cold-email-personalization

# Cold Email Personalization Skill ## When to Use - **Cold Outbound Ideation**: Drafting initial emails and subject lines. - **Personalization**: Mapping research signals to first lines. - **Sequence Building**: Creating follow-up sequences that rotate value propositions. - **QA & Optimization**: Reviewing drafts against a strict rubric before sending. ## Framework 1. **Message Market Fit > Cleverness**: Show you understand the person/company immediately. 2. **Research IS the Personalization**: Custom signals prove you did your homework. 3. **Personalization in the First Line**: Use bracketed variables `{{...}}` or whole-offer strategy. 4. **Tight, Conversational Copy**: Plain text, minimal fluff, 60–120 words. 5. **One Job Per Email**: Single sharp question or CTA. 6. **Earn Replies, Not Just Meetings**: Confirm situation before selling. ### Core Principles - **Targeting > Messaging**: Good targeting with bad messaging wastes qualified prospects. - **Two Paths to Personalization**: Custom Signal Research (Path A) vs. Whole Offer Strategy (Path B). - **The "Specifically" Line**: "Specifically, it looks like you're trying to sell to {{customer_type}}..." ## Templates - **[Research Playbook](assets/research-playbook.md)**: How to find custom signals. - **[Variable Schema](assets/variable-schema.md)**: Standard variables to capture. - **[Email Structure](assets/email-structure.md)**: Subject lines, body copy, and "punchiness". - **[Campaign Types](assets/campaign-types.md)**: Custom Signal, Creative Ideas, Whole Offer, Fallback. - **[Creative Ideas](assets/creative-ideas.md)**: Generating credible ideas for prospects. - **[Follow-Up Strategy](assets/follow-up-strategy.md)**: Sequence logic and value rotation. - **[ICP & Objection Mapping](assets/icp-objection-mapping.md)**: Role-playing the skeptical prospect. - **[QA Checklist](assets/qa-checklist.md)**: Pre-send verification. - **[Scoring Rubric](assets/scoring-rubric.md)**: 0-100 quality score. - **[Examples](assets/examples.md)**: Real campaign examples. ## Tips - **Role-Play First**: Always complete the [ICP & Objection Mapping](assets/icp-objection-mapping.md) before writing. - **Strict QA**: Use the [QA Checklist](assets/qa-checklist.md) to ensure every email meets the 3:1 recipient:sender ratio. - **Fresh Signals**: Only use signals from the last 90 days. - **Don't Hallucinate**: If you can't verify a fact, don't use it.