Glossary/B2B & Growth/Cold Email
B2B & Growth
Cold Email
An unsolicited one-to-one email sent to a prospect with no prior relationship, used in outbound sales prospecting.
By Brandon Mina·CEO, BrandPilot AI·Updated November 2026
Short answer
A cold email is an unsolicited one-to-one email sent to a prospect with no prior relationship, used in outbound sales prospecting. Effective cold emails are short, relevant and personalized to the recipient's role or situation. They must comply with anti-spam laws, which vary by country, and with mailbox provider sending requirements.