Claude Outreach Prompt Template
You get a cold message short enough to read on a phone, clearly relevant to this specific person, with one low-effort ask. This version is set up for Claude: attach the documents, code or data the prompt refers to, or paste them below the prompt. Below you'll find the prompt, how to run it in Claude, a worked example and answers to common questions.
Write a cold outreach message. ## Who I am contacting Name and role: [first name, job title, company] Why them specifically: [something real: a post, a hire, a launch, a mutual contact] What they likely care about: [their goals or problems] ## Me Who I am: [one line] What I offer: [the result you help with, not features] Proof: [one specific customer result, credential or example] ## The ask [e.g. a 15-minute call, a reply, feedback on an idea] ## Channel [email, LinkedIn message, other] ## Instructions - Under 100 words. - First line is about them, based on the "why them" detail. No "I hope you are well." - One sentence on what I do, tied to their situation. - One piece of proof. - One clear, small ask. - No buzzwords, no fake familiarity, no invented details about them. ## Output format Three versions with different opening lines. For email, add a subject line under 6 words for each. Context - Reference material: [paste it below, or attach the file]
How to use this prompt
- 1
Open Claude
Start a new chat in Claude and paste the prompt.
- 2
Give it context
Attach the documents, code or data the prompt refers to, or paste them below the prompt.
- 3
Review and iterate
Reply in the same chat to refine. Point to the exact part you want changed.
- 4
Save what you repeat
If you use this prompt often for one body of work, set it up in a Claude Project with the instructions and reference files saved.
Working in Claude
- •Claude handles long documents well, so paste the full source text rather than a summary when accuracy matters.
- •Longer pieces of writing or code may open in a side panel (an artifact) that you can edit and ask Claude to revise.
- •Clear structure helps: separate instructions from the material with headings or tags such as <document>.
Worked example
What you give it
Contacting: Ken, VP of Engineering at a 200-person fintech. Why him: he posted that his team is hiring 15 engineers this quarter. Cares about: hiring fast without lowering the bar. Me: I run a technical interview service. Offer: we run first-round interviews so engineers are not stuck interviewing. Proof: helped a payments company cut engineer time on interviews by 60%. Ask: a 15-minute call. Channel: email.
What a good answer looks like (shortened)
Version 1 Subject: 15 engineers this quarter Hi Ken, saw your post about hiring 15 engineers this quarter. That is a lot of interview hours for your current team. We run first-round technical interviews for engineering teams, so your engineers only meet candidates who already passed. A payments company we work with cut engineer time on interviews by 60%. Worth a 15-minute call to see if it fits? Version 2 Subject: Interview hours for your team Hi Ken, hiring 15 engineers usually means someone on your team is doing two interviews a day... Version 3 Subject: First-round interviews Hi Ken, quick question about your hiring push this quarter...
Tips for better results
- •The "Why them specifically" line decides whether the message gets read. Use something real and recent.
- •Pick one piece of Proof, the one closest to their situation. A single relevant result beats a list of logos.
- •Clear structure helps: separate instructions from the material with headings or tags such as <document>.
- •Avoid this: Using a fake personal detail the AI made up, which ruins credibility the moment the person reads it.
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Variations
Partnership
Change The ask to: exploring a co-marketing idea: [idea]. Explain what is in it for them in one sentence.
Podcast guest pitch
Replace What I offer with: a guest topic idea [topic] for their show, with two specific points I would cover.
Warm intro
Add this line to Who I am contacting: We were introduced by [name]. Mention it first and keep the message under 70 words.
Save it as a Retext snippet
Retext is a free text expander for Mac. Save this prompt once, then type ;outreach in any app (ChatGPT, Claude, your editor, a browser tab) and the full prompt is pasted in.
- Click Add to Retext. The prompt installs as a snippet with the trigger ;outreach.
- Change the trigger in Retext if you prefer a different one.
- Type the trigger wherever you want the prompt, then fill in the brackets.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send AI-written cold emails at scale?
You can draft faster, but the reason you are contacting each person should be real and specific to them. Mass messages with fake personalization tend to get ignored or marked as spam.
Should I use a Claude Project for this prompt?
If you run it often against the same reference material, yes. Save the prompt as the project's instructions and upload the files once.
What is the best length for a cold email?
Short enough to read in a few seconds on a phone. Under 100 words usually works, with one idea and one ask.
How do I reuse this prompt without copying it every time?
Click Add to Retext to save it as a snippet. Then type ;outreach in any Mac app, including your AI tool, and the full prompt is pasted in.
Related Templates
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Our best coding prompts in one Markdown file, delivered by email. The templates here stay free either way — the pack just saves you the copying.