Cold Email

Follow-Up Email Template

Copy. Paste. Customize. Send. Book meetings.

Best for:Post-initial outreach

Reply rate:18%

Length:65 words

The Template

Subject:

Re: {{original_subject}}

{{first_name}}, Wanted to bump this to the top of your inbox. I know {{company}} is busy with {{current_priority}}, but I think there's a real opportunity here. {{new_value_angle}} - and based on what I've seen with {{similar_company}}, the ROI timeline is typically {{timeframe}}. Would {{day}} or {{day_2}} work for a quick 15-minute call? {{your_name}}

Variables to Customize

{{first_name}}

Prospect's first name - keeps it personal and warm

{{company}}

Prospect's company name - shows you know who they are

{{original_subject}}

The subject line from your first email - threading increases open rates by 40%

{{current_priority}}

What they're likely focused on (e.g., 'Q4 planning', 'the product launch', 'scaling the team')

{{new_value_angle}}

A fresh benefit or insight not mentioned in email #1 - gives them a reason to reply

{{similar_company}}

A reference company in their space - social proof matters

{{timeframe}}

Expected results timeline (e.g., '60-90 days', '2 sprints', 'one quarter')

{{day}}

Suggested day for call (e.g., 'Tuesday')

{{day_2}}

Alternative day for call (e.g., 'Thursday')

{{your_name}}

Your first name

When to Use This

Perfect For

• Second or third touch in a cold email sequence
• Prospects who opened but didn't reply to your first email
• Following up 3-5 days after initial outreach
• Re-engaging prospects after a conference or event
• Nudging stalled conversations back to life
• B2B sales cycles where persistence is expected

Not Ideal For

• Prospects who explicitly asked not to be contacted
• Following up within 24-48 hours (too aggressive)
• Leads who have already booked a meeting
• Mass blast campaigns without segmentation
• Transactional B2C sales
• When you have no new value to add

Variations

Variation A: The Value-Add Follow-Up

{{first_name}}, Following up on my last email with something I thought you'd find useful. I put together a quick breakdown of how {{similar_company}} approached {{challenge}} and cut their {{metric}} by {{percentage}}. Happy to share the full case study if helpful - or jump on a call to walk through how it might apply to {{company}}. {{your_name}}

Variation B: The Casual Bump

Hey {{first_name}}, Just floating this back up. I know inboxes get buried. Still think there's a fit between what we do at {{your_company}} and where {{company}} is headed with {{initiative}}. Open to a quick chat this week? {{your_name}}

Variation C: The Pattern Interrupt

{{first_name}}, I'll be honest - I'm not sure if my last email missed your inbox or if the timing just wasn't right. Either way, I wanted to try once more. We've been helping companies like {{similar_company_1}} and {{similar_company_2}} tackle {{problem}} and seeing {{result}}. If this isn't relevant, just let me know and I'll stop reaching out. But if it is - would love 15 minutes to explore. {{your_name}}

Variation D: The Social Proof Stacker

{{first_name}}, Quick update since my last note: We just wrapped a project with {{recent_client}} where they {{achievement}}. Thought of {{company}} because you're in a similar spot. Worth a conversation to see if there's a fit? {{your_name}}

Variation E: The Question-Based Follow-Up

{{first_name}}, Circling back on my earlier email. Curious - is {{specific_challenge}} even a priority for {{company}} right now? If not, totally get it. But if it is, I'd love to share how we've helped {{similar_company}} solve it in {{timeframe}}. Let me know either way? {{your_name}}

Variation F: The Short and Sweet

{{first_name}} - bumping this. Still interested in connecting on {{topic}}? {{your_name}}

Pro Tips

Tip 1: Thread your follow-ups using 'Re:' in the subject line - it increases open rates by 40% because it looks like an ongoing conversation rather than a new sales pitch

Tip 2: Wait 3-5 business days between follow-ups. Less than 3 days feels aggressive; more than 7 days and they've forgotten you. The sweet spot is 4 days for mid-market, 5-6 for enterprise

Tip 3: Always add NEW value in each follow-up. If you're just saying 'checking in' or 'following up,' you're wasting their time and yours. Share a case study, insight, or resource

Tip 4: Make your CTA stupidly specific. 'Would Tuesday at 2pm or Thursday at 10am work?' converts 2x better than 'Let me know when works for you'

Tip 5: Reference their likely current state. If they opened your first email, they're interested but busy. Acknowledge that reality in your follow-up

Tip 6: Keep it shorter than your first email. Follow-ups should be 50-75 words max. You've already made your pitch - now you're just nudging

A/B Testing Suggestions

Test 'Re:' subject lines vs. fresh subject lines - 'Re:' typically wins for B2B but test for your audience

A/B test follow-up timing: 3 days vs. 5 days vs. 7 days between touches to find your optimal cadence

Compare value-add follow-ups (sharing content/case studies) vs. simple bumps - value-add usually wins but takes more effort

Test asking for a specific meeting time vs. open-ended 'when works for you' - specific times typically convert better

Try question-based opens vs. statement-based opens - questions engage different prospect types

Experiment with email length: ultra-short (30 words) vs. medium (75 words) to see what resonates

Explore More

Sales Articles

Deep-dive guides on follow-up strategies and sequence optimization

Sales Glossary

Key terms like cadence, sequence, and touch points explained

Playbooks

Complete follow-up playbooks for different industries

Benchmarks

Average reply rates and optimal follow-up timing data

Lead Sources

Find prospects worth following up with

Tool Comparisons

Email automation and sequencing tool breakdowns

Related Templates

Cold Email Introduction

Cold Email

Breakup Email

Cold Email

LinkedIn Connection Request

Templates Are Just the Start

We send thousands of these every week. Let us do the heavy lifting while you close deals.

Book Your Strategy Call