Best Cold Email Templates for B2B Cold Emailing
Best Cold Email Templates for B2B Cold Emailing
Cold emailing remains one of the most powerful—and misunderstood—tools in B2B sales outreach. When done right, cold emailing can generate high-quality conversations, build relationships, and close deals. But poorly executed, it’s spam—and it’ll kill your credibility fast.
In this article, we’ll explore proven cold emailing structures, cold email template examples, best practices, and optimization tips drawn from industry leaders. Let’s dive into what makes a great cold email, key components, and how to personalize cold outreach to turn a prospect into a customer.
What Is Cold Emailing?
A cold email is simply an email sent to someone you haven’t contacted before. Unlike spam, a cold email is targeted, personalized, and respectful, focusing on value and genuine connection rather than volume.
B2B cold emailing targets professionals—often decision-makers—at companies that fit your ideal customer profile (ICP). A strong cold emailing strategy aims to engage the prospect with relevant insights, solve a pain point, or spark curiosity.
Why Use Cold Email Templates in B2B Outreach?
Cold email templates save time: No need to craft every email from scratch—use this template to provide structure.
Ensure consistency: Align messaging across sales teams while allowing personalization.
Improve performance: Refined cold email template structures—A/B tested—outperform ad-hoc cold outreach.
Enable automation: Sequenced email outreach becomes scalable without feeling robotic.
That said, a cold email template should be a framework, not a script. It works best when paired with personalization and relevance.
Anatomy of an Effective Cold Email
Platforms like Close and Mailshake emphasize similar components in a strong cold email:
1. Subject Line
Short & snappy (ideally ≤ 6 words)
Personalized and relevant (mention prospect, mutual connection, or pain point)
Adds urgency or curiosity—make the email subject line count
Great cold email subject lines are critical—your email subject is the first impression.
2. Opening Line
Lead with relevance: mention a trigger event (new fund, launch, hire), mutual contact, or recent success.
3. Pitch with Value
Deliver your value proposition fast. What does your product or service solve? Use metrics, results, or short case studies.
4. Call-to-Action (CTA)
Ask one clear thing: book a call, reply with availability, or read more. Your CTA should be specific and actionable.
5. Closing
Be brief and professional. Consider a P.S. to provide value or offer a next step.
6. Follow-Up Plan
Don’t rely on one cold email. Most prospects won’t reply to the first email—plan 3–5 follow-up emails with varied formats and added value.
Best Practices for B2B Cold Email Campaigns
Do Your Research
Segment your ICP. Research prospects in batches. Good cold emailing starts with understanding your prospect.
Hyper-Personalization
Mention company events like expansions or funding. This grabs attention and shows effort in writing cold emails.
Short & Targeted
Keep your email copy concise—50–125 words is ideal. Use frameworks like PAS or AIDA.
A/B Testing
Always test your subject line, frameworks, and send times. Monitor open and reply rate metrics to improve.
Multi‑Channel Outreach
Layer cold emailing with LinkedIn, calls, and even cold calling. This multi-pronged cold email outreach boosts your open rate and response rate.
Automate Sequences
Use tools like Mailshake, Saleshandy, or Close to automate follow-ups, track engagement, and personalize at scale.
Track Metrics
Benchmark: ~44% open rate, 8.5% response rate, increasing reply rate with good email strategy.
15 High-Converting B2B Cold Email Templates
Here are some of the highest-performing templates drawn from Close, Zendesk, HubSpot, Salesforce, and others.
1. Authentic Referral Template
Subject: [Name], can you help?
Hi [First],
We recently launched [product] at [Your Company] and helped [Client] achieve a [X%] boost in [metric].
Do you handle [function]? If not, could you point me to the right person?
Thanks,
[Name]
2. Authority-Building Referral
Subject: Want [specific metric]?
Hi [First],
We help [Target Company] tackle [pain point]. Companies like [Customer A], [Customer B] saw [X% increase].
Do you have 15 minutes tomorrow to explore how you might see similar outcomes?
Cheers,
[Name]
3. Event Trigger Outreach
Subject: Congrats on [recent event]!
Hi [First],
I saw [Company] recently [funded/hired/launched]. Congrats! With that growth, many companies start focusing on [pain point].
We help optimize [area]—do you have 10 minutes next week to chat?
Best,
[Name]
4. Quick Question
Subject: Quick question
Hi [First],
At [Your Company], we’ve helped [#] firms like [Prospect Company] with [benefit].
Could you point me to the right person to discuss [pain point]?
Thanks,
[Name]
5. PAS Framework
Subject: Scaling [Company] in [time frame]?
Hey [First],
While researching [Company], I noticed your team handles [pain point].
We solve that by [solution]. Interested in a short chat?
Thanks,
[Name]
6. AIDA Pitch
Subject: Tired of [pain point]?
Hey [First],
I came across [Company] and wanted to discuss how [Solution] helps [Team] with [pain point] by [benefit]:
Benefit 1
Benefit 2
Benefit 3
Quick call [day/time]?
7. Manager FWD
Subject: FWD: [Your Company] + [Prospect Company]
Hi [First],
My CEO asked me to reach out about how [Solution] could help [Prospect Company] with [pain point].
Are you free for a 10-minute call?
[Name]
8. Content Value
Subject: Your feature on our blog
Hey [First],
We featured [Prospect Company] in our recent post on [topic]. You’re [doing something uniquely well], and we’d love your input.
Could I send you the draft?
9. CEO Excitement
Subject: My CEO is excited about your growth
Hi [First],
Our CEO noticed [Company]’s [growth metric] and asked me to reach out—wanted to say congrats and explore how we might help scale.
Want 10 minutes to chat?
Cheers,
[Name]
10. Offer 2 Ideas
Subject: Two ideas for [Company]
Hey [First],
We helped [Clients] with [results]. I noticed you [action], and have two suggestions to help with [pain point].
Can I send them over?
11. Trend-Based Outreach
Subject: [Industry] trends and [Company]
Hey [First],
Have you seen shifts in [Trend A], [Trend B], [Trend C]? Our clients have addressed these with [Solution], driving [metric].
Would you like to chat?
Best,
[Name]
12. Award/Funding Pain-Point
Subject: [Company] + [Your Company]: A strong match?
Hi [First],
Congrats on [award/funding]! companies in this stage often need better [area]. We help teams like yours achieve [benefit].
Do you have time next week?
13. Data‑Backed Offer
Subject: [X% result] for [Company] in 15 minutes?
Hi [First],
We helped [Clients] get [metric] results. I’d love to share insights—how does a 15-minute call sound?
Thanks,
[Name]
14. Short & Sweet Pitch
Subject: Why [Your Company]?
Hi [First],
Saw your profile/company and thought [Solution] might help with [pain point].
Would you be open to a quick chat?
Regards,
[Name]
15. Free Trial Follow-Up
Subject: Need help with your trial?
Hi [First],
Noticed you signed up for our trial. Would you like tips on getting started with [feature]? Happy to hop on a quick call.
Best,
[Name]
Strategies for Cold Sales Follow-Up Emails
Your first email rarely closes the deal. Strategic follow-up emails matter.
Sample 5-Step Sequence:
Day 2: A quick reminder referencing your previous email.
Day 4: A shorter/longer rewrite of the cold email—personalize further.
Day 7: Add a resource or mini case study to provide value.
Day 10: Reference a recent event for context.
Day 14: A respectful “breakup” sales email offering to reconnect later.
Alternate channels like LinkedIn or phone boosts response rate and improves your cold emailing ROI.
B2B Cold Email Campaign Best Practices
Segment by Persona
Group prospects by role, industry, or pain point. Your cold email template should match the context.
Dynamic Fields
Use tags like {{FirstName}} or {{Company}} to personalize without sounding robotic.
Research in Batches
Target 10–20 prospects per round. Look for triggers to tailor your cold emailing message.
Use Multi-Channel Outreach
Pair email with LinkedIn or phone. This multiplies your response rate and reply rate.
A/B Test Everything
Try different subject lines, sales email template formats, lengths, and times. Keep your email marketing data-driven.
Leverage Tools
Saleshandy, Hunter, and Close help scale your cold emailing with automation, tracking, and personalization.
Monitor Results
Track opens, clicks, meetings, and conversions. Adjust your cold email campaign based on real data.
SEO-Friendly Tips for Cold Email Copy
Marketers apply SEO best practices to cold emailing just like content:
Your cold email subject should feel like a blog headline
Keep your email scannable with headers, bullet points, and clear structure
Use 1 impactful link—maybe to a product or service or calendar
Watch your grammar—polished email builds trust
End with a strong CTA and always personalize your tone
Closing Thoughts
An effective cold email is part science, part art:
Know your ICP
Use flexible cold email templates
Personalize at scale
Automate and track
A/B test and refine
Deliver a strong value proposition
Cold emailing is not magic—it’s repeatable. With the right structure, messaging, and cold email strategy, your cold email template becomes your most valuable sales tool.
Start your next cold email campaign with confidence. The best cold email might just be the next one you send—and it could get a response from your dream prospect.
Looking to level up your cold emailing? Outreach Ark takes care of everything—from building targeted prospect lists to writing personalized cold email sequences, setting up automation, and boosting your open and reply rates.
Book your free strategy call now.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Cold Emailing
1. What is a cold email?
A cold email is a quick email sent to someone you’ve never contacted before, typically as part of cold sales efforts. Unlike spam, every cold email is targeted and personalized to engage cold prospects and deliver value to a b2b company.
2. What is a cold email template?
A cold email template is a pre-written structure that helps streamline your outreach efforts. When you’ve done your research, use this cold email template to ensure your email content is relevant and impactful, saving time while increasing conversion chances.
3. What are b2b cold email templates?
B2B cold email templates are tailored for professional, outbound b2b sales emails. These templates for effective outreach focus on solving business problems, making a solid impression, and booking meetings with decision-makers.
4. Which cold email templates to generate leads actually work?
We recommend cold email templates to generate responses by using personalization, relevance, and a clear CTA. For example, a cold email template when you’ve identified a specific pain point works best in building trust and securing replies.
5. What are the best cold email templates to get responses?
The best cold email templates are those that balance brevity, personalization, and strong CTAs. Use cold email templates to get responses by following proven frameworks like PAS or AIDA, adapted for your b2b email audience.
6. How do I structure a cold email?
To structure your cold email, begin with a compelling subject line, personalize the opening, include your value proposition in the email body, and close with one clear CTA. The body of the email should focus on one key message and remain under 125 words.
7. How long should my cold email be?
Your email length matters. Keep it between 50–125 words to increase readability and maintain engagement. This helps every email you send to perform better across metrics like open rates and reply rates.
8. Why should I use cold email templates?
You should absolutely use cold email templates—they provide consistency, save time, and improve overall campaign performance. Email templates can make the difference between being ignored and starting real conversations in b2b sales.
9. How do I write a compelling value proposition in my cold email?
When writing a cold email, your email writing should focus on what matters to the prospect. Use relevant metrics, pain points, and benefits to create a great email that highlights what’s in it for them.
10. What’s the best way to follow up on a cold email?
Follow up 2–3 days later with a simple, value-adding message. Each outreach email should feel like part of a thoughtful sequence, not an aggressive push. Use templates for different touchpoints like reminders, case studies, and breakup emails.
11. How many cold emails should I send per prospect?
A good cold email strategy includes 3–5 touchpoints over 10–14 days. Each email you send should be brief, focused, and add value—don’t just copy-paste the same message.
12. What is the best email subject line for cold outreach?
The perfect cold subject line is short, relevant, and curiosity-driven. It should relate directly to the recipient’s role, company, or pain point, increasing the chance they’ll open your email.
13. What is email automation in cold outreach?
Email automation refers to using cold email software to send sequenced emails, track replies, and optimize timing. It allows you to scale outreach without sacrificing personalization—ideal for b2b sales teams.
14. What kind of email templates for b2b should I use?
Use email templates for b2b that are industry-specific, focused on results, and emphasize relevance. Whether you're offering a demo, sharing a case study, or asking for a referral, use our templates to simplify the process.
15. Can I personalize cold email templates at scale?
Yes. With tools and smart segmentation, you can write your email using dynamic fields like {{FirstName}} or {{Company}}. This ensures every email feels personal, even when automated.
16. How do I improve my email efforts over time?
A/B test your subject lines, CTAs, and frameworks. Track metrics like open rate, click-throughs, and replies. Your email efforts should evolve based on data—tweak what’s not working, and double down on what is.
17. What should I include in my cold sales email?
Your cold sales email should include:
A personalized hook
A problem they face
How your solution helps
A clear CTA
These elements make your template work best for busy executives who get dozens of emails daily.
18. What if I’d love to book a meeting—how should I ask?
Simply say: “I’d love to share a few quick ideas—would Tuesday or Thursday work for a 10-minute chat?” A conversational, low-pressure ask often performs best.
19. When should I send a cold email?
The best times to send a cold email are typically mid-week mornings (Tuesday–Thursday). Always test timing and monitor which send windows yield the best engagement for your target audience.
20. Where can I find templates to help me get more responses?
We’ve compiled a list of templates to help you get more replies, ranging from referrals and event-based outreach to trend-driven and case-study emails. These templates are proven to boost conversions in cold outreach campaigns.
