home / skills / anthropics / knowledge-work-plugins / draft-outreach
This skill researches a prospect and drafts a personalized outreach email and LinkedIn messages using enrichment and CRM when available.
npx playbooks add skill anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins --skill draft-outreachReview the files below or copy the command above to add this skill to your agents.
---
name: draft-outreach
description: Research a prospect then draft personalized outreach. Uses web research by default, supercharged with enrichment and CRM. Trigger with "draft outreach to [person/company]", "write cold email to [prospect]", "reach out to [name]".
---
# Draft Outreach
Research first, then draft. This skill never sends generic outreach - it always researches the prospect first to personalize the message. Works standalone with web search, supercharged when you connect your tools.
## Connectors (Optional)
| Connector | What It Adds |
|-----------|--------------|
| **Enrichment** | Verified email, phone, background details |
| **CRM** | Prior relationship context, existing contacts |
| **Email** | Create draft directly in your inbox |
> **No connectors?** Web research works great. I'll output the email text for you to copy.
---
## How It Works
```
+------------------------------------------------------------------+
| DRAFT OUTREACH |
| |
| Step 1: RESEARCH (always happens first) |
| - Web search (default) |
| - + Enrichment (if enrichment tools connected) |
| - + CRM (if CRM connected) |
| |
| Step 2: DRAFT (based on research) |
| - Personalized opening (from research) |
| - Relevant hook (their priorities) |
| - Clear CTA |
| |
| Step 3: DELIVER (based on connectors) |
| - Email draft (if email connected) |
| - Copy for LinkedIn (always) |
| - Output to user (always) |
+------------------------------------------------------------------+
```
---
## Output Format
```markdown
# Outreach Draft: [Person] @ [Company]
**Generated:** [Date] | **Research Sources:** [Web, Enrichment, CRM]
---
## Research Summary
**Target:** [Name], [Title] at [Company]
**Hook:** [Why reaching out now - the personalized angle]
**Goal:** [What you want from this outreach]
---
## Email Draft
**To:** [email if known, or "find email" note]
**Subject:** [Personalized subject line]
---
[Email body]
---
**Subject Line Alternatives:**
1. [Option 2]
2. [Option 3]
---
## LinkedIn Message (if no email)
**Connection Request (< 300 chars):**
[Short, no-pitch connection request]
**Follow-up Message (after connected):**
[Value-first message]
---
## Why This Approach
| Element | Based On |
|---------|----------|
| Opening | [Research finding that makes it personal] |
| Hook | [Their priority/pain point] |
| Proof | [Relevant customer story] |
| CTA | [Low-friction ask] |
---
## Email Draft Status
[Draft created - check ~~email]
[Email not connected - copy email above]
[No email found - use LinkedIn approach]
---
## Follow-up Sequence (Optional)
**Day 3 - Follow-up 1:**
[Short, new angle]
**Day 7 - Follow-up 2:**
[Different value prop]
**Day 14 - Break-up:**
[Final attempt]
```
---
## Execution Flow
### Step 1: Parse Request
```
Input patterns:
- "draft outreach to John Smith at Acme" → Person + company
- "write cold email to Acme's CTO" → Role + company
- "reach out to [email protected]" → Email provided
- "LinkedIn message to [LinkedIn URL]" → Profile provided
```
### Step 2: Research First (Always)
**Use research-prospect skill internally:**
```
1. Web search for company + person
2. If Enrichment connected: Get verified contact info, background
3. If CRM connected: Check for prior relationship
```
**Must find before drafting:**
- Who they are (title, background)
- What the company does
- Recent news or trigger
- Personalization hook
### Step 3: Identify Hook
```
Priority order for hooks:
1. Trigger event (funding, hiring, news) → Most timely
2. Mutual connection → Social proof
3. Their content (post, article, talk) → Shows you did research
4. Company initiative → Relevant to their priorities
5. Role-based pain point → Least personal but still relevant
```
### Step 4: Draft Message
**Email Structure (AIDA):**
```
SUBJECT: [Personalized, <50 chars, no spam words]
[Opening: Personal hook - shows you researched them]
[Interest: Their problem/opportunity in 1-2 sentences]
[Desire: Brief proof point - similar company result]
[Action: Clear, low-friction CTA]
[Signature]
```
**LinkedIn Connection Request (<300 chars):**
```
Hi [Name], [Mutual connection/shared interest/genuine compliment].
Would love to connect. [No pitch]
```
**LinkedIn Follow-up Message:**
```
Thanks for connecting! [Value-first: insight, article, observation]
[Soft transition to why you reached out]
[Question, not pitch]
```
### Step 5: Create Email Draft
```
If email connector available:
1. Create draft with to, subject, body
2. Return draft link
3. Note: "Draft created - review and send"
If not available:
1. Output email text
2. Note: "Copy to your email client"
```
---
## Capability by Connector
| Capability | Web Only | + Enrichment | + CRM | + Email |
|------------|----------|--------------|-------|---------|
| Personalized opening | Basic | Deep | With history | Same |
| Verified email | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Background details | Public only | Full | Full | Full |
| Prior relationship | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-create draft | No | No | No | Yes |
---
## Message Templates by Scenario
### Cold Outreach (No Prior Relationship)
```
Subject: [Their initiative] + [your angle]
Hi [Name],
[Personal hook based on research - news, content, mutual connection].
[1 sentence on their likely challenge based on role/company].
[Brief proof: "We helped [Similar Company] achieve [Result]".]
Worth a 15-min call to see if relevant?
[Signature]
```
### Warm Outreach (Have Met / Mutual Connection)
```
Subject: Following up from [context]
Hi [Name],
[Reference to how you know them / who connected you].
[Why reaching out now - their trigger].
[Specific value you can offer].
[CTA]
```
### Re-Engagement (Went Dark)
```
Subject: [Short, curiosity-driven]
Hi [Name],
[Acknowledge time passed without being guilt-trippy].
[New reason to reconnect - their news or your news].
[Simple question to re-open dialogue].
[Signature]
```
### Post-Event Follow-up
```
Subject: Great meeting you at [Event]
Hi [Name],
[Specific memory from conversation].
[Value-add: article, intro, resource related to what you discussed].
[Soft CTA for next conversation].
```
---
## Email Style Guidelines
1. **Be concise but informative** — Get to the point quickly. Busy people skim.
2. **No markdown formatting** — Never use asterisks, bold (**text**), or other markdown. Write plain text that looks natural in any email client.
3. **Short paragraphs** — 2-3 sentences max per paragraph. White space is your friend.
4. **Simple lists** — If listing items, use plain dashes. No fancy formatting.
**Good:**
```
Here's what I can share:
- Case study from a similar company
- 15-min intro call this week
- Quick demo if helpful
```
**Bad:**
```
**What I Can Offer:**
- **Case study** from a similar company
- **Intro call** this week
```
---
## What NOT to Do
**Generic openers:**
- "I hope this email finds you well"
- "I'm reaching out because..."
- "I wanted to introduce myself"
**Feature dumps:**
- Long paragraphs about your product
- Multiple value props at once
- No clear CTA
**Fake personalization:**
- "I noticed you work at [Company]" (obviously)
- "Congrats on your role" (without context)
**Markdown in emails:**
- Using **bold** or *italic* asterisks
- Headers or formatted lists that won't render
**Instead:**
- Lead with something specific you learned
- One clear value prop
- One clear ask
- Plain text formatting only
---
## Channel Selection
```
IF verified email available:
→ Email preferred (higher response rate)
→ Also provide LinkedIn backup
IF no email:
→ LinkedIn connection request
→ Follow-up message template for after connection
IF warm intro possible:
→ Suggest mutual connection outreach first
```
---
## Company Configuration [CUSTOMIZE]
```markdown
## Outreach Settings
- My name: [Your Name]
- My title: [Your Title]
- My company: [Company Name]
- Value prop: [One sentence - what you help with]
## Signature
[Your preferred email signature]
## Proof Points
- [Customer 1]: [Result]
- [Customer 2]: [Result]
- [Customer 3]: [Result]
## CTA Options
- Default: "Worth a 15-min call?"
- Softer: "Open to learning more?"
- Specific: "Can I send over a quick demo?"
## Tone
- [Professional / Casual / Direct]
- Industry-specific language: [Yes/No]
```
---
## Example
**Input:** "draft outreach to the Head of Engineering at Notion"
**Research finds:**
- Name: David Tibbitts
- Recent news: Notion launched AI features
- Hiring: 5 ML engineer roles open
- Background: Ex-Facebook, Stanford CS
**Output:**
```markdown
# Outreach Draft: David Tibbitts @ Notion
## Research Summary
**Target:** David Tibbitts, Head of Engineering at Notion
**Hook:** They're scaling AI features and hiring ML talent
**Goal:** Intro call about AI infrastructure
---
## Email Draft
**To:** [email protected]
**Subject:** Notion's AI scaling + a thought
---
Hi David,
Saw Notion's AI rollout is gaining serious traction - congrats.
With 5 ML roles open, seems like you're scaling fast.
Curious how you're thinking about inference infrastructure
as usage grows. We helped [Similar Company] cut their AI
serving costs 40% while improving latency.
Worth a 15-min call to see if relevant to your roadmap?
Best,
[Name]
---
**Subject Alternatives:**
1. Notion AI + scaling question
2. Quick thought on Notion's ML hiring
---
## Email Draft Status
Draft created - check ~~email
```
This skill researches a prospect and drafts personalized outreach that avoids generic templates. It always performs research first using web search and can be enhanced with enrichment, CRM, and email connectors. The output includes a research summary, a tailored email (or LinkedIn sequence), subject alternatives, and a follow-up cadence. Use it to create concise, high-conversion outreach based on real signals about the person or company.
The skill performs research first: web search by default, plus enrichment for verified contact data and CRM for prior relationship context when connected. It identifies a personalization hook (news, mutual connection, content, initiative, or role-based pain point) and drafts an AIDA-style email and LinkedIn messages. If an email connector is available it can create a draft in your inbox; otherwise it returns plain-text copy to paste into your client.
What if no email is found for the prospect?
The skill will prepare a concise LinkedIn connection request (<300 chars) and a follow-up message to send after they connect.
Can it use my CRM or enrichment tools?
Yes—connectors for enrichment and CRM provide verified contacts and prior relationship history, and an email connector can create a draft in your inbox.