探花精选

Most salespeople face the same persistent challenge: Their prospects lack urgency. There are a number of strategies — both successful and unsuccessful — reps use to overcome this inertia. Often, they end up offering huge discounts with expiration dates.

While this technique might result in an initial sale, I advise against it because the company‘s margins and the rep’s commission bonus both take a hit. Once other potential customers learn the business‘s salespeople are willing to discount heavily, it’s difficult to sell at full price. The solution?

Create authentic urgency using an effective urgent .

I’m sharing my nine best sales email templates that encourage your prospects to buy sooner rather than later without resorting to discounting or manipulative tactics. Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

• 9 Urgent Email Subject Lines & Templates
• Tips for Expressing Urgency in Emails
• Urgent Reminder Emails — My Final Thoughts

There are many different emails in your sales arsenal, like the professional reminder email, email notifying of an overdue payment/unpaid invoice, etc. Today, we're going to focus on the most critical part of the lead cycle: getting a lead to buy.

I recommend developing your own personalized email templates (using data like open and click rate) within the . Send emails, see which perform best, and then turn those into new templates with just a few clicks. Instead of copying and pasting the email templates over from this article, they’re stored directly in your 探花精选 email template library.

Now, let’s dive into those urgent email templates.

Template 1: “What your competitor is missing”

Subject line: What [prospect's competitor] is missing

Hi [prospect name],

I recently got off the phone with someone in [relevant department] at [company in prospect's space]. [Company] is doing some really interesting things around [business area prospect is interested in].

Would you like to hear how I think [prospect's company] could apply some of those takeaways?

Best,

[Your name]

Why I think it works: Mentioning the buyer‘s competitor will immediately spark their fear of falling behind. They’ll be eager to learn how they can update their strategy — meaning you‘ll get a response asking when you’re available.

Better yet, so they can schedule a meeting right then and there. While you may be eager to hit send before setting up your calendar scheduling link, I know you’ll be relieved by the ease of scheduling calls this way.

This message is also compelling because it establishes your knowledge of the space. You show you‘re not only familiar with the competition, but have valuable information about their game plan as well. Of course, never invent a conversation that didn’t happen. Lying is no way to make a sale.

50 Free Sales Email Templates

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• First-Touch Emails
• Follow-Up Emails
• Break-Up Emails
• ChatGPT Email Prompts

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Template 2: “How does your company compare?”

Subject line: [Prospect's company] compared to average?

Hey [prospect name],

I‘m impressed by your [campaign for X, recent company announcement about Y, work in Z area]. I’d expect your results to be above the [industry, vertical, market] average.

Would you be interested in discovering exactly where you stand compared to your peers?

Best,

[Your name]

Why I think it works: With your inside view into companies with similar products, missions, locations, audiences, and so on, you're ideally positioned to extend this offer — and few are more enticing.

It’s win-win-win: If your prospect is hitting it out of the park, she‘ll want to see just how heartily she’s beating the other companies in her space.

If she‘s doing good but not great, the buyer will want to learn her current margin so she can increase it. And if she’s failing, she'll be curious to know if everyone else is struggling even more than she is.

I like the benchmarking approach because it uses curiosity to generate a response, and it leads with your value.

Template 3: “Thoughts about your issue with X”

Subject line: Thoughts on [likely challenge]

Hi [prospect name],

Lately, I‘ve spent some time thinking about [challenge prospect is likely facing]. It’s a big issue for companies like yours — after all, [reason why this pain point is significant].

I don't have a full-fledged solution yet. However, I do have a couple of ideas that could make a difference. Do you want to hear them?

Best,

[Your name]

Why I think it works: Leading with a relevant pain point tells your prospect that you're knowledgeable — and just as importantly, empathetic and helpful.

By admitting you don‘t have the perfect answer, you’ll seem genuine rather than salesy. The buyer will feel compelled to reply and learn what you've come up with.

Template 4: “Taking X step”

Subject line: Taking [X step] at [prospect's company]

Hey [prospect name],

I saw you haven‘t [updated X strategy, changed over to Y system, added Z policy]. While I don’t want to ring any unnecessary alarm bells, I think you‘re risking your company’s [long-term growth in A, health in specific area B, plans for C].

Here‘s the first thing I’d do: [Actionable suggestion or high-level tip]. If you'd like to hear the next steps, let me know.

Best,

[Your name]

Why I think it works: Bring your prospect‘s inaction front and center. Once you’ve reminded them they still haven't made any progress, they typically want to correct that as soon as possible.

To make sure the buyer follows up with you — rather than coming up with their own plan — I recommend that you give them a solid tip. They'll quickly see you as a source of guidance.

50 Free Sales Email Templates

Save time, find new ways to reach out to prospects, and send emails that actually convert.

• First-Touch Emails
• Follow-Up Emails
• Break-Up Emails
• ChatGPT Email Prompts

Download for free

Download Free

All fields are required.

You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

Template 5: “Biggest takeaway from our call today”

Subject line: Biggest takeaway from our call today

Hi [prospect name],

I‘ve included a recap of what we discussed today. One of the most significant insights from our conversation: You’re currently [losing X per month, missing out on Y per week, at a huge risk for X]. The sooner [prospect's company] [solves this challenge, takes this opportunity], the better.

Main items covered:

• [Item #1]
• [Item #2]
• [Item #3]

I'm looking forward to speaking again on [date and time]. Do you have any questions I can answer in the meantime?

Best,

[Your name]

Why I think it works: This email reinforces the urgency you (hopefully) instilled during the call. Its straightforward, neutral tone conveys confidence and tells your prospect you're not wasting any time or words.

Start with a polite greeting, keep the tone professional, and make it clear that this email requires prompt attention. They‘ll start taking the matter seriously, if they haven’t already.

Template 6: “Timeline for accomplishing Y by [date]”

Subject line: Timeline for [doing X] by [date]

Hi [prospect name],

Glad we got the chance to discuss [topic] today. [Important event] you mentioned is just X [days, weeks, months] away — if you want to have a strategy for [achieving Y] by then, you'll need to follow this timeline:

• [Action step #1] by [date]
• [Action step #2] by [date]
• [Action step #3] by [date]

Are you available on [date and time] to talk about [action step #1]?

Thanks,

[Your name]

Why I think it works: Remind your prospect time is of the essence. To hit their goals, they can't let this deal slip to the bottom of their to-do list.

I’ve found that providing a sample timeline is effective for two reasons. First, it's a major value-add: Rather than figuring out what they need to do and when, the buyer can follow your plan.

Second, it structures the sales conversation. Your prospect will know what to expect from each stage, which makes them feel more secure.

Template 7: “Few more suggestions for accomplishing your goal”

Subject line: Few more suggestions for [solving X]

Hey [prospect name],

Now that I‘ve had some time to think about our last conversation on [date], I’ve come up with a few more suggestions for [solving X pain point, meeting Y objective, exploring Z opportunity]. You'll be excited to hear these.

Do you have some time in the next week?

Here's a link to my calendar so you can that works: [Link].

Cheers,

[Your name]

Why I think it works: This follow-up email template — which isn't for the faint of heart — lets you take back control of the sales conversation.

First, the offer gives your prospect a great reason to reply. Who doesn't want free, no-strings-attached ideas for hitting their goals or improving their business?

Telling the buyer they‘ll be “excited to hear” these ideas also shows a lot of confidence, as does linking to your calendar rather than asking if they’re available on a certain date and time. Typically, this self-assurance makes you seem more credible.

Template 8: “How [customer] got Z results”

Subject line: How [customer] achieved [X results]

Hi [prospect name],

[Prospect‘s job title] at [rep’s company] is always busy doing [X, Y, and Z] — so I assume you've got a full plate as well.

But spending some time upfront to put in place a solution for [pain point] will pay off exponentially. [Customer], for example, [saved X hours per week, trimmed Y from their budget, made Z more per month] after using [product].

Are you free on [date and time] to pick up where we left off?

Thanks,

[Your name]

Why I think it works: Guilt-tripping the buyer for their unresponsiveness doesn‘t work — they’ll either feel annoyed or ashamed, neither of which prompts them to reply.

So, use a different approach. Show that you‘re not taking it personally that they haven’t gotten back to you: Based on your relationship with their counterpart at your company, you know they're slammed.

Then, remind your prospect that they really can't afford to wait. I’ve found that this one-two punch of empathy and urgency convinces buyers to answer every time.

Template 9: “[Name], you're a special case”

Subject line: [Prospect‘s name], you’re a special case

Hi [prospect name],

Normally, I stop following up with people if they haven‘t gotten back to me after [X weeks]. I figure they’re not interested, and I don‘t want to waste anyone’s time.

However, my conscience won‘t let me give up so easily with you. Based on our conversations on [date and time] and [date and time], I’m confident you could [solve X pain point, capitalize on Y opportunity] — which will allow you to [get that promotion to X role, increase your team's output by Y amount, outperform your competitors in Z area].

So before I walk away: Are you sure you're not interested in [solving X, capitalizing on Y]?

Best,

[Your name]

Remember to customize.

Yes, it sounds so obvious it doesn't even need to be said. But then why do I have emails addressed to “Dear [insert name]” sitting in my inbox right now? Even when writing an urgent request, no one should be in a rushed or careless state.

Personalization matters: surveyed in our Sales Trends Report said that connecting with people and building relationships is the most important part of selling.

All of my email templates shared above use brackets — search your email for them using Ctrl + [ or Command + [ to ensure you've removed all of the placeholders before hitting send.

Or, use email software with built-in customization, like the . You can quickly customize emails with all the details leads expect, like:

• First name, company name, etc.
• Relevant documents.
• Your meeting links.

Plus much, much more using our built-in AI feature. See it in action here:

Saving time with AI: surveyed in our Sales Trends Report said that AI can help them spend less time on manual tasks, saving up to two hours a day.

This works in both automated email sequences and one-on-one emails. I love how this feature makes it so easy to add more depth to emails. It moves beyond using first names and gives readers the feeling that you really remember them.

Urgency example: You‘re sending a live demo reminder. The name, time, date, time zone, link, etc. must be customized correctly or the upcoming event will be missed, and you’ll lose your chance to sell live to your prospect at the end of the demo.

No bait and switch subject lines.

No one wants to get an email that says “Found your wallet! — Just kidding, but while I have you here...” This is a real example!

Sure, tricks can yield high open rates. It might even trigger an immediate response! But it will rarely be a positive response. A clear subject line wins every time.

Urgency example: Instead of a goofy subject line, let readers know about a time-sensitive matter like a discount code, invitation, or opportunity that's expiring. Inspire FOMO (the fear of missing out) instead of an eye roll.

Make urgency obvious.

Most people skim their inboxes looking for whatever requires immediate attention. If you want readers to respond immediately, then a sense of urgency is required in your subject line and email body. Clear and concise language will yield the best response.

Urgency example: Mention any scarcity factors, such as limited call spots or expiring deals, to get the reader's attention and inspire a prompt response.

Cut the clichés.

Raise your hand if your eyes glaze over these overused email phrases:

• Look forward to hearing from you.
• Make time in your busy schedule.
• Hope this email finds you well.
• Kind regards/best regards.
• Just a gentle reminder.
• Earliest convenience.
• Quick reminder.

“Hope this email finds you well” is so overused that it was turned into a viral meme during the pandemic:

Now, there‘s nothing wrong or unprofessional about these well-wishes — they’re just overused (to the point that you probably have all of these clichés sitting in your inbox right now).

Urgent follow-up emails need to get the reader's attention. Thoughtful email copy will help achieve that more than overused filler.

Urgency example: Swap out filler like “looking forward to hearing from you” with a time-sensitive push like “reminder that link expires in 48 hours.”

Clear CTAs.

A reader shouldn't have to wonder how to take action on your email. Proposition readers with one clear call to action per email.

Again, try touching the reader‘s FOMO when writing your CTAs. What will they miss out on if they don’t act? Consequences are important in urgent emails.

If you want your email to be addressed promptly, consider touching on one of these fears:

• Trend/seasonal relevance will pass.
• Event registration closing.
• Discount code expiring.
• Price increasing.
• Spots filling up.

Urgency example: You‘re running a time-sensitive promotion. If your CTA doesn’t reflect that, viewers miss out and don't buy from you.

50 Free Sales Email Templates

Save time, find new ways to reach out to prospects, and send emails that actually convert.

• First-Touch Emails
• Follow-Up Emails
• Break-Up Emails
• ChatGPT Email Prompts

Download for free

Download Free

All fields are required.

You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

Ask a question.

Sometimes, leads take longer to convert. You might not make a sale with this email sequence, but you can still develop the relationship if you keep the conversation going. Add a question to every email template to achieve this.

If you forget to include a question inside the , you'll get reminder messages like this thanks to the “content suggestions” feature:

Monitor for results.

Like all sales efforts, monitoring and optimization are key. You can do this manually by gathering data from multiple tools and tracking in a spreadsheet, or you can use email tools with built-in analytics like the .

At a glance, you can see open rates and clicks for your email templates:

Then, rather than recreating the most successful emails manually, you can turn them into email templates:

The more emails you send through your 探花精选 account, the more data and actionable recommendations you’ll be given:

A data-first approach to your urgent email template will fuel more growth than being guided by guesswork.

Urgency example: You notice that the fourth message in your email campaign is where readers lose interest and stop opening emails, so you add a time-sensitive offer to incentivize opens.

Urgent Reminder Emails — My Final Thoughts

I know that sending an urgent request in a sales email can be difficult — asking for urgent attention is a delicate act in sales. With these free email templates up your sleeve, kindling urgency becomes as simple as pressing “Send.” Customize them to fit your prospects and monitor performance.

50 Free Sales Email Templates

Save time, find new ways to reach out to prospects, and send emails that actually convert.

• First-Touch Emails
• Follow-Up Emails
• Break-Up Emails
• ChatGPT Email Prompts

Download for free

Download Free

All fields are required.

You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.