my cold email confession


Hey, hey Reader,

Before I started my copywriting business, I was a teacher for 14 years.

And with that came a lot of hidden beliefs and fixed mindsets.

The copywriting course I took leaned heavily on cold emailing, but I flat-out refused.

It felt spammy and too pushy.

Most of all, it didn’t feel like me.

Then a coach reframed it for me:

“If you’re genuinely helpful, you’re saving businesses from a long, painful hiring process. They’ll thank you for reaching out.”

That changed everything.

And since we’re officially in “cold email season” with districts, I want to share my tried-and-true tips for emails that get engagement:

  • Open-loop subject line – spark curiosity
  • Close the loop inside the email
  • Open-loop CTA – give them a reason to click
  • 70 words or less – keep it scannable
  • Short lines, no big blocks of text
  • You-focused (not “I know…”;“we do X…”)
  • Clear benefits of your solution
  • Middle school reading level – use Hemingway App to check this.
  • Role-aligned social proof – match their title, school profile, or demographics to your proof
  • Bleed in the first line — skip formalities and begin in media res.

Any questions? Reply and ask away. I’m happy to share examples or workshop your first one.

And as always, I'm rooting for you,

Kelly

Whenever you’re ready, here are a few ways I can help you win more district deals.

  1. EdTech Email Alchemy — Join the waitlist (Re-opening this fall).
  2. Strategy Power Hour — Book a 1:1 hour-long sesh with me (And, if we decide to continue our work together, that first hour’s on me.)
  3. Case Study Blueprint — Turn ‘nice story’ into ‘district proof’. Buy now.
  4. Say👋 on LinkedIn — Connect with me there.

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EdTech Email Alchemy: Turn Your Emails Into District-Winning Deals

Strip away distractions and shiny objects to deliver the email marketing results you need in EdTech. If you're a customer success manager, a marketer, a copywriter, or a founder, every Wednesday get weekly tips to reach and genuinely engage school district decision-makers.

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