cold-email-copywriting

name	cold-email-copywriting
description	Writes high-converting cold email copy using the 3-line framework, proven subject line patterns, and persona-specific variants. Use when the user asks to write, improve, or critique cold email copy, craft subject lines, personalize outreach at any tier, or apply copywriting frameworks like PAS, BAB, AIDA, or SPARK. Activates on phrases like "write a cold email," "draft outreach," "improve my cold email copy," "subject line help," or "personalize this email."
license	MIT
compatibility	Claude Code, Jesse, Codex, Hermes, Windsurf, OpenCode, Gemini CLI, Copilot, Zed, VS Code, Goose
metadata	{"version":"1.1.0","author":"LeadMagic","category":"outbound","tags":["cold-email","copywriting","subject-lines","personalization","frameworks"],"related_skills":["cold-email-strategy","reply-handling","multi-channel-outreach"],"frameworks":["AIDA","PAS","BAB","SPARK","Cialdini Influence","Becc Holland — Stellar Cold Email","Guillaume Moubeche — Problem-First / CTC","Jordan Crawford — PVP Copy","Pat Spielmann — Hook, Line, & Sinker","Pat Spielmann — Cold to Gold","Pat Spielmann — Research → Angle → Copy","Justin Michael — REPLY Methodology","Justin Michael — Sales Borg Messaging (Tech-Powered Sales)","Eric Nowoslawski — Creative Ideas Campaign","Eric Nowoslawski — Pay-for-Discovery Offer Design","Eric Nowoslawski — AI Specificity Campaign","Leslie Venetz — Problem-Centric Copy Audit (I/we/our → you/them)"]}

Cold Email Copywriting

Overview

Cold email copy that converts is not about being clever. It is about being relevant. The prospect asks two questions in the first two seconds: "Do I know this person?" and "Is this relevant to me?" If the answer to either is no, the email is deleted — regardless of how well the rest is written.

This skill applies proven copywriting frameworks — PAS, BAB, AIDA, SPARK, and the 3-line cold email framework — to produce emails that pass the two-second test. It covers subject line construction, personalization tiers, persona-specific voice variants, and the psychological triggers that drive replies. It draws from Cialdini's principles of influence, Schwartz's awareness levels, Ogilvy's advertising discipline, and Josh Braun's problem-first approach.

The skill produces: complete email copy for each touch in a sequence, with subject lines, body text, and CTAs. Includes variants by persona seniority (VP, Director, Manager, IC) and by personalization tier (T1 merge, T2 segment, T3 per-lead). When given a sequence map from cold-email-strategy, it writes the copy for every touch. When given a single touch, it writes a single email.

The non-obvious rule: the best cold email is one that would work if you sent it to a colleague. It sounds human, it references something specific, it asks a low-friction question, and it never opens with "My name is X and I work at Y."

When to Use

• User says "write a cold email" or "draft outreach to [persona]" → activate this skill
• User says "improve my cold email" or "make this email better" → activate this skill
• User asks for "subject line ideas" or "subject line that gets opens" → activate this skill
• User mentions "personalize this email," "make this T3," or "deep personalization" → activate this skill
• User asks "which framework should I use" or "PAS vs BAB vs AIDA" → activate this skill
• User wants email variants "for VP vs Manager" or "by persona" → activate this skill
• User mentions "Josh Braun style" or "problem-first email" → activate this skill

Do NOT use for:

• Designing the sequence architecture → use cold-email-strategy
• Writing LinkedIn messages or call scripts → use multi-channel-outreach
• Classifying or writing auto-responses to replies → use reply-handling
• Deliverability concerns (SPF, DKIM, warmup) → use email-deliverability

Authoritative Foundations

This skill draws from the following established methodologies:

• Cialdini — Principles of Influence — Six principles applied to email copy: Reciprocity (Touch 4 gives value before asking), Social Proof (Touch 3 uses customer proof), Authority (credible data points), Liking (human voice, not corporate), Scarcity (Touch 6 reframe creates FOMO), Commitment (small CTA in Touch 1 builds toward larger ask). The first touch should use at least one principle; the full sequence should use all six.