Freelance cold email: structure, example and mistakes to avoid

What the person reading your email expects

The person receiving your email doesn’t know you and already gets too many messages. Within a few seconds, they ask themselves: does this really concern me? Is it serious? What is expected of me?

A good cold email answers those three questions in fewer than 120 words.

The 5-part structure

1. A short, precise subject line about the company, not about you (for example “Your product videos on Instagram”).
2. A first sentence that proves you looked at their business: a real detail from their website, their social media or a recent project.
3. What you offer, in one or two sentences, and what it concretely brings them.
4. Proof: an example of your work, a link to your portfolio, a result you achieved for a similar client.
5. A simple request that is easy to accept: a 10-minute chat, or just “would this be of interest?”. And a sentence that lets them decline further contact.

Example to adapt

Subject: Your product pages in video

Hello,

I saw that you have just launched your new ceramics collection: the photos are beautiful, but the product pages don’t have any video yet.

I am a freelance motion designer. I create short videos (10 to 15 seconds) that show a product from every angle, ready for your website and Instagram.

Here are two examples for a candle brand: [link]

Would this be useful to you? If now is not the right time, just tell me and I won’t follow up.

Have a great day,
Camille
Freelance motion designer · camille-motion.com

Replace every item in brackets with real content. An email that still says “[Company name]” goes straight to the bin.

The mistakes that kill a cold email

• Talking about yourself the whole time (your background, your tools, your passion) instead of talking about them.
• Sending the same text to 200 companies: it shows, and it is spam.
• Attaching a heavy PDF or five attachments: a link is enough.
• Asking for too much at once (“a one-hour call this week?”).
• Forgetting to offer not to be contacted again.
• Writing a novel: beyond 150 words, nobody reads to the end.

Do it in seconds with Prospera

The hardest part of a cold email is the personalised first sentence: you need to find a real detail about the company. Prospera does it for you: it finds a company that matches your skill and writes an email based on its activity, in the tone you choose and with your signature. You stay in control: you review, edit and send it yourself.

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