10 Unique Sales Email Introduction Ideas To Get More Replies (With Templates)

“Hi, my name is Edward, and I work for Telly, Inc. Would you be interested in purchasing a satellite phone?”

If only introducing yourself in a sales email was that easy.

Sure. It might work face-to-face.

But, over an icy-cold sales email? No.

Your sales email introduction is your hook. Like you’d see in articles written in the New York Times or Wired. The email should have powerful ledes that intrigue readers into reading more.

The effect of a hook-worthy lede can be recreated in your cold emails by optimizing the subject line, then from the line, the greeting, and the introductory line.

So, throw all of your creativity and genius at the introduction to hook your prospect.

Because if it’s too basic, you run the chance of being marked as spam which is much worse than being ignored.

So we put together 10 scrumptious ways you can introduce yourself, and what to include in a sales email introduction, granted your intention is to bamboozle your prospect into responding to you.

#1 Formal – “The Classic Vanilla” (Source: Josh Braun)

If you’re going to talk to C-level executives, you might want to reel back on the bamboozling. These are people whose days are filled up with back-to-back meetings. You’d be lucky if your email could capture a few seconds of their gaze. With such little time available, whether it is a cold email or a follow-up email, personalization should be the meat.

Writing an introduction that is short and relatable in the email gives them a good first impression. It shows that you’re self-assured and capable of handling their needs. Because a well-thought-out email will show both passion and professionalism simultaneously. 

Ideal Subject Line

Your article in <Magazine Name/Website/Journal>

Why does this work?

Somebody with decades worth of experience is always looking to share them. So a subject line that hints at a famous publication is a sure-fire way of getting their attention.  

Ideal Introduction

Hello {First Name},

I recently read your article in <Magazine Name/Website/Journal> where you spoke about <topic> and how to use <solution> to address <pain point>. My name is Andrew, and 
although we've never met, that's exactly the type of thing we deal with.

Why does this work?

It’s a great hook. You’ve shown the prospect that not only have you read their article but also cared to remember it. Writing something very relevant to your prospect is a great attention grabber. 

#2 Humorous – “Find the funny bone in ’em” (Survey Sparrow)

Who doesn’t like a good laugh? It is one of life’s simple pleasures that comes with an array of benefits, one of which is improving open rates. Adding humor to your cold email gives it a friendly personality that will help you stand out from the noise. You can use varying degrees of humor to attract the attention of people who are working in startups or the tech industry in general. In any case, crack a joke at your own discretion. Because humor is subjective and some people like to sit on sticks instead of chairs. 

Ideal Subject Line

Your mom is going to love our <Product name> CRM.

Why does this work?

You have hit many birds with one stone here. One, you have grabbed their attention by making the subject line humorous. Two, you have quickly introduced your product in the subject line. Three, you have indirectly talked about its user-friendliness. 

Ideal Opening Line

Hi {First Name},

Before I talk about <product name>, why don't you give this puzzle a try? 

R_AD_ F_R A C_A_ T_I_ W_ _K?

Thinking? Here's the answer – (…drumroll…) "Ready For A Chat This Week."

Why does this work?

This puzzled-based introduction is not just funny but influences the receiver on a cognitive, emotional, and even a psychological level. It’s an ice-breaker that evokes a “feel good” response from the receiver and humanizes your brand’s voice. 

#3 Unexpected – “A bolt from the blue.”

Never be afraid to shock your audience. Just ensure that it is in good taste. Shock and controversy can be powerful tools in sales when used the right way. Jill Suttie writes for Berkeley’s Greater Good Magazine, “surprise works on the dopamine system in our brains, helping us to focus our attention.” Being surprised pushes our brain to get hooked on understanding what’s happening or going on, Suttie adds. So you’ll definitely win the reader’s attention by throwing something unexpected in the subject line. 

Ideal Subject Line

Did you see the news? It’s here…

Why does this work?

This is an ultra-compelling way to start any long-form piece of copy, particularly an email, because it quickly conjures up intrigue. ‘News’ can trigger people to read more. The more engaged the receivers are, the longer they will read your email and get the message.

Ideal Introductory Line

Hey there, {first name}

The end is near for all businesses that don't send relevant and personalized emails to their customers. I am David, and I head the marketing division of <company name>. I'm 
curious to know how you ensure sending relevant and personalized emails?

Why does this work?

It works because you have intrigued them to read more. You started with something that evokes curiosity, then watered it down with a question. Rather than pitching your solution in the first line right away, you’re trying to get your prospect to think through their strategy. If you’re sending this to a problem-aware prospect, you’ll stand a better chance of winning their interest. 

#4 Piquing curiosity – “Curiosity doesn’t kill the cat.”

We all know about the importance of curiosity in the world. It’s only human to want to know anything about everything. And that’s a good thing. Mario Livio, author of “What Makes Us Curious,” tells Knowledge at Wharton that there are different types of curiosity, one of which creates an unpleasant sensation, and another creates anticipation of reward. “It was found that especially epistemic curiosity when we try to learn new things, it really follows the paths of reward of dopamine, which is this neural transmitter that is associated with reward in our brains,” he adds. In short, the fact that curious subject lines work is backed by science. 

Ideal Subject Line

Your mission, (prospect name), should you choose to open this mail….

Why does this work?

This famous dialogue from the blockbuster film series Mission: Impossible flushes the reader with memories from their childhood. It also pokes the reader’s curiosity to choose, even if they’re unfamiliar with the movie franchise. In a sea of boring-to-death subject lines, you can shoot an email subject line that is familiar and intriguing. 

Ideal Introductory Line

Hi {first_name},

Looks like you have a penchant for getting out of your comfort zone. If that's true, have 
you tried to solve the {pain point} most companies of your size face?

Why does this work?

You’re taking the film analogy and tying it to the body copy to keep the readers engaged. And the introduction is super short, which helps. 

#5 Solving the pain point – “Be the guardian angel” (Alex Hisaka)

You’re a savior of the prospect in this scenario. And you have picked up arms to protect your prospect in their battle against their pain point. Don’t make a bold claim of producing a solution without being humble, polite, and truly understanding of their needs. As Josh Braun says, likeability is vital when you want them to reply to you. But remember, the cardinal sin in cold emailing is assuming something of the prospect. If you’re going to be their guardian angel, make sure you know what you’re talking about. 

Ideal Subject Line

{Prospect Name}, how to put an end to {pain point} using {solution}

Why does this work?

Here, the subject line serves as the solution to their particular pain point on a platter. This is a perfect combination to grab the prospect’s attention and get them to open the email. 

Ideal Introductory lines

Hi {Prospect Name},

Your LinkedIn post discussing how your company is struggling to overcome {problem} 
made me think of others I know experiencing the same frustration.

Why does this work?

By hitting the pain point early on, you have ensured that prospects feel valued, seen, and heard. You have empathized with their pain point and consoled them by saying they are not alone in this battle. This will make them feel that they have someone to lean on to talk about the issue and ways to solve them. 

#6 Personalized cold email intro – “No one-size-fits-all solution” (Source: Art of Emails)

By now, we’re all well aware that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution in the case of cold emailing. Personalization is critical in cold emailing today. Send your prospects a video recording saying hi, or an image, or you could even mention your mutual love for the Baltimore Ravens, whatever establishes there’s a human behind the cold email. 

Ideal Subject Line

Dave, You Could Conquer the Cubs

Why does this work?

As a Chicago Cubs fan, the receiver’s eyebrows would rise upon seeing your subject line. Even if the product you are selling is not relevant to them, they might still want to know what you have to say about their favorite team. 

Ideal Introductory Lines

Hey there,

As a Cub fan, I'm sure you're aware of the marketing machine they've built to get fans and corporate partners engaged and converted. We were able to help them go from 300 to 
30,000 unique site conversions per quarter with our solution.

Why does this work?

Highlighting your prospect’s interests (both personal and professional) in initial outreach can be the leg up you need to get a reply from someone who might otherwise ignore you.

#7 Compliment – “A word of praise is equal to ointment on a sore”  (Source: Collin Stewart)

by Collin Stewart, CEO – Predictable Revenue

An introduction supported by a genuine and honest compliment gets the prospects to drop their guard. Today’s workforce is stressed, ridden with anxiety, and burning out quickly. But you can make their day better by giving them a compliment. “Every time you receive a genuine compliment, it triggers the same area in the brain as receiving cash,” Michelle Rozen, Ph.D., and author of 2 Second Decisions: The Secret Formula for Leading Change by Making Quick Winning Choices tells Fast Company. “It’s the reward system, like getting $100 bucks,” Rozen adds. 

Ideal Subject Line

Not another funding congratulatory mail

Why does this work?

Stewart adds that this subject line manages to capture the prospect’s attention because it is a pattern breaker. In a sea of congratulatory emails, this subject line, in which the salesperson calls themselves out, will stand out. The credits for this subject line go to the salesperson who sent their template to Stewart for an assessment. 

Ideal Cold Email Introduction Line

<First name> 

I bet you've been drowning in a lot of congratulatory emails lately. I'm trying not to add to that, but hey! You folks absolutely deserve it.

Why does this work?

It’s honest and gets to the point. And opening your email with a warm compliment will give you a great chance of winning your prospect’s gaze over the rest of the emails in your prospect’s inbox grave. 

#8 Warm Reference – “The Friend of a Friend” (Dan Martell)

It’s a lot easier to get somebody’s attention if you’re trying to reach a friend of a friend. So it’s crucial to spark that friend or connection’s memory in the introduction. 

Ideal Subject Line

A Friend Sent Me.

Why does this work?

This is a classic example of the “Friend of a Friend” approach. You have mentioned your mutual connection straight away without seeming overly invasive. You have also left a bit of curiosity in the receiver’s mind that ‘who could this common friend be.’ This will encourage them to open the email straightaway.

Ideal Cold Email Introduction Line

Hi {NAME},

Mike and I are seeing great results with {Prospect company} 's marketing automation at 
the moment, and when talking about who else would benefit, your name came up.

Why does this work?

You have first highlighted your mutual connection before deftly outlining how you have helped them achieve great results in the past. You have provided social proof right away, bringing authenticity to your introduction.

#9 Cold Reference – “The Right Direction” (Klenty)

In this, a person has pointed you in the right direction. They may or may not know each other. However, talking about the initial contact allows prospects to bypass the discomfort of talking to a complete stranger. 

Ideal Subject Line

{initial contact} told me to get in touch with you

Why does this work?

Bringing in your ‘initial contact’ card right away in the subject line gives your email the weight that it is from a recommended and trustworthy source.

Ideal Cold Email Introduction Line

Hello {First name},

I just had an exciting conversation with {initial contact}, who directed me to you.I noticed that {prospect company name} is being going through issues like {pain point 1}, {paint 
point 2}, {pain point 3}...

Why does this work?

People are always more likely to be convinced by a recommendation (even unknown) than if they receive a cold email out of the blue. And the reason why this introduction works is that they know that they’re the right person to respond to your mail. This feeling will make your email seem more valid and less like spam.

#10 Gatekeeper – “Tip your hat to ’em”

When you’re trying to get to your prospect, you might encounter gatekeepers. Your conversation with them has to be trustworthy to get past them. You have to prove yourself to be worthy of the time for the prospect to the gatekeeper. At the same time, it is important to be respectful of their time and treat them with the same reverence as you would do your prospect. Remember that they are only doing their jobs.

Ideal Subject Line

Looking for the best contact

Why does this work?

You do not sound like someone who is trying to sell something. Instead, you are genuinely asking for help. This might trigger an open. Since gatekeepers are instructed to keep salespeople out, you are lowering the chances of being ignored by using this non-salesy subject line.

Ideal Cold Email Introduction Line

Hello {prospect name}, 

My name is James. I was wondering if you could help me. I looked on the {COMPANY 
NAME's} LinkedIn page, but I couldn't find your name. Are you usually the person who answers the phone? I'd feel much better if I knew your name before asking a favor.

Why does this work?

Here, you are treating the gatekeeper with respect. You have politely asked for their name in the conversation. This shows that they are being valued and respected, despite not being decision-makers. 

What should you include in your sales email introduction?

Be honest about who you are and what you do

Unfortunately, salespeople have a bad rap for being dishonest, or pushy. But the industry is changing. Sales reps are no longer pushy and are more empathetic. New-age sales teams sell to those who have a problem to solve. The best email strategy to target buyers of today is, to be honest, and upfront about your intentions. In your email, tell them your name and what you do at your company. Remember to not repeat your designation though, because you might have already mentioned it in your email sign-off.

Tell them why you’re reaching out

Nobody has the time for others. Your email is fighting with LinkedIn, and other social media sites for their attention. So you have to prove to them why you need their two minutes. The best way to get that is by putting all the cards on the table.

Tell them what’s in it for them

Now you explain why they should you two minutes. What value are you giving them in the email? Any email that you write will have a WIIFT bit, that’s the norm. But you have to find a way to include it in the subject line or the way you introduce the sales email. There’s a variety of trigger events and sales enablement content you can use as a segue in your sales introduction email like referrals, mutual connections, the prospects’ Linkedin or other social media activities, your value proposition, and successful case studies that are specific to their particular use case, or even relevant marketing initiatives.

Conclusion

It’s essential to convey professionalism, engage the reader, clearly state why you’re writing, and talk about yourself very very less in your cold emails. Remember that most people are inundated with emails and will be reluctant to open, let alone read, from someone they don’t know. So if your cold email introduction is all about yourself and your company, the only thing it’ll do is catch dust in the inbox. So remember to write cold emails that are short, honest, and provide a ‘What’s in it for me’ bit, to win the trust of your cold prospects.