# Outreach sequence worksheet

A worksheet for planning a short sequence of outreach messages: the person, the reason, the offer, the follow-ups and the rule for when to stop.

> **How to use this.** Fill in the person and the reason first, then write each message as a separate row. Decide the stopping rule before you send anything, and keep a record of every message.

## 1. Who and why

- **The person or role you are writing to:**
- **How you found them, and where their contact details came from:**
- **Why this message is relevant to them now:** one specific reason, not a general one.
- **What you want from them:** a conversation, an answer to one question or an introduction.
- **What you offer in return:** something real that you can deliver.

## 2. The sequence

Plan every message before you send the first. A sequence is short, and each message adds something new rather than repeating the last.

| Message | Purpose | What it says | The one ask | Sent on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. First message | Introduce yourself and the reason | | | |
| 2. Follow-up | Add something new, such as a relevant finding or a shorter ask | | | |
| 3. Last message | Close politely and leave the door open | | | |

## 3. Each message must

- [ ] Come from a sender the recipient can identify, using your real name and company.
- [ ] Have a subject line that matches what the message says.
- [ ] State the reason you are writing in the first sentence.
- [ ] Make one ask that can be answered in a sentence.
- [ ] Say how the recipient can stop hearing from you, and make that easy.
- [ ] Include whatever contact or address information the rules in your location require. Ask your counsel what applies to commercial messages where you and the recipient are based.

## 4. The stopping rule

Decide this now, in writing.

- **When you stop:** after the last message in the sequence, after any reply that says no, and immediately when someone asks not to be contacted.
- **Where you record a request to stop:** [the list or tool].
- **How you make sure a recorded request is honored in every later sequence:**

## 5. Record every message

| Date | Person or role | Message number | Reply (none, yes, no, asked to stop) | What you learned |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |

## 6. Review after the sequence

- **How many people received the sequence:**
- **How many replied, and what they said:**
- **Which message got a reply, and what was different about it:**
- **What you will change before the next sequence:**
- **What you learned about the people who did not reply:** record it as a question, not a conclusion.

## 7. Keep it honest

- [ ] Nothing in any message is untrue or exaggerated.
- [ ] You did not claim a connection, a customer or a partner that does not exist.
- [ ] You can explain where every contact came from.
- [ ] You stopped when asked.

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World Enterprise, https://worldenterprise.org/. Last updated 2026-10-10.