(99+) Post | LinkedIn
The 250 Words That Make People Hit Delete (In 0.3 Seconds)
Fall outreach season is coming. You know what that means - your inbox is about to get flooded with the same tired phrases everyone else is using.
A sales training team just finished analyzing thousands of deleted cold emails.
Want to know what they found?
There are exactly 250 words and phrases that make prospects mentally check out before they even finish reading your subject line.
Your brain is wired to recognize patterns. And these phrases? They're the pattern of every bad cold email ever sent.
Most people don't even realize they're using these phrases. They just copy what everyone else does.
But here's the secret: Your prospects delete emails in 0.3 seconds. That's how long it takes their brain to recognize the pattern.
Training Your AI to Avoid the Death Phrases
If you're using ChatGPT, Claude, or any LLM for outreach, add this to your system prompt:
COLD EMAIL FILTER:
Scan for these 250 death phrases [insert list]. If found, rewrite using:
- Specific observations about their company
- Direct value statements (no fluff)
- Conversational tone (like texting a friend)
- One clear ask
- Zero buzzwords
Red flag any email that sounds like it could be sent to anyone.
The magic happens when your emails feel like they were written by a human who actually researched the company.
What Works Instead
Skip the pleasantries. Get specific. Be direct.
Instead of "I was impressed by your profile"
→ "Saw your post about expanding into the NY market"
Instead of "We help companies like yours"
→ "Helped [specific competitor] increase NY sales by 34% last quarter"
Instead of "Quick question"
→ Just ask the actual question.
Your prospects can smell generic from a mile away. But specificity? That stops the scroll. If you don't have that, why are you reaching out?
As we head into fall outreach season, remember this: Everyone else will be using these 250 phrases.
You won't.
And that's going to make all the difference. | 69 comments on LinkedIn
