Email Write Sub-Skill
Purpose
Generate professional, high-converting email copy using proven copywriting frameworks. Produces subject line variants with scoring, responsive HTML templates with dark mode support, plain-text fallback, and preheader recommendations.
Activation
This sub-skill is invoked by the main /email skill when the user needs to compose a new email.
Workflow
1. Gather Context
First, check if email-profile.md exists in the project directory. If yes, load business type, tone preferences, and target audience from the profile.
If no profile exists or user provides new context, ask for:
- Email Purpose: cold outreach, newsletter, product launch, promotional, re-engagement, welcome, feature announcement, etc.
- Recipient: name, role, relationship (new lead, existing customer, subscriber, team member)
- Tone: professional, friendly, casual, authoritative, empathetic, enthusiastic
- Business Type: (from profile or ask) SaaS, e-commerce, service business, agency, creator, B2B, B2C
- Key Message: what action should the recipient take?
- Additional Context: product details, promotion details, deadline, personalization data
2. Select Copy Framework
Based on the email purpose, choose the appropriate framework from references/copy-frameworks.md:
| Email Purpose | Recommended Framework | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cold outreach | PAS | Empathy-driven, addresses pain points |
| Product launch | AIDA | Builds excitement, drives action |
| Newsletter | BAB or AIDA | Aspirational or engaging storytelling |
| Feature announcement | FAB | Clear value proposition for features |
| Promotional/sale | AIDA | Creates desire and urgency |
| Re-engagement | PAS | Identifies problem of disengagement |
| Welcome email | BAB | Shows transformation journey |
| Case study | 4Ps | Proof-heavy, testimonial-driven |
| Review request | PAS | Empathetic ask for feedback |
| Appointment reminder | Direct | No framework needed |
If uncertain, default to AIDA for marketing emails or PAS for relationship emails.
3. Generate Subject Lines
Create 3 subject line variants using these strategies:
- Curiosity-Driven: Creates intrigue, open loop, question, teaser
- Benefit-Driven: Clear value proposition, outcome, result
- Urgency-Driven: Time-sensitive, scarcity, FOMO (but not spammy)
Subject Line Rules:
- Optimal length: 6-10 words / 30-50 characters
- Never use ALL CAPS
- Maximum 1 exclamation mark per subject line
- Avoid spam triggers: "FREE!!!", "Act Now", "Limited Time Only", "Guaranteed", "Cash", "No obligation"
- Include personalization where possible (beyond first name: behavior, location, purchase history)
- Use power words: exclusive, secret, insider, proven, breakthrough, transform, discover
Scoring Methodology (0-100):
| Criteria | Weight | Scoring |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 20 | 100 if 30-50 chars, -10 per 5 chars over/under |
| Power Words | 20 | +20 per power word (max 2) |
| Personalization | 25 | +25 if personalized beyond first name |
| Spam Triggers | -50 | -50 if contains spam word |
| Clarity | 20 | 100 if benefit/topic is clear |
| Curiosity | 15 | +15 if creates open loop |
Minimum passing score: 70
4. Write Preheader Text
Generate preheader recommendation (30-80 characters):
- Must complement (not repeat) the subject line
- Include secondary value proposition or CTA preview
- Avoid generic text like "View this email in your browser"
Example:
- Subject: "Your personalized SEO roadmap is ready"
- Preheader: "3 quick wins to boost your rankings this week"
5. Compose Email Body
Apply the chosen framework structure. Load full framework details from references/copy-frameworks.md before writing.
General Email Writing Rules:
- Opening: Hook in first sentence, address recipient by name if available
- Body: Use short paragraphs (2-3 sentences max), bullet points for scannability
- Tone: Match requested tone from profile or user input
- Personalization: Use merge tags like
{{firstName}},{{company}},{{productName}} - CTA: One primary CTA, clear and action-oriented ("Get Your Free Audit", "Claim Your Spot", "Start Your Trial")
- Social Proof: Include if available (testimonial, stat, case study result)
- Signature: Professional sign-off with name, title, company
Framework-Specific Structure:
Load the full structure from references/copy-frameworks.md and apply. Each framework has:
- Section breakdown (e.g., PAS: Problem → Agitate → Solve)
- Transition phrases
- Example templates
6. Generate HTML Version
Create a responsive, dark-mode compatible HTML email using these specifications:
HTML Template Structure:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<meta name="color-scheme" content="light dark">
<meta name="supported-color-schemes" content="light dark">
<title>{{emailSubject}}</title>
<style>
/* Inline critical CSS */
body { margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; }
table { border-collapse: collapse; }
.email-container { max-width: 600px; margin: 0 auto; }
.body-text { font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6; color: #333333; }
.cta-button {
display: inline-block;
padding: 14px 28px;
background-color: #0066cc;
color: #ffffff;
text-decoration: none;
border-radius: 4px;
font-weight: bold;
min-height: 44px;
min-width: 44px;
}
/* Dark mode styles */
@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
body { background-color: #1a1a1a !important; }
.body-text { color: #e0e0e0 !important; }
.email-container { background-color: #2a2a2a !important; }
}
/* Mobile responsive */
@media only screen and (max-width: 600px) {
.body-text { font-size: 14px !important; }
.headline { font-size: 22px !important; }
.cta-button { display: block !important; width: 100% !important; }
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<!-- Email content goes here -->
</body>
</html>HTML Rules:
- Use table-based layout (not CSS Grid/Flexbox for email client compatibility)
- Max width: 600px
- Inline critical CSS (some clients strip
<style>tags) - Web-safe fonts with fallbacks: Arial, Helvetica, Georgia, Times New Roman
- Minimum 14px body text, 22px headlines on mobile
- CTA button: minimum 44x44px touch target, high contrast ratio (4.5:1)
- Include
color-scheme: light darkmeta tag - Dark mode CSS using
@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) - Alt text on all images (describe content, not "image" or "photo")
- Always include plain-text MIME part for accessibility
CTA Button Best Practices:
- One primary CTA per email (secondary CTAs okay as text links)
- Use
<a>tag withrole="button"for accessibility - Padding: 14px vertical, 28px horizontal minimum
- Background color with 4.5:1 contrast ratio against text
- Include fallback for dark mode (lighter background or inverted colors)
7. Generate Plain-Text Version
Create a plain-text fallback with:
- No HTML tags
- Line breaks for readability (max 70 characters per line)
- CTA as full URL on separate line
- Signature block with contact info
8. Output Format
Present the final email composition in this structure:
## Email Composition
**Framework**: [chosen framework name]
**Purpose**: [email purpose]
**Tone**: [tone]
**Recipient Type**: [recipient type]
---
### Subject Line Options
| # | Subject | Score | Type | Notes |
|---|---------|-------|------|-------|
| 1 | [subject line 1] | 87 | Curiosity | [why this works] |
| 2 | [subject line 2] | 82 | Benefit | [why this works] |
| 3 | [subject line 3] | 79 | Urgency | [why this works] |
**Recommended**: #1 (highest score)
**Preheader Text**: [30-80 char preheader recommendation]
---
### Email Body (Plain Text)
[Full email body using framework structure]
[Include merge tags like {{firstName}}, {{company}}]
[CTA]
[Signature]
---
### HTML Version
[Complete HTML email code with inline CSS, dark mode support, responsive design]
---
### Plain Text Version
[Plain text fallback with line breaks, CTA as full URL]
---
### Email Metadata
- **Word Count**: [body word count]
- **Reading Time**: [estimated reading time]
- **Character Count** (with spaces): [count]
- **CTA Count**: [number of CTAs]
---
### Next Steps
- Review and edit copy
- Choose subject line variant
- Test HTML rendering in email client preview tool
- Send as draft via MCP (if available) or copy to email platform
- A/B test subject lines if sending to large list
Quality Gates
Before delivering the email, verify:
- Subject line scores: At least one variant scores 70+
- Preheader length: 30-80 characters
- Framework alignment: Body follows chosen framework structure
- CTA clarity: Primary CTA is clear and action-oriented
- Mobile readability: Paragraphs are 2-3 sentences max
- HTML validity: Table-based layout, inline CSS, dark mode support
- Accessibility: Alt text on images, plain-text fallback included
- Spam check: No spam trigger words in subject or body
- Personalization: Merge tags used where appropriate
- Tone match: Email tone matches requested tone from profile
If any gate fails, revise before output.
Error Handling
- If
references/copy-frameworks.mdis missing, warn user and use basic AIDA structure - If
email-profile.mdis missing, prompt user for context (don't fail) - If subject line scores are all below 70, generate new variants
- If HTML template fails validation, fall back to plain-text only and warn user
Resources
references/copy-frameworks.md- Full framework structures and examplesemail-profile.md- User's business context and preferences (optional)
Example Invocation
User: "Write a cold outreach email to a SaaS founder about my SEO audit service"
Agent:
- Loads email-profile.md (if exists)
- Selects PAS framework (cold outreach)
- Generates 3 subject line variants with scores
- Writes email body following PAS structure
- Creates HTML template with dark mode
- Creates plain-text fallback
- Outputs full email composition with metadata and next steps
Notes
- This sub-skill focuses on composition only (no sending/scheduling)
- For sending emails, use
email-sendsub-skill or MCP email tools - For A/B testing, generate multiple variants using different frameworks
- Always adapt tone and complexity to recipient type (B2B vs B2C, technical vs non-technical)