Did you know the top-performing 25% of cold email campaigns in QuickMail see reply rates of 20%+?

Graph showing email reply rate in Quickmail sequences.

So you might think that the more emails you send, the more responses you’ll generate.

But that’s not necessarily true. If your emails don’t grab attention and compel the recipient to reach out, you’re not going to achieve the desired results.

Writing high-quality cold emails is one of the toughest parts of the sales development process.

Fortunately, we’ve made your life easier by crafting 20 winning sales email templates and follow-ups for a bunch of common scenarios, namely:

  • Cold emails for marketing agencies

  • Cold emails for SaaS

  • Cold emails for demand gen agencies

  • Cold emails for collaborations and partnerships

Plus we’ve shared five quick-and-dirty tips for how to create successful sales prospecting templates yourself.

Let’s get into it…

Cold Email Templates for Marketing Agencies

1. The Free Audit/Consultation

Initial Email

Subject: 3 ways to boost {{company.name}}’s web traffic and conversions

Hi {{prospect.first_name}},

I’m {{inbox.name}} from [your agency], a digital marketing agency specializing in [industry/niche].

I spent some time reviewing websites in our niche and came across yours. I love your brand and tone of voice, but I identified some opportunities to help you drive more search traffic and conversions, including:

  • [Key learning #1]

  • [Key learning #2]

  • [Key learning #3]

I’d love to run through my learnings and suggested actions on a call with you. Is that something you’d be interested in?

Thanks,

{{inbox.signature}}

Follow-Up

Hi {{prospect.first_name}},

If I could make just one change to your website right now to increase your search traffic and conversions, it would be this:

  • [Expand on key learning #1]

By implementing this change, I estimate you’ll be generating 10% more traffic within three months.

I’d love to discuss this in more depth, so let me know when you’re free to discuss by booking a 30-minute slot in my calendar.

Thanks,

{{inbox.signature}}

2. The Case Study

Initial Email

Subject: We helped [client name] achieve [result]

Hi {{prospect.first_name}},

At [your agency], we help companies like {{company.name}} grow their web traffic and conversions.

We’ve been working with [client in same niche] for the last year. In that time, we’ve increased their website conversion rate by 50%, helping them generate $100K in extra revenue.

I’d be happy to share some of the methods we used to achieve these results.

Let me know if you want to discuss by booking a 30-minute slot in my calendar.

Thanks,

{{inbox.signature}}

Follow-Up

Hi {{prospect.first_name}},

When [your agency] started working with [client in same niche], we realized they were missing out on a ton of revenue because their landing pages weren’t optimized for conversions.

We helped them by:

  • [Action #1] 

  • [Action #2] 

  • [Action #3]

Within six months, their conversion rate had increased by 50%.

If you’re interested in finding out more, I’d be happy to discuss on a 30-minute call. You can book a slot in my calendar here. 

Thanks,

{{inbox.signature}}

3. The Award Win

Initial Email

Subject: Award-winning SEO

Hi {{prospect.first_name}},

[Your agency] has just won the US Search Award for best use of search in a retail/e-commerce campaign.

The judges loved how we combined keyword targeting and link-building to increase [client name]’s search traffic by 50%.

If you’re interested in learning more about our approach, you can book a 30-minute slot in my calendar.

Thanks,

{{inbox.signature}}

Follow-Up

Hi {{prospect.first_name}},

Our recent US Search Award win wasn’t a one-off.

Last year, we won the Search Engine Land Award for best SEO initiative with our campaign for [client name], when we helped them hit 1+ million visits a month through long-tail keyword targeting.

I believe we could achieve similar results for {{company.name}}.

If you’re interested, book a 30-minute slot in my calendar so we can discuss further.

Thanks,

{{inbox.signature}}

SaaS Cold Email Templates

1. The Free Trial Offer

Initial Email

Subject: Free [product name] trial for {{company.name}}

Hi {{prospect.first_name}},

We’re [your company], a cold outreach solution that helps companies like {{company.name}} improve their email deliverability and get more opens, clicks, and replies.

Right now, we’re offering a 14-day free trial so you can try out our best features, including:

  • [Feature and benefit #1]

  • [Feature and benefit #2]

  • [Feature and benefit #3]

Sign up here to start your free trial.

Thanks,

{{inbox.signature}}

Follow-Up

Hi {{prospect.first_name}},

We’re closing our free trial offer at the end of this week because we’re already at capacity.

But before then, we wanted to give {{company.name}} one last chance to sign up.

We think you’ll especially love [feature name], which helps companies like yours hit more main inboxes with their cold email campaigns.

Sign up here to start your free trial.

Thanks,

{{inbox.signature}}

2. The User Success Story

Initial Email

Subject: Why [customer name] loves [product name]

Hi {{prospect.first_name}},

We’re [your company], a SaaS platform powering cold outreach campaigns via email, LinkedIn, SMS, and cold calling.

We work with a bunch of brands in {{company.name}}’s niche, including [competitor name].

Since they started working with us, their email response rates have doubled.

I’d love to share how we helped them. If you’re interested, book a 30-minute slot in my calendar to learn more.

Thanks,

{{inbox.signature}}

Follow-Up

Hi {{prospect.first_name}},

When we started working with [competitor name], their average cold email response rate was just 10%.

Six months later, it’s up to 20%+.

Their founder particularly loves our focus on deliverability: “I got great insights into whether my emails were actually reaching inboxes or landing in spam. That was the deciding factor for me.”

If you’re interested in similar results, book a 30-minute slot in my calendar so we can discuss your goals.

Thanks,

{{inbox.signature}}

3. The Free Training Email

Initial Email

Subject: {{company.name}}’s early access to free training

Hi {{prospect.first_name}},

At [your company], we’re just about to launch our first ever online course on cold email outreach.

We’ve helped hundreds of brands like {{company.name}} boost their cold email deliverability, opens, replies, and revenue.

Now, we’ve brought our learnings together in our new course. It’s 100% free to enroll, and we’d love you to be one of the first participants.

We’re restricting access to just 50 students, so reply today to reserve your spot.

Thanks,

{{inbox.signature}}

Follow-Up

Hi {{prospect.first_name}},

Our free online course on cold email is almost booked up already, so I thought I’d give {{company.name}} one last chance to get involved.

By signing up, you’ll learn about:

  • [Learning #1]

  • [Learning #2]

  • [Learning #3]

To save your space, just reply to this email.

Thanks,

{{inbox.signature}}

Cold Email Templates for Demand Gen Agencies

1. The Customer Testimonial

Initial Email

Subject: “I’d recommend [your company] to anyone”

Hi {{prospect.first_name}},

We’re [your company], a demand generation agency that helps companies like {{company.name}} capture more warm leads and conversions.

Six months ago, we started working with [competitor name]. 

Since then, we’ve helped them generate 3X more leads and they’ve added $100K in MRR.

Their CEO and founder said: “[Your company] have been fantastic, I’d recommend them to anyone.”

I’d love to talk through how we get results like these for our clients. Book a 30-minute slot in my calendar if you’d like to learn more.

Thanks,

{{inbox.signature}}

Follow-Up

Hi {{prospect.first_name}},

In my last email, I told you how [your company] has helped [competitor name] generate more leads and MRR.

Now I’m going to share some of the methods we used to make it happen:

  • [Method #1]

  • [Method #2]

  • [Method #3]

Let me know if you’d like me to walk you through this in more depth.

Thanks,

{{inbox.signature}}

2. The Value Proposition

Initial Email

Subject: Question about demand generation

Hi {{prospect.first_name}},

At [your company], we help clients in [prospect’s industry] generate more leads and revenue through content marketing, ABM, and paid advertising.

We work with companies like {{company.name}} on a project-by-project basis or as part of a strategic growth program.

Would you like to learn more about how we can help you achieve your growth goals? 

Thanks,

{{inbox.signature}}

Follow-Up

Hi {{prospect.first_name}},

I know you’re busy so I wanted to quickly share some of the results we’ve achieved for our clients:

  • [Result #1]

  • [Result #2]

  • [Result #3]

If you’d like to learn more about how we get results, book a 15-minute slot in my calendar.

Thanks,

{{inbox.signature}}

Cold Email Templates for Collabs and Partnerships

1. The Guest Post Request

Initial Email

Subject: Guest post request

Hi {{prospect.first_name}},

I love {{company.name}}’s blog — particularly your recent article [title]. [Add context about why you liked the article.]

I work with [your company] and we’d love to contribute an article to your blog. My content team came up with a few potential titles:

  • [Title #1]

  • [Title #2]

  • [Title #3]

Would you be happy for us to write one of those articles up for you? If so, please share any editorial policies or style guide information we should know about.

Thanks,

{{inbox.signature}}

Follow-Up

Hi {{prospect.first_name}},

I think [title #1] would be a fantastic fit for {{company.name}}’s blog.

It gives us the opportunity to discuss some key points that should appeal to your audience, like:

  • [Point #1]

  • [Point #2]

  • [Point #3]

Let me know if you’d like to see a more detailed outline, or if you have any thoughts on how to make it a better fit for your blog.

Thanks,

{{inbox.signature}}

2. The Referral Partnership

Initial Email

Subject: Partnership between {{company.name}} and [your company]

Hi {{prospect.first_name}},

At [your company], we design attractive, high-converting e-commerce websites. 

As you can probably imagine, our clients often ask about digital marketing services. We’d be happy to pass them on to you. 

In return, you could share relevant leads for our web design services.

What do you think? 

Thanks,

{{inbox.signature}}

Follow-Up

Hi {{prospect.first_name}},

Last year, 15 of our clients asked if we could help them with digital marketing or recommend them a high-quality, results-focused agency.

Next time it happens, we could send them your way — provided you’re to do the same for us.

If you’re interested in a partnership, book a 30-minute slot in my calendar and we can discuss in more depth.

Thanks,

{{inbox.signature}}

How To Create a Sales Email Template That Gets Replies

Of course, we don’t expect you to rely on these sales email templates for every cold outreach campaign you run. At some point, you’ll need to create your own templates from scratch.

Here are five tips to help you get it right:

  • A/B test your subject lines: The subject line has the biggest influence over whether someone opens your email. So test multiple formats and messages to see what plays best with your audience.

  • Write custom opening lines: Sure, writing a different intro for every email takes time. But it’ll massively increase your reply rate, so you can generate a higher return from fewer prospects.

  • Add social proof: Mentioning your existing customers and what they love about your product or service is one of the most effective ways to build trust with your prospects.

  • Reference benefits, not features: Prospects don’t care about the nuts and bolts of your product. They just want to know that it’ll help them achieve a specific goal or overcome a key pain point.

  • Include a clear CTA: Prompt the recipient to respond with a direct call to action like “does this sound interesting?” Again, test different approaches to see what works best.

Learn more: How to Write a Sales Email: 5 Steps & Best Practices 

Send Killer Sales Emails With QuickMail

There’s one more tip to creating a high-performing sales email template that we haven’t shared yet: you need to choose the right cold outreach platform.

Specifically, you need a platform that makes it easy to craft highly personalized outbound sales messages that resonate with your audience.

In other words, you need QuickMail.

With QuickMail, you can create personalized sales email campaigns containing multiple automated follow-ups — including emails, SMS messages, and cold call steps.

campaign steps in quickmail linkedin and email automation

What’s more, we automatically send emails from your top-performing accounts, saving you a bunch of time manually analyzing inboxes and changing senders.

Sounds good? See for yourself by signing up for your free QuickMail trial.