A pattern-interrupt cold email that asks whether the prospect or a colleague is the right contact. It never reads as automated and earns a reply or an internal forward.
Template
Subject
you or {{colleague_first_name}}?
Hi {{first_name}} — wasn't sure whether to send this to you or {{colleague_first_name}}. Let me know if it's better suited to {{him_her}}. Either way: we recently helped {{case_study_company}} {{achieve_metric}}, and we'd love to do the same for {{company}}. Can I show you how we did it? PS — if {{colleague_first_name}} is the right person, would you mind forwarding?
Example
Subject
you or Jennifer?
Hi Max — wasn't sure whether to send this to you or Jennifer. Let me know if it's better suited to her.
Either way: we recently helped Northbeam generate $112K in net-new revenue from social, and we'd love to do the same for ABC Corp. Can I show you how we did it?
PS — if Jennifer is the right person, would you mind forwarding?Why it works
- The “you or [colleague]?” angle feels human and never looks automated.
- Drops relevant social proof, then a soft CTA.
- The PS ties back to the subject line and nudges an internal forward.
How to use this template
- 1Replace every
{{variable}}with details specific to the prospect. - 2Personalize the first line from real research — it's what earns the read.
- 3Keep it short (under ~120 words), and send the follow-up 3–5 days later if you don't get a reply.