4 emails you can copy
Four cold emails with four kinds of subject line. Pick the kind that fits what you know about the person. Replace every [BRACKET] with a real fact.
- Subject from a page of theirsSubject: Your [PAGE NAME] pageHi [FIRST NAME], On your [PAGE NAME] page you say [QUOTE, EXACTLY AS WRITTEN]. I [WHAT YOU DO] for [TYPE OF COMPANY]. Would it help if I sent [ONE SPECIFIC THING]? [YOUR NAME] [YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS] If you would rather I did not write again, tell me and I will stop.
- Subject as a plain questionSubject: Who handles [AREA] at [COMPANY]?Hi [FIRST NAME], I am trying to find whoever handles [AREA] at [COMPANY]. Is that you? If not, could you point me to them? I want to ask about [ONE SPECIFIC THING]. [YOUR NAME] [YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS] If you would rather I did not write again, tell me and I will stop.
- Subject with a real introductionSubject: [PERSON] suggested I writeHi [FIRST NAME], [PERSON] at [COMPANY] suggested I write to you about [TOPIC]. I [WHAT YOU DO]. Would [ONE SPECIFIC THING] be useful to you? [YOUR NAME] [YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS] If you would rather I did not write again, tell me and I will stop.
- Subject with the offer in itSubject: [WHAT YOU OFFER] for [COMPANY]Hi [FIRST NAME], I can send you [WHAT YOU OFFER] for [COMPANY]. It would cover [ONE OR TWO THINGS IT WOULD COVER]. Shall I send it? If not, tell me and I will not write again. [YOUR NAME] [YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS]
Subject lines
- Subject lineYour [PAGE NAME] page
- Subject lineWho handles [AREA] at [COMPANY]?
- Subject line[WHAT YOU OFFER] for [COMPANY]
- Subject line[PERSON] suggested I write (only if they did)
Why this works
- Decide what the email is about, in about four words.
- Use a word the reader would use, such as their product or page name, not your jargon.
- Keep it short enough to read on a phone, about 30 to 50 characters.
- Check that the email delivers what the subject says.
- Read it in your own inbox. Would you open it from a stranger?
What to avoid
- Do not write "Re:" or "Fwd:" on a first email. It pretends there is a thread, and the FTC's CAN-SPAM guide says subject lines must not be deceptive.
- Do not write all capitals, many exclamation marks or "URGENT".
- Do not use "quick question" and then ask for a call. Ask a real question.
- Do not use their first name in the subject line as a trick.
Official pages. Rules for commercial email differ by country. Not legal advice: check the rules that apply to you.
- United States: FTC: CAN-SPAM Act: A Compliance Guide for Business. It says the law covers all commercial email, with no exception for business-to-business email, and lists what each message needs, read 5 October 2026.
- United Kingdom: ICO: Electronic mail marketing. It says you must not send marketing emails to individuals without specific consent, that you can send marketing emails to companies, and that it is good practice to keep a do-not-email list of companies that object. The ICO says the page is under review. Read 5 October 2026.
What the tools add
The first is free. Start there.
Cold Email Checker
Paste your draft and the text of the prospect's page. It tests every claim about them against that text, flags claims about you that need proof, and checks the subject line, the single ask and the length. It lists the commercial email basics from the US FTC's CAN-SPAM guide that the draft is missing. You get a verdict, a claims table, quoted issues and a tightened version with unsupported claims removed.
Cold Email from a Website
What you give it: a company's website address and a line on what you sell. If you have a proof point, add it, and you confirm it is true.
What you get: a three-email sequence and two subject lines, each built on something visible on their site, with the page it came from, and a list of what to check before sending.
$9, one price, no subscription. It reads up to three public pages, does not find email addresses, and does not send anything.
Questions people ask
How long should a cold email subject line be?
Short enough to be read in full on a phone. About 30 to 50 characters is a safe aim, and shorter is fine.
Should the subject line have the recipient's name or company?
The company or a page name is fine, because it shows the email is about them. Do not add the name as a trick.
Can I use a question as a subject line?
Yes, if it is a real question the email goes on to ask. Do not use a question to hide that it is a sales email.
Are there rules for subject lines?
In the US, the FTC's CAN-SPAM guide says the subject line must accurately reflect the content of the message. Rules elsewhere differ. See the pointers on this page.