about it. Allowing yourself to be deterred by setbacks is a big mistake in terms of business development.

As long as you remain calm and focused, it's possible to overcome any obstacles thrown your way. So, if you ever find yourself worrying about rejection, make sure that you're keeping track of your progress toward achieving your goals. Once you see steady growth happening month after month, you'll finally realize that failure is inevitable.

If you're looking to sell something or make an introduction then the first thing you need to know is how to write a cold email. It's one of those things that we all have experience with but there are some key differences between selling to friends and strangers.

Cold pitches can be intimidating if you've never done them before so here are six tips on what makes up a good cold email pitch.

The most important part of any sales process is knowing how to write a cold email pitch. There are many ways to go about this, from sending out generic mass mailers to using LinkedIn to contact people directly. The right approach depends entirely on who you want to reach, whether it's a friend or someone at work.

Here are some examples of cold email templates you could use to try and land yourself a new client. We'll start by explaining how they differ from more standard "warm" approaches like cold calling and follow-up emails. Then we'll look into the details, including how you should compose a cold email pitch based on its target audience. Finally, we'll run through the steps required to send a cold email successfully.

How do you email Cold pitch?

When you're trying to sell yourself or find clients online, writing a cold email pitch isn't just about what you say -- it also needs to include all the other components needed for a successful sale. Here's what you need to consider:

Who will receive the email?  There is no point in emailing a potential customer unless you already know their name. You don't even really need to know anything else about them beyond whether they're interested in buying whatever it is you're offering. Just assume that every person reading your message has bought something similar in the past, which means they're likely to buy yours too (if not immediately, hopefully).

You may have heard of the term B2B lead generation marketing, where companies create content specifically designed to attract business buyers. This kind of direct mailing or email campaign is commonly used for generating leads because it allows marketers to connect with prospects without having to rely on personal relationships. While this method requires much less effort than traditional networking events, it still takes time and resources to generate results.

So, what does that mean for you? If you're planning to cold call anyone, then think twice. Instead, focus on creating targeted messages that appeal to specific audiences. For instance, instead of targeting everybody in a particular industry, choose to tailor each individual message to the exact group of consumers who would benefit from purchasing your product. This way you're more likely to get a response rather than wasting your own time. You can always expand your efforts later on once you've built rapport with a prospect.

Remember, cold email campaigns aren't effective if you only talk about yourself. People won’t care about your story until after they decide to take action. Your goal shouldn't be to convince them to hire you now, but to show why hiring you might actually help them. Once you demonstrate value to customers, they'll naturally begin asking questions about what exactly you offer and why your service/product is better than others'.

What is warm pitching?

Sometimes called “welcome emails,” warm pitches are usually sent out as soon as a prospective buyer decides to sign up for your services. These kinds of emails tend to feature testimonials and pictures showcasing the quality of your products. They can also contain links to social media profiles and other pages related to your brand. Warm pitches often ask users to share their feedback about the product, in order to increase awareness and encourage future purchases.

Warm pitches are great for building trust among potential customers, especially if you're starting off with a small number of subscribers and followers. But remember, they're different from cold pitches. A warm pitch doesn't require you to introduce yourself and provide background information on your business. Instead, it lets your viewers learn everything they need to know about your product or service while letting you build credibility over time.

In fact, your warm pitch should almost read like a press release. Make sure you highlight all the reasons people should purchase your product, and avoid making promises that might turn off potential buyers.



How do I calculate cold pitch to a company?

Assuming you have the correct qualifications, you can apply to jobs anywhere in the world. However, finding employment opportunities that match your skillset can sometimes prove difficult, especially if you live outside major cities or in remote areas. That said, there are plenty of ways to boost your chances of landing a dream job. One of the easiest methods is to search for openings listed on websites like Glassdoor, Indeed and Monster.com. Simply enter a keyword relating to your field and see what comes up!

If that doesn't yield enough results, you can check out sites such as LeastCrowdedJobs, CareerBuilder or Jobscanner. Each offers free access to thousands of listings, allowing you to browse hundreds of positions within seconds. Some sites allow you to filter your searches by location, salary range and open dates. To save time, you can also download apps like Jobstoday, Careercity, Jobsinbox and Workopolis. All of these tools let you quickly scan multiple job boards at once, saving you hours of searching.

It's worth noting that some employers prefer candidates to submit resumes via applications, which is fine if you're applying for a position that requires specialized training or education. Other times, however, it's advisable to craft a tailored cover letter and attach it alongside your resume. In this case, it's best to stick to the tried-and-true format of an email.

As mentioned earlier, the key difference between cold calls and cold emails is that the former involves meeting face-to-face. Even though many people feel uncomfortable approaching complete strangers, cold emailing is generally considered to be a safer option. That being said, it's important to keep both types of outreach professional throughout the entire process. Asking for permission to follow up, for instance, is crucial.

How do you pitch a freelancer?

Freelancers typically deal with lots of rejection, since they rarely have connections to influential decision makers. When it comes down to it, freelancing is hard work. Therefore, it helps to treat it as a full-time career with regular paychecks, benefits and vacations. By following these guidelines, you can improve your odds of getting hired by becoming a reliable source of income.

First, set clear goals for yourself. What type of projects do you want to undertake? How long are you willing to work per week? Can you handle working overtime? Knowing these answers ahead of time will give you a clearer picture of what you're capable of doing.

Next, research the market thoroughly. Find out what similar freelance professionals charge for comparable tasks. Keep track of rates for various industries, skill levels and locations. Take note of the highest paying ones, and aim to beat them wherever possible. Of course, you should factor in additional costs for equipment, travel expenses, taxes and insurance.

Once you've found the ideal rate for your services, negotiate accordingly. Don't agree to terms that exceed what others command. Also, make sure you mention payment deadlines and expected delivery times upfront. Otherwise, clients may end up waiting forever for a finished project. And finally, ensure that you can deliver on schedule.

Don't forget to add a few extra perks to sweeten the pot. Offer discounts, freebies or gifts as incentives to secure repeat business. Consider giving away free copies of your portfolio, samples of previous works or digital files of completed assignments.

Finally, stay positive and enthusiastic during conversations. Always remain friendly and polite, and don't hesitate to compliment clients whenever appropriate. Most importantly, remember that freelancing is a relationship business. Treat everyone you meet as your equal, regardless of title or status. You wouldn't expect a colleague to refer you to another coworker, yet you'd hope for the same courtesy back. So don't leave anyone hanging.

This guide covers three essential aspects of crafting a winning cold email pitch: Who will receive it, what it contains and how to customize it according to your target audience. Now that you understand how to write a cold email pitch, it's time to put it into practice.


Author

Anyleads

San Francisco

We are the leading marketing automation platform serving more than 100,000 businesses daily. We operate in 3 countries, based in San Francisco, New York, Paris & London.

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