# Cold email sequence generator Human Guide

## What This Is For
Generate personalized cold email sequences (7-14 emails) with A/B test subject lines, follow-up timing recommendations, and integrated social proof. It gives the agent a clearer input/output frame for email marketing: what context to ask for, what decisions to make, and what usable artifact to return.

Use this as a human-readable version of the Cold email sequence generator agent skill. It is meant for marketers, operators, founders, and other non-coders who want the workflow without reading agent-specific implementation instructions.

## When To Use This
- Use this when you need a repeatable process for cold email sequence generator.
- Use this when the task needs judgment, examples, constraints, or a clear output format rather than a one-off prompt.
- Use this when you want to hand an AI assistant enough context to produce a usable marketing artifact.

## When Not To Use This
- Do not use this when you only need a quick factual answer.
- Do not use this when the work depends on private data you cannot share with the assistant.
- Do not use this as a replacement for legal, compliance, financial, or medical review.

## What You Need Before Starting
- The goal or business outcome you want.
- The audience, customer segment, or market context.
- Any source material the assistant should respect, such as notes, briefs, examples, URLs, or brand guidance.
- Constraints such as tone, length, channel, deadline, region, or approval requirements.
- A clear definition of what a good final answer should look like.

## Step-By-Step Workflow
1. State the job clearly: "Use the Cold email sequence generator guide to help me with..."
2. Add context: audience, goal, offer, channel, source material, and constraints.
3. Ask the assistant to identify missing inputs before producing the final output.
4. Have the assistant follow the skill-specific guidance below.
5. Review the result against the final checklist and ask for revisions where needed.

## Skill-Specific Guidance
- references/email-templates.md — Per-position email templates (Emails 1-7), bodies, variables, and social-proof frameworks.
- references/output-format.md — Delivery structure, flow-and-timing table, sending best practices.
- references/optimization.md — A/B testing, performance benchmarks, segmentation, pro tips, setup checklist.
- references/quick-start-templates.md — Vertical-specific subject-line skeletons (SaaS, agency, partnership).
- Confirm the target audience (ICP) and the core value proposition with the user.
- Select the sequence type: Classic Cold Outreach (7 emails / 2 weeks), Fast-Track (5 emails / 1 week), Long-Play Nurture (12-14 emails / 4-6 weeks), Event/Trigger-Based (3-5 emails), or Re-Engagement (5 emails).
- Select the personalization level: Hyper-Personal (unique research per prospect), Account-Based (company-specific), Segment-Based (industry/role), or Volume (template with merge tags).
- Identify the key pain points and the strongest social proof (case studies, stats, named customers) to support the campaign.
- Build the sequence using the per-position templates in references/email-templates.md. Vary the angle across emails: Introduction, Value Proof, Different Angle, Social Proof, Resource Share, Direct Ask, Breakup.
- Generate A/B subject-line variations and assign send timing per email, following references/output-format.md.
- Add personalization guidance, performance benchmarks, and optimization recommendations from references/optimization.md.
- Assemble the final deliverable in the structure defined in references/output-format.md.

## Decision Points And Nuance
The original skill emphasizes: Contents, Workflow, Core Rules, Sequence Angle Map, Supporting file: references/email-templates.md, Email 1: The Introduction, Email 2: The Value Proof, Email 3: The Different Angle, Email 4: The Social Proof, Email 5: The Resource Share.

Use these questions to steer the work:
- What is the intended audience or buyer?
- What source material must be preserved?
- What should the assistant optimize for: clarity, persuasion, accuracy, speed, creativity, or conversion?
- What examples represent the desired quality bar?
- What should the assistant avoid?

## Common Mistakes
- Use one ask per email; never bury multiple CTAs.
- We created this after hearing [their role]s consistently struggle with [pain point]. Lots of actionable tips even if you never use our product.
- [ ] Daily send limits set (avoid spam flags)
- Avoid Mondays (inbox overload) and Fridays (weekend mode).

## Copy-And-Paste Prompt
```text
Use the Cold email sequence generator human guide.

My goal:
[Describe the business outcome]

Audience:
[Describe who this is for]

Context and source material:
[Paste notes, examples, links, or existing copy]

Constraints:
[Tone, length, channel, timeline, must-include items, must-avoid items]

Before producing the final output, ask me for any missing information that would materially improve the result.
```

## Final Checklist
- [ ] The output matches the original goal.
- [ ] The audience and context are reflected in the answer.
- [ ] Important constraints and source material were preserved.
- [ ] The assistant made the relevant decisions explicit.
- [ ] The final artifact is ready to use, review, or hand to the next person.

## Source
This guide was generated from the onewave-ai/claude-skills skill entry for `cold-email-sequence-generator`.

## Source Skill Notes
These notes preserve the nuance from the original skill. Use them as supporting reference when the workflow above feels too generic.

# Cold Email Sequence Generator

Craft personalized, value-driven cold email sequences with optimal timing, A/B-tested subject lines, and integrated social proof. The goal of cold email is to start a conversation, not to close the sale in the inbox.

## Contents

- references/email-templates.md — Per-position email templates (Emails 1-7), bodies, variables, and social-proof frameworks.
- references/output-format.md — Delivery structure, flow-and-timing table, sending best practices.
- references/optimization.md — A/B testing, performance benchmarks, segmentation, pro tips, setup checklist.
- references/quick-start-templates.md — Vertical-specific subject-line skeletons (SaaS, agency, partnership).

## Workflow

1. Confirm the target audience (ICP) and the core value proposition with the user.
2. Select the sequence type: Classic Cold Outreach (7 emails / 2 weeks), Fast-Track (5 emails / 1 week), Long-Play Nurture (12-14 emails / 4-6 weeks), Event/Trigger-Based (3-5 emails), or Re-Engagement (5 emails).
3. Select the personalization level: Hyper-Personal (unique research per prospect), Account-Based (company-specific), Segment-Based (industry/role), or Volume (template with merge tags).
4. Identify the key pain points and the strongest social proof (case studies, stats, named customers) to support the campaign.
5. Build the sequence using the per-position templates in references/email-templates.md. Vary the angle across emails: Introduction, Value Proof, Different Angle, Social Proof, Resource Share, Direct Ask, Breakup.
6. Generate A/B subject-line variations and assign send timing per email, following references/output-format.md.
7. Add personalization guidance, performance benchmarks, and optimization recommendations from references/optimization.md.
8. Assemble the final deliverable in the structure defined in references/output-format.md.

## Core Rules

- Always personalize the first line with something specific about the prospect or their company.
- Keep emails short; the best cold emails run under 100 words.
- Use one ask per email; never bury multiple CTAs.
- Honor replies immediately when a prospect says no or asks to stop.
- Run an A/B test on some variable in every campaign.
- Invest in follow-up: roughly 80% of responses come from emails 3-7.

## Sequence Angle Map

| Email | Angle | Length | CTA |
|-------|-------|--------|-----|
| 1 | Introduction (problem + quick win) | 50-100 words | Soft ask |
| 2 | Value proof (case study) | 75-125 words | Specific meeting time |
| 3 | Different angle (alt pain point) | 50-75 words | Yes/no question |
| 4 | Social proof (peer validation) | 60-90 words | Simple reply |
| 5 | Resource share (give first) | 40-60 words | Soft (let me know) |
| 6 | Direct ask (clear value prop) | 30-50 words | Direct meeting request |
| 7 | Breakup (last attempt + opt-out) | 25-40 words | "Should I close your file?" |

---

## Supporting file: references/email-templates.md

# Email Templates by Sequence Position

The classic 7-email sequence. Each entry lists goal, send timing, subject options, body template, and supporting frameworks. Adapt length and angle per the sequence type and personalization level chosen.

## Email 1: The Introduction

Send: Day 0 at 10:00 AM (Tuesday-Thursday)
Goal: Get them to read and recognize you are relevant.

Subject lines (A/B test):
- Version A (Curiosity): `Quick question about [their company]'s [specific challenge]`
- Version B (Value): `[Quantifiable outcome] for [their company type]`
- Version C (Personalized): `[Name], saw your post about [specific topic]`
- Recommended: Test A vs B initially; use C for highly personalized segments.

Body:

```
Hi [First Name],

I noticed [specific observation about their company/role/recent activity] and thought you might be facing [specific challenge common to their situation].

We've helped [similar company 1] and [similar company 2] [achieve specific outcome] without [common objection/pain point].

Worth a quick 15-minute conversation to see if we can do the same for [their company]?

Best,
[Your Name]
[Your Title]
[Company]

P.S. - [Personalized one-liner based on research - optional but powerful]
```