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· 17 hr ago

How to Write Cold Email Templates That Actually Get Replies

#Other

Introduction: Why Most Cold Emails End Up Ignored

I still remember the first cold email I ever sent.

I spent nearly an hour perfecting it polishing the wording, adding buzzwords, and convincing myself it sounded “professional.” I hit send, waited… and heard nothing. No reply. No rejection. Just silence.

That’s when it hit me: cold email isn’t about sounding impressive it’s about sounding human.

If you’re exploring IT, sales, or client-facing roles, learning how to write cold email templates that actually get replies is a skill worth mastering. Whether you’re reaching out for prospecting, building business connections, or client acquisition, the difference between ignored emails and real conversations comes down to how you approach the message.

Let’s break it down in a way that feels real not robotic.

 

First, Understand the Real Goal of a Cold Email

Here’s a mistake beginners make (I did too):
They think the goal of a cold email is to sell.

It’s not.

The real goal of a cold email is to start a conversation.

You’re not closing deals in one email. You’re opening a door. When you shift your mindset from “sales emails” to human outreach, response rates naturally improve.

Think of it like introducing yourself at a tech meetup. You wouldn’t launch into a pitch you’d start with something relatable.

 

Why Most Cold Email Templates Fail

Before we talk about what works, let’s be honest about what doesn’t.

Most cold email templates fail because they:

  • Sound copy-pasted or overly scripted
  • Focus too much on the sender, not the reader
  • Try to do too much in one message
  • Feel like mass outreach instead of a personal note

People can spot generic cold emails instantly especially potential clients who receive dozens of them daily.

Your job is to feel different without trying too hard.

 

Start With a Subject Line That Feels Natural

Your subject line doesn’t need to be clever. It needs to be believable.

Some examples that work better than flashy headlines:

  • “Quick question about your team”
  • “Thought this might be relevant”
  • “Intro   no pitch”

In IT and business environments, simple and respectful subject lines often outperform aggressive ones. You’re signaling, “I’m a real person, not automation.”

That alone boosts open and response rates.

 

Write Like You Talk (Yes, Really)

This is where many cold email templates go wrong.

If you wouldn’t say it out loud, don’t write it.

Instead of:

“We are a leading provider of innovative solutions…”

Try:

“I came across your work and thought it was interesting especially how your team handles…”

Your cold email should feel like a short, thoughtful message not a brochure. This matters even more when you’re new to prospecting or trying to build early business connections.

 

Personalization That Doesn’t Feel Forced

Personalization doesn’t mean stalking someone’s entire online presence.

It means showing awareness.

Good personalization examples:

  • Referencing a recent blog post or product update
  • Mentioning a shared industry or challenge
  • Acknowledging their role or team focus

Bad personalization:

  • Using their name 10 times
  • Fake compliments
  • Overly detailed references that feel creepy

A single genuine line is enough to show effort and effort leads to replies.

 

Keep the Body Short and Purposeful

Here’s a rule I learned the hard way:
If your cold email needs scrolling, it’s too long.

Aim for:

  • 3–5 short paragraphs
  • Plenty of white space
  • One clear idea

This applies whether you’re doing lead nurturing, reaching out for IT collaborations, or exploring client acquisition opportunities.

Busy people skim. Make skimming easy.

 

Ask One Clear, Low-Pressure Question

Your call to action shouldn’t feel like homework.

Avoid:

  • “Can we schedule a 30-minute call this week?”
  • “Please review the attached document and let me know”

Try:

  • “Would it make sense to talk?”
  • “Is this something you handle?”
  • “Open to a quick chat sometime?”

Low pressure = higher response rates.

Remember, a reply even a “not right now” means your cold email worked.

 

Follow-Ups: Where Most Replies Actually Happen

Here’s a secret most people don’t tell you:
Many replies come from follow-ups, not the first email.

A polite follow-up after 3–5 days can double your response rates.

Keep it simple:

“Just wanted to bump this in case it got buried.”

No guilt. No pressure. Just a reminder.

In IT and sales roles, consistent follow-ups are part of effective prospecting not desperation.

 

Treat Cold Email as a Skill, Not a Script

The best cold email templates are never truly “final.”

They evolve.

You test subject lines. You tweak phrasing. You notice what gets replies and what doesn’t. Over time, your emails start to feel more natural and people respond because they trust the tone.

This mindset is especially helpful if you’re exploring a career in IT, sales engineering, or technical consulting. Communication is just as important as technical skills.

 

Conclusion: Start Conversations, Not Campaigns

If there’s one thing I want you to remember, it’s this:

Cold emails work when they feel warm.

You don’t need tricks. You don’t need hype. You need clarity, honesty, and a bit of empathy for the person on the other side of the screen.

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Question
· 18 hr ago

where can use sandbox in InterSystems IRIS Data Platform 2025.3

#InterSystems IRIS

where can use sandbox in InterSystems IRIS Data Platform 2025.3

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· 19 hr ago 8m read

Investor Business Plan: What Investors Expect in 2026

#Business Service #Other

An investor business plan is a concise, compelling document that convinces potential investors of strong returns and demonstrates your growth potential. In 2026, the requirements associated with a business plan are becoming more precise.

Venture capital firms and angel investors are not just looking for a vision; they want clarity and credibility around actionable plans. They are seeking planned, achievable strategies that deliver a return on their capital.

The key to smart fundraising? It lies in crafting a high-quality investor business plan: so what do investors expect in 2026? Keep reading to explore the true investor needs and how you can stand out in the competitive market with a premium-quality business plan.

 

What Is An Investor Business Plan?

An investor business plan is a highly focused document that presents each aspect of your business idea to the investors. It works as an explanatory document, focusing on your core business idea, market insights, competitive positioning, and financial projections.

The purpose of this document is to show that your business idea can bring a strong return on investment.

This document is specially crafted to present a compelling story of how the investment will fuel expansion. Moreover, it also presents the profit and exit opportunities, which ultimately gain investor confidence.

According to research, founders who invest in custom business plans are better at addressing the investor-specific concerns and financial expectations.

 

Why Investors Care About Business Plan In 2026?

Investors receive pitches annually. A strong pitch deck often generates excitement, sparks interest, and gets them to the first meeting. While it may open the initial doors, a business plan is what takes you to the next step.

This detailed, text-heavy document provides deeper insights into the entire strategy that you have planned. A business plan is necessary for due diligence, as it serves as a detailed roadmap for an investor who wants to learn more about you.

In 2026, investors are even more strict and thorough when it comes to investing. Considering the tightened capital markets, investors are now scrutinising ideas and searching for secure growth strategies.

Based on the nuanced requirements, here is what they expect in a business plan:

  • A clear understanding of the market and the risks
  • Realistic forecasts for the next 3-5 years and clear KPI's for monitoring performance
  • Detailed strategy regarding the revenue and profit generation
  • A strategy that shows risk management and guarantees repeatable results

 

What Are The Key Elements Of An Investor Business Plan?

An investor business plan: that knows what investors expect in 2026 must include:

  • Executive Summary
  • Company Overview And Vision
  • Problem And Solution
  • The Target Audience And Opportunity
  • Competitive Landscape
  • Business Model
  • Financial Projections
  • Organizational Structure
  • Risk And Mitigations Strategy
  • ESG and Sustainability

 

What Do Investors Want To See?

Investors don't want unclear market claims or just a vague idea. In 2026, they are searching for evidence-based market analysis. They want you to be specific regarding your idea.

Here is what your business plan must include:

  1. An In-depth Market Analysis

A clear definition of your target market, such as the:

  • Total addressable market
  • Served the available market
  • Target market segment

A detailed research of the market insights. The key drivers and trends of the growth,

  • Digital adoption curves
  • Changing consumer needs
  • Regulatory shifts
  • Technological advancements
  • Industry-specific practices

Make sure to back every research with credible sources. You need to prove that your discussions are not just claims; you are certain about them!

  1. Customer Preferences

Investors don't want to know that your customer exists. They want you to be sure of your product's demand. You need to show that the target market exists and needs your product!

So make sure to include the customer preference section in your business plan, which includes:

  • Customers' acceptance of the products
  • Their willingness to pay for the solution
  • Clear purchase decisions regarding your business
  • Customer surveys as proof of their decision

 

 

  1. Business Model And Revenue Strategy

2026 is all about the small details of your business. That is what convinces the investor about your business. They want to see how strong your fundamentals are.

In your business plan, you need to clearly show proof regarding your revenue streams. Here is how you can tell them the way your business makes money:

  • Discuss the primary revenue streams ( subscription, transaction fee, licensing)
  • The pricing strategy you have set
  • Your sales cycle and the monetisation dynamics

This part is often confusing. This is why many startups now rely on investor business plan services to meet the modern funding standards.

 

 

  1. Customer Acquisition Strategy

Investors expect you to share detailed GTM frameworks. These include:

  • Specifying your ideal customer and their pain points
  • Articulating the unique benefits and how it stands out from competitors
  • Optimal pricing that aligns with the market expectations
  • Effective sales channels

Remember, a well-designed GTM strategy aims to achieve the lowest possible CAC while maintaining high customer relationships.

Based on this, many investors calculate the CAC payback period, which is the time to earn back the money spent on acquiring a new customer.

 

  1. Financial Estimates

The financial section is one of the most significant areas. In most of the cases, it decides whether the business plan will get approval or not. Numbers are the key to building investor trust. When you choose figures that match your business strategy, they instantly work as a source of attracting investor confidence.

Here is what an investor expects from you:

  • Revenue forecast
  • Gross margin estimates
  • Operating expenses
  • Net profit/Loss statements
  • Funds breakdown

Moreover, investors expect you to share realistic projections regarding the business idea. You need to show discipline and a precise approach. Be transparent and share your assumptions regarding the:

  • Market penetration rates
  • Pricing changes
  • Customer churn
  • Sales velocity

In 2026, adding unit economics in a business plan is vital for investor confidence and long-term growth. You need to demonstrate that your business can become profitable at the unit level.

Mentioning the following factors shows that you are well-aware of the core financial engine of your company and not just the surface-level revenue.

  • Lifetime Value
  • CAC
  • Contribution margin per customer

 

 

  1. Risk Management And Mitigation

Problems are a part of every business. And when it comes to risks? Every business is incomplete without them! Investors know that setbacks are inescapable. They just want to see how ready you are to anticipate a problem.

Here is what they are expecting you to discuss in your business plan Ireland:

  • The market risks. What are your strategies for change in demand and competition?
  • Operational risks. How do you plan on managing the production or delivery challenges?
  • Financial risks. What are your strategies for funding gaps or cost overruns?
  • Regulatory risks. How do you plan on managing the compliance changes?

For every risk, make sure to provide the investor with a mitigation strategy.

 

  1. Team Capabilities

The 2026 investor won't be satisfied with your idea alone. They need you to introduce the members who will execute it and make it a success.

Investors are interested in knowing who is behind the scenes. If you are wondering "How to write an investor business plan and what investors expect in 2026?", here is what you need to include in this draft:

  • Biographies for owners, managers, and directors
  • Advisory board with reputable names and insights
  • Roles and responsibilities of each person
  • An organisational chart that provides a road map of how your team works

Make sure to discuss past achievements, experience, and how each member has played a crucial role in achieving the objectives.

Don't forget to share the hiring plan as well. Investors want to know your recruiting strategies. This shows your readiness for the success of the role.  

 

 

  1. ESG And Sustainability

Environmental, social, and governance are highly appealing for modern investors. Integrating ethical practices into core strategies is extremely important for meeting modern investor standards.  

This is what they are increasingly expecting from firms:

Environmental

Social

Governance

Carbon footprint reduction plans

Employee welfare and diversity

Transparent financial reporting

Resource optimisation strategies

Community impact of business practices

Ethical decision-making frameworks

Investing in a resilient infrastructure that adapts to climate change.

Customer data handling and fair labour practices

Robust internal controls and audit processes

 

FAQS

  1. What is the right way to present a business plan?

After you have gathered all the important points, make sure to focus on the formatting of your document. Use clear headings, add visuals in the document and use a readable font. Moreover, use your storytelling capabilities to connect data with your business vision.

  1. What should be the length of an investor's business plan in 2026?

In 2026, clarity and conciseness are prioritized by the investors. The ideal length is said to be 15-25 pages. Investors value documents that fit within their busy schedules while providing instant answers to the main concerns.

  1. Can someone from an early-stage startup include financial projections without revenue?

Why not? Including financial projections demonstrates your financial literacy, future potential, and a clear path for becoming a profitable business. It is not about predicting exact future sales; rather, it gives you an opportunity to demonstrate your scalability logic and cost awareness!

 

Final Word

The 2026 investing environment is a unique blend of challenging and promising. Investors want you to have a big vision, but with a true execution ability! And to demonstrate that, you need to use a compelling, data-backed pitch, focus strongly on fundamentals, present all the risks and their mitigation strategies, and present credible assumptions.

 By understanding the expectations mentioned above, you can create a positive first impression and increase your chances of securing the investment by submitting a premium quality investor business plan that covers what investors expect in 2026.

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· 19 hr ago 2m read

"隐藏的 HTTP 错误"（IIS 背后）

#FHIR #REST API #Web Gateway #Tips & Tricks #Debugging #Caché #Ensemble #Health Connect #InterSystems IRIS #InterSystems IRIS for Health

您发送了一个 HTTP 请求，但得到了一个 HTTP 错误，而且是一个您意想不到的 HTML 错误页面......这是怎么回事？

具体举例来说，也许您尝试读取 FHIR 资源（例如 /Patient/123），但得到的是 404 错误页面，尽管使用其他患者 ID 时，您得到的是资源有效载荷，因此 "页面 "肯定存在......为什么会得到 404 错误页面？

这些问题的答案与 IIS 网络服务器处理错误的行为有关。

IIS 有 3 个显示错误的选项：

  • 始终只显示自定义错误页面
  • 始终显示详细的服务器错误
  • 对本地请求显示详细错误，但对远程请求显示自定义错误页面。

最后一个选项（比始终显示详细错误）更安全，因为有时错误细节可能会暴露出不想让外部用户知道的内部信息。因此，这是 IIS 的默认设置。

但这意味着，如果您针对远程服务器进行测试，实际错误将被隐藏起来。因此，您需要将其更改为 "详细错误"（至少在调试阶段是这样，而且假设您考虑到了外部访问，也许会限制外部访问）。

有关此设置的更多详情，请参阅相关的 IIS 文章（您还可以查看我们文档中讨论此问题的相关部分）。

我提到的特定 FHIR 例子是一个有趣的案例，因为 404 错误可能仅仅意味着未找到特定的 FHIR 资源（您试图读取的 ID 不在存储库中），而不是服务器出现了某些问题（"未找到页面"）。

例如，如果您能看到详细的错误信息，就会看到类似下面的内容：

但如果没有详细的错误信息，你就会看到一个自定义的错误页面，就像这样：

这可能会引起误解，因此请牢记 IIS 设置。

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Article
· 19 hr ago 3m read
Open Exchange

embeddedpy-bridge: Un kit de herramientas para Python incrustado

#Embedded Python #ObjectScript #Python #Performance #HealthShare #InterSystems IRIS #InterSystems IRIS for Health #TrakCare #Health Connect

Embeddedpy-bridge: Un kit de herramientas para Python incrustado

Visión general

Embedded Python es un cambio radical para InterSystems IRIS, ya que ofrece acceso al vasto ecosistema de Python directamente dentro de la base de datos. Sin embargo, salvar la brecha entre ObjectScript y Python a veces puede parecer bastante complicado.

Para hacer que esta transición sea fluida, podéis usar embeddedpy-bridge. 

Este paquete es un kit de utilidades orientado al desarrollador, diseñado para proporcionar wrappers de ObjectScript de alto nivel, sintaxis familiar y manejo robusto de errores para Python incrustado. Permite a los desarrolladores interactuar con estructuras de datos de Python usando los patrones nativos de IRIS con los que ya estáis familiarizados.

El reto

Aunque la biblioteca %SYS.Python  es poderosa, los desarrolladores a menudo se enfrentan a algunos obstáculos:

  1. Manejo de proxies: Navegar por listas y diccionarios de Python usando proxies sin procesar no se siente "nativo" en ObjectScript.
  2. Iteración: Los bucles While estándar de ObjectScript no "hablan" de forma nativa con los iteradores de Python.
  3. Gestión de espacios de nombres: Asegurar que las utilidades de Python estén disponibles en todo el sistema.

La solución:embeddedpy-bridge

Mi objetivo fue crear un "puente" que haga que Python se sienta como un ciudadano de primera clase dentro de ObjectScript.

Características clave:

  • Convención de prefijo py: Todos los métodos de la clase %ZPython.Utils usan el prefijo py   (por ejemplo, pyDict(), pyList() , pyJSON()) para distinguir claramente la lógica relacionada con Python del código nativo de IRIS.
  • Wrappers orientados a objetos: Clases de alto nivel para Listy Dict que soportan métodos familiares como GetAt(), SetAt() y Count().
  • Iteradores inteligentes: Los iteradores integrados ListIterator  y DictIteratorpermiten recorrer datos de Python usando bucles While estándar de ObjectScript.
  • Soporte de macros: Un archivo %ZPython.inc proporciona atajos como $$$pyDict y $$$pyJSON para un desarrollo más limpio y rápido.

Ejemplos de uso

1. Sintaxis simple (Macros)

Ya no tendréis que escribir ##class(...)  cada vez. Usad atajos:

  • $$$pyDict — Crear un diccionario de Python.
  • $$$pyList — Crear una lista de Python.
  • $$$pyJSON(dynObj) — Convertir un objeto JSON en Python al instante.

2. Manejo unificado de diccionarios

En lugar de gestionar proxies de Python sin procesar, usad el diccionario envuelto:

Fragmento de código

Include %ZPython
Set pyDict = $$$pyDict
Do pyDict.SetAt("Status", "Active")
Do pyDict.SetAt("Version", 1.0)

// Standard IRIS iteration
Set iter = pyDict.%GetIterator()
While iter.%GetNext(.key, .val) {
    Write "Key: ", key, " Val: ", val, !
}

 

Set pyList = $$$zpyList()

Do pyList.Append("First Item")
Do pyList.Append("Second Item")

Write "Total items: ", pyList.Count(), !

// Access by index
Write "Item 1: ", pyList.GetAt(0), !

2. Conversión de datos sin interrupciones

Convertid objetos dinámicos de IRIS en objetos de Python y viceversa con una sola línea:

Fragmento de código:

Set dynObj = {"name": "John", "roles": ["Admin", "User"]}
Set pyObj = $$$pyJSON(dynObj)

// Verify Python type
Write ##class(%ZPython.Utils).IsType(pyObj, "dict") // 1

El objetivo de este proyecto es salvar la brecha entre dos mundos poderosos. Mientras que InterSystems IRIS proporciona el motor para Python incrustado, embeddedpy-bridge proporciona el volante.

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