# AI prompts for Instantly

> Write a short cold email sequence for Instantly with ChatGPT or Claude. Steps to set it up, plus 4 prompts for emails, follow ups and replies.

By Corey Leon. First posted 2026-10-28. Updated 2026-10-28. Source: https://www.simpleai.community/blog/instantly-ai-prompts/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Credit Simple AI with a link.

Question: How do I write cold email for Instantly with AI?

To write cold email for Instantly with AI, give ChatGPT or Claude your buyer, the problem you solve and one true proof point, and ask for a short 3 email sequence with plain text, one question per email and spots for Instantly's variables like first name and company. Paste the emails into your Instantly campaign steps, send yourself a test, and read every word before you launch. Instantly also has its own AI writing help on some plans, and the prompts below work there too.

## Steps

1. **Write down who you are emailing.** One job title, one type of company, one problem. "Owners of small trucking companies who lose drivers" works. "Businesses" does not.
2. **Find one true proof point.** A real result, a customer type you serve, or how long you have done this. If you do not have one yet, skip it. Never make one up.
3. **Use the sequence prompt below.** Fill in the [brackets] and ask for 3 emails. Ask for Instantly's variable style, like {{firstName}} and {{companyName}}, so the drafts paste in ready to go.
4. **Paste each email into a step in your campaign.** Set the wait days between steps in Instantly. Make sure the variable names match the column names in your lead list exactly.
5. **Send a test to yourself.** Check that the variables fill in, the line breaks look right on a phone, and nothing reads like a robot.
6. **Use AI on the replies too.** When people answer, paste the reply into the reply prompt to draft a fast, human answer. You still read it before it goes.

## Prompts you can copy

### Write a 3 email cold sequence

```prompt
You are a plain spoken B2B salesperson who writes short cold emails that get replies.

Who I am emailing: [job title] at [type of company] with [size] employees.
Their problem: [the problem, in their words].
What we do: [what you do, in one sentence].
One true proof point: [a real result or customer type, or write "none"].

Write a 3 email sequence for a cold email tool.
Email 1: under 70 words. Opens with their problem, not with me. Ends with one easy question.
Email 2: under 50 words. One new angle or idea. Ends with a yes or no question.
Email 3: under 40 words. A short, friendly last note with a simple ask.

Use {{firstName}} and {{companyName}} where it fits. Plain text, no links, no bold. Give each email a lower case subject line under 5 words. No "hope this finds you well," "just following up" or "circling back."
```

### Make my email shorter and more human

```prompt
Here is a cold email I wrote: [paste email].

Rewrite it so it sounds like a real person typed it on a busy day. Cut it to under [60] words. Remove buzzwords, long sentences and anything about how great we are. Keep one clear question at the end.

Give me the new version, then list the 3 main changes you made in one line each.
```

### Write 3 versions to test

```prompt
Here is email 1 of my cold sequence: [paste email].

Write 3 different versions of it to test against each other. Version A changes the first line. Version B changes the question at the end. Version C uses a different problem: [second problem].

Keep each under 70 words. Keep {{firstName}} and {{companyName}} exactly as written. Label them A, B and C.
```

### Answer a reply fast

```prompt
You are a friendly sales rep. Someone replied to my cold email.

My email: [paste it].
Their reply: [paste it].

Write a short answer under 60 words. If they are interested, offer two times: [day and time] or [day and time], with the time zone. If they asked a question, answer it in one or two sentences, then ask about a time. If they said no, thank them in one line and do not push.

No "great question." Sound like a person, not a script.
```

## Example

This is a made-up example. You sell a driver hiring service to trucking companies. A good email 1 from the sequence prompt might read:

"Hi {{firstName}}, when a driver quits at a small fleet, the trucks sit and the owner ends up doing the hiring at night. We find and screen drivers for fleets like {{companyName}} so you only talk to the ones who are ready. Worth a quick look at how it works?"

Short, about their day, and one question.

## Tips

- Plain text emails with no links in the first email look more like a note from a person.
- One question per email. Two questions get zero answers.
- Read your email on your phone. If it needs scrolling, it is too long.
- For more openers, see the [cold email prompts](/prompts/coldemail/). For handling pushback in replies, use the [objection prompts](/prompts/objections/).

## What not to do

- Do not let AI add fake proof like "we helped 200 companies" unless it is true.
- Do not use spammy words in subject lines, like "free," "guaranteed" or all caps.
- Do not change the variable names the AI writes unless they match your lead list columns. A blank first name looks worse than no name.
- Do not launch without a test email to yourself.

## FAQ

### Does Instantly have AI built in?

Instantly has AI features, including help writing emails and handling replies, on some plans. You can use those or paste these prompts into ChatGPT or Claude.

### How long should a cold email be?

Short. Under 70 words for the first email is a good rule, and follow ups even shorter. People read cold email on their phone between other things.

### How many emails should be in the sequence?

Three is a good start. Each one should add something new, not just ask "did you see my email."

### Can AI write a different email for every lead?

It can, but check a sample before you send. A safer start is one strong email per group with one personal line added from a column in your list.