ChatGPT Prompt for Cold Email Follow-Up

This prompt helps you write a professional follow-up email when a prospect hasn’t responded to your initial outreach. Perfect for sales professionals, freelancers, and business owners who need to re-engage leads without sounding pushy. The AI will generate a polite, value-driven message that increases your chances of getting a reply.

Works Best With: ChatGPT (GPT-4 recommended) | Also works in: Claude, Gemini

The Prompt

Write a follow-up email to [PROSPECT NAME] who works as [JOB TITLE] at [COMPANY]. 
I originally reached out about [YOUR PRODUCT/SERVICE] on [DATE]. 
My goal is to [DESIRED OUTCOME – e.g., schedule a demo, get feedback, restart conversation].

Make the email:
– Brief (under 100 words)
– Friendly and non-pushy
– Include one specific value point about how we can help with [THEIR PAIN POINT]
– End with a simple question to restart dialogue

When to Use This Prompt

• A prospect opened your email but didn’t reply (7-14 days ago)
• You had a good initial conversation but the lead went cold
• You want to check in without being overly salesy
• You’re following up after a networking event or referral introduction

What You’ll Get

The AI will generate a concise, professional follow-up email that acknowledges the time gap without making it awkward, provides a quick value reminder about why you’re relevant, asks a low-pressure question to invite re-engagement, and maintains a friendly, helpful tone that doesn’t feel desperate or pushy.

Why This Prompt Works

• Specific context: Giving the AI your prospect’s role and company helps it tailor the message appropriately, making it feel personalized rather than templated

• Constraints on length and tone: Prevents overly long or salesy outputs; keeps it conversational and scannable for busy prospects

• Value-first framing: The prompt instructs the AI to lead with how you can help, not what you want from them, which increases reply rates

• Simple call-to-action: Ending with a question makes it easy and natural for the prospect to reply, lowering the friction to engagement

How to Customize This Prompt

1. [PROSPECT NAME] — Use their first name for a personal touch
2. [JOB TITLE] / [COMPANY] — Shows you’ve done your research; helps the AI tailor the message to their role
3. [DATE] — Reference when you last reached out (e.g., “two weeks ago” or “last Tuesday”)
4. [YOUR PRODUCT/SERVICE] — Keep it brief—one phrase max (e.g., “CRM software” or “copywriting services”)
5. [THEIR PAIN POINT] — Reference a challenge their role/industry faces that you solve (e.g., “reducing sales cycle time” or “improving email response rates”)
6. [DESIRED OUTCOME] — Be specific about your goal—scheduling a call, getting feedback, or simply restarting conversation

Pro Tips

• Regenerate 2-3 times: Pick the version that feels most natural to your voice and communication style—AI rarely nails it on the first try

• Add a P.S.: Ask the AI to include a P.S. with a specific insight or resource link relevant to their industry for extra credibility

• Test different tones: Try adding “make it more casual” or “keep it highly professional” to match your brand voice and relationship stage

• Combine with research: Paste in a recent LinkedIn post or company announcement to make the follow-up ultra-relevant and show you’re paying attention