Crafting Epic Prompts for Outbound Sales Emails

In the world of outbound sales, first impressions matter. A poorly written email can instantly turn off a prospect, while a well-crafted one can open the door to a meaningful conversation—and even a sale. The challenge, of course, is creating those compelling emails at scale. That’s where AI tools like GodmodeHQ come in.

In this article, we’re diving into how to write prompts that enable AI to produce epic outbound messages. These prompts are the secret sauce behind personalized, impactful, and scalable outreach. By the end, you’ll understand not just how to structure a prompt but why every detail matters.

Let’s start with a killer example of an outbound message. Just look at the response we received from the prospect!

This email might look simple, but every word and line is the result of a meticulously designed prompt. Just think that the AI found out about this prospect’s podcast appearances and used that to close a sale for us! Now, let’s break down how we wrote the prompt that produced this message—and hundreds like it—in seconds.

Start with the End in Mind: Know Your Desired Output

Before you even begin writing a prompt, it’s essential to have a clear vision of what you want the output to look like. For an outbound email, the goals are typically to:

1. Highlight the customer’s problem: In this case, the problem is that the company is growing quickly, and their sales process needs to become more efficient.

2. Show how your product solves that problem: The email connects their growth challenges to GodmodeHQ’s solution—AI agents that streamline outbound sales.

3. Make it personalized: The email uses specific insights from the research phase (like the fact they’re hiring for sales roles).

4. Keep it concise and scannable: Each paragraph is a single sentence, making it easy to read on a phone.

5. End with an interest-based call to action (CTA): The CTA is clear, simple, and designed to spark curiosity—e.g., “Worth a chat?”

The Anatomy of a Perfect Prompt

Now that we know what the output should look like, here’s the prompt that made it happen:

Generate a short outbound email to this person. First, greet the person. Then, compliment something impressive from @hook.

Then, try to find something in @hook that infers that the company is growing quickly.

After you identify that they must be growing quickly, and that we are building AI agents that automate the entire outbound process for teams like theirs to acquire more customers. It is important that you do not tell them we can help them find candidates, since this we are building a sales tool and not a recruitment tool!

Finish the email with an interest based call to action. Example:  "Worth a chat?" or "Do you want to try it out?"

Structure is critical. Every paragraph should be 1 sentence, and every sentence should just be one idea. Make sure to include a line break after each sentence. 

The email should be no longer than 60 words and no less than 25.

Keep the output at a 5th grade level.

Always finish the email by signing my name and the company website as displayed in the example below.

Replicate the formatting and logic from the example below:

Hey Massimiliano,

A 98% success rate in filling roles is super impressive!

I see you guys are hiring for another SDR, I guess that means that you are growing fast!

That's why we've built GodmodeHQ, our AI agents find leads, research them and use that to write and send personal outbound messages.

Worth a chat?

Best,

Hussein.

GodmodeHQ.com

Let’s unpack this step by step.

1. Guiding the AI on Structure

One of the first things the prompt does is dictate the structure of the email. This includes:

• Greet the person: A friendly, personalized opening sets the tone.

• Use the @hook for a compliment: This is where the AI pulls data from prior research (e.g., LinkedIn posts or company news) to highlight something impressive about the lead or their company.

• Identify a problem: The AI uses research to infer that the company is growing quickly and links this growth to potential challenges in sales efficiency.

• Pitch the solution: In a single, concise line, the AI explains how GodmodeHQ can address the lead’s problem.

• End with a CTA: Interest-based CTAs like “Worth a chat?” are short, non-committal, and highly effective.

By giving the AI these specific instructions, you ensure the output is cohesive and follows a logical flow.

2. Tailoring the Language and Tone

The prompt emphasizes simplicity:

• 5th-grade language: By keeping the language straightforward, you avoid jargon that might confuse or alienate prospects. Words like “streamline” or “synergies” are replaced with plain, actionable language.

• Scannable format: The email is structured so that each paragraph contains just one idea, making it easy to read—especially on mobile devices.

• Word count: A strict limit (25–60 words) ensures the email is concise and respects the prospect’s time.

3. Personalization Through Research (@hook)

The @hook is where the magic happens. This is where the AI injects personalized insights based on the research it has done. For example:

• Compliment: “A 98% success rate in filling roles is super impressive!”

• Problem identification: “I see you guys are hiring for another SDR. I guess that means you’re growing fast!”

Without the @hook, the email would feel generic. The prompt ensures the AI uses this data effectively to craft a message that resonates with the prospect.

4. Using Interest-Based CTAs

Data shows that interest-based CTAs work better than overly formal or pushy ones. The prompt not only specifies this, but also provides examples:

• “Worth a chat?”

• “Do you want to try it out?”

These CTAs are short, low-pressure, and designed to spark curiosity.

5. Testing and Iteration

A key part of crafting effective prompts is testing and refining them. So, once you write your v1 prompt, run it for a small sample of leads. Find out what mistakes the AI is making, how it is misinterpreting what you are asking it to do and adjust your prompt accordingly. For example:

• During testing, the AI initially suggested that GodmodeHQ could help leads find candidates (this outbound was sent to a list of recruiters) were selling to , which isn’t true. To fix this, the prompt now includes:
  
  “It is important that you do not tell them we can help them find candidates, since we are building a sales tool and not a recruitment tool!”
  
  

• Repetition helps reinforce critical instructions. For example:
  
  “Structure is critical. Every paragraph should be 1 sentence, and every sentence should just be one idea.”
  
  

6. Providing Examples

The prompt includes a sample email to serve as a model for the AI. This is crucial because it not only shows the desired structure, tone and logic but also ensures consistency across outputs.

Conclusion: Why Great Prompts Matter

Crafting great prompts is an investment that pays off exponentially. By giving the AI clear, detailed instructions, you can generate personalized, effective outbound emails at scale.

Key takeaways for writing your own prompts:

1. Start with a clear vision of your desired output.

2. Guide the AI on structure, tone, and language.

3. Use personalization (e.g., @hook) to make the message relevant.

4. Test and refine your prompts based on the AI’s output.

5. Provide examples to set a standard for the AI to follow.

When done right, prompt writing isn’t just about making AI work—it’s about making it work brilliantly.

Happy prompting, and good luck with your outreach!