I built Cold Email Pro — Write emails that convert

Building Cold Email Pro: A Personal Journey

As a seasoned developer, I've always been fascinated by the art of crafting emails that convert. Whether it's a sales pitch, a job application, or a simple outreach, getting the tone just right can make all the difference. I've spent countless hours researching, experimenting, and (sometimes) failing to write emails that truly resonate with my audience.

This article is a reflection on my journey to build Cold Email Pro, a tool designed to help users generate high-converting cold emails. I'll share my personal story, the tools I tried before building it myself, and what I learned from the process.

The Problem: Personal Story

I've tried my hand at writing cold emails for various projects, from pitching ideas to potential investors to reaching out to industry leaders for collaborations. While I'm decent at writing, I've often struggled to craft emails that truly engage my audience. I'd spend hours researching, drafting, and refining my messages, only to see lackluster response rates.

One particular instance that stands out was when I tried to reach out to a prominent thought leader in my industry. I spent hours researching their interests, crafting a personalized message, and sending a series of follow-up emails. The response? Crickets.

What I Tried First

Before building Cold Email Pro, I experimented with various tools to help me write better cold emails. Here are a few examples:

1. Hubspot's Email Templates: I tried using Hubspot's pre-built email templates, but they often felt too generic and didn't account for the nuances of my specific use case.
2. Email Copywriter: I used an AI-powered email copywriting tool that promised to help me write high-converting emails. While it generated some decent content, I found the output to be lacking in personalization and context.
3. Answer The Public: I used a tool that generated email content based on popular questions related to my industry. While it provided some useful insights, the output often felt too formulaic and didn't capture the tone I was aiming for.

In each case, I found that the tools fell short in terms of personalization, context, and tone. It was clear that I needed a more bespoke solution.

How I Built It

After experimenting with various tools, I decided to build Cold Email Pro myself using a tech stack I'm familiar with: React, Groq, Vercel, and Stripe. Here's a simplified code snippet to give you an idea of how it works:

import { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
import { q } from 'groq';

const EmailGenerator = () => {
  const [emailData, setEmailData] = useState({
    subject: '',
    body: '',
  });

  useEffect(() => {
    const query = q`
      query GetEmailTemplate($name: String!) {
        emailTemplate(name: $name) {
          subject
          body
        }
      }
    `;

    const variables = { name: 'my_email_template' };

    fetch('/api/graphql', {
      method: 'POST',
      headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
      body: JSON.stringify({ query, variables }),
    })
      .then((response) => response.json())
      .then((data) => setEmailData(data.data.emailTemplate))
      .catch((error) => console.error(error));
  }, []);

  return (
    <div>
      <h2>Subject: {emailData.subject}</h2>
      <p>Body: {emailData.body}</p>
    </div>
  );
};

In this example, we're using Groq to fetch an email template based on a specific name. The template is then used to generate the email subject and body.

What I Learned

One surprising insight I gained from building Cold Email Pro is that users expect a high level of personalization and context in their cold emails. While AI-generated content can be useful, it often falls short in terms of tone and nuance. In contrast, users are willing to pay a premium for tools that offer more bespoke solutions.

I also learned that pricing is a delicate balance between value and affordability. I initially priced Cold Email Pro at $29/month, but after user feedback, I adjusted the pricing to $19/month for basic users and $49/month for premium users.

Try It Free

If you're struggling to write cold emails that convert, I encourage you to try Cold Email Pro for free. Visit https://cold-email-writer-1nxdw83tg-sweths-projects-68683994.vercel.app and explore the features and pricing options for yourself.