Cold Emails Can Be Rough

Hmm, you posted the first email, and I agree with most here that it’s not pushy or salesy.

What’s the guilt trip he’s referring to? It sounds like you had him in an email sequence with the overused “oh, we’re you hit by a car? Maybe you just don’t want to talk to me” break up email.

Sounds like there’s a touch more.

Oh man. That’s a strong over reaction. Try to ignore it and keep going! Also, fwiw I’d take @louisswiss offer - post it here so we can all learn!

What was your original email?

Feel free to post your email here if you want some help avoiding that kind of response :)

Hey man that's rough, good luck with your startup, hope this comment helps even a tiny bit.

Oh man, hang on there. Just learn to disassociate yourself from the whole process. I know that it's hard. But they don't really know you as a person, aside that cold email you sent them.

And honestly, I think that's it's an overreaction and a single-case thing that you shouldn't lose sleep over. I think that most people understand and respect the hustle it takes to start building something from scratch.

Some critiques, though on your cold email:

1. Don't start with an apology. I do this mistake, too, in real life - I apologize a lot - and I used to do it in email. But I realized that it opens the floodgate to abuse on the other side, and the response you got is a good case in point.

Stand your ground, and tell them instead that it wouldn't take them long to read something valuable for them. It's a nice hook and you're staying courteous, while being firm about what you're doing.

2. Personalize it a bit. I know it's a cold email, but you could maybe write something specific based on the recipient. This can be how you found them, or how your product may be relevant to their needs.

3. Cut down on the filler words:

"So far we have a few starter projects and machine learning algorithms but I'm struggling as to whether building out those two categories more or branching out to others. If you have any suggestions I'd love to hear about them!"

-->

"We have some starter projects and machine learning algorithms. I'd like to get your feedback on whether we should expand them deeper or branch out to others."

Or something snappier.

4. Focus on your value prop

Self-explanatory. Why should they get the cold email? What's in it for them?

Hope these help :)!

Hey, at least you got a response! 😉

The way my cold emails are going I'd take that at this point...

Original email.

Subject: Advice On Startup
Body:

Hi,

Sorry for the cold outreach. I'm building a marketplace for developers to buy and sell code and I'm looking to developers for some advice on what you think would be useful.

So far we have a few starter projects and machine learning algorithms but I'm struggling as to whether building out those two categories more or branching out to others. If you have any suggestions I'd love to hear about them!

Thanks,

Andrew

Can I ask what the original email was?

Poor guy probably had a tough day and needed to take anger out on someone. It could have so easily been for the roles to be reversed between you and him, Andrew (not that you're at fault).

Hi Andrew,

This looks weird. That guy should be ill.

I checked your product and looks like we have the same target audience.

Maybe we can try some sort of co-marketing in future, after DeployPlace will be launched.

What do you think?