If you’re an early-stage founder sending cold outreach to prospects and not getting replies, the problem isn’t obviously your subject line.

It might be your format.

In a market full of automated sequences, AI-written intros, and repurposed pitch decks, the two things that stand out are effort and personalization.

Effort can’t be faked. Real personalization as well.

And one of the most effective ways I’ve found to show effort in early sales conversations is simple: Loom videos.

Why Loom Beats Cold Email

A 3-minute personalized Loom will beat 1000 mass-sent cold emails every time.

It shows you care.

And more importantly, it shows you’ve done the work.

I’ve seen it firsthand, working with founders who struggle to cut through the noise. The moment they switch to video-first outreach, reply rates jump.

Here’s why:

• It’s human. They see your face, hear your tone.

• It’s specific. You’re talking about them, not a persona.

• It’s disarming. No slide decks, no pressure.

You stop sounding like a salesperson. And start sounding like a peer.

How to Structure a High-Converting Loom Video

You don’t need high production. You don’t need fancy scripts. You just need relevance and clarity.

Here’s the structure I recommend to founders:

Step 1: Pick One Specific Insight. Use your research to find something meaningful:

• A UX issue in their signup flow

• A missed SEO opportunity (e.g., a high-volume keyword they’re not ranking for)

• A confusing or under-optimized pricing page

Start there. Show the issue on screen. Explain what you noticed.

Step 2: Add Simple Context. Introduce yourself:

"Hey Lea, I’m Guillaume, founder at [Your Startup]. I was checking out [Company Name] and saw something I thought might be helpful."

Keep it casual. Peer-to-peer tone. No sales pitch energy.

Step 3: Offer Your Thinking, Not Your Product. Instead of pitching your solution, share what you’d do:

"If this were my funnel, I’d probably test [X] to reduce drop-off. We’ve seen that cut bounce rates by 15% in similar SaaS flows."

"This is actually something we solve with [Your Product], but even without us, here’s how I’d approach it..."

This shows leadership. It shows expertise. And it builds trust.

Step 4: End with a Soft Invitation Wrap with something like:

"No pressure at all. Just thought this might be useful. If it is, happy to share more or jump on a call. Either way, big fan of what you're building."

That’s it.

Optional: Offer the Video in the Email (vs. Sending It Directly)

There are two ways to use Loom:

Option 1: Send the Video Upfront
Paste the Loom link and let the thumbnail (animated GIF) do the work. This grabs attention fast, especially when the thumbnail shows your face or their website.

Option 2: Offer the Video First
Instead of sending the video right away, create curiosity:

"I actually recorded a quick 3-minute Loom with a few ideas, and I’m happy to send it over if you’re interested."

This saves you time, especially if you’re prospecting at scale.

My advice? If you’re targeting fewer than 50 prospects and every one counts, send the video up front. If you’re testing messaging at scale, use curiosity first.

Use This Email Template to Deliver Your Loom

This template was also shared in last week’s newsletter, because it works. It helps you combine great positioning with personal outreach. And with a Loom attached, it becomes almost impossible to ignore.

Subject: Quick idea for (ProspectCompany)

Hi (FirstName),

I was exploring (ProspectCompany)'s site and noticed (insight). (Hope you don’t mind me pointing this out!)

I’m (YourName), founder of (YourCompany). We specialize in (your one-liner).

I actually recorded a short 3-minute Loom walking through what I noticed and a couple of ideas on how to improve (area). Happy to send it over if you'd like to check it out.

Either way, I really admire what you’re building at (ProspectCompany). Would love to connect if you're open.

Thanks and have a great day,
(Your Name)
Founder, (YourCompany)
(Your LinkedIn or Calendly)

How to Use It:

• Use this as your scaffolding for outbound emails.

• Pair it with a real Loom to create relevance and proof.

• Make it about them, not you.

Your Loom doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be real. Thoughtful, specific, and useful.

What Makes This Work

It doesn’t feel like a pitch.

It doesn’t feel mass-sent.

It puts the prospect’s experience first.

And most importantly, it offers value before asking for anything.

In 2025, value-first prospecting will outperform every generic AI-sequencer.

People aren’t ignoring email because they hate being sold to.
They’re ignoring email because they hate being treated like a persona.

Cold Email Isn’t Dead. But Mass Messaging Is.

The days of sending 1000 messages and hoping for 20 calls are over.

If you want to stand out:

• Do your research

• Send personalized insight

• Show your face and screen

• Talk like a human

Founders don’t need perfect sales ops to win outbound.

They need proof of relevance.

Loom does that. In under 5 minutes. At near-zero cost.

Final Word: What Founders Need to Hear

Your goal with outbound isn’t to automate faster.

It’s to learn faster.

Loom videos don’t just get replies. They reveal what your market cares about. They show you which problems land, and which ones flop.

Every video is a discovery call in disguise.

So if your cold emails are being ignored, don’t write a new subject line. Record a Loom.

Speak to a real problem. Show your thinking. Start a conversation.

That’s how you go from ignored to irresistible.

Stay sharp. Stay human.
Guillaume