Cold Email Templates That Land Content Writing Gigs

Publication Date

June 22, 2022

Summary

With the right cold pitch email strategy, you can reach out directly to decision-makers, introduce yourself, and land high-quality clients.

Why Cold Pitching Works for Freelance Writers

While freelance job boards and platforms can be useful, they often come with heavy competition and low pay. Cold pitching allows you to:

Target your ideal clients directly
Stand out from other freelancers
Control your rates and scope of work
Build long-term relationships instead of one-off gigs

I use two main approaches for client outreach:

LinkedIn mini Letters of Introduction (LOIs)
Email cold pitches — especially for larger organizations or as follow-up after connecting on social media.

Both methods have brought me great clients, but cold pitching via email has been a game-changer.

The Content Writing Cold Pitch Outline

Here’s the basic framework I use to structure my cold emails:

About You – Short intro that’s relevant to the company
Your Services – Bulleted list of what you offer
Your Offer – How you can help or what you’d like to learn from them
Call to Action – A clear next step with a link
Your Portfolio – Showcase your work and credibility
Salutation – Professional sign-off with contact details
Post-Script – A personalized P.S. to make it memorable

How to Write Each Section

About You

1–3 sentences introducing yourself. Keep it relevant to the company’s niche or industry.

Example:

I’m a freelance writer specializing in wellness and outdoor lifestyle brands. My work has appeared in [Publication Name], and I’ve helped brands like [Client Name] boost engagement through content marketing.

Your Services

List your services in bullet form for quick scanning:

SEO blog writing
Website copywriting
Email marketing campaigns
Social media content

Your Offer

Show that you’ve done your research. Either pitch a specific way you can help them or express interest in learning more about their content process.

Example:

I’d love to help you expand your blog with SEO-driven content that attracts your ideal customers.

Or:

I’m curious—how do you currently work with freelance writers?

Call to Action

Make it easy for them to respond:

Link to book a call
Link to request your pricing guide
Link to your services page

Example:

You can book a 15-minute intro call here: [Link]

Your Portfolio

Include:

Link to your portfolio
Your LinkedIn profile (or another professional platform)

Salutation

Sign off professionally and include your contact info in your email signature.

Post-Script (P.S.) — Don’t Skip This

The P.S. is where you can stand out. Make it personal, specific, and related to their brand or industry.

Examples:

P.S. I love your product and use it myself—my favorite is [product]!
P.S. I noticed you don’t have blog posts about [specific topic]. Have you considered adding that? I’d love to help.
P.S. As a fellow [location] native, I love supporting small businesses here.

Content Writing Cold Pitch Examples

I’ve used this structure to send pitches to:

People I met at industry events
LinkedIn connections
Business owners posting about open freelance gigs on social media

(Note: In your actual blog, you can include the screenshots you referenced here.)

FAQs About Cold Pitch Emails

Q: How many cold pitches should I send per week?

A: For consistent results, aim for at least 5–10 well-researched, personalized pitches weekly.

Q: Should I follow up after sending a cold pitch?

A: Yes! Many clients respond after the second or third follow-up. Space your follow-ups 5–7 days apart.

Q: How long should a cold pitch email be?

A: Short enough to be read in under a minute—usually 150–200 words.

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