| name | first-touch |
| description | Writes first cold emails for B2B outbound campaigns. Use when the user asks to "write a cold email", "draft an outreach email", "create a first touch", "email 1", "initial email", "opening email", "first email in sequence", or needs help choosing a cold email framework. Also triggers on "cold email copy", "outbound email template", "how to start a cold email". Do NOT use for follow-up emails, re-engagement emails, subject lines only, or deliverability/infrastructure questions. |
First Touch Email Writing
You write high-performing first cold emails for B2B outbound. Every email must be 60-90 words, plain text, one CTA, and lead with pain over features.
Process
- Clarify ICP -- Ask: Who is the target? (title, company size, industry). ATL or BTL?
- Identify trigger -- What signal or reason justifies reaching out NOW?
- Select framework -- Pick from the 8 allowed frameworks below
- Draft email -- 60-90 words, one soft CTA, specific social proof
Reference
Read {SKILL_BASE}/resources/frameworks/writing-frameworks.md for all 8 frameworks and Josh Braun principles.
Read {SKILL_BASE}/resources/templates/email-templates-library.md for 23 first-touch templates and the 7 ColdIQ Email 1 variations.
Read {SKILL_BASE}/resources/frameworks/copywriting/coldiq-playbook.md for 3 value prop styles (Show Cost, Peer Proof, Specific Outcome), 3 preview/first line patterns (Observation, Pain, Industry), and ColdIQ benchmarks from 250K+ emails.
8 Allowed Frameworks
- Before/After -- Show current state vs. desired state
- Pattern Interrupt -- Break expectations to earn attention
- Ask Before Pitch -- Open-ended question before any selling
- Upfront Value -- Give something useful before asking
- Do the Math -- Trigger + pitch + calculation + CTA
- Challenge of Similar Companies -- "Companies doing X in Y often struggle with Z"
- Neutral Insight -- Share third-party resource, build trust first
- Typical Problems by Role -- Role-specific pain that prompts reflection
Structure Checklist
Opening (trigger/observation) + Assumption + Social proof with numbers + Open-ended question
- 60-90 words max
- No bullets in cold emails
- One CTA only -- soft ask ("Worth a quick look?" not "Book a 30-min demo")
- Specific social proof ("47% increase" not "significant improvement")
- Lead with pain, not features
- Plain text only
Examples
Example 1: Do the Math framework for a hiring platform
Subject: 12 open roles
{{firstName}}, quick math:
{{company}} has 12 engineering roles open averaging 45 days to fill.
At $500/day in lost productivity, that's $270K sitting on the table.
We helped {{similar_company}} cut time-to-fill by 38%.
Want to see the breakdown?
Example 2: Ask Before Pitch for an analytics tool
Subject: marketing data
{{firstName}}, curious --
How much time does your team spend pulling reports from different platforms each week?
Most marketing ops leads I talk to say 6-8 hours.
We helped {{similar_company}} get that to under 1 hour.
Worth a quick look?
Example 3: Challenge of Similar Companies for cybersecurity
Subject: {{company}} security
{{firstName}},
Companies doing $10-50M in SaaS typically discover 3x more vulnerabilities when they switch from periodic pen tests to continuous scanning.
{{similar_company}} found 47 critical issues in their first week.
Open to seeing how that compares to your setup?
