ChatGPT Prompt to Write a Cold Email using Problem-Nudge Framework

Here's the truth about cold emails: Most sales reps push for immediate conversion, missing the opportunity to start meaningful conversations with prospects.

Enter the Problem-Nudge framework—Challenge, Question, Conversation Enquiry, P.S. Developed by B.J. Fogg, this approach transforms cold outreach into thoughtful conversations that respect the prospect's agency while nudging them toward engagement.

Think of Problem-Nudge as a gentle invitation to discuss a shared challenge rather than a hard sell, making your outreach feel more like helpful guidance than unwanted sales pressure.

But here's the catch: Creating emails that identify relevant challenges and ask thought-provoking questions without sounding presumptuous isn't easy.

Most sales reps either identify problems too vaguely or ask closed questions that don't invite dialogue, resulting in emails that feel either generic or pushy.

This is where AI steps in.

Tools like ChatGPT can help sales reps craft Problem-Nudge emails that identify specific challenges, ask genuinely thought-provoking questions, and create opportunities for meaningful conversation.

In this blog, we'll explore the Problem-Nudge framework, provide a ready-to-use ChatGPT prompt for creating cold emails, and share why this approach consistently yields higher engagement rates.

1. Challenge: The Relevance Hook

The first component focuses on identifying a specific challenge that resonates with the prospect's current situation. This isn't about generic pain points—it's about naming a problem the prospect actually cares about solving, framed as an observation rather than an assumption.

2. Question: The Reflection Trigger

The question phase prompts the prospect to reflect on their experience with the identified challenge. This section helps prospects mentally engage with the problem, making them more receptive to potential solutions.

3. Conversation Enquiry: The Dialogue Opener

With the challenge identified and reflection prompted, the conversation enquiry component offers a low-pressure way to continue the discussion. This section acknowledges the prospect's agency in deciding whether to engage further.

4. P.S.: The Memorable Reinforcement

The P.S. component adds a personalized touch that shows genuine research and interest in the prospect specifically. This section helps your email stand out and reinforces the relevance of your message.

💡 ChatGPT Prompt: PROBLEM-NUDGE FRAMEWORK

Write a Problem-Nudge style cold email using my inputs to sell my product 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:

Challenge: Begin with an observation about a relevant pain point specific to {{Company}}'s context (from {Painpoints} and {Prospect_Research}). Describe the pain point or challenge clearly, drawing from the second goal to increase the prospect's curiosity by framing the issue as a common struggle. Avoid questions in this paragraph.

Question: In the next paragraph, pose a leading, targeted question that suggests we've considered {{Company}}'s unique business context. Avoid phrases like "I'm curious if..." and instead ask a direct, thoughtful question about whether they experience the same challenge. This question should feel natural, showing genuine consideration of the prospect's situation without assumptions.

Conversation Inquiry: End with a light and non-pushy CTA. Either - "Worth a chat?" or "Worth exploring?".

P.S.: Add a personalized line using inputs from {Prospect_Research}. Keep it natural, showing familiarity without excessive flattery.

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 Problem-Nudge framework and prompt provided are your blueprints for writing conversation-starting cold emails that respect prospect agency while nudging them toward engagement.

But the real challenge is scaling this 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 advanced copywriting frameworks like Problem-Nudge, SDRx generates highly personalized emails at scale, ensuring every outreach identifies relevant challenges, asks thought-provoking questions, and creates opportunities for meaningful conversation.

Want to use AI to create personalized, conversation-starting emails for every prospect?

Book a demo of SDRx today.