The lesson
Quote a line from the recipient's own writing, say you're stuck on one part, and ask permission before asking the question.
The move
Subject "About your cold outreach tip", sent to Cathy at Woodpecker. Nick quotes her advice that influencers get tons of emails and need more than "I'm reading your blog. Great stuff." Then: "there's one thing that got me a bit puzzled. Do you mind if I send you a question?" He adds he could quote her in an article.
Why it works
- Our readQuoting her own sentence proves he read her post and it fits what her advice calls for, which is a chosen part of the article.
- Our read"Do you mind if I send you a question?" is a yes-or-no ask, which takes one word to answer.
- Our readThe offer to quote her gives her something in return, with a named source.
What not to copy
Don't reuse "I'm trying to figure out some outreach tricks" or fake a puzzle you don't have. Keep the quote of their exact words, a permission-sized ask and a stated payoff for them.
