Optimizing Cold Emails and Subject Lines

To optimize cold emails, start with a brief and honest opening line, follow with a concise two-sentence bio that is relevant to the recipient, then ask a specific and easy-to-answer question tailored to their interests. End the email with a polite disclaimer about understanding their busyness and appreciating even a brief reply. Shorter subject lines, preferably under a few words and posed as a question, tend to work best. Avoid clickbaity or irrelevant subject lines that may lead to immediate disinterest. In Gmail, the preview of the email matters, so referencing the recipient's interests or previous interactions in the first line increases the likelihood of the email being opened.