How to write cold emails | Steps to writing a perfect cold email | Ankur Warikoo

Summary

In this Varick queue episode, the host emphasizes the importance of crafting effective cold emails in a world where social media has democratized access to anyone. By sharing personal experiences and a proven pattern, the host provides a framework for writing compelling subject lines, simple language, and context-specific asks. The key takeaway is that personalized, well-researched emails that resonate with the recipient's context are more likely to elicit a response, setting the sender apart from the masses.

Takeaways

• 📧 The importance of cold emails in today's connected world where you can reach out to anyone, including CEOs and celebrities.
• 🤔 The philosophy that if you don't ask, the answer is always no, which encourages proactive communication.
• 🔍 The significance of a compelling subject line that generates curiosity and increases the chances of the email being opened.
• 👀 The need to keep the language simple and understandable, aiming for clarity even to a 5th standard student.
• 📝 The necessity to establish the purpose of the email quickly and attach the ask or question to it right away.
• 🏷️ The use of a 'headline' at the beginning of the email to catch attention and set the context for the message that follows.
• 🙅‍♂️ Avoiding flattery or excessive praise, which can be off-putting and does not contribute to effective communication.
• 🔗 The importance of tailoring the email to the recipient's context, showing that you've done your research and understand their needs.
• 📈 Matching your offer or request to the recipient's context to create a connection and show that you've put in the effort to understand their business or interests.
• 💡 The power of specificity and directness in an email, making it easy for the recipient to understand what action is needed from them.
• 🚀 The potential impact of well-crafted cold emails, as they can lead to opportunities and collaborations that might not have been possible otherwise.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video script?

The main topic of the video script is about how to write effective cold emails or messages to get a response from recipients, particularly when there is no existing connection or network.

What philosophy does the speaker live by regarding cold emailing?

The speaker lives by the philosophy that 'if you don't ask, the answer is always no,' and applies this philosophy by sending cold emails to people outside of their reach every day.

Why is the subject line of a cold email important?

The subject line is important because it determines whether the email or message will be opened in the first place. It should generate curiosity and stand out among other emails.

Can you give an example of an effective subject line mentioned in the script?

An example of an effective subject line mentioned is 'You have no idea how I got to know about you,' which is intended to capture the recipient's curiosity.

What is the recommended language level for writing a cold email according to the script?

The recommended language level for writing a cold email is simple enough for a fifth-standard student to understand, avoiding heavy words and complex language.

Why is it crucial to establish the purpose of the email at the beginning?

It is crucial to establish the purpose of the email at the beginning because the recipient is likely busy and may not have the time or patience to read through lengthy emails. A clear purpose helps the recipient understand the reason for the email right away.

What is the significance of a 'headline' in the context of a cold email?

A 'headline' in a cold email is significant because it should catch the recipient's attention, make sense, and be relevant to the content of the email, similar to the headline of a newspaper article.

Why is it important to get a reply, even if it's a 'no', when sending cold emails?

Getting a reply, even a 'no', is important because it provides closure, allowing the sender to know how much more time and effort to invest in that particular email and to move on if necessary.

What is the role of 'context' in writing an effective cold email?

The role of 'context' is to show that the sender has done their research about the recipient and their interests, and to match the sender's offer or request to the recipient's context, which can help form a connection and make the email more compelling.

Can you provide an example from the script where context was effectively used in a cold email?

An example from the script is when a web designer noticed that the speaker's personal website had not been updated since 2008 and offered to help refresh it, showing an understanding of the speaker's context and needs.

What is the speaker's final advice on writing cold emails?

The speaker's final advice is to put in the hard work to write an effective subject line, keep the email simple, be specific about the ask, and explain the context and where the sender is coming from, which can make the email stand out and be more effective.

Outlines

00:00

📧 Mastering the Art of Cold Emails

This paragraph discusses the importance of cold emailing in today's connected world and the speaker's philosophy of proactive outreach. The speaker emphasizes the significance of the subject line in capturing the recipient's attention and shares personal experiences of reaching out to influential figures, including tech founders. The key takeaway is that a well-crafted subject line can make a substantial difference in whether an email is opened and responded to, with examples provided to illustrate effective subject lines that generate curiosity.

05:01

🔍 Simplicity and Clarity in Email Communication

The speaker stresses the importance of keeping the language in cold emails simple and comprehensible, suggesting that the content should be understandable to a fifth-grader. They argue against using complex vocabulary to impress the recipient and instead advocate for the power of clear, straightforward messaging. The paragraph also highlights the necessity of quickly establishing the purpose of the email and attaching a clear ask or question to it, as busy recipients may not have the time or patience to decipher lengthy or convoluted messages. The use of a 'headline' approach is introduced as an effective way to structure the email for quick understanding.

10:03

🤝 Personalizing Cold Emails for Better Engagement

This section focuses on the importance of personalization and context in cold emails. The speaker advises against generic requests and emphasizes the need to tailor the message to the recipient's specific situation. They suggest conducting thorough research to understand the recipient's business or interests and aligning the ask with that context. The speaker shares an example of an email that stood out due to its personalized approach and resulted in a successful collaboration, illustrating the power of context in effective communication.

15:06

💼 The Impact of Effort in Cold Email Success

The final paragraph reinforces the idea that putting in the effort to write effective cold emails can lead to success. The speaker contrasts the effectiveness of a well-researched, contextually relevant email with the common practice of sending generic messages. They share a personal anecdote about receiving an email that caught their attention due to its specificity and relevance, leading to a decision to collaborate with the sender. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for viewers to share their experiences with cold emails and a reminder of the benefits of subscribing to the channel for updates.

Keywords

💡Cold Emails

Cold emails refer to unsolicited messages sent to individuals or entities with whom the sender has no prior relationship. In the context of the video, cold emails are a critical tool for initiating contact with influential figures or potential business partners. The video emphasizes the importance of crafting these emails to stand out and elicit a response, as exemplified by the speaker's own experiences reaching out to tech founders and CEOs.

💡Social Media

Social media is a collective term for websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or participate in social networking. The video discusses how social media has democratized access to individuals, allowing anyone to potentially connect with celebrities, CEOs, and other influential figures through cold messaging.

💡Subject Line

The subject line in an email serves as the first point of contact, determining whether the recipient will open the message. The video stresses the importance of creating a compelling subject line that generates curiosity. An example given is 'You have no idea how I got to know about you,' which is designed to pique interest and prompt the recipient to open the email.

💡Curiosity

Curiosity is the desire to know or learn something new. It is a key concept in the video, as the speaker advises using the subject line to incite curiosity in the recipient, thereby increasing the likelihood of the email being opened and read. The video provides examples of subject lines that are intended to be intriguing and different from typical messages.

💡Language Simplicity

Language simplicity refers to the use of clear, straightforward language that is easily understood. The video emphasizes the importance of keeping the language in cold emails simple, suggesting that the email should be understandable to a fifth-grade student. This approach ensures that the message is accessible and not obscured by complex vocabulary or jargon.

💡Email Purpose

The purpose of an email is the reason for which it is written. The video advises that the purpose should be clearly stated at the beginning of the email, ideally alongside the specific ask or question. This approach is intended to quickly inform the recipient of the email's intent, which is particularly important when contacting busy individuals.

💡Headline

In the context of the video, a headline in an email serves a similar function to a newspaper headline, capturing the reader's attention and summarizing the main point. The speaker suggests using a headline to succinctly convey the email's objective and request, making it easier for the recipient to grasp the key message at a glance.

💡Context

Context refers to the background or environment in which something occurs. The video highlights the importance of understanding and applying the context of the recipient's situation when writing a cold email. By demonstrating knowledge of the recipient's business or interests, the sender can make a more personalized and relevant pitch, increasing the chances of a positive response.

💡Personalization

Personalization involves tailoring communication to the specific interests or characteristics of the recipient. The video illustrates the effectiveness of personalization through an example where a web designer references the outdated nature of the speaker's website and offers to update it, demonstrating an understanding of the speaker's needs and offering a relevant solution.

💡Closure

Closure, in the context of the video, refers to receiving a response or conclusion to a cold email, whether positive or negative. The speaker argues that a response, even if it's a rejection, is valuable because it provides clarity and allows the sender to move on or take further action, rather than waiting indefinitely for a reply.

Highlights

The importance of cold emailing in today's connected world and the philosophy that asking is essential to avoid a 'no' response.

The speaker's personal experience of cold emailing tech founders and learning from their responses.

The significance of the subject line in generating curiosity and ensuring the email is opened.

An example of a compelling subject line: 'You have no idea how I got to know about you'.

The value of simplicity in language to ensure understanding by a wide audience.

The necessity of establishing the purpose and ask at the beginning of the email for clarity and efficiency.

Using a 'headline' approach to catch attention and convey the main point succinctly.

Avoiding generic praise and focusing on specific asks to increase the likelihood of a response.

The importance of context in making a connection and showing relevance to the recipient's interests or work.

An example of a successful cold email that identified a need and offered a solution relevant to the recipient's context.

The power of doing the hard work to research and understand the recipient's context before sending an email.

The strategy of getting a response, whether positive or negative, to achieve closure on outreach efforts.

The analogy of sales efficiency in getting a clear 'yes' or 'no' to allocate energy effectively.

The effectiveness of being specific and showing understanding of the recipient's business or values.

An example of a web designer's cold email that stood out by addressing a specific need and offering a tailored solution.

The contrast between the effort put into effective cold emails and the common lack of effort leading to less success.

Encouraging viewers to share their experiences with cold emails in the comments section.

Transcripts

hey everyone today on Varick queue we

will speak about how to write cold

emails or send cold messages to people

with the intention of getting a response

from them it's a big bad world social

media has opened up everything you can

now have access to anyone you want you

can write in to celebrities you can

write in to CEOs you can write in to

founders you can write in to recruiters

and that has also made the art of cold

email or cold messaging that's much more

important I have cold emails so many

people that it is unbelievable I live by

the philosophy that if you don't ask the

answer is always no and I execute on

that philosophy literally every single

day I'm asking something or the other

from individuals who are also honestly

outside of my reach I had I think I have

the dubious distinction of having

written to almost every tech founder

that you can think of in this country

and globally

because there's just so much that I

would want to learn from them and

there's some ones that I have to ask

from them that I just don't hesitate to

write into them and to be honest I have

got responses from quite a few of them

but it's not that everyone's responded

but if I look at what got people to

respond I've seen a pattern when I write

emails to someone that I don't know

someone I'm writing in without any

connection any network whatsoever why do

they respond is almost always because of

something that I've done in that call

email and I just want to share that with

you in the hope that it helps you as

well in the hope that it gives you a

framework to assess how you could be

writing your cold emails and cold

messages from now on number one let's

start with the subject line the subject

line is very important because it

determines whether the email or the

message will be opened in the first

place or not so you possibly can't be

writing our subject line which is like

hey looking for a job

want to pick your brains can I have some

time of yours I love your feedback

that's what everyone will write the key

is to think about what is it that I can

write which just stands out stands out

in a way that could even be if you're

willing to take the risk could even be

on the edge of something you don't want

to do something which is very tricky

risky but you take willing to take the

risk and and that works as well but

subject line definitely has to be

something that generates curiosity and

gets them to open the email or the

message in the first place a good

example of that is an email that I wrote

to a start-up founder in the valley that

is a really big guy I have no

connections whatsoever to him and the

subject line that I chose was you have

no idea how I got to know about you

that's it that was a subject line you

have no idea how to how I got to know

about you now I had a story to share of

how I got to know of him and this was

way back when he was nobody when he was

just starting up and so on and so forth

but I thought that this would be a

subject line that will capture his

curiosity because it's not something

that he most likely gets to receive or

gets to see every day

that's just one example I remember

someone wrote into me

with a subject line saying hey vertical

bracket that is such a cool surname as

simple as that it doesn't have to be

something which is out shattering but I

noticed it because of the simple reason

that this just stands out if I scan

through 200 emails of mine almost every

email has a problem-solution something

something they just stood out it was

something who was he was someone who was

willing to cut through the chase was

willing to be informal and that what got

me to open now once the message has been

opened that's where the

meat and the bulk of the conversation

lies and they're the three things that I

care about and I have seen work number

one keep the language very very simple a

good heuristic a good way to determine

whether you're doing that or not is

imagine someone who's in the fifth

standard to be reading that email and

ask yourself this question will they

understand what this email is all about

so avoid using heavy words it doesn't

matter who you're sending it to

don't use your words to impress someone

don't use the power of your language to

impress someone

use the power of your content the weight

of the message to impress someone so

people make a lot of mistake in writing

these really big words and using all

this nonchalant and so on and so forth

but you have to just keep it very simple

and I don't know where I read it but

there is research backed scientifically

proven methodology that says if you keep

your emails to a level where a 5th class

student can understand that you're on

good ground that's number one number two

the first part of that email itself has

to instantly establish the purpose of

the email with hopefully the ask or the

question attached to it that is a

absolute must and here's why it's quite

likely that you are sending this email

to someone who's busy someone who's

getting a lot of emails someone who does

not have as much time as perhaps you or

anyone else does not go or have the

patience to go through lines and lines

and lines of email and so on so it's

very easy

oh sorry very important that you

establish the reason of why you send

this email in the first place an

approach that I follow is the following

I would say hey uncle I'm writing this

email to establish the context and then

say here is what I want from you and

that's it that's almost always my start

to an

if I do not know the individual or if

it's a very clear request that I want to

ask from the individual and right after

that I will start with what I would call

the headline and I've gotten so used to

it that now I write emails with the word

headline in it

so I'd say hey uncle this is an email to

objective here is what I want from you

what is it that I want and then the next

line would be headline and then I will

give a one piece headline it's almost

like writing a press article it's almost

like writing a newspaper article you

start with a headline and then you give

the content and here's why the headline

has to catch the attention the headline

has to make sense the headline has to be

relevant the headline has to form that

connect and if that do does happen then

it's just brilliant it's just wonderful

it's just very very straightforward give

me an example there's so many emails

that I get on a daily basis which are

all about hey uncle I follow your videos

on LinkedIn or YouTube whatever the

other thing says you're so great you're

such a great motivational speaker you're

such a great entrepreneur you did a

little and they're like two paragraphs

praising me and it's obvious why people

do that it's because someone told them

that if you get people very happy and

very cheerful about themselves then

they're more likely to listen to you

while that's true it doesn't happen in

written communication because time is

lost reading is an effort listening is

not as much listening you have the body

language in front of you you have people

you have their vibrations and all that

here it's just boring text and if it's

boring text even if it's all about

someone praising you at least to me it

doesn't make any difference in fact

bores me I just switch off because like

yeah it's one of those emails and I

don't want to go through it this person

is trying to convince me and to please

me but the fact is that I don't need his

or her judgment of view to make me happy

about myself I am at peace with myself

but there are a few emails which are

like hey I'm cool this email is written

with the objective or trying to see if

there is an end

ship available at nearby or not and I

would love you to go through my profile

and let me know what you think and when

that comes in I know what I have to do I

know whether I have to forward that

email to someone I know whether I have

to reply to that email I know that I

have to reply with a no doesn't work or

I can't help you at that one of time

email I know that I have to archive it I

know what the action is that needs to

happen and here's the kicker you want a

reply you don't necessarily want the yes

coming in you want a reply coming in

because a reply gives you the freedom to

know that you either have to dig deeper

or you have to let go and both of these

are good points to be because when

you're sending out cold email when

you're sending out cold messages it is

critical for you to get closure on them

so that you know how much more do you

have to spend and invest

that's how sales also works in India

most sales people are just so

comfortable with the fact that they're

meeting the client for the eighth time

the 15th time the 20th time it's not a

no it's not a no I don't think that's

the right way to down sales I think most

sales people are super super efficient

at getting a yes and getting a no as

fast as possible that's what they love

because if they get uh no they no you

know what my energy is not gonna go

there

my energy is not going to be wasted on

that account anymore I can come back to

it after six months and whatnot but now

it's not gonna happen I gotta move my

energy somewhere else and if I'm

fighting this battle it's a losing

battle if I were too big that battle

that has a chance of winning

I might just win that that's what

effective individuals effective emailing

individuals also do they would much

rather get sorry can't help you then be

like oh the hope in hell is that uncle

may read that email once and I all have

to do is just keep following at

following your following one doesn't

work so the second thing is start the

email and very quickly it's now

what the objective is and what the ask

is that's very critical very critical

and number three perhaps the most

important also the hardest is if you're

just going to come across as just one of

the dozens thousands and hundreds of

individuals who have the same request

and the same ask and you ask it in the

same manner of course it's not gonna

work because then you're relying on

something very powerfully in your

profile or in the ask that works for you

and very rarely does that happen simple

as an example you're looking for a job

are you looking for an internship you

write in to me and you're like hey this

email is to check whether there are

internship opportunities available at

nearby and I would love you to go

through this profile and let me know if

there is any now if after that the rest

of the email is all about here is what

I've done here's what I'm good at here

is what I feel I would want from the

internship here is what I'm looking for

so on and so forth you lost me

you lost me because I don't care about

what you bring to the table as long as

you don't apply it to my context I don't

care that you're the best data scientist

that there is if you don't apply it to

my context I don't care if you're the

best sales guy in the world if you don't

apply it to my context the context is

very necessary and the context is only

available after deep research if you dig

it and find out what does nearby do what

is uncle barracuda what kind of a hiring

process do they have all of which is

honestly available online and that's

just nearby it may not be for others

which is where you have to dig deep into

people who are working there and you'll

have to find someone and find out what

is it that they do how do they do it

what are the kind of values that they

stand for what's the kind of process

that they follow and then match yourself

with that context match yourself with

that context that's when you strike

strike familiarity that's when you

strike a conversation that's when you

form a connect that is when I am

listening to you because now suddenly

you're doing two things you're telling

me that you've done the hard work

of finding out who I am and what is it

that you have to offer and matched it

and number two I am nodding my head at

whatever you're saying because it is

part of my context it's what I live and

breathe every day I cannot disagree with

that so if someone says hey what I love

about nearby is that it brings all local

businesses together it lists all

restaurants spas and salons and whatnot

on an online platform I am such an

offline retail individual where yes I do

a large part of my shopping online but I

still love going out in malls I still

love going out and eating out I still

love going out and look forward to a

nice spine whatnot and I feel that that

is never going to end in this country I

feel that people will always want to

venture out I feel that there is this so

much offline retail that is going to

happen and continue to happen in this

world that I think you can become a

great business if not today already and

I would love to be a part of this

journey now when you say it like that

I am just nodding and like yep that's

what we think that's what we say that's

what we do and I love the fact that here

are things that you bring to the table

that we can benefit from you've

understood where we are coming from and

yeah and now you know what you want that

is just brilliant I'll give you a simple

example of how it worked three days back

I get an email from someone that I have

only interacted with once and that was

for a completely different purpose and

he's like I noticed your website uncle

very cool calm which is my personal

website and I noticed the fact that it

had been last updated in 2008 which was

12 years back and think it's time for a

refresh don't you think so here are free

websites that I've worked on in the past

for one month or two months I can

remember and I'd love to work with you

on this new website and can we make that

happen

brilliant I love it I love the fact that

someone went through the effort the pain

of finding out shared some examples of

how they're good

me a very pointed specific question and

I just felt myself nodding and guess

what I am working with that individual

to now revamp my website and everything

was right when this video comes out you

would witness the new website which has

not been changed in the last 12 years

and it's amazing how many web designers

have written in to me asking for

projects asking for work asking to be

hired and I never ever for once

considered them as the ones that I could

work with on my website

not even once and this one email just

made it happen nothing else I didn't

check the credentials of the individual

and ask for a resume nothing we're

working and we are exchanging nodes and

we're making it happen and that's the

power of putting in the work you write

an effective subject line you write the

email in a manner that a 5th class

student can read it comprehend it and

understand what it says and then you're

very specific about the ask write on and

then you put in the effort to explain

the context and where you come from that

is the hard work that is how you write

cold emails and now you can imagine if

you are job if your job is to write 20

and 30 of such emails every day imagine

the amount of work that goes in so now

it explains why most people are lazy

about it because it just takes a lot of

effort it just takes a lot to write such

an email for each and every individual

it takes a lot of energy and that's why

you know most people will never do it

and that's why you know that if you were

to do it because instantly stand apart

from the crowd you just instantly make a

dent you just instantly know that this

is going to work because you have done

something that 99% people don't do if

you've gotten cold email ever or if

you've written one that got a response I

would love you to share about that in

the comment section below but until next

week I will see you all with the next

question for what a coup

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