Lead-to-Close: step 2 (cold outreach from the brief)

Last tested 2026-04-26 Part of AI Prompts for Solopreneurs

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the prompt

This is step 2 of a four-step chain. Below is the lead brief from step 1 plus my offer. Produce a 3-line cold outreach email:

1. Reference the specific hook from the brief - not a generic compliment.
2. One sentence connecting that hook to my offer.
3. One question with a low-cost ask.

Respect the 'do NOT mention' list from the brief.

Banned phrases (do not use):
- I hope this email finds you well
- I came across your profile
- I wanted to reach out
- quick question
- no worries if not
- circling back

Subject line: under 40 characters, references the hook.

The lead brief from step 1:
{{step1_brief}}

What I offer:
{{my_offer}}

End with a marker: '--- End of step 2. When they reply positively, paste their reply + context into Lead-to-Close: step 3 (discovery call agenda). ---'

Why it works

Step 2 of the chain. Takes the lead brief from step 1 and produces a 3-line cold outreach email that uses the specific hook (not generic praise), respects the 'do not mention' list, and ends with one low-cost ask. The email is short by design - 3 lines, max - because longer cold emails get worse open-and-reply rates than shorter ones. The model is forbidden from using the banned-phrases list (carry over from the Tier 1 cold outreach prompt). Save the output, send the email, and when they reply positively, paste the reply context into step 3. Tested cleanest on Claude Opus 4.7.

Example output

Subject: the pivot from your Tuesday post

Hi Maya,

Your Tuesday post about cutting the content team to two people - the line about 'fewer pieces, deeper research' is the bet most marketing teams should be making.

We built PromptPaste for the moment after that bet, when two people have to do the work of five and need their best prompts one tap away.

Worth a 15-minute look at what your team's saved-prompt mess looks like?

Ivan

--- End of step 2. When they reply positively, paste the reply + context into Lead-to-Close: step 3 (discovery call agenda). ---

Common mistakes

Don't expand the email past 3 body lines. Reply rates drop sharply at 4+ lines because the email starts looking like a pitch instead of a note. Also: do not edit the model's output to make it 'warmer.' Warmth in cold outreach reads as inauthenticity. The honest, slightly direct tone is the differentiator. Third mistake: sending the email without the brief from step 1 having been substantive. If the brief was thin, the email will be thin - go back to step 1 and add more context before sending.

Lead-to-Close: step 2 (cold outreach from the brief)

Why it works

Example output

Common mistakes

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