Write Cold Emails That Actually Sound Human (And Get Replies)

Haaaaaapy Wednesday!

Hey hey,

If writing cold emails makes you feel like you’re pretending to be someone else, this week’s edition is for you.

Because the truth is, most cold outreach fails at the very first hurdle.

Common Problem: Your cold emails don’t build real connection

There’s a quote I read recently that hit hard:

“Too many sellers fall at the very first hurdle: they’re unable to build a connection that’s based on demonstrating an objective understanding of the buyer’s challenges.”

If you’ve ever been ignored after sending a cold message, it’s probably not because your offer’s bad. Or because you didn’t try hard enough.

It’s because the message didn’t feel like it was written by someone who actually gets it.

Instead, it came across like a guess.

And that’s what most cold outreach is…guessing.

• Guessing what the buyer cares about.

• Guessing what problem you solve for them.

• Guessing what wording might hit.

That’s why I created a prompt that helps you stop guessing and start writing in a way that feels natural and lands with real buyers.

Simple Solution: Use this pub-style prompt to write cold emails that actually sound human

Before you write another cold email, picture this…

You’re in the pub with your ideal client. It’s late. Second drink. The guard is down.

What are they really saying?

That’s the gold.

Not the feature list. Not the “we integrate with your stack” line.

It’s the stuff they’re quietly annoyed about. The friction they’re dealing with every day. That’s what your email should speak to.

To help with that, here’s a cold email prompt I’ve been using and sharing with clients.

It helps you write 3 short, pain-led, human emails that sound like something you’d actually say to a smart peer over a drink.

Pub-Style Cold Email Prompt

Copy and paste this into ChatGPT:

Example Input
My target audience is Founders of Series A SaaS companies
The problem I help solve is: they’re doing marketing activity, but none of it’s driving pipeline
My social proof is: after 6 weeks, I helped one client rebuild their GTM and increase qualified pipeline by 40%

Example Output

1. Are you running lots of marketing activity but still chasing pipeline? I helped a Series A founder fix that in 6 weeks. Think this could help?

2. Does it feel like the team’s busy but nothing’s moving pipeline forward? One client saw a 40% lift after we rebuilt their GTM. Want to hear how?

3. Is it frustrating when you’re spending on content, paid, events - and still stuck? Helped one SaaS team turn it around fast. Want me to send the breakdown?

Take Action

• Open ChatGPT and paste in the full prompt

• Fill in your own audience, pain point, and proof (try one pain point at a time)

• Use the best variation in your next batch of outreach this week

If your cold emails sound like you’re reading from a script, this will help you sound like a human again.

Event Invite

Sell Better Live: Watch a Pro Build an Outbound List From Scratch

Thursday 29 May
12:00PM ET / 5:00PM UK

If your outbound isn’t landing, it might not be your messaging. It could be your list.

In this live session, I’ll join Will Aitken to build an outbound list in real time and talk through:

• The biggest mistakes people make when list building

• A full walkthrough of how I build mine

• How to use automation tools to speed it all up

If you want to sharpen your targeting and find better-fit leads, this one’s for you.

Register here.

That’s it for this week.

Your message doesn’t need to be fancy. Just honest, relevant, and a little more real - just like you’d chat in a pub.

See you next time,
Mark