11 Funny But Surprisingly Effective Sales Email Templates Straight from HubSpot‘s Sales Team
When was the last time you were excited to open a sales email? If you‘re like most people…probably never. The majority of sales emails are about as interesting as watching paint dry. They‘re bland, formulaic, and completely forgettable.
But every once in a while, a sales email lands in your inbox that actually makes you smile. You know the ones – they‘re clever, witty, and just the right amount of cheesy. They stand out from the sea of generic prospecting emails and get your attention.
As it turns out, these funny sales emails aren‘t just entertaining – they‘re also surprisingly effective. Injecting humor into your sales outreach can help you:
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Stand out in a crowded inbox: A clever joke or pun is a surefire way to differentiate your email from the dozens of other generic sales messages your prospects are getting each day.
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Make a memorable first impression: Prospects may not remember the 27th email they got about "hopping on a quick call." But they will remember the one that made them literally laugh out loud. Humor makes you stand out and stick in your prospects‘ minds.
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Put your prospects in a positive mood: Laughter releases endorphins and puts people in a better mood. And when your prospects are feeling good, they‘re more likely to respond positively to your outreach.
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Humanize yourself and build rapport: Showing your sense of humor makes you seem relatable and likable. It can help you connect with prospects on a personal level and kick off your relationship on a high note.
Of course, wielding humor in sales emails is a bit of an art. You can‘t just slap a knock-knock joke into your email template and call it a day. The best funny sales emails are still relevant, professional, and focused on providing value to the prospect.
So how do you strike the right balance? Let‘s dive into 11 examples of hilarious but effective sales emails written by real reps at HubSpot. We‘ll dissect what makes them work and show you how to adapt these ideas for your own outreach.
1. The Funny Sales Pitch
Template:
[Prospect name], are you struggling with [challenge]?
Hi [prospect name],
Some salespeople are all about how you can help them …
[Cartoon poking fun at self-interested salespeople, like the Dilbert comic about revenue targets]
But I‘m interested in your objectives. In working with similar companies [in X industry or vertical/of similar size in X region], I‘ve found many struggle with [major business challenge].
If this is something you‘re challenged with as well, have you considered [strategy/tip]? I have some other ideas that might help too.
Best,
[Your name]
Why it works:
This template uses a funny cartoon to playfully acknowledge the stereotype of pushy, self-interested salespeople. This helps disarm the prospect‘s natural skepticism and positions you as different from the typical salesperson.
The rep then pivots to focus on the prospect‘s needs and challenges – showing that they actually care about providing value and solving real business problems. They establish credibility by referencing their experience with similar companies, and provide a helpful tip to demonstrate their expertise.
2. The Response to "We‘re All Set"
Template:
One last question
Hi [prospect name],
[GIF of someone looking confused/perplexed]
Best, [Your name]
Why it works:
This template is perfect for re-engaging prospects who have brushed you off with the classic "we‘re all set" objection. Instead of arguing with them or giving up, this lighthearted one-line response uses humor to make them do a double take.
The funny GIF catches their attention and makes them curious enough to open your email. Ending with "one last question" leaves an open loop that piques their interest and makes them more likely to respond asking what your question is.
This gives you an opportunity to continue the conversation and potentially uncover needs they hadn‘t considered before. Even if they truly aren‘t a good fit now, this memorable interaction will make you stand out and keep you top-of-mind for opportunities down the road.
3. The Witty Email
Template:
[Prospect name], I hate sales emails
Yes, I‘m sending you one right now, but in my defense it‘s because you [requested more information on X/Y trigger event just occurred].
If you‘re not interested in [accomplishing X results/discussing relevant challenge or opportunity], please let me know so I can stop being a hypocrite.
Seriously, every time I click "Send," it pains me. Help stop my suffering and find a time on my calendar here.
Best,
[Your name]
Why it works:
This template turns the typical "just following up" email on its head by openly acknowledging the rep‘s hatred of sales emails – despite the fact that they‘re clearly sending one.
This self-aware, tongue-in-cheek approach helps lower the prospect‘s guard and makes the rep seem more authentic and trustworthy. After all, they‘re being upfront about their motives and giving the prospect an easy out if they‘re not interested.
The humorous line about "stopping my suffering" drives home the point that the rep doesn‘t want to annoy or pester the prospect. This makes them seem more human and empathetic to how busy the prospect is.
At the same time, the rep still provides a compelling reason for their outreach – either the prospect‘s previous interest or a relevant trigger event. They focus the email on achieving a specific result or solving a challenge for the prospect. And they end with a clear call-to-action to book a meeting, making it easy for the prospect to take the next step.
4. The Clever Conference Email
Template:
Cheer [salesperson] up at [conference]?
Hey [prospect name],
Saw you were involved with [organization]. I‘m curious if you‘re going to the [conference]? We‘d love to meet up with your team. I know one guy on my team would especially love to meet up:
[Image of very excited-looking rep or celebrity]
Want to book a quick side meeting or swap some text and meet up at our booth?
[Your name] a.k.a. [nickname] (this will make sense when you come to the booth)
Why it works:
Meeting prospects at conferences and events is a great way to connect face-to-face and build rapport. But generic "come by our booth!" emails are a dime a dozen leading up to big industry events.
This clever template helps you stand out before the conference even starts by piquing the prospect‘s curiosity. The rep noticed they are involved with a relevant organization and might be attending an upcoming event. But instead of a dry request for a meeting, they take a fun approach.
The image of an overly-excited team member (or relevant celebrity) is sure to make the prospect smile and want to learn more. The casual tone feels more like texting a friend than a typical sales email.
And the cheeky line about the rep‘s mysterious nickname adds an element of playfulness and intrigue. The prospect will want to swing by the booth to find out what it means – giving the rep a chance to meet them in person and continue the conversation.
5. The No-Nonsense Breakup Email
Template:
Ch-ch-ch-a-n-g-e-s
Hi [prospect name],
I‘ve reached out to [company] several times over the past few years. What I talked about clearly didn‘t resonate. I heard the collective yawn and have made some changes.
This partnership is now about three simple things:
- Helping you improve [X area of business]
- Helping you solve [X challenge]
- Helping you achieve [X results]
If the above sounds interesting, let‘s connect so I can provide more information on how we have started a new chapter.
Best,
[Your name]
Why it works:
This template takes a boldly honest approach for re-engaging prospects that have gone cold after previous unsuccessful outreach. Instead of ignoring past attempts, the rep openly acknowledges that their prior messaging fell flat and "didn‘t resonate."
This brutal honesty is disarming and refreshing. It shows that the rep is self-aware enough to recognize where they missed the mark before, and confident enough to own up to it. The subject line riffing on the classic Bowie song signals that major changes are coming.
The rep proves they‘re not just paying lip service by clearly laying out a new, prospect-focused approach to the partnership. They shift the focus from their own products/services to how they can help the prospect improve key areas of their business, solve challenges, and achieve tangible results.
This customer-centric positioning demonstrates that the rep has done their homework and is coming to the table with a relevant, tailored value proposition. Even if the prospect isn‘t ready to buy now, this email lays the groundwork for a productive relationship focused on their actual needs.
Statistics on Humor in Sales Emails
Still not sure if humor belongs in your sales emails? The data speaks for itself:
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Adding humor to email subject lines can increase open rates by as much as 30% compared to traditional subject lines, according to ContactMonkey.
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A study by Wharton Business School found that humor can increase customer loyalty, brand recognition, and word-of-mouth marketing.
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According to Drift‘s 2021 State of Conversational Sales report, 45% of customers want reps to provide a mix of humor and professionalism in their outreach.
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An experiment by Outreach.io found that funny prospecting emails had 9% higher open rates and 50% higher reply rates than traditional sales emails.
So not only do buyers appreciate a bit of personality and levity in sales emails – funny emails actually perform better! Provided your humor is tasteful and appropriate for the context, a well-placed joke can be just the thing to grab your prospect‘s attention and make them excited to chat more.
How to Implement Funny Emails Into Your Outreach:
Ready to get your prospects laughing… and responding? Here are a few tips for incorporating humor into your email outreach:
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Keep it relevant: Your jokes should still be related to your overall message and value prop. Avoid completely random gags that will just confuse your prospects.
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Know your audience: Not every prospect or industry will respond well to over-the-top humor. If you‘re not sure how a joke will land, err on the side of caution or run it by a colleague for feedback. When in doubt, aim for "mildly amusing" rather than "roll on the floor laughing."
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Punch up, not down: Self-deprecating humor that pokes fun at sales stereotypes is usually a safe bet. Avoid any jokes that could come across as mocking the prospect or trivializing their challenges.
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Use humor sparingly: One or two clever lines per email is plenty. You don‘t want your message to read like a bad stand-up routine.
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Keep it clean: It should go without saying, but avoid any crude, offensive, or NSFW jokes. Keep it professional and HR-friendly!
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Don‘t force it: If humor doesn‘t come naturally to you, don‘t feel like you need to become a comedy writer overnight. Start small by adding a funny line or two to your email signature, or test the waters with just a segment of your prospects.
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Focus on providing value first: At the end of the day, being helpful is more important than being hilarious. Make sure your emails still provide relevant insights, tips, and solutions for your prospects‘ needs. The humor should complement your message, not replace it entirely.
By leveraging humor strategically, you can write sales emails that your prospects will actually look forward to reading. Follow the examples laid out in this post, and you‘ll be well on your way to injecting more personality and fun into your outreach.
Remember – laughter is the best medicine, especially for curing the common cold email. 😉 So go forth and get punny with your prospects! Your response rates (and your prospects) will thank you.
