The soft pitch email is a crucial outreach tool for starting a conversation with a prospect without a direct sales ask. In this post, we’ll define the soft pitch, break down when and why to use it, provide examples and best practices, and showcase how ProfitOutreach’s email automation can help you implement soft pitch emails that generate more responses.
What is a Soft Pitch Cold Email Template?
A soft pitch email is an introductory outreach message focused on providing value to the prospect instead of making a hard sales pitch. The goal is to build rapport, establish your credibility, and get a conversation started without directly asking for a sale.
The main components of a soft pitch email typically include:
- A personalized greeting and introduction stating who you are and your company.
- An explanation of why you are reaching out to this particular prospect by highlighting a shared connection, their pain points, or how your solution can benefit them.
- Valuable content like industry insights, new product announcements, invitations to webinars, or other resources tailored to the prospect’s interests.
- A soft cold email call to action to continue the conversation such as asking to connect on LinkedIn, requesting a short meeting or call, or posing an open-ended question.
- A signature with your contact information.
Soft pitch emails work well for initial outreach to cold prospects or when you want to create awareness and generate interest before directly selling. They help move prospects down the sales funnel by establishing your authority and credibility.
Why is Soft Pitch Cold Email Template Useful?
The soft pitch email template offers several key advantages that make it a powerful outreach tool, especially for early-stage prospecting.
First, soft pitch emails have higher open and response rates because they focus on being helpful rather than salesy. Leading with value builds trust and gets recipients engaged.
Additionally, soft pitches initiate a conversation without asking too much too soon. This allows you to establish rapport before discussing business needs.
Finally, the soft pitch email is extremely versatile. You can customize it with different types of valuable content to appeal to various prospects. This flexibility makes it effective at opening doors across diverse audiences.
In short, the soft pitch template breaks down barriers and creates engagement by leading with value. It excels at kickstarting conversations to generate sales opportunities.
When to Use Soft Pitch Cold Email Template?
The Soft Pitch Cold Email Template is a nuanced tool whose efficacy is significantly bolstered when employed at the right moment within an email outreach sequence.
Its strategic deployment can enhance engagement, foster trust, and pave the way for a fruitful dialogue.
Below are the optimal moments within various cold email sequences to utilize the soft pitch template:
Initial Outreach
At the outset of your email outreach, a soft pitch template can be invaluable. It allows you to introduce yourself or your business in a non-intrusive manner, focusing on providing value rather than pushing a sale. This sets a positive tone for the interactions that may follow.
Follow-up After No Response
If your initial email didn’t elicit a response, a soft pitch in your follow-up email can be a gentle nudge. It reiterates your value proposition without being pushy, showing persistence in a respectful manner.
After Providing Value
Once you’ve shared valuable insights or resources in previous emails, employing a soft pitch can be a tactful way to guide the conversation toward your offerings. It’s an organic progression from providing value to suggesting a solution.
Re-engagement
When attempting to re-engage contacts who have gone cold or haven’t interacted in a while, a soft pitch template can reignite the conversation in a less direct manner, making it feel less transactional and more relationship-oriented.
Post-Webinar or Event Follow-up
After hosting or participating in a webinar or industry event, a soft pitch email can help keep the momentum going. It’s a gentle way to stay on the radar of the attendees and nurture the relationships formed during the event.
Content Promotion
When promoting new content or resources, utilizing a soft pitch allows you to share these assets in a way that focuses on the benefits for the recipient, rather than just broadcasting your achievements.
The strategic role of the Soft Pitch Cold Email Template at different stages of the outreach sequence is nuanced, and its effectiveness is largely influenced by timing.
Deploying it judiciously not only reflects a well-thought-out approach but also aligns with the recipient’s journey, ensuring a more receptive audience and a higher likelihood of achieving your outreach objectives.
Examples of Soft Pitch Cold Email Template
Below are five detailed examples of Soft Pitch Cold Email templates, each tailored for a different purpose.
Example 1: Networking
Subject: “Recent Blog Post & A Suggestion”
Hi [Recipient’s Name],
I recently came across your blog post on [Topic]. The insights on [specific point] really resonated with me. I also write about similar topics and thought of sharing my recent article on [related topic] that may interest you.
I was wondering if you’d be open to having a coffee chat sometime next week to exchange ideas?
Looking forward to it,
[Your Name]
Analysis:
- This email is personalized and shows appreciation for the recipient’s work.
- The soft ask for a coffee chat is non-intrusive and fosters the idea of mutual benefit.
- It’s likely to have a higher response rate as it comes across as genuine and open to dialogue.
Example 2: Content Promotion
Subject: “Thought you might find this useful”
Hi [Recipient’s Name],
I’ve been following your discussions on [Platform] about [Topic]. I recently published a guide that tackles some of the challenges you mentioned. Thought it might provide some additional insights.
Here’s the link: [link to your guide]
Would love to hear your thoughts!
Warm regards,
[Your Name]
Analysis:
- The email aligns a piece of content with the recipient’s expressed interests or challenges.
- It provides value upfront, making the recipient more likely to engage.
- The soft ask for feedback is engaging and opens the door for further conversation.
Example 3: Product Introduction
Subject: “A Tool to Ease [Specific Problem]”
Hi [Recipient’s Name],
I noticed that your team has been exploring solutions for [specific problem]. Our tool, [Product Name], has helped similar teams streamline their processes.
I’d be happy to share some success stories or arrange a brief demo if you’re interested.
Best,
[Your Name]
Analysis:
- This email identifies a problem and softly introduces a potential solution.
- Offering to share success stories or a demo is a soft sell approach that can pique the recipient’s interest without being overly pushy.
Example 4: Customer Engagement
Subject: “New Insights on [Topic]”
Hi [Recipient’s Name],
It’s been a while since we touched base. I recently came across some new insights on [Topic] that could be beneficial for [Recipient’s Company]. Would you be open to catching up over a call next week?
Warm regards,
[Your Name]
Analysis:
- The email re-engages the recipient with a value-driven approach.
- The soft ask for a catch-up call is a gentle nudge to revive the communication.
Example 5: Post-Event Follow-Up
Subject: “Continuing the Discussion from [Event Name]”
Hi [Recipient’s Name],
It was great connecting at [Event Name]. I really enjoyed our discussion on [Topic]. I’d love to explore our conversation further and see how we might collaborate. Are you available for a call next week?
Best,
[Your Name]
Analysis:
- This email builds on a previous interaction, making it personalized and relevant.
- The soft ask to continue the discussion is a natural next step and opens the door for collaboration.
Each of these examples demonstrates a tactful approach to various outreach scenarios with the Soft Pitch Cold Email Template. The focus is on providing value, fostering engagement, and subtly guiding the recipient towards a desired action without being overly salty, which often leads to better engagement and a higher likelihood of achieving the desired outcome.
How ProfitOutreach Improves Soft Pitch Cold Email Template
ProfitOutreach can greatly enhance the effectiveness of soft pitch cold email templates by enabling robust personalization at scale. Here are some of the key ways ProfitOutreach improves soft pitch emails:
Personalization Powered by Data
ProfitOutreach connects to various data sources like LinkedIn, Clearbit, and more to pull in prospect info. This data gets used to customize soft pitch emails with personalized greetings, company/role mentions, and relevant content.
Custom Sequencing Flexibility
Users can choose from various soft pitch email templates and string them together into sequences optimized for different goals. The ability to adapt email flows improves relevancy.
Effortless Personalization at Scale
ProfitOutreach removes the tedious effort of personalizing and sending one-off emails by automating the process across your entire outreach database. You save time while sending tailored soft pitches.
In summary, ProfitOutreach takes soft pitch emails to the next level through in-depth personalization powered by data, automation, and analytics. This results in higher open rates, increased engagement, and more sales opportunities.
Best Practices for Soft Pitch Cold Email Template
Here are some best practices and common pitfalls to avoid with soft pitch cold email templates:
Best Practices
- Lead with relevant value, not a sales pitch. Focus on solving a problem or meeting a need rather than touting product features upfront.
- Research the prospect’s pain points and interests. Tailor the value you provide to resonate with them specifically. Generic outreach has lower response rates.
- Keep initial emails concise at 3-4 paragraphs. You want to deliver value without overloading the prospect.
- Use a conversational and friendly yet professional tone. Avoid using overly sales language.
- Personalize every aspect including the subject line, greeting, company mention, content, and sign off with first name.
- Ask open-ended questions to encourage responses and further dialogue.
- Provide multiple ways to follow up such as requesting a meeting, asking for feedback, or posing a question.
- Follow up if you don’t receive a response within 1 week. Consider changing up the value offered.
Common Pitfalls
- Sending generic soft pitches without personalization or relevant value.
- Making it too long or overly promotional sounding. Don’t oversell upfront.
- Not having a clear next step or call to action for the prospect.
- Using an impersonal subject line like “Greeting from [Company]” instead of adding value.
- Not following up or changing your approach if you don’t get a response.
- Overusing soft pitches without ever making a specific ask or transitioning to a product pitch.
- Forgetting to include your contact details in the email signature.
- Using overly casual language or misspelling the prospect’s name. This damages credibility.
Following best practices for personalization and value delivery in your soft emails will boost engagement while avoiding common mistakes and increasing sales conversions.
Conclusion
The soft pitch email is a foundational outreach tool for initiating meaningful conversations with prospects by leading with value.
Utilize data personalization, contextual insights, and follow-up flexibility with ProfitOutreach to craft soft pitch sequences that create more sales opportunities.
Sign up today to start sending tailored soft pitches at scale.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Soft Pitch Cold Email Template
Here are some frequently asked questions about the soft pitch cold email template:
How often should I use the soft pitch cold email template in my outreach campaigns?
The soft pitch template is versatile and can be used as often as needed, especially in the initial stages of outreach to gently introduce your offering. The frequency of usage may vary depending on your industry and the nature of your relationships with your prospects.
Can the soft pitch cold email template be customized for different industries?
Absolutely! The soft pitch template can be tailored to reflect the language, concerns, and interests prevalent in different industries. Utilizing a platform like ProfitOutreach can significantly simplify the customization process, ensuring your message resonates well with recipients from various sectors.
What makes the soft pitch cold email template different from other templates?
The soft pitch template is designed to introduce your offer in a subtle, non-intrusive manner. Unlike more direct or hard-sell templates, it aims to build a rapport with the prospect, paving the way for further engagement.
Is the soft pitch template effective for cold outreach to high-level executives?
Yes, in many cases, high-level executives may appreciate a softer, respectful introduction over a hard sell. The soft pitch can demonstrate a level of professionalism and courtesy which may resonate well with busy or high-level individuals.
How can I measure the effectiveness of my soft pitch emails?
Metrics such as open rates, response rates, and conversion rates are crucial indicators of your soft pitch email’s effectiveness. Tools like ProfitOutreach can provide valuable insights and analytics to help you measure and optimize your campaigns.
Can I combine the soft pitch template with other email templates in a campaign?
Definitely! Combining soft pitch emails with other templates, like follow-up or value proposition emails, can create a well-rounded campaign that nurtures prospects through different stages of the engagement funnel.
How can ProfitOutreach assist in optimizing my soft pitch cold email template?
ProfitOutreach offers features for high-level personalization and automated sequence creation, which can significantly enhance the relevance and impact of your soft pitch emails. It provides a streamlined platform for crafting, managing, and optimizing your soft pitch cold email campaigns, aligned with best practices for enhanced engagement.
