Cold emailing feels like shouting into the void.
You offer a legit solution. You write something polite.
And… silence.
I’ve been there.
And I’ve learned that it’s not about what you offer — it’s about how you frame it.
Let’s break down what clients actually want to read — and how to write emails they’ll actually respond to.
👀 Start with their problem — not your skills
Most cold emails start like this:
"Hi, I'm a full-stack developer and I specialize in Next.js, React, Node.js, and MongoDB..."
That’s like walking into someone’s house and listing your resume on the porch.
Instead: start with them.
- What’s their site doing wrong?
- What’s their product missing?
- What opportunity are they not acting on?
📬 Subject lines matter more than you think
If your subject line reads:
“Web Developer Available for Hire”
...it’s going straight to the trash.
Try something like:
- “Quick win idea for your checkout flow”
- “Found a UX tweak that might boost conversions”
- “Noticed something on [their site] — 1-min idea”
Make it about them. Spark curiosity.
🧠 You’re not pitching your skills. You’re pitching a result.
Your tech stack doesn’t matter.
Their business goals do.
Try this structure:
“I noticed [problem/issue/observation], and had an idea that could [specific benefit].
I’ve helped companies [result or metric, if you have one]. Would you be open to a 10-minute chat? No pressure either way.”
🪞Make it obvious you’re not copy-pasting
Clients are tired of generic cold emails.
Personalize it by referencing:
- Their product or landing page
- Something they recently launched or wrote about
- A specific issue you noticed (slow loading, broken links, etc.)
Show you did your homework — even if it's just 5 minutes of research.
📉 Why you’re not getting replies (even with “value”)
You're solving a problem that you think is important — not one they're feeling.
It’s like walking up to someone and saying,
“Hey, I noticed your engine is dirty. Want me to clean it?”
...when they’re dealing with a flat tire.
You have to meet them where the pain is.
✅ What makes a cold email actually work?
Here’s what I’ve seen convert:
- Super short (4–6 sentences max)
- Specific insight or suggestion
- Clear benefit to them
- Low-pressure CTA (“open to a quick call?”)
- Looks like a human wrote it
🧰 Bonus: A real example that worked
Subject: Found a UX idea that might help on mobile
Hey [Name],
I was checking out [site] on my phone — really like how fast it loads.
Noticed a small UX thing on the product page that could be an easy fix and maybe help conversion.
I’ve built product tweaks like this before that led to 10–15% bumps.
Happy to show you what I found — open to a 10-min chat?
Final thought
Cold emailing isn't about convincing someone you're great.
It’s about proving you understand their world enough to help.
Lead with their problem. Keep it short. Make it real.
The response rate will follow.
✍️ I write about dev careers, client communication, and the freelance path (without the fluff).
Follow me on Twitter for more real-world insights.
