How to Write Cold Emails and DMs That Actually Get Replies
Use this 5-step framework to 10x your replies
Dear subscribers,
A cold email or DM can change your life.
Applying to a job? Get replies from hiring managers.
Looking for advice? Get replies from people you respect.
Building a product? Get replies from potential customers.
But most people don’t know how to write cold emails and DMs.
I know because I get lazy cold outreach daily. In this post, I’ll share:
Why most cold emails and DMs suck
Five steps to craft great cold outreach
Real examples for finding jobs, booking guests, and landing customers
Why most cold emails and DMs suck
Tell me if you’ve received this before:
Looking for job
Hi, I’m interested in company XYZ and would love to understand what it’s like working there. Are you free for a call next week?
Or maybe you‘ve seen this:
Need advice
Hi, I’m switching careers and want to get your thoughts on how to break into product management. Here’s my Calendly: (link)
Or perhaps you’ve seen this:
New AI bot
Hi, I’m working on a new idea to give creators like yourself their own AI bot. I’d love to give you a demo if you’re free. Do you have 15 minutes to chat this week?
When I get messages like these, a few thoughts pop into my head:
Why should I care?
Who are you?
How can you help me?
How can I help quickly?
I’m too busy for this.
Your cold outreach needs to answer these objections in 10 seconds to get a reply.
Five steps to craft a great cold email and DM
Here’s how you can answer these objections:
Why should I care? Create a hook.
Who are you? Show credibility.
How can you help me? Offer value.
How can I help quickly? Make a low-effort ask.
I’m too busy for this. Follow up.
Now let’s look at a cold DM that I received last week from a high school student:
It takes guts to reach out to someone new but this DM is too long with almost no hook, credibility, or value. Also, an “in-person shadow” is the opposite of a low-effort ask.
Here’s how the student might modify his outreach:
This DM would get a 100% response rate from me. Here’s why:
Create a hook: “Roblox creator” — that’s who I’m building for!
Establish credibility: Has game and community experience - seems like a great fit.
Add value. Read my blog and even made a friction log for my product.
Make a low-effort ask. Forward his email to a recruiter takes 2 seconds.
Follow up. If I forget to respond, a simple follow-up message after a day or two will likely seal the deal.
Of course, crafting personalized outreach like this takes work.
But that’s the point — you can 10x your response rate by not being lazy.
Six examples of cold emails and DMs that work
The examples below are from the internet and my own cold outreach.
They fit three categories: Finding jobs, booking guests, and landing customers.