🧊 email icebreakers

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Free Resource: Cold Email Cheat Sheet

The email formula reps should memorize

Armand Farrokh breaks down how to write cold emails that solve problems hard, prospects feel like you’ve been spying on their biggest headache:

1. Invert your solution

Stop leading with what you do.

Start with what your prospect hates.

✔ Flip your solution into the ugly task it removes.

Examples:

→ A call recorder isn’t about coaching more. It’s about not listening to 20 calls manually.

→ A parallel dialer isn’t just about speed. It’s about not sitting through hours of dial tones.

→ A CRM note-taker isn’t just focused on automation. It’s about never having to waste 2 hours updating Salesforce because your manager’s looking down your neck.

Use straightforward, literal human language.

Forget “single source of truth” or “streamlining workflows.”

Describe what sucks. Say what’s important.

2. Solution focus matters

Now tie annoyance into a painful business impact.

→ If a manager can’t review 20 calls? The business forecast is currently risky.

→ If SDRs waste time on dial tones? Hire twice as many just to hit pipeline goals.

→ If pipeline data is outdated? The VP is steering with broken information, losing deals.

This is where executives actually start paying attention.

3. Why are there problem?

Make the pain hyper-relevant.

How do you know they specifically have this problem?

→ Their SDR job post signals hiring pressure (probably because output sucks).

→ Their manager-to-rep driving ratio is 1:8 (no way that’s manageable).

→ The VP was on a podcast ranting about lead discipline (forecast stress alert).

This is the goldmine for personalization that actually triggers them.

4. How do you prevent so-what?

Now, and only now, drop your solution. But stay concise.

→ “We pull call data straight into your CRM so you never have to nag reps for updates.”

→ “Our dialer solution removes dead time, so 1 SDR does the work of 2.”

→ “We flag risky deals automatically, so your forecast isn’t a guessing game.”

End deals with a soft CTA: → “Worth a chat?” → “Open to learning more?”

Bonus move: Add something personal.

A recent podcast they were speaking on.

A blog post they have currently published.

Something that proves a human wrote it.

How simple, organized messages book clients

Will Barron argues that flashy cold email templates won’t help if your core message is broken. If you want prospects to reply instantly, do this instead:

Why fancy fails and boring works

Most reps hide behind marketing-style emails.

But:

⇢ Long emails packed with buzzwords

⇢ Fancy formatting gets you ignored

⇢ Adjectives makes your intent unclear

Boring emails strip all that away.

You have to lead with facts and relevance.

No fake hype. Just pure clarity.

And that’s what gets attention.

How to write emails cutting barriers

1. Focus on the problem - not your product

Your prospect’s brain is already fried.

Don’t waste space explaining features.

Instead:

➤ Call out a problem you know they have

➤ Show how you understand it personally

➤ Position yourself as someone who can solve it

2. Do your research homework in advance

This part isn’t really exciting, but it works.

Research their site, product, or recent news.

Use that to anchor your message in their world, not yours.

Example:

“Noticed your CS team added 5 headcount- usually means call volume’s up. We’ve helped teams cut tickets by 30% with…”

3. Keep things straightforward with clients

Simple always wins.

The more complexity in your emails, the less likely it is to be understood.

⇢ One problem

⇢ One outcome

⇢ One next step

The rest is all just unnecessary noise.

4. Use this email structure for messages

“Hi [First Name]. We help [persona] struggling with [specific problem] solve it through [unique angle or method]. Might sound like a stretch, but companies like [X, Y, Z] used us to [concrete results]. Worth a quick call this week to see if it’s relevant?”

– [You]

No bold. No images. No multiple CTAs. No filler.

5. Track what’s currently working in your sends

With “boring” emails, you can easily troubleshoot:

➤ Wrong timing?

➤ Wrong contact?

➤ Wrong message?

When you only include what matters, it’s easier to iterate and improve.

3 points that actually matter most

If you send a clean, factual email and get no reply, check:

✔ Timing – Are they even dealing with this right now?

✔ Contact – Is this the person who feels the pain points?

✔ Message – Did your email actually reflect their reality?

If any of those are off, fix it and try again.

This is how you systematize email results.

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What cold emailing tactics need for success

Josh Braun highlights why most cold emails flop - they skip what actually matters for clients: discussing the problem itself. This given structure breaks the mold perfectly:

Anatomy of problem-first emails:

✔ Open with relevance

→ “Was poking around your TongueTied flashcards...” signals they've done their homework.

This line immediately anchors the email in real observation, not spam.

✔ Adds human element

→ “Yes, I poke around e-commerce sites for a living.”

A small line that make senders relatable, not robotic.

It disarms prospects and builds relationship trust fast.

✔ Spotlights new problem

→ $47 for international shipping feels absurd the second it's pointed out.

It triggers a gut reaction: “How many sales am I losing because of this?”

✔ Value-driven solution

→ A price drop from $47 to $5 hits hard. No fillers used.

A simple before-and-after that anyone can grasp in seconds.

✔ Qualification upfront

→ “Only if you’re shipping at least 100 units monthly.” 

This switches your dynamics instead of begging for attention.

Frames the offer as exclusive and efficient—saving time for both sides.

✔ Straightforward closes

→ “Worth a quick chat?”

No pressure, no desperation.

Respect prospect’s time while leaving the door open.

Why this email actually works:

➤ Start everything about them, not you.

→ The first sentence proves the sender did research.

No generic introductions as fillers.

➤ Diagnoses pain instead of features.

→ The prospect immediately feels cost of inaction.

➤ Anchors the offer with real numbers.

→ Not “We help reduce shipping costs.” But “From $47 to $5.”

➤ Filter compatibility instead of begging.

→ That minimum requirement sets expectations—and boosts credibility.

➤ Tone signals peer conversation, not a pitch.

→ Confident. Helpful. Relaxed.

This is how cold email should feel: like a relevant, helpful nudge rather than interruption.

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