We’ve created a list of 36 email opening lines for professional cold emails that get replies.
You can edit and use them in your cold email campaigns.
In this list, we’ve included email opening lines for:
Choose the category that you’re interested in and find an opening line that fits your needs.
Author’s Note: When we use brackets – [example] – we’re indicating that the field has to be filled in by you — the person who sends the email — before sending. When we use braces – {example} – we’re indicating that the field is a variable and it has to be adjusted based on the prospect you’re sending your email to.
The first email opening lines category we’re taking you through is link building opening lines.
These can be used in emails that are targeted to get backlinks as well as achieve link building collaborations.
Here’s the first one.
Subject
The first link building opening line is a very direct one.
It helps the recipient understand why you’re reaching out to them and what is that you want to talk about.
The reason why this opening line works well is because it adds context right away.
The recipient won’t have to wonder where and how you find them because you answer that right away.
This way, they may be more inclined to read further and even reply to your email.
Author’s Tip: You could consider adding a few lines that will show the recipient what’s in it for them right after your starter line.
Subject
What’s the best way to enhance your link building efforts but to find someone who’s great at it and reach out?
In fact, this first sentence in your email will not only provide the recipient with a clear idea of the reason why you’re reaching out to them but will also be a killer way to start by saying something nice and flattering to them.
Subject
I wanted to quickly show my appreciation for your {url_title} list post: {url}. Thought you’d be interested in including [your post / company / product]?
This line, that will sit perfectly right below your salutation, is one of those fantastic lines that has the ideal length while also including all the necessary information.
Subject
I just finished reading your post on [article topic]. Loved the way you mentioned [insert article summary].
However, I noticed it didn’t mention one main point: [your article’s unique point].
Who doesn’t like getting flatering emails about something they did, for example a well-written and valuable post they recently published?
This opening line, and the line that follows it, can be used in order to first show your interest towards the prospect’s work and then give them the opportunity to benefit from something you did.
The following example will make it even more clear.
Subject
I just finished reading your post on [article topic]. Loved the way you mentioned [insert article summary].
You even inspired us to create [type of content] that would go perfectly with it.
As you can see, we’re using the opening line to break the ice and stress our admiration or respect for the prospect’s work, and we then mention what we have to offer.
Subject
Here’s a line that’s quite different from the link building opening lines we’ve seen so far.
This one’s not to highlight your admiration or enhance your prospect’s content with your content.
On the contrary, it can be used when you notice that someone has given a link to one of your competitors and you think promoting your content could help you get some links too.
As simple as that.
Let’s move on to the next category.
This second category in our list is all about content promotion email opening lines.
We believe that the following opening line examples could help you get an idea of what an effective email might look like when it comes to content promotion.
Let’s get into it.
Subject
I just finished reading your post on [article topic]. I loved how you mentioned [insert article summary].
I noticed, however, that it doesn’t present a [your article’s unique point].
You may notice that this opening line is quite similar to one of the great subject lines that were mentioned earlier.
This happens because, when it comes to the introductory and opening lines of an email of a link building or content promotion email, your tone might be quite similar.
In this case, we’re trying to promote our content so we’re going for an opening line that’ll be personalized while also highlighting why our content might be of relevance to the recipient.
By referring to one of their content pieces and highlighting something that might be missing from it, we achieve a double goal.
That is, to show interest by helping them have what’s missing from their piece of content, e.g. because we might be having a PR outreach guide on our blog, while also promoting our content.
Author’s Note: You may notice that this email opening line, like some others in this list, is slightly longer than the typical email opening line.
This is because we’re trying to not only give you the opening line that introduces the reader to your email but also a taste of what the rest of your email might look like.
Subject
You’re obviously an expert in [topic] and so as soon as we published our [blog post] we wanted to share it with you.
If you’re a marketer and you want to do some efficient content promotion, you should always target reaching out to thought leaders and experts in your industry.
They might be busier than others, which of course might affect or delay the efficiency of your email, but, if successful, it’s definitely worth it.
Subject
We just published our [blog post / publication] and we thought it’d be valuable to you.
Similar to other lines in this post, this email opening line is a very direct one and saves the email recipient some time in terms of understanding the reason why you’ve reached out to them.
Subject
Although you wouldn’t necessarily think that personalization is important when it comes to content promotion, you shouldn’t underestimate its power.
In this case, we use a personalized and authentic sentence that’ll help establish a relationship.
To put it simply, we’re trying to steer clear from salutations like to whom it may concern.
Instead, we include anything that might help the prospect connect with us and also mention a point that could really bring us closer, thus boosting the chances of achieving content promotion.
Moving on to the next category.
Collaboration and partnership request email opening lines is the third category of opening lines we thought we’d share with you.
There are so many times we feel that people might resonate with us and our company but we’re not reaching out to them.
Here’s some opening sentences that might help you do it.
Subject
This very first line can be really useful when you basically need to send a business email that’ll give the recipient a very clear idea of what your problem is.
This is especially true if you’ve identified that your issue might be of relevance to them.
Also, mentioning the name of a person you both know increases your chances of getting a reply and possibly establishing a partnership.
Author’s Note: You can consider analyzing the nature of your issue or pain point and how a potential collaboration between the two could help solve the problem right after your opening line.
Subject
This opening line is one of my personal favorites.
Why?
Because it gives your intention in a straightforward, friendly, and nice way.
Additionally, it’s a question!
The boldness of it, which will probably help save the prospect some time in terms of understanding what you want, also increases your chances of getting a reply.
Subject
My name is [name] and I’m helping brands like [A], [B], and [C] [job to be done].
This collaboration opening line is tailored to help you earn credibility and create a great first impression.
After having noted some great things that you’ve done – without overdoing it! – or are able to do, you can then get to the body of your email and get into more details about the benefits of a potential collaboration between the two of you.
Subject
My name is [name]. I’ve been blogging for over [years] years and have a website that gets over [visits] monthly visits.
Similar to the opening line we just discussed, this one is yet another line that stresses your professional achievements.
Doing so helps show the prospect what you have to offer that could be of relevance in the case of a potential collaboration between the two of you.
Let’s now get to our fourth category.
When it comes to professional emails, digital PR emails might be one of the most useful categories to get opening line ideas for.
However, I’d like to mention that, although we’re presenting you with some email opening lines that can go perfectly after your email greeting, you should always keep in mind that personalization is really key for writing the best email.
Put another way, keep the following digital PR lines as guides for creating your own efficient emails.
Let’s dive right in.
Subject
I’ve been looking for a few folks who have covered the topic of [topic] and found your awesome post on {website name}.
This first sentence, that would go right after your email greeting, can be really efficient in terms of explaining to your prospect the reason why they’re relevant to the contents of this email.
In other words, it not only shows appreciation and respect to the prospect’s work but also communicates to them – in a very direct way – the main reason why you’ve decided to specifically reach out to them.
Subject
Just finished reading your [topic] article. Thanks for the awesome post! Shared with our team over here at [your company name].
Public relations in the digital realm is all about creating and establishing relations with others in your industry.
For that reason, most of the opening lines examples we’re showing you here are to do with expressing your admiration for someone’s work.
Subject
Exactly as we mentioned a little further up, this is yet another example of an opening line that’s full of short but meaningful words and sentences that show respect for the recipient’s professional activities.
Subject
I just finished reading your post on [topic]. Loved the way you mentioned/analyzed/talked about [article summary].
When you want to show your respect, but also be more specific with your compliments you do so, exactly as shown, by mentioning some points you particularly liked in the other person’s post or publication.
Subject
Here’s a line that’s sincere and can be truly effective in terms of digital PR.
In this case, you simply mention your name and company to enhance the personalization and you then go straight to congratulating the other person for something noteworthy they did.
Subject
Here’s an alternative of saying much the same thing as before.
You’ve seen something great happening to another company that might be a client or collaborator of yours, or not, and you’re sending them a friendly congratulatory email.
Subject
Don’t worry, this is exclusive for you ;)
Another thing that might be important when it comes to PR, especially if you’re about to reach out to a PR agent, is exclusivity.
In case you’ve got some awesome news to share you could consider doing so by highlighting the nature of it being exclusive.
Your intention to single out a specific professional and share your news with only them can be very effective in terms of getting a reply and also bringing awareness to your news.
Subject
The final digital PR opening line for efficient email marketing is one that, although similar to the one shown before, in terms of the intention it’s also quite different in tone.
This opening line takes the topic of exclusivity out of the equation, although it still manages to show that you care enough to share your news with a specific individual.
Author’s Tip: In this case, you should take care with the rest of your email content in order to make personalized elements pop out and give the recipient more reasons to get back to you.
Keep reading to find the next category.
The fifth category we couldn’t miss mentioning is the sales email opening lines category.
Let’s see some templates that a salesperson could personalize accordingly and use.
Subject
We recently worked with [mention a business that’s in the same industry as them] and helped them do [x,y, and z].
When it comes to sales, mentioning a well-known company you recently worked with is one of the best ways to validate your work.
This increases your credibility, thus increasing your chances of getting a response.
Subject
We at [your company], help organizations like yours deal with [pain point].
An alternative to mentioning a specific company you worked with, could be to point out your experience with companies that belong to the same industry as the prospect.
That might make it easier for them to trust you and believe that they’ll benefit from using your products and services.
Subject
How important would it be for your company to achieve [achievement]?
Starting your email with a question might be a very bold and clear way of catching your prospect’s interest.
In this case, you could use your opening line as an eye-catching sentence that’ll make them want to know more about your company and intentions.
Subject
I’m reaching out because we, at [your company] think we might be able to help you with [their pain point].
Like others in this list, a line that opens with “I’m reaching out because…” is basically a very sincere way of opening your email and establishing a connection with your prospect from the very first second.
Additionally, the fact that you’re offering your help shows that your interest has made you truly analyze issues they might be dealing with, which definitely increases your chances of hearing back from them.
Subject
This opening line mentions an issue while showing that you’re following the prospect’s company news.
You could write this one when you want to use something the recipient has said on their social media about a problem they might be facing as a starting point.
This could help you open up the discussion between the two of you and show how your company might be able to help them out.
Subject
Here’s a line you might find useful to open an email with that’ll present some suggestions you might have.
Put another way, if you have some suggestions that might help the prospect monetize something they did you should state it to them as early as possible in your email.
Subject
Our final sales email opening line has pretty much the same value as the previous one.
It shows that you care and you might have the solution to the prospect’s problem.
Author’s Tip: You could consider giving a hint of your intention or present one of your ideas in a slightly more detailed way. This way you’ll make your email more intriguing and might make the prospect want to know more.
Let’s get to the last opening email lines category.
The final opening lines category is that one you’ll need in case you need to follow-up on one of your emails.
An interesting statistic about email open rates shows us that only 8.5% of all outreach emails get a response.
Image Source: Backlinko
The same outreach study informs us that a single follow up attempt can significantly increase the chances of an email getting noticed, thus getting a reply.
Have a look:
Image Source: Backlinko
We therefore understand the importance of following up.
The follow-up email opening lines that follow are great lines that can help you write a follow-up that has chances of getting noticed and getting a reply.
Here’s the first one.
Subject
Hope this email finds you well! Just a quick follow up on the email I sent last week.
Our first follow up email is one of the most common and most efficient follow up opening lines.
We all receive tons of emails daily that, as we’ve already seen, have great chances of going unnoticed.
A simple line like this one can help you open your email and remind the recipient the reason why you’re reaching out to them.
Subject
Hope you are doing great! Did you get time to review my previous email?
Like before, such a line works as a reminder to the person receiving the email.
It’s a polite, yet direct way of increasing your chances of getting a reply to your first email and initial query.
Subject
Hope all is well! I’d like to add something in relation to what we discussed at our meeting on [date].
This is a simple and straightforward line for reaching out to someone you’ve recently had a meeting with.
This kind of follow up is to help maintain or establish a relationship with someone you’ve already met.
Subject
Hope all is well with you! Just a quick follow up on our call on [date] to add a point that I think is significant.
After having done a call or attended a meeting with someone, you might want to follow-up and mention something you forgot to bring up.
This line gives you the opportunity to connect with the prospect by immediately referring to a thing they were involved in, i.e. a meeting or call, thus making it easier to get their attention and establish a connection.
I know you probably receive tons of emails every day, so thought I would send you a quick follow-up to my email in case it got overlooked.
A line like this one allows you to connect with the prospect.
Moreover, like the first two follow-up lines we saw a little further up, it helps make it easier for the prospect to remember what your first email was about, thus making it easier for them to get back to you.
Subject
I understand that you’re probably very busy at the moment, but thought that you wouldn’t like missing [reason for reaching out].
Some might think that that’s an inflated line, but we totally think that, depending on the occasion, it can be an truly honest thing to say to someone.
Especially if you know that the person you’re reaching out to is someone with a very busy schedule then don’t be afraid to state that in the beginning of your email.
Subject
Hope all is well! Although I haven’t heard from you, I’m convinced that great results could come out of a potential collaboration between us.
This is an important and useful line for when you’ve sent a collaboration or sales email and got no reply.
Furthermore, this line has just the right amount of determination and confidence that might convince the prospect to get back to you.
You’ve made it to the end of our list of thirty six email opening lines.
Let’s wrap this post up and close with a few final words.
There you have it.
You now know what’s the best way to start an email, based on your specific situation.
Keep in mind that the opening line of your email is just one part of running successful cold email campaigns.
In that context, if you want your email outreach efforts to pay off, you have to take care of every little detail of your email.
From choosing the right subject line, to adding personalization in your email and even signing off your email in the right way, cold emailing is kind of an art rather than a simple process of finding prospects and shooting emails.
Don’t forget that if you’re ready to start your outreach campaigns, you can use Respona.
Our tool is ideal for highly-personalized cold emails that get replies.
Just request a demo and we’ll show you how Respona can help you level-up your cold outreach game.
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