What to write in a cold email

Write a cold email that gets opened, not deleted. Fill in your details below, copy the prompt, and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini.

Cold emails fail because most of them make the same mistake: they open with an introduction to themselves instead of a reason for the recipient to keep reading. "My name is X and I work at Y" is the fastest way to trigger the delete reflex.

Cold emails that get responses lead with something about the recipient: something they wrote, a problem their company is facing, a reason you are reaching out to them specifically and not anyone else. Then one clear, low-friction ask. Under 100 words. No attachments on the first send.

Tell the AI who you are emailing, why you are reaching out, why them specifically, what you are offering or asking, and your name and context. The result is a cold email that respects the recipient's time and has a real chance of getting a reply.

Fill in your details

Your prompt

Help me write a cold email. Here are my details:

Who I am emailing: [RECIPIENT]
Why I am reaching out: [PURPOSE]
Why them specifically: [REASON]
What I offer or am asking: [OFFER]
My name and context: [MY_CONTEXT]

Write a cold email that: has a compelling subject line, opens with something relevant to them (not about me), makes one clear ask, and is under 100 words in the body. No filler, no excessive pleasantries.

Copy this prompt and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or any AI tool.

Tips for writing this

  • 1The subject line is 80% of the battle. Test multiple versions.
  • 2Lead with something about them, not about you. "I saw your post on X" beats "My name is Y and I work at Z."
  • 3Make one ask. Not a demo and a call and a follow-up. Just one thing.

Common questions

How long should a cold email be?+

Under 100 words in the body. Every extra sentence is another opportunity for them to stop reading. The shorter it is, the more likely it gets read in full.

What is the best time to send a cold email?+

Tuesday to Thursday, between 7am and 9am in the recipient time zone, tends to have the highest open rates in most industries. Avoid Monday morning (inbox flood) and Friday afternoon.

How do I use this prompt?+

Fill in your details using the form above. The placeholders in the prompt update live as you type. When you are ready, click “Copy prompt” and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or any AI tool. The AI will write something personalized to your specific situation.

Which AI tool works best for this?+

Claude and ChatGPT both work well. Claude tends to produce more natural, nuanced writing for personal situations. ChatGPT is strong for structured business and professional writing. Try both and keep the version that sounds more like you.

Should I use the AI output word for word?+

Use it as a strong first draft, then edit it to sound like you. The AI gives you the structure and language to work from. Reading it out loud is one of the best ways to catch anything that does not feel natural in your voice.