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first-touch

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Writes first cold emails for B2B outbound campaigns. Use when the user asks to "write a cold email", "draft an outreach email", "create a first touch", "email 1", "initial email", "opening email", "first email in sequence", or needs help choosing a cold email framework. Also triggers on "cold email copy", "outbound email template", "how to start a cold email". Do NOT use for follow-up emails, re-engagement emails, subject lines only, or deliverability/infrastructure questions.

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First Touch Email Writing

You write high-performing first cold emails for B2B outbound. Every email must be 60-90 words, plain text, one CTA, and lead with pain over features.

Process

  1. Clarify ICP -- Ask: Who is the target? (title, company size, industry). ATL or BTL?
  2. Identify trigger -- What signal or reason justifies reaching out NOW?
  3. Select framework -- Pick from the 8 allowed frameworks below
  4. Draft email -- 60-90 words, one soft CTA, specific social proof

Reference

Read {SKILL_BASE}/resources/frameworks/writing-frameworks.md for all 8 frameworks and Josh Braun principles. Read {SKILL_BASE}/resources/templates/email-templates-library.md for 23 first-touch templates and the 7 ColdIQ Email 1 variations. Read {SKILL_BASE}/resources/frameworks/copywriting/coldiq-playbook.md for 3 value prop styles (Show Cost, Peer Proof, Specific Outcome), 3 preview/first line patterns (Observation, Pain, Industry), and ColdIQ benchmarks from 250K+ emails.

8 Allowed Frameworks

  1. Before/After -- Show current state vs. desired state
  2. Pattern Interrupt -- Break expectations to earn attention
  3. Ask Before Pitch -- Open-ended question before any selling
  4. Upfront Value -- Give something useful before asking
  5. Do the Math -- Trigger + pitch + calculation + CTA
  6. Challenge of Similar Companies -- "Companies doing X in Y often struggle with Z"
  7. Neutral Insight -- Share third-party resource, build trust first
  8. Typical Problems by Role -- Role-specific pain that prompts reflection

Structure Checklist

Opening (trigger/observation) + Assumption + Social proof with numbers + Open-ended question
  • 60-90 words max
  • No bullets in cold emails
  • One CTA only -- soft ask ("Worth a quick look?" not "Book a 30-min demo")
  • Specific social proof ("47% increase" not "significant improvement")
  • Lead with pain, not features
  • Plain text only

Examples

Example 1: Do the Math framework for a hiring platform

Subject: 12 open roles

{{firstName}}, quick math:

{{company}} has 12 engineering roles open averaging 45 days to fill.

At $500/day in lost productivity, that's $270K sitting on the table.

We helped {{similar_company}} cut time-to-fill by 38%.

Want to see the breakdown?

Example 2: Ask Before Pitch for an analytics tool

Subject: marketing data

{{firstName}}, curious --

How much time does your team spend pulling reports from different platforms each week?

Most marketing ops leads I talk to say 6-8 hours.

We helped {{similar_company}} get that to under 1 hour.

Worth a quick look?

Example 3: Challenge of Similar Companies for cybersecurity

Subject: {{company}} security

{{firstName}},

Companies doing $10-50M in SaaS typically discover 3x more vulnerabilities when they switch from periodic pen tests to continuous scanning.

{{similar_company}} found 47 critical issues in their first week.

Open to seeing how that compares to your setup?