Cold emails still work, even in 2025, an age where everyone and everything is fighting for your attention.
But the way we write cold emails has changed. From the days of manual research and hand-crafted lines to today’s AI-assisted outreach, the game has shifted.
In this guide, you’ll see how cold email copywriting has evolved and learn 10 proven techniques backed by real examples from our own inbox. Also, prepare for ready-to-use templates straight from our library.
Whether you’re chasing new customers or more deals, these strategies will help you write emails that get opens and replies.
How cold email copywriting has evolved since the introduction of generative AI
If you’ve been in email marketing long enough, you know writing a successful cold email used to be… well, a bit of an art.
You’d research your target audience to dig into their pain points, then maybe even find a mutual connection to mention in your opening lines.
You’d spend 20 minutes making sure your cold email subject line didn’t sound like spam, then another 10 making sure your email body spoke directly to the potential client or customer.
The initial email was your make-or-break moment.
Miss the tone, and it’s straight to the spam folder. Nail it, and you might just earn a reply that leads to a quick call or even a sales call. And don’t forget: writing follow-up emails that actually keep the reader’s attention without sounding desperate? That was another skill in itself.
Before AI
Back then, writing cold emails was slow.
Every message had to be drafted manually. You’d keep company names, job positions, and past success stories in a messy Google Sheets file. Personalization meant real research: checking LinkedIn profiles, maybe even scanning for similar clients you could mention.
The good part? Your emails sounded human. The downside? Scaling your outreach meant sacrificing that personal touch or hiring more people.
After AI
Generative AI changed the pace completely. You can now:
- write cold emails in seconds,
- get five variations of a sales email instantly,
- and auto-insert details like company name or pain point for each prospect.
AI can suggest multiple cold email subject lines adjusted to your tone and your target market, or create personalized emails for different industries. It’s also easier to test what works: change the sign-off, swap the CTA, or tweak follow-up emails until you see a better response rate.
But here’s the thing: speed doesn’t always mean better.
AI can produce generic email writing that feels templated. If your initial cold email reads like it was made in bulk, your prospects’ inboxes will treat it like bulk. Ignored or deleted. Worse, you can end up with irrelevant references that lower trust.
Generative AI is a tool. The copywriting skills are still yours. Let’s boost these skills, then.
Check this out: which AI tools write the best cold emails?
Top 10 cold email copywriting tips
These tips come from a deep, in-depth look at the four best cold emails our team at Woodpecker has ever seen, including personal favorites from our CEO and CMO. Check out part 1 and part 2 to see the full emails behind these lessons.
#1 Hook them with relevance, not hype
Your subject line and first line should make the right person feel, “this is about me.” Use a recent achievement or a mutual connection to get the prospect’s attention from the start. Skip the hard sell, you’ll get more deals when your opener feels personal.
Example:
- Subject: “Saw your interview on HubSpot Podcast – loved your take on B2B funnels”
- First line: “Congrats on hitting $2M ARR last quarter – that case study you shared on LinkedIn really caught my eye.”
#2 State your purpose early
In cold outreach emails, the reader shouldn’t have to dig to find your point. Share your compelling reason for writing in the first 2–3 sentences. That sets clear expectations and shows you’ve done your homework.
Example:
- “I’m reaching out because we’ve helped 14 SaaS companies cut onboarding time by 37% – I think we can do the same for {{COMPANY}}.”
#3 Show you understand the reader’s problems
The fastest way to boost engagement is to make the email about them, not you. Reference their business goals or a challenge they’ve shared publicly. If you run SaaS outreach, call out the exact reader’s problems your tool solves with relevant information, not generic claims.
Example:
- “You mentioned on LinkedIn that your reps lose hours each week cleaning lead lists. Our tool auto-verifies contacts in under 60 seconds, so your team can spend more time closing.”
#4 Offer value before asking for anything
Every value proposition needs to answer “what’s in it for me?” for the reader. That could be an in-depth resource or insight into how a similar company got more customers or more money using your solution.
Example:
- “Here’s a 2-page breakdown of how {{SIMILAR_COMPANY}} cut churn by 18% in 90 days using our approach. If it’s helpful, happy to walk you through the parts that might apply to {{COMPANY}}.”
#5 Keep the body copy focused and easy to scan
The body copy should follow a clear path: hook → relevance → value proposition → next step. Use short paragraphs or light bullets. If you mention results, tie them to a specific metric that matters to the prospect.
Example:
- Hook: “Your blog post on customer onboarding was spot on.”
- Relevance: “We’ve worked with 3 SaaS teams facing the same drop-off after day 7.”
- Value: “Our playbook bumped day-30 retention by 22%.”
- Next step: “Want me to send you the framework?”
#6 Make replying effortless
Your CTA shouldn’t demand too much too soon. Instead of asking for a full demo right away, invite them for a quick chat. The lower the friction, the higher the chance they’ll say yes (which means more chances to close deals).
Example:
- “Would it make sense to set up a 7-minute quick chat so I can see if this fits your business goals?”
#7 Borrow credibility from others
Name-drop a similar company you’ve helped, especially if it’s in their market. It shows proof that your approach works and can help increase sales. In B2B, seeing you’ve worked with other SaaS companies has the potential to build trust faster.
Example:
- “We helped {{SIMILAR_COMPANY}} increase inbound demos by 42% in 60 days – I think {{COMPANY}} could see similar results.”
#8 Personalize beyond the name
Real personalization goes deeper than “Hi {FirstName}.” Pull in details from their recent post, a specific metric from their website, or even a quote they’ve shared. It proves you’re not recycling the same email sequences and that you’ve thought about their business goals.
Example:
- “Saw your post on scaling outbound without losing quality – your comment about SDR burnout resonated. We tackled the same issue at {{SIMILAR_COMPANY}} by automating lead scoring.”
Check this out: how personalization affects cold email deliverability
#9 Test different templates and track results
Even the best email software can’t guess the perfect approach for every audience. Try different templates and subject line angles. Measure replies and meetings booked to see what works.
Example:
- Two subject lines (“Congrats on your Series A” vs. “Idea for improving {{SPECIFIC METRIC}}”)
- Two CTAs (“Want me to send details?” vs. “Is this worth a quick chat?”)
Check this out: how to carry out an A/B test?
#10 Play the long game with sequences
Don’t rely on one email blast to do all the work.
Use thoughtful email sequences to follow up with more context or a short success story. Each step should keep the prospect’s attention and move them closer to becoming a customer, not just push for the sale.
Example:
- Email 1: Personal opener + relevant problem
- Email 2: Short success story with specific metric
- Email 3: Quick tip or link to a resource
- Email 4: Light “still interested?” nudge
Check this out: the best sales email sequences that get replies
5 cold email templates you can use today
These examples come straight from our own Woodpecker cold email template library: proven frameworks you can personalize and send today. They’re built for different scenarios, from cold outreach emails that spark curiosity and follow-ups that get replies, to time-sensitive offers that drive clicks.
You’ll find everything that makes it easy for the right person to take the next step.
#1 Cold outreach without revealing client name – follow up
Subject line: Still looking for a new {{POSITION}} job? Can we talk?
Hi {{FIRST_NAME}},
I haven’t heard from you since my last email, but I’m still interested in speaking to you about any possible interest in a career move.
I am searching for a {{POSITION}} for a well-known company. I can share more information if we can get a chance to connect and talk.
If you are interested in learning more, please let me know when you might have time.
Best Regards,
{{YOUR_FULL_NAME}}
{{YOUR_TITLE/POSITION}}
{{YOUR_COMPANY_NAME}}
{{YOUR_PHONE_NUMBER}}
{{YOUR_COMPANY_WEBSITE}}
#2 Follow up for short mail to gauge interest
Subject line: Interested in a career change? I can help.
Hi {{FIRST_NAME}},
I’m just following up on my previous message since I didn’t hear back from you.
I’m a recruiter at {{COMPANY}}. I’m reaching out because you could be a good fit for a position that one of our clients is trying to fill. It’s for a {{POSITION}} and I would love a chance to share the details with you.
Do you have some time talk about this?
Thanks, {{YOUR_FULL_NAME}}
{{YOUR_TITLE/POSITION}}
{{YOUR_COMPANY_NAME}}
{{YOUR_PHONE_NUMBER}}
{{YOUR_COMPANY_WEBSITE}}
#3 Cold B2B sales outreach email – social proof
Subject line: We helped {{BRAND}} and we can help you too!
Hi {{FIRST_NAME}}, As a {{OCCUPATION/POSITION}} in {{INDUSTRY}}, it’s challenging to deal with {{PAIN_POINT_1}} and {{PAIN_POINT_2}}.
{{COMPANY}} has helped many companies in this field overcome these problems. To take just one example, here’s the story of how we helped {{BRAND}} {{ACCOMPLISHMENT}}. Just click here to read/watch more.
We can do the same for {{PROSPECT}}. If you can find just ten minutes for me this week, I can explain how. When is a good time for you?
Best Regards,
{{YOUR_FULL_NAME}}
{{YOUR_TITLE/POSITION}}
{{YOUR_COMPANY_NAME}}
{{YOUR_PHONE_NUMBER}}
{{YOUR_COMPANY_WEBSITE}}
{{COMPANY_LOGO}}
#4 B2C time-sensitive offer
Subject line: The clock is ticking on this limited offer – don’t miss out!
Hi {{FIRST_NAME}}, I’m reaching out to let you know that one of our best offers of the year is available now but is coming to an end soon.
Here’s what you can get, but only until {{DATE}}: {{OFFER}}. Prices like this won’t last forever, and neither will our inventory…
…so order today! Sign up for the {{BRAND}} newsletter for more news about sales and promotions!
Best Regards,
{{YOUR_FULL_NAME}}
{{YOUR_TITLE/POSITION}}
{{BRAND}}
{{YOUR_PHONE_NUMBER}}
{{YOUR_COMPANY_WEBSITE}}
#5 Cold outreach to prospect on LinkedIn
Subject line: I’m looking for a {{POSITION}} – Want to talk about your future?
Hi {{FIRST_NAME}},
Your LinkedIn profile caught my attention while researching potential candidates for {{POSITION}} at {{COMPANY}}. Your skills and experience at {{PRESENT_COMPANY}} look like a very good match for what we are looking for, and I have sent your info to our hiring manager. We’re impressed with your expertise and think you’d make an excellent addition to {{COMPANY}}.
{{COMPANY}} is a {{COMPANY_DESCRIPTION}}.
I don’t know what your situation is at {{PRESENT_COMPANY}} but I would like to ask for a chance to explain why joining me at {{COMPANY}} is a great move for you. If you’re curious to learn more, when can we set up a call to discuss it?
Best Regards,
{{YOUR_FULL_NAME}}
{{YOUR_TITLE/POSITION}}
{{YOUR_COMPANY_NAME}}
{{YOUR_PHONE_NUMBER}}
{{YOUR_COMPANY_WEBSITE}}
Your cold email campaign is ready – what’s next?
Hitting “send” isn’t the finish line. It’s where the real work starts. To get replies and new business, you must track and optimize every aspect of your outreach. This is where Woodpecker takes over.
- Keep your emails out of the spam folder
Your campaign won’t get results if prospects never see it. Woodpecker combines free email verification, warm-up, deliverability monitoring, and adaptive sending to keep your messages in the inbox. You’ll avoid sending to invalid addresses and build your sender reputation automatically.
- Monitor performance in real time
You’ll see opens, clicks, and replies as they happen. If a sequence isn’t getting responses, no problem. Pause it to tweak the subject line and adjust your body copy. Then – restart. All inside Woodpecker. No switching tools.
- Test and iterate
Set up A/B tests for subject lines or entire email sequences. Woodpecker automatically rotates and measures them so you can spot what drives more replies and more deals.
- Scale without losing personalization
Add LinkedIn invites or messages to your email sequences to keep the conversation going across channels. Woodpecker’s inbox rotation and condition-based campaigns make it possible to handle high-volume outreach while still sounding one-to-one.
- Manage all campaigns from one place
If you run multiple campaigns or manage outreach for clients, the agency panel keeps everything organized. Switch between projects and apply winning tactics across accounts.
With Woodpecker, your post-send process is as important as your first draft. You’ll not only send better cold outreach emails but also keep improving them until they bring in more customers and money.
Start your free 7-day trial and see how Woodpecker can help your next campaign perform from send to close.