ChatGPT Prompt to Write a Cold Email using PAPA Framework

Here's the truth about cold emails: Most sales reps make big claims without backing them up. But here's what actually builds trust with skeptical prospects: concrete proof that your solution works.

Enter the PAPA framework—Problem-Agitate-Proof-Action, developed by Dan Kennedy to transform skepticism into confidence through evidence-based messaging.

Think of PAPA as a trust-building journey that doesn't just tell prospects what you can do—it shows them with real results.

But here's the catch: Presenting proof without coming across as boastful isn't easy.

Most sales reps struggle to balance credibility-building evidence with brevity, either overwhelming prospects with data or making claims without sufficient backup.

This is where AI steps in.

Tools like ChatGPT can help sales reps craft messages that perfectly weave proof points into compelling narratives.

In this blog, we'll explore the PAPA framework, provide a ready-to-use ChatGPT prompt for creating cold emails, and share an example email generated using the framework.

1. Problem: The Relevant Challenge

The first component focuses on identifying a specific issue that matters to your prospect. This isn't about generic pain points—it's about naming challenges that your evidence proves you can solve.

2. Agitate: The Real Stakes

The agitation phase deepens understanding of the problem's impact. This section helps prospects recognize the true cost of inaction through specific consequences.

3. Proof: The Evidence

Having established the stakes, you present concrete evidence of your solution's effectiveness. This section uses data, case studies, and testimonials to build trust.

4. Action: The Clear Path

The final component is a natural call to action that feels earned through the proof you've presented.

💡 ChatGPT Prompt: PAPA FRAMEWORK

Write a PAPA Style cold email to {{Fullname}} from {{Company}}.

These are inputs about my company which I'm trying to sell:

Ideal Customer: {ICP}

What does my product do? {Description}

The value we provide for the user: {Value Proposition}

What pain points do we solve? {Painpoints}

Competitor Advantage: {Competitor Advantage}

How we have helped people: {Case Study}

This is the input about the prospect: {Prospect_Research}

Write the subject in the following format:

Keep it simple, stating the main topic of the email. Avoid being overly creative or fancy. Limit it to 3-4 words max.

Write the email in the following format:

Problem: State a specific challenge relevant to the prospect's role or industry.

Agitate: Emphasize the negative impact and consequences.

Proof: Present concrete evidence of your solution's effectiveness.

Action: End with a CTA - Either "Worth a chat?" or "Worth exploring?"

Guidelines:

Keep the email under 80 words.

Use a friendly, direct tone.

Make sure to bring forth all the mentioned elements of formatting.

Avoid vague terms like "streamline," "optimize," "maximize," etc.

Be as specific as possible without making assumptions about the prospect.

Sample Output:

Conclusion

The PAPA framework and prompt provided are your blueprints for writing evidence-based cold emails that build trust.

But the real challenge is scaling this proof-driven approach for hundreds of prospects. Even with AI, executing this effectively at scale is a struggle.

That's why we built SDRx—an AI outbound agent that handles everything from in-depth prospect research to perfectly timed follow-ups, creating qualified pipeline without the manual grind.

By analyzing prospect behavior and leveraging 25 copywriting frameworks, SDRx generates highly personalized emails at scale, ensuring every outreach is relevant and impactful.

Want to use AI to create personalized, human-like emails for every prospect?

Book a demo of SDRx today.