# How do I write a cold email first line?
> Open with a fact about them they would recognize, not a compliment about "your impressive work." The first line decides if the rest gets read.
- HTML: https://omentir.com/help/how-to-write-a-cold-email-first-line
- Markdown: https://omentir.com/help/how-to-write-a-cold-email-first-line.md

The first line should only fit that person or that tiny segment. A hire, a post, a product page change, a tool in their stack. "I came across your website" fits everyone. Delete it.

Compliments are suspicious in cold mail. If you did not read the thing, they can tell. If you did, quote a concrete detail, not "loved your insights."

After the first line, one sentence of relevance and a question. That is the whole email for a lot of good campaigns.

Merge tags are not a first line. {{company}} is a hole you fill. The thought still has to be true.

If you have no fact, wait or use a role-based problem you can defend ("teams hiring three AEs often stall on ramp"). Role-based is weaker than a trigger and stronger than a fake compliment.

## Related

- [What is a good cold email subject line?](https://omentir.com/help/what-is-a-good-cold-email-subject-line.md)
- [Should I personalize every cold email?](https://omentir.com/help/should-i-personalize-every-cold-email.md)
- [How do I personalize LinkedIn outreach without spending hours?](https://omentir.com/help/how-to-personalize-linkedin-outreach.md)

## Frequently asked questions

**Should the first line repeat the subject?**

Not verbatim. The subject got the open. The first line should advance.

**Is a question a good first line?**

Yes if they can answer it without a meeting. "Got a minute?" is not a question. It is a trap.

**Can I mention I saw them on LinkedIn?**

Only if you did something specific there. "Saw you on LinkedIn" is empty. "Saw the hiring post for two AEs" is a first line.

**How long is too long?**

If the first line wraps twice on a phone, it is two sentences. Split it.

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