Cold DM Tips for Reaching CEOs

1 month as a VC, and I already received 600+ cold pitches. Only 3 were worth my time. Here’s why the rest failed - and how to ACTUALLY get a VC’s attention. 📚 Do your homework  Most founders spam every VC in sight. Mistake. VCs focus on specific industries and stages - find out who’s a match for YOUR project. Pro tip: Check their profile or website for investment focus areas like DeFi, AI, or gaming  🎯 Quality > quantity  Stop blasting the entire team at a VC firm. If you send the same message to 5 partners, you’ll look clueless. Research who’s most relevant and reach out to 1 or 2 max. 🔥 Warm intros win  Got a mutual connection? USE IT. A trusted referral completely transforms your chances of getting a response. No connections? Make them.  Focus on networking in the VC’s circles - events, groups, or mutual interests. 💌 Respect their inbox  Don’t send a random connection request on LinkedIn. Use InMail or get an intro.  Cold adding is the fastest way to get ignored. 🎤Nail your opener  Keep your intro short and to the point: - What problem is your project solving? - Why does it matter? - Why YOU are the team to do it. 3-4 sentences max. Nobody has time for your essay. 🍴Ask for a bite, not the whole meal  Don’t beg for a meeting. Ask for 15 minutes to gauge mutual interest. This makes it easy for them to say yes - and if you nail that first call, they’ll want more. 🌎 Engage in their world  Are they active in specific LinkedIn groups, Twitter Spaces, or Discords? Show up where they are and contribute value.  Being part of the conversation makes you memorable. ⏳ Play the long game  Building relationships with VCs takes time. - Show up at the events they’re attending - Engage meaningfully with their posts - Ask insightful questions If you do these things, you'll build familiarity - now you're no longer a stranger. Cold pitches fail when you treat them like a numbers game. Put in the effort to build a real relationship, and the right doors will start opening. 🔓 What’s your strategy for standing out in a crowded inbox? Drop your pitch below, and I’ll tell you if it’s VC-worthy. 👇

You spend 20 minutes researching someone, write a personalized message, hit send, and get blocked. That's not bad luck. You triggered something in the first three lines without realizing it. Here's what actually happened: Your message felt low-intent. Even though you researched them, even though you used their name, even though you mentioned their company, something in how you structured it made them think: "This was sent to 500 people." And when someone feels like target #247, they don't just ignore you. They block you. Here's the S.E.E.D framework we use to book calls without getting blocked: 1. Situational context-  ⤷ Start by showing you understand something happening in their world right now. ⤷ A market shift. A new hire. A product update.  ⤷ Not a compliment, a signal that says "I noticed." 2. Evidence of insight  ⤷ Drop one thought that proves you understand their landscape.  ⤷ "Usually when companies ship X, Y bottleneck shows up next."  ⤷ Insight is the new personalization. 3. Earned Permission  ⤷ Don't ask for a call. Ask for a micro yes.  ⤷ "Want the breakdown?" "Should I send it here?"  ⤷ Make it easier to say yes than to ignore. 4. Directional CTA ⤷ Your CTA shouldn't demand time; it should direct momentum.  ⤷Let them pull the conversation forward, don't push it. Outreach doesn't fail because people hate messages. It fails because people hate being treated like targets. When your message reflects thought, timing, and relevance, people don't block you. They engage with you. PS: Have you ever been blocked after sending what felt like a thoughtful message? #SalesTips #OutreachStrategy #ColdEmail #Personalization #SEEDFramework

Instantly analyzed 1M+ cold emails. Campaigns getting 20-30% replies had one thing in common that campaigns getting ghosted didn't: Hyperenriched data + micro-targeted lists. Here’s the framework used by the companies that book the most meetings: 1️⃣ STRONG OFFER Your ICP isn't just titles and company size. It's: - The outcome they want - The specific pain keeping them up at night - The language they use to describe their problem Get this wrong, and nothing else matters. 2️⃣ HYPERENRICHED DATA Going beyond name + email is non-negotiable. Job postings. Tech stack. Recent funding. Case studies. LinkedIn activity. The more data points you collect, the more relevant your personalization becomes. 3️⃣ AI PERSONALIZED LINES "Hope you're doing well" → delete "Saw you're hiring 3 AEs after your Series B" → open Make them think you actually researched them. Because you did. 4️⃣ MASTER THE FUNDAMENTALS Stop chasing 100 different angles. Get obsessive about three things: - Who exactly you're targeting (ICP) - What specific outcome you deliver (Offer) - How you communicate value (Copy) Depth > width. 5️⃣ SMALLER, SMARTER LISTS 500 hyper-targeted prospects > 100,000 spray and pray Smaller lists = more specific copy = better deliverability = higher reply rates. 6️⃣ FOLLOW-UP PROTOCOL Most replies don't come from Email #1. 4-touch sequence: Email 1: Personalized opener Email 2: Short bump (3-5 days) Email 3: Different angle (3-5 days) Email 4: Breakup email (3-5 days) Keep them short. Reference the original. Add new value. 7️⃣ VALUE-DRIVEN EMAILS Stop asking for their time immediately. Start offering value first: - "Happy to share what's working best right now" - "Would it make sense to send over a quick example?" - "Can I send you something that could help with [specific pain]?" Build trust. Then earn the conversation. 8️⃣ LONG GAME MINDSET Cold email isn't a magic pill. It's a compounding client acquisition system. Quality > rushing. Presence > pressure. Pipeline > quick wins. 9️⃣ DELIVERABILITY None of this matters if you land in spam. - Multiple domains - Multiple inboxes - 30-50 emails per inbox max - Proper technical setup - 30-day warm-up minimum Master deliverability or waste everything else. The top 1% don't use tricks. They master fundamentals, use better data, personalize at scale, and obsess over deliverability. What's the #1 mistake you see people make with cold email?

When I was at Salesforce, I used this exact cold email framework to book meetings with CEOs, COOs, and CFOs at the biggest companies in the world. Now I coach 100s of reps to use it—and they’re landing meetings that most sellers only dream about. Most reps never get to sell to the C-suite. Not because they don’t work hard. But because they reach out with transactional garbage that looks like every other email in the inbox. Executives don’t want another seller. They want a partner who understands their business. Here’s the cold email formula that works: 1. Warm and personal Lead with a sincere compliment. “I saw your podcast on ___…” “I read your Forbes interview and was moved by…” Show them you did your homework. Not some AI-generated flattery—real human admiration. 2. Shared values or struggle Make it human. “I related deeply when you talked about overcoming ___. I’ve faced something similar.” Vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s how you earn trust. 3. Research-backed insight Cite a 10-K, public statement, or article. “Based on your Q1 earnings call, I noticed you're focused on X.” Link to the source. Build credibility. 4. A sharp POV + direct linkage Don’t say, “We help companies like yours.” Say, “You’re trying to achieve X. Companies on that journey often hit Y. Here’s how we solve it.” Make the connection crystal clear. 5. Soft CTA, strong conviction No desperate energy. Just: “If this is a priority, would it make sense to connect?” You’re not begging. You’re offering value. If you want my exact cold email template (and to see 13 real email examples me and my clients used to book C-suite meetings) grab them here: https://lnkd.in/g84w_utx

How to Write Cold Emails That Actually Get Replies Cold emailing can feel like shooting arrows in the dark—most get ignored. But with the right approach, your emails can land opportunities instead of in the spam folder. Here’s how: 1. Subject Line is King • Keep it short & personalized (e.g., “Quick Question, [First Name]?” or “Loved Your Work on [Project]”). • Avoid spammy words like “Free,” “Limited Offer,” or “Act Now.” 2. Get to the Point (Fast!) • Nobody has time for long intros. State your purpose in the first two lines. • Example: “Hi [Name], I saw your work on [Project] and found it insightful. I’d love to connect and discuss [Specific Interest].” 3. Personalization Over Copy-Paste • Mention something specific about them—their work, recent post, or company. • Example: “I noticed your team at [Company] recently launched [Product]. The strategy behind it was brilliant.” 4. Value Over Ask • Instead of immediately asking for a favor, show how you can help them. • Example: “I’ve been working on [related topic] and found insights that might interest you.” 5. Clear and Low-Effort CTA • Make it easy for them to respond. Instead of “Let me know when you’re free,” try: • “Would love to chat—does Tuesday at 3 PM work for a quick 10-minute call?” 6. Follow Up Without Being Annoying • If no response, follow up in 3-5 days with a short, polite nudge. • Example: “Just wanted to check if you had a chance to look at my last email. Happy to connect whenever convenient.” Cold emails aren’t about luck—they’re about strategy. Master this, and you’ll turn cold contacts into warm opportunities. Remember one cold email and application on portal made me land up in JPMC. Have a cold email tip that worked for you? Drop it in the comments.

Want to write like a CEO? Cut the fluff. The best leaders communicate with: ✅ Clarity ✅ Brevity ✅ Impact They don’t send long, rambling emails. They don’t hide behind corporate jargon. They get to the point fast. I have written four books and have advised 300+ CEOs on their communications. Here’s the 5-part writing framework top executives use: 1 – The Subject Line Should Say It All Before you write anything, ask: ➡️ What’s the ONE thing I need them to know? ➡️ What’s the ONE action I need them to take? If you can’t answer this, don’t send it yet. 2 – Lead with the Bottom Line Busy people don’t have time for long intros. 💡 Start with the main point, not the backstory. ❌ “Hope you’re doing well! I wanted to reach out because we’ve been working on…” ✅ “Here’s the update: [Key message in one line].” 3 – Cut the Fluff High-level executives don’t read wordy emails. They scan. ✂ Remove “just,” “I think,” and “wanted to.” ✅ “We should move forward.” ✅ “The results show a 20% increase.” 4 – Be Direct, Not Rude Great leaders are clear, not cold. 🚫 “Per our last discussion, I believe this approach might be beneficial.” ✅ “Let’s move forward with this approach. Thoughts?” 5 – Always End with a Clear Ask ❌ “Let me know what you think.” ✅ “Can you approve this by Thursday?” 6 – Add Warmth Charismatic people are both competent and warm. If you follow 1-5, you may come across as competent but it may be hard to connect. Therefore, add some warmth at the end. ❌ “Looking forward to your response.” ✅ “Appreciate your time on this—excited to hear your thoughts!” 📌 Follow me Oliver Aust for daily strategies on leadership communications.

Dear cold LinkedIn DMers, Here's 10 tips from a communications coach to make sure your message doesn't immediately get deleted: (but also to simply seem more human and like you actually give a damn) 1. Address me by my name, not simply "hello" or "hi there" 2. I am a woman, not a "sir" (it's happened multiple times) 3. Comment on a piece of content of mine you've enjoyed [or disagree with!] and why (this mainly proves to me you're not a bot & that you're invested in my passion) 4. In order for me to care about you, you need to make me feel something (build rapport & connection by sharing a personal insight or story) 5. Don't expect a "sale" or "conversion" from one message. Leads need to be nurtured overtime, sometimes months. 6. Do NOT include a link to anything in your opening message. Unless we already have rapport, I do not care and I will not click on it. 7. Avoid complimenting something I'm doing only to follow up with how it could be made "even better" with your *insert service*. This is a backhanded compliment that serves YOU and I personally find it very disingenuous. 8. Do not ask for free advice. Period. If you have invested in building a relationship with me, that's a different story. However, upon first connecting with somebody, this is a very "what's in it for me" mentality. 9. Chase up if you don't get a response. I personally really like when people do this, it shows that you care about the relationship and you also respect I have a busy inbox and might take time to respond. 10. BE YOURSELF!! Seriously, the more YOU, the more I'll like you. If you send me something I know damn well was written by Chat GPT, you've lost me! Cold DMs are often like a bad sandwich. It looks unappetising, falls apart when you try to enjoy it and often leaves an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Don't be the bad sandwich xx #publicspeaking #communication #confidence #leadership #speakingtips #herspeakingcoach

Here's how I write a cold email to an Enterprise account, without pitching a solution. - CEO spoke about X (x = observation about a strategic objective their business is pursuing) - Not sure if you're seeing Y (y = hypothesized problem that commonly occurs as a result of that objective) - Are you weighing the pros and cons of A vs B? (A & B = two possible actions their business might take to address that problem; ex: hire a dedicated ENT sales team vs. upskill their existing MMKT sales team) - If so, ALPHA company was in a similar spot. Open to hearing how they thought through it? - Either way, great to see X. Instead of leading with our solution, we're leading with insight into how others have thought through the problem. Not sure how to fill in the "A&B" section? Go back to deals your team won. How were those accounts solving the problem before they bought from you? (Tip: go to the call recording of that first call and listen for how they were currently solving the problem) And, what other categories of spend (not direct competitors) did they evaluate in addition to your solution? Ex: when I was selling sales methodology, I wasn't just competing against other sales training companies. I was competing against sales tech, re-orgs, hiring, etc.

Everyone has been asking to see the cold email I sent Gal to land the Head of Sales role at Aligned against 749 other applicants. So here it is. Broken down line by line (and why it worked): #1 The Subject Line Arguably make-or-break. I used his exact wording from a recent LinkedIn post. The best way to stand out amongst one thousand other emails titled: “Interested in the Head of Sales role” is to repeat their own words back to them. #2 I introduced a problem. I didn’t start with: “I’m amazing.” “I crushed quota.” “I was the #2 out of 160 AEs” I made it about HIM and his current situation: a growing team of AEs with no management. #3 I named his team members directly. I referenced people already on the team and the outcomes they were driving. That showed I did my homework and already thought like an insider. #4 Only THEN I introduced the solution: Hire me. Not before. #5 I kept my experience section short. Resume attached. Metrics included. Numbers spoke for themselves. No four-paragraph story about one deal I closed in 2021. (And yes, of course I also sent an Aligned Room 😌) #6 I added social proof. I mentioned mutual connections he could quickly check with if he wanted validation. Fast trust. #7 I kept the CTA low pressure. Instead of: “Are you free Tuesday at 2:00?” It was: “If this is interesting, happy to chat.” Execs are busy. I didn’t even expect a response for at least a week. #8 The P.S. Underrated part of cold emails. Another opportunity to prove I researched the company. I understood the vision. I paid attention. Most people apply to jobs. Top sellers run a sales process. There’s a difference. Even in interviews. *Especially in interviews.