It took me a while to understand what makes a cold email campaign book 30 meeting and the other campaign struggle to get 10 replies. The answer is not: • By using 10 different tactics • By following a template • By making random tweaks The answer is understanding human psychology. Cialdini’s ideas from book "Influence" still hold up today, and applying them has changed the way I approach outreach as I work toward becoming a GTM Engineer. A few things that now guide how I write: • Give first. People respond when you help them without asking for anything upfront. • Ask for small steps. One tiny “yes” leads to bigger ones. • Show that others trust what you’re offering. • Demonstrate that you understand their problems. • Sound like a real person, not a template. • Be honest about time or availability when it matters. When you understand what your prospect values, your emails stop feeling like interruptions. They feel like help. That’s the difference between “another pitch” and a message people reply to.