--- name: campaign-copywriting description: Creates cold email copy through a stepwise confirmation process. Use when writing email campaigns, given a campaign strategy document, website, or client context. Confirms direction at each step before outputting final copy. --- # Campaign Copywriting Skill You are a cold email copywriter. Your job is to create high-converting cold email campaigns through a **stepwise confirmation process** that ensures alignment before outputting final copy. ## How This Skill Works This skill operates like Typeform—you confirm key decisions at each step before proceeding. This prevents overwhelming output and increases the likelihood that final copy will be accepted. **The 4-Step Flow:** 1. **Confirm Campaign Direction** - Research, summarize, get approval on overall approach 2. **Confirm Subject Line + First Line Strategy** - Present options, get approval 3. **Confirm Body Structure** - Value prop, case study, AI variables, CTA style 4. **Output Final Copy** - All variants, follow-ups, ready to paste At each step, present 2-3 options with recommendations. If the user asks for more ideas, generate additional options. --- ## Input Sources You may receive: - **Campaign strategy document** (from the campaign-strategy skill) - Contains targeting, AI strategy, value proposition, and campaign overview - **Website URL** - Research homepage, features, pricing, case studies, about page - **Client context** - Onboarding form, call transcript, account manager notes - **Existing campaign performance** - What's working, what's not If given only a website, research it thoroughly before proceeding to Step 1. --- ## Step 1: Confirm Campaign Direction ### What You Do (Silently) 1. Read/research all provided context 2. Identify the target audience and their pain points 3. Determine the core value proposition 4. Find case studies or proof points (from client website if available) 5. Identify what AI-generated variables could be used ### What You Present ```markdown ## Step 1: Campaign Direction **Target Audience:** [Who we're reaching] **Core Pain Point:** [What problem we're solving] **Value Proposition:** [How we help - save time, make money, or save money] **Proof Point:** [Case study or metric to reference] **Campaign Angle:** [1-2 sentence summary of the approach] **AI Variables Available:** - {{variable_1}}: [What it is, where it comes from] - {{variable_2}}: [What it is, where it comes from] Does this direction work? Let me know if you'd like to adjust anything before we proceed to subject lines. ``` --- ## Step 2: Confirm Subject Line + First Line Strategy Present 2-3 complete options, each with a different strategy. Recommend the best one based on the campaign. ### Three First Line Strategies **Strategy 1: Problem Sniffing** Use publicly available data to show you've done research and found a potential problem. - Best when: You have strong audit data, reviews, rankings, or observable gaps - Example: "I asked ChatGPT [keyword] and you ranked 15th behind [competitors]..." - Example: "I saw the review from Mary mentioning [specific issue]..." **Strategy 2: Billboard (Whole Offer)** Put the entire value proposition in the subject + first line. Self-selecting—they either need it or don't. - Best when: Data is limited but offer is compelling and clear - Example: Subject "Tax bill" → "How do you know your current accountant is getting you as much back as legally possible?" - Example: Subject "Growth" → "We help customers reach their entire TAM every two months." **Strategy 3: AI Generic** Use AI-generated variables from their website/LinkedIn to show personalization without deep research. - Best when: Broad campaign, need scale, can derive info from company description - Example: "Can you confirm you help {{ai_customer_type}} with {{ai_service_description}}?" - Example: "I had a question about the {{pricing_tier_1}} vs {{pricing_tier_2}} plan..." ### What You Present ```markdown ## Step 2: Subject Line + First Line Strategy Based on the campaign direction, here are 3 approaches: --- **Option 1: Problem Sniffing** ⭐ Recommended - **Subject:** "[Problem indicator]" - **First Line:** "[Show research that reveals a problem]..." - **Why This Works:** [Explanation of why this fits the campaign] --- **Option 2: Billboard (Whole Offer)** - **Subject:** "[Pain point or outcome]" - **First Line:** "[Direct question or statement about the offer]..." - **Why This Works:** [Explanation] --- **Option 3: AI Generic** - **Subject:** "[Colleague-could-send subject]" - **First Line:** "[AI-personalized opening]..." - **Why This Works:** [Explanation] --- Which approach do you want to use? Or would you like more options? ``` --- ## Step 3: Confirm Body Structure Once subject line and first line are approved, confirm the rest of the email structure. ### What You Present ```markdown ## Step 3: Body Structure **First Line:** [Approved from Step 2] **Value Proposition Angle:** [Which of the 3 offers: save time / make money / save money] [1 sentence on how we'll express this] **Case Study/Proof:** [Specific metric and customer type to reference] "We helped [customer type] achieve [metric] in [timeframe]" **AI Variables to Include:** - {{variable}}: [Purpose in the email] **The "Specifically" Line:** [Yes/No] [If yes: "Specifically, it looks like you're trying to sell to {{ai_customer_type}}, and we can help with that."] **CTA Style:** [Confirmation / Value-Exchange / Resource Offer] "[Actual CTA text]" **PS Line:** [Yes/No] [If yes: What it will contain] --- Does this structure work? Confirm to proceed to final copy. ``` --- ## Step 4: Output Final Copy Once all decisions are confirmed, output the complete campaign. ### Output Format ```markdown ## Final Campaign Copy ### Email 1 (Day 0) **Subject Line Options:** 1. [Option 1] 2. [Option 2] 3. [Option 3] --- **Variant A** ([Word count] words) ``` [Full email text with {{variables}}] ``` **Variant B** ([Word count] words) ``` [Full email text with {{variables}}] ``` **Variant C** ([Word count] words) ``` [Full email text with {{variables}}] ``` --- ### Email 2 (Day 3-4) - Threaded, No Subject [See Follow-Up Framework below] --- ### Email 3 (Day 7-8) - New Thread **Subject Line Options:** 1. [Option 1] 2. [Option 2] [Full email variants] --- ### Email 4 (Day 11-12) - Final Email [Full email variants] --- ### Variables Used | Variable | Source | Example Value | |----------|--------|---------------| | {{variable}} | [Where it comes from] | [Example] | ### QA Checklist - [ ] First line has specific signal - [ ] No banned phrases - [ ] Word count 50-90 (or justified to 125 with strong AI) - [ ] CTA is low-effort - [ ] Em dashes are "—" not "--" ``` ### Also emit a variants.yaml file (for upload) After presenting the markdown-formatted copy above, ALSO write a machine-readable `variants.yaml` to: ``` profiles//campaigns//variants.yaml ``` This file is consumed by `/smartlead-campaign-upload-public` to launch the campaign. Schema: ```yaml name: "" schedule: timezone: America/New_York days: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] start_hour: "08:00" end_hour: "17:00" min_time_btw_emails: 10 max_leads_per_day: 30 inbox_selection: tag: active count: 20 sequences: - step: 1 delay_days: 0 variants: - label: A subject: "" body: "" - label: B subject: "..." body: "..." - label: C subject: "..." body: "..." - step: 2 delay_days: 3 variants: - label: A subject: "" # empty for threaded follow-up body: "..." - step: 3 delay_days: 4 variants: - label: A subject: "" body: "..." ``` Critical: the YAML body content MUST match the markdown body exactly — same variables, same line breaks, same words. This is the same copy, just serialized for programmatic upload. --- # Core Copywriting Framework ## Philosophy - **Research IS the personalization** - Custom signals prove you did your homework - **Shorter & punchier** - Target 50-90 words; only extend to 125 if AI personalization justifies it - **Earn replies, not just meetings** - Confirm situation before selling - **One job per email** - Single sharp question or CTA - **About THEM, not you** - 3:1 ratio of them:us sentences minimum - **Light humor is good** - Relatable, peer-like humor works (e.g., "equipment older than some employees") - **"From my experience" framing** - When making claims about what "most" people experience, frame as personal observation --- ## Hard Rules (Never Break These) 1. **No em dashes** - Never use "—" in email copy. Use periods or commas instead. 2. **Company variable is always `{{company_name}}`** - Never use `{{company}}` 3. **Never use "Curious" as a subject line** - Too generic 4. **Personalized subject lines use lowercase** - "question for {{first_name}}" not "Question for {{first_name}}" 5. **No weak follow-up openers** - Never start follow-ups with: - "Following up on my last note" - "One more thought" - "{{first_name}}, quick one" - "Just checking in" - Any reference to previous emails 6. **Every email must stand alone** - Follow-ups should work as standalone emails with punchy first lines 7. **Preview text optimization** - Put the most compelling phrase early so it appears in preview text --- ## AI Personalization Decision Framework Before writing any campaign, ask: **"Can AI-generated company context add value, or is it noise?"** ### When AI Company Context Works AI personalization works when **the prospect's business context changes how your product helps them**: 1. **Variable use cases** - Your product can be applied in different ways depending on what they do - Scrunch: "As you're trying to get {{ai_product_type}} in front of {{ai_customer_type}}, AI search visibility matters" - Marketing agency: "For {{ai_customer_type}}, we'd focus on {{ai_channel_recommendation}}" 2. **Mission/focus alignment** - Your product frees them up to focus on their actual work - "Stop worrying about [your product category] so you can focus on {{ai_company_mission}}" - "While you're busy helping {{ai_customer_type}} with {{ai_value_prop}}, we handle [your thing]" 3. **Broad targeting** - Reaching across industries/company types where context varies - Facilities manager at a hospital vs. a hotel vs. a school = different messaging ### When AI Company Context Doesn't Work Skip AI personalization when **the use case is identical regardless of their business**: 1. **Commodity products with fixed use cases** - Vacuums clean floors the same way everywhere 2. **Narrow, homogeneous targeting** - Only reaching hotels? They all use vacuums the same way 3. **The personalization would feel forced** - "As you're vacuuming floors for hotel guests..." adds nothing ### The "So You Can Focus On" Pattern When AI context works, use this pattern to connect your product to their mission: ``` {{first_name}}, [situation recognition about your product]. [Value prop about your product]. So you can focus on {{ai_company_mission}} instead of worrying about [your product category]. Worth exploring? ``` **Example (Scrunch for SaaS company):** ``` {{first_name}}, noticed {{company_name}}'s organic traffic is down. AI referral traffic is growing 40% monthly. We track where you show up across every LLM. So you can focus on getting {{ai_product_type}} in front of {{ai_customer_type}} instead of guessing where buyers are researching. Worth a look? ``` **Example (IT services for any company):** ``` {{first_name}}, noticed {{company_name}} doesn't have a dedicated IT team. We handle IT support so growing companies don't need to hire in-house. So you can focus on {{ai_company_mission}} instead of troubleshooting tech issues. Worth a conversation? ``` ### AI Variables for Company Context - `{{ai_company_mission}}`: What they exist to do (from About page, LinkedIn description) - `{{ai_customer_type}}`: Who they sell to (from website) - `{{ai_product_type}}`: What they sell (from website) - `{{ai_value_prop}}`: How they describe their value (from website) ### Decision Checklist (Before Adding AI Company Context) - [ ] Targeting is broad enough that company context varies - [ ] Your product's value changes based on what they do - [ ] The AI variable adds genuine relevance, not just filler - [ ] Removing it would make the email feel generic **If any of these fail, keep copy static** and lean on situation recognition (new hire, traffic decline, hiring signal, etc.) instead of company context. --- ## The "3 Offers" Framework Every offer in the world is one of: 1. **Save time** (efficiency, automation, fewer steps) 2. **Make money** (increase revenue, more deals, growth) 3. **Save money** (reduce costs, better ROI, consolidation) Rotate through these across follow-up emails. If Email 1 was "save time," Email 2 should be "make money" or "save money." --- ## Variable Schema ### Core Variables (always try to include) - `{{first_name}}`, `{{company_name}}`, `{{role_title}}` - `{{company_domain}}`, `{{industry}}` ### High-Signal Variables (when available) - `{{tenure_years}}`, `{{recent_post_topic}}`, `{{recent_post_date}}` - `{{competitor}}`, `{{category_competitors}}` - `{{stack_crm}}`, `{{stack_marketing}}`, `{{stack_data}}` - `{{hiring_roles}}`, `{{open_roles_count}}` ### AI-Generated Variables (dynamic) - `{{ai_customer_description}}`: "fitness enthusiasts who want to breathe better" - `{{ai_customer_type}}`: "VPs of Finance" or "professional men looking for classic styles" - `{{ai_generation}}`: Flexible contextual generation based on website/LinkedIn - `{{ai_use_case}}`: Specific way they could use the product - `{{ai_pain_point}}`: Problem they likely experience ### Case Study Variables - `{{case_study_company}}`, `{{case_study_result}}`, `{{case_study_metric}}` - `{{case_study_customer_type}}`, `{{case_study_timeframe}}` ### Custom Signal Variables (campaign-specific) - `{{g2_review_complaint}}`, `{{github_repo_found}}`, `{{pricing_page_insight}}` - `{{chatgpt_ranking}}`, `{{bottom_funnel_keyword}}`, `{{negative_review}}` **Formatting:** Always use `{{double_braces}}` in drafts. --- ## Email Structure ### Target Length - **Primary target:** 50-90 words - **Extended (with justification):** Up to 125 words - Only extend when AI personalization or creative ideas add genuine value ### Structure Template **Line 1: Situation Recognition (1 sentence)** Describe THEIR exact situation. Be direct. - ✅ "Saw you posted about {{ai_generation}}. Looks like it was {{days_ago}} days since the one before that." - ✅ "Noticed you sell to {{ai_customer_type}}." - ❌ "I hope this email finds you well!" (delete) **Line 2: Value Prop + Proof (1-2 sentences MAX)** What you do + metric. No fluff. - ✅ "We helped companies like Lemlist double down on social with our scheduling tool." - ✅ "We've attributed a 4.7x increase in upgrades after adding product videos." - ❌ "We help companies scale their marketing efforts through innovative solutions..." **Optional: The "Specifically" Line (1 sentence)** Use when your service applies universally but their customers vary: > "Specifically, it looks like you're trying to sell to {{ai_customer_type}}, and we can help with that." **Line 3: Low-Effort CTA (1 sentence)** Binary question or simple offer. - ✅ "Worth a look?" - ✅ "Could I send you access?" - ✅ "Is this still the case?" - ❌ "Would you be open to scheduling 15 minutes next Tuesday at 2pm?" **Optional: PS Line** For AI specificity or additional hook when body is kept short. --- ## Subject Line Strategy ### Approach A: 2-4 Words (Intrigue) Best when using custom research signals. - "question for {{first_name}}" (lowercase q) - "{{company_name}} equipment" - "Saw your post" - "Competitor insights" **Banned subject lines:** - ❌ "Curious" - too generic - ❌ "Quick question" - overused **Test:** Can a colleague or potential customer send this? If yes, good. ### Approach B: Whole Offer in Subject + Preview Best when data is limited or offer is self-selecting. - Subject: "Ever chase renters to pay on time?" - Preview: "We built a platform that rewards renters for paying on time..." ### Approach C: Problem Indicator Best for problem sniffing campaigns. - "Looked you up on ChatGPT" - "Review from Karen" - "Starter vs. Professional" --- ## Opener Patterns ("Poke the Bear") ### Classic - Do you already have a reliable way to {{problem}}? - How are you currently handling {{process}}? ### Status Pressure / FOMO - Have you solved {{problem}} yet or is it still manual? - Have you figured out how to do {{outcome}} without adding headcount? ### Soft Humility - I may be wrong, but do you have something in place for {{area}}? - Totally possible you solved this. How do you handle {{process}} today? ### Efficiency / Leverage - How are you doing {{task}} without adding headcount? - What's your process for {{task}} without manual work? ### Binary - Is your process for {{area}} where you want it? - Will your current setup scale 12 more months? ### Redirect (Fallback) - Let me know if {{employee_1}} or {{employee_2}} would be better to speak about {{problem}} --- ## CTA Patterns ### Category 1: Confirmation (Earn Reply) - "Is this still the case?" - "Are you already doing X?" - "Worth exploring?" - "Just confirm [example] is accurate" ### Category 2: Value-Exchange (Why Meet) - "...so I can understand the situation and plead your case to Google" - "...to walk you through 3 custom ideas specific to {{company_name}}" - "...so I can show you the engagers of your competitor's last 10 posts" ### Category 3: Resource Offer (Low Commitment) - "Could I send you access to try it out?" - "Would it be useful if I sent those over?" - "Want to see a video of how this works?" **The Test:** Can they reply in 5 words or less? If no, simplify. --- ## Creative Ideas Campaign When suggesting specific ideas for their business, use the **constraint box** approach. ### The Critical Constraint Define 3-5 specific features/capabilities you ACTUALLY offer. Only suggest ideas using those features. **Bad (Unconstrained):** ``` • Build a referral program with gamification • Create a podcast series • Launch a TikTok influencer campaign Problem: You don't do these things. ``` **Good (Constrained):** ``` Input: Our capabilities are: 1. SEO content writing 2. Paid social ads (Meta/LinkedIn) 3. Email nurture sequences Output: • SEO content series around [keyword cluster] based on competitor gaps • Paid social campaign targeting [audience] using [platform feature] • Email nurture for [segment] addressing [pain] Result: All credible, all deliverable. ``` ### Creative Ideas Format ``` {{first_name}}, I was back on your site today and had some [marketing/creative] ideas for you. • [Action] using [Feature 1] targeting [specific thing], would help with [benefit] • [Action] using [Feature 2] targeting [specific thing], would help with [benefit] • [Action] using [Feature 3] targeting [specific thing], would help with [benefit] Of course, I wrote this without knowing your current bottlenecks and goals. If it's interesting, happy to share what's working in {{industry}}. ``` --- # Follow-Up Sequence Framework ## Philosophy - **Email 1:** They haven't seen it yet → Full campaign - **Email 2:** They saw it but didn't reply → Different value prop - **Email 3:** Still no reply → New thread, different angle, maybe drop AI - **Email 4:** Final email → Redirect OR offer resources **Key insight:** If they didn't reply to Email 1, that angle didn't resonate. Don't repeat it—rotate through different value propositions. --- ## Email 1 (Day 0) **Subject:** New subject line (2-4 words OR whole offer) **Strategy:** Custom signal OR whole offer OR creative ideas This is your best shot. Use: - Strongest research signal - Best case study - Clearest value prop - Most compelling CTA --- ## Email 2 (Day 3-4) - Threaded **Subject:** NONE (threads to Email 1) **Strategy:** Rotate value prop, use whole-offer if Email 1 didn't **CRITICAL:** Never start Email 2 with weak openers like "Following up" or "One more thought." Lead with a punchy first line that stands alone. ### Template 1: Whole Offer (If Email 1 Used Custom Signal) ``` {{first_name}}, from my experience, most [role] leaders are focused on [quick win category]. [Problem statement in 1 sentence]. We make [product] that [specific benefit]. Been doing it since [credibility]. Is [specific problem] on your radar? ``` ### Template 2: Creative Ideas ``` {{first_name}}, I was back on your site today and had some ideas for you. • [Action] using [Feature 1], would help with [benefit] • [Action] using [Feature 2], would help with [benefit] • [Action] using [Feature 3], would help with [benefit] Of course, I wrote this without knowing your current bottlenecks. If it's interesting, happy to share what's working in {{industry}}. ``` ### Template 3: Stats/Data Hook ``` {{first_name}}, here's what we found about {{company_name}}: • [Data point 1 about them] • [Data point 2 about them] • [Data point 3 about them] Our system [core capability in one sentence]. On a call, we can [specific deliverable]. Worth exploring? ``` --- ## Email 3 (Day 7-8) - New Thread **Subject:** NEW subject line (start fresh thread) **Strategy:** Consider dropping ALL AI personalization, go direct **CRITICAL:** Email 3 must stand completely alone. Lead with situation/pain, not a reference to previous emails. ### Template 1: Direct Problem Question ``` Subject: question for {{first_name}} {{first_name}}, when you took over at {{company_name}}, did you inherit [specific problem]? If so, we might be able to help. We've been [doing thing] since [year]. [Key differentiator]. Worth exploring? ``` ### Template 2: Whole Offer (Reset) ``` Subject: [Pain point, can be longer] {{first_name}}, most [role] leaders tell me the same thing. They inherited [problem] that costs more to [fix/maintain] than [replace/solve]. If that sounds familiar, we make [product] built for [outcome]. [Differentiator]. Is this on your radar? ``` ### Template 3: Case Study Deep Dive ``` Subject: [Customer type] case study {{first_name}}, quick story. [Customer type similar to them] was struggling with [specific problem]. They were [current bad state] and needed to [desired outcome]. We helped them [specific action] and they saw [specific metric] in [timeframe]. Given what {{company_name}} does, figured this might be relevant. Worth a quick chat? ``` --- ## Email 4 (Day 11-12) - Final Email **Subject:** Thread OR new (your choice) **Strategy:** Redirect OR Resource offer OR Value bomb ### Path A: Redirect to Another Person ``` {{first_name}}, if cleaning equipment isn't your department, let me know who handles procurement or maintenance at {{company_name}} and I'll reach out to them instead. Either way, appreciate your time. ``` ### Path B: Offer Resources ``` {{first_name}}, last note from me. If you're not in the market right now, we have a quick guide on [topic] that could help [specific benefit]. Would it be useful if I sent it over? ``` ### Path C: Value Bomb (Show Don't Tell) ``` Subject: show and tell {{first_name}}, last email. I figured you sell to customers like {{customer_type_1}}, {{customer_type_2}}, {{customer_type_3}}. I went ahead and pulled them off LinkedIn for you using our system. No human wrote this email. {{Contact_1}}, {{LinkedIn}}, {{Email}} {{Contact_2}}, {{LinkedIn}}, {{Email}} {{Contact_3}}, {{LinkedIn}}, {{Email}} Want to see a video of how I did this automatically? ``` --- ## Value Prop Rotation Example **Email 1 (Save Time):** "Are you thinking about how your SDRs could leverage better data and GPT-4 for prospecting?" → Focus on removing manual research **Email 2 (Make Money):** "Had some ideas for custom outbound workflows..." → Focus on pipeline/revenue **Email 3 (Save Money):** "Most teams hit a wall when they need to 3x volume but can't justify 3x headcount" → Focus on doing more with same team **Email 4 (Value Bomb):** Send them actual contacts → Show the tool in action --- # QA Checklist Run before finalizing ANY email. ## Banned Phrases (Delete These) **Generic openers:** - ❌ "I hope this email finds you well" - ❌ "I wanted to reach out" - ❌ "I hope you're doing well" - ❌ "Just wanted to touch base" **Weak value props:** - ❌ "We help companies..." (unless immediately followed by case study proof) - ❌ "Our solution..." - ❌ "I wanted to show you..." **High-pressure CTAs:** - ❌ "Would love to schedule..." - ❌ "Let's hop on a call" - ❌ "Can I get 15 minutes on your calendar?" ## Checklist | Criteria | Pass/Fail | |----------|-----------| | First line has specific signal (research, AI, or whole-offer) | ☐ | | No hallucinations (all facts verifiable) | ☐ | | Variables formatted `{{correctly}}` | ☐ | | No banned phrases | ☐ | | Recipient:sender ratio ≥ 3:1 | ☐ | | Word count 50-90 (or justified to 125) | ☐ | | CTA is low-effort (can reply in 5 words) | ☐ | | Reads naturally aloud (under 20 seconds) | ☐ | | No em dashes (use periods or commas) | ☐ | | Subject line is 2-4 words OR whole offer | ☐ | | "Would I reply to this?" = YES | ☐ | **All must pass before shipping.** --- ## How to Make Emails Punchier ### The Cutting Process (3 Passes) **Pass 1: Delete fluff (cut 20%)** - Remove all greetings ("I hope this finds you well") - Remove all "I wanted to" / "I was wondering" phrases - Remove all hedging ("perhaps", "maybe", "I think") **Pass 2: Compress sentences (cut 15%)** - Replace clauses with periods - "We built a platform that can do X" → "We do X" - "It seemed like X is focused on Y" → "X is for Y" **Pass 3: Cut adjectives (cut 10%)** - Keep only specific data ("4.7x", "Series B", "23%") - Delete: "great", "amazing", "powerful", "robust" ### Quick Compression Tactics - **Kill intro phrases:** Just start with the point - **Use periods, not em dashes:** Break long sentences into short ones - **Delete "that" and "which":** "We pull everyone engaging..." not "We built a platform that can pull everyone that is engaging..." - **Active voice always:** "Starter gives platform access" not "Starter is focused on getting people access" - **Numbers > words:** "3x" not "three times", "30 days" not "thirty days" ### Before & After Example **Before (94 words):** ``` Hey Sarah, I hope this email finds you well! I wanted to reach out because I noticed on your website that you seem to be selling to sales leaders and marketing executives. I saw that you recently raised a Series B and I had to assume you are probably using outbound tactics since I saw John Smith is a BDR on the team. I was wondering if you're thinking about how your team could be leveraging better data enrichment and GPT-4 to help make their prospecting more efficient? ``` **After (52 words):** ``` Sarah, saw you sell to sales leaders. Noticed John is a BDR on the team. Have you figured out how he could leverage better data and GPT-4 for prospecting, or still manual? Most teams save 10 min per prospect and 3x volume without adding headcount. Worth a look? ``` **What was cut:** - "I hope this finds you well" → deleted - "I wanted to reach out because" → deleted - "seem to be" → deleted - "recently raised a Series B and" → deleted (not relevant) - "I had to assume you are probably" → deleted - "I was wondering if you're thinking about" → "Have you figured out" - "to help make their prospecting more efficient" → deleted (implied) --- ## Scoring Rubric (0-100) | Dimension | Weight | What's Measured | |-----------|--------|----------------| | Situation Recognition | 25 pts | Specific data about them? | | Value Clarity | 25 pts | Clear offer + proof? | | Personalization Quality | 20 pts | Custom signal OR AI insight? | | CTA Effort | 15 pts | 5 words or less to reply? | | Punchiness | 10 pts | 50-90 words? No fluff? | | Subject Line | 5 pts | 2-4 words OR whole offer? | **85+ = Ship it** **70-84 = One more pass** **<70 = Start over** --- ## Final Reminders 1. **Work stepwise** - Confirm direction, subject/first line, body structure, THEN output 2. **Present options** - Give 2-3 approaches at each step with recommendations 3. **Generate more on request** - If they ask for more ideas, provide them 4. **Research IS the personalization** - Custom signals > clever copy 5. **Earn replies, not just meetings** - Confirm situation first 6. **When in doubt, simplify** - Shorter, clearer, more direct 7. **Feature-constrain creative ideas** - Only suggest what they can deliver 8. **Rotate value props in follow-ups** - Don't repeat what didn't work 9. **QA everything** - All checklist items must pass Now work stepwise with confidence. --- ## What to do next **Run `/spam-word-checker`** — it auto-triggers on any cold email draft. Make sure no banned phrases slipped in. Also self-review for: em dashes, vague CTAs ("let me know"), "partnership opportunity" subjects, and generic AI first lines. Then **run `/smartlead-campaign-upload-public`** — it takes your `variants.yaml` + a leads.csv and creates the campaign in Smartlead in DRAFT mode. You review in the Smartlead UI and hit Start manually. **Or wait:** if you don't have a list yet, pause here and run your list-building skill (`/prospeo-full-export`, `/disco-like`, `/google-maps-list-builder`, etc). Save the `variants.yaml` — it'll be waiting when you're ready. ## Related skills - `/campaign-strategy` — produces the campaign brief this skill writes copy for - `/icp-onboarding` — produces `client-profile.yaml` with ICP + offer context - `/spam-word-checker` — auto-triggers during copy generation - `/smartlead-campaign-upload-public` — takes the `variants.yaml` this skill produces and uploads to Smartlead