The Cold Email Formula That Gets Founders to Submit Their Tools
praneetbrar7
The Cold Email Formula That Gets Founders to Submit Their Tools
Getting a founder’s attention is hard. They’re busy, swamped with tasks, and constantly pitched to by marketers. If you’re a directory owner, solopreneur, or marketer looking to increase submissions from startup founders, the key to unlocking results is delivering truly personalized cold emails — at the right time. And there’s a tried-and-tested formula to do just that.
This blog post reveals the cold email formula that consistently gets attention and drives action from startup founders, especially those launching on Product Hunt. Whether you’re running a niche tool directory, launching your own project, or want to grow your list of submissions for SEO, this approach can transform your outreach.
Why Do Most Cold Emails Fail?
Before diving into the formula, it’s essential to understand why most cold emails don’t perform well.
- They focus on the sender instead of the recipient.
- They lack personalization – “Hi there” doesn’t cut it.
- They’re sent en masse, triggering spam filters.
- No relevant timing – the email doesn’t align with the founder’s current priorities.
- Poor formatting or structure with no clear CTA (Call To Action)
To actually get a response, you need to stand out. The solution isn’t just better copy — it’s strategic personalization plus automation.
The Perfect Cold Email Formula
This proven formula starts by understanding your ideal timing: reaching out to founders right after they’ve launched their product is the sweet spot. They’re riding the wave of launch momentum and actively looking to gain visibility.
Here’s the 5-part structure that works:
- Subject Line: Personalized, curious, friendly
- Personalized Opener: Start with genuine congratulations
- Relatable Value: Offer a benefit that meets what they need now—visibility, SEO, or brand presence
- Soft CTA: Make it inviting, not pushy
- Minimal Links & Clean Formatting: No spammy feel, easy to navigate
Example Cold Email Template That Works
Let’s walk through a working example inspired by tools like NurturingMail, which automates this process daily for directory owners:
Subject: Congrats on launching [ProductName]! 🎉 Hey [FounderName], Just saw [ProductName] on Product Hunt today — congrats on the launch! It looks super promising, love the [mention a unique feature or use case]. I run [Your Directory], a curated directory for [category] tools, and we regularly feature promising early-stage products. Listings can help boost visibility, backlinks, and SEO — especially right after a launch. If you’re open to it, I’d love to invite you to submit [ProductName] here: [submission link]. Happy to list it myself too if easier! Warm regards, [Your Name]
Why does this work?
- Personalization creates relevance
- Low pressure (it’s an invitation, not a demand)
- Helps them, not you (founders want more exposure post-launch)
Timing: Catch Them at Their Peak Receptivity
This is where many outreach efforts fail. When you cold email a founder at the wrong time (e.g., weeks after launch), they’ve either moved on or are no longer seeking visibility. NurturingMail solves this by detecting new launches in real time and sending congratulatory emails within minutes.
Key Features from NurturingMail That Make This Work
- Real-Time Product Hunt Tracking
- Emails go out every 15–20 minutes avoiding the spam folder
- Personalized subject lines and body copy with founder and product names
- Built-in templates proven to convert
You can see a list of all the features here or explore pricing details if you’re just starting out.
Enhancing Your Cold Email with Value-Driven Incentives
Sometimes, just being listed is not enough to motivate action. Consider offering something extra:
- Social media shout-outs for featured products
- Priority listing on the homepage
- Access to backlinks from curated content (e.g., “Top 10 AI Tools in 2024”)
- Email newsletter inclusion to your directory’s subscribers
These add-ons cost little but can significantly lift conversion rates. For example, UNO Directory and Aura++ both structure their listings around SEO benefit and community reach — which appeals to Product Hunt founders looking for traction.
Directory Submission as a Post-Launch Growth Hack
Founders are often unaware that submitting to multiple relevant directories helps build SEO, brand awareness, and long-tail traffic over time. By using the right narrative in cold emails — such as emphasizing backlinks, authority, and organic growth — you position your directory as helpful, not salesy.
Check out how marketers like Praneet Brar use directory submissions and link-building as part of strategic GTM campaigns for early-stage SaaS brands. It’s all about visibility stacking.
Automating Cold Email Outreach at Scale
One of the biggest challenges for directory owners is scalability. How do you maintain this level of personalization daily? The answer lies in automation, but done smartly.
NurturingMail automates:
- Daily scans of Product Hunt for new launches
- Email creation with live data about founder/product
- Sending messages at optimal times to avoid spam filters
- Tracking campaign results directly inside the dashboard
Instead of hiring a team or spending hours a day crafting messages, you get consistent outreach with better conversion rates. If you’re curious how this works in practice, the FAQs page breaks it down with examples.
Real Results from Automated Cold Email
According to actual users, NurturingMail delivers an average 150% increase in directory submissions in 60 days. That’s not just an uptick in emails — that’s more content, more SEO juice, and higher authority for your directory.
| Metric | Without NurturingMail | With NurturingMail |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly Submissions | 6–10 | 15–25 |
| Outreach Time Required | 4-5 hours/week | 0 (automated) |
| CTR on Emails | 7-9% | 22-30% |
Build Relationships, Not Just Listings
When your emails feel human, you do more than gain a submission — you build rapport. Some founders might share your directory on their socials or refer others. The network effect can start with just one well-crafted cold outreach.
This is especially powerful if you’re managing multiple directories or MVPs. Instead of starting cold outreach from scratch every time, NurturingMail allows you to test, validate, and scale multiple ideas with one tool.
Final Thoughts
The right cold email formula can be the difference between zero replies and a pipeline of fresh, eager founders submitting their tools to your platform. Start with timing, infuse personalization, and provide genuine value. And when you’re ready to scale beyond what you can manually manage, automation tools like NurturingMail are here to make your growth hands-off and consistent.
Whether you’re nurturing a niche like Chrome extensions, launching a new AI tool directory, or targeting boot