This may be interesting for start-up founders... It's a great example of how a fellow IndieHackers member connected and started a sales dialogue. I posted it as a Tweet here if you want to share or follow, but also have the text below.
Commentary is encouraged. And thanks for reading.
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Today's Start-up Sales Technique -
Cold emails can work, esp if they're not cold.
I got hit up by a start-up founder with a cold email in response to a post I placed on @IndieHackers. Thought I should share it as its a great example of how to to start a sales conversation.
"Hi Brendan,
I found your answers on Indiehackers quite interesting and since you're an expert in sales thought I'd take a chance & reach out!"
Off to a good start. 1)Personal. 2)Explained how he found me. 3)Deft compliment w/o being smarmy "expert in sales (of course!)
"I'm trying to make tracking the information on when the prospect is most likely to buy less of a pain for B2B salespeople through a curated database."
Also good. 1) Specific description of the problem/solution. 2) 'B2B' and 'salespeople' so again applicable to me.
Two sentences in and I'm intrigued.
"I have a few early customers but need feedback from experts in the B2B space to understand who (and how) will benefit from it the most. You've been successful at it for a while, would you have time to check this out?"
There's the 'ask.'
This founder is still in customer development and product definition mode, so a request for feedback from an 'expert' (me...I feel warm all over now) is all he wants. Not selling, but looking for comments. And "would you have time" is a nice touch.
Then, two links to review.
Four sentences, but tailored. And by starting with how he knows me, we share a community. And then we share interests (B2B, sales, start-ups.)
So I responded. Checked out his new product. Gave it some thought and sent him a Loom video.
Here's the kicker...
After checking out my comments, he tweeted a shout out thank you and retweeted one of my posts.
Win/win. And unexpected.
And I'll probably end up buying his product.
Well done, @akhilmk !
So emailing people who have never heard about you before actually works ?! 😁 Awesome approach great job @akhilmk
Haha, you know this better than most Victor! Thanks for this and also appreciate your thoughtful responses in the IH sales group.
just to be the devil's advocate on the copy that was shared by @BrendanMcAdams, I think you're using too many "I's" and not enough "YOU's", and also you're making it a bit too much about what you are looking for VS what's in for them
That's fair, I guess. How would you have improved it?
Appreciate this Brendan! I had done some successful cold email outreaches in the past but the biggest credit to the template of this particular email must go to fellow
Indiehacker John Yen's email teardown a few weeks back.
His excellent analysis on Indiehackers was what I adapted for my situation and personalized as best as I could.
this? https://www.indiehackers.com/post/a-cold-email-that-worked-e4d512ae90
thanks! lol.
My pleasure!
And kudos to @8bit!