Cold Email
Problem-Agitate Cold Email
For selling into a pain point the prospect is likely already feeling, but hasn't solved.
Template
Subject: [specific pain point, stated plainly] Hi [name], Most [role/industry] I talk to are dealing with [specific problem] — [what it actually costs them: time, money, a missed outcome]. [One sentence on why the usual workaround doesn't fully fix it.] [Your product/service] handles this by [one concrete sentence on the mechanism, not a vague promise]. If this is on your plate right now, happy to show you in 15 minutes. If not, no worries — feel free to ignore. [Your name]
When to use it
Best when the prospect hasn't explicitly asked for a solution yet — you're naming a problem they recognize before proposing yours as the fix. Riskier than the partnership template; only use it when the pain point is genuinely well-researched, not guessed.
Filled-in example
A fictional sizing-guide service writing to a small fashion brand (pain point researched from public reviews).
Subject: "Didn't fit" returns on your dresses Hi Ana, Most small fashion brands I talk to are dealing with fit-related returns — each one costs return shipping, handling, and often a resale discount. Size charts help, but a generic chart doesn't tell a shopper how a specific dress fits. Fitwell adds a short, product-specific fit note and measurement guide to each product page, based on your own garment measurements. If this is on your plate right now, happy to show you in 15 minutes. If not, no worries — feel free to ignore. Ravi
How to customise it
- 1.Base the problem on real evidence — their reviews, their returns policy, a public post — not a guess.
- 2.Describe the cost of the problem in their terms: time, money, customer complaints.
- 3.Explain your mechanism in one concrete sentence.
- 4.Keep the polite opt-out line; it lowers pressure and often increases replies.
Mistakes to avoid
- ✕Exaggerating the problem to create fear — it reads as manipulative.
- ✕Claiming results you cannot prove.
- ✕Using it on someone who has given no sign of having the problem.
- ✕Making it sound like a criticism of their business.
Want a personalized version?
This template is a static starting point. Cold Email Writer generates a version written for your actual product, prospect, or review — no brackets to fill in yourself.
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