HowTheyGotUsersHowTheyGotUsers

A/B Test 3-5 Templates and Subjects, Then Cut Half

A/B Test 3-5 Templates and Subjects, Then Cut Half is a cold outreach tactic for getting your first users: Pick a small fixed set of templates and subject lines that work across all targets, label them, and eliminate underperformers using reply data.

It's a strong fit for teams of almost any kind, and works especially well for Anyone running manual cold email. As a cold outreach play, plan for medium effort and expect results to arrive at a steady pace, all grounded in 1 linked primary source.

Cold outreachMedium effortMedium

Why does cold outreach work for this?

There is no universal best template, so systematic elimination surfaces the ones that actually land for your product.

The exact steps (5)

The full step-by-step this founder ran, what they posted, where, and in what order, plus the watch-outs, is part of the library.

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Sources

Works for
Any / universal

Frequently asked

How is the "A/B Test 3-5 Templates and Subjects, Then Cut Half" tactic verified?
It is drawn from 1 primary source — a real founder write-up or interview, not generic advice. It is linked in the Sources section above so you can read the original account yourself.
How much effort is it and how fast are results?
It is medium effort, and results tend to be medium.
Where can I see the exact step-by-step?
The full step-by-step a founder ran, documented via Source — IndieHackers, is in the paid library.

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