Guide
How to write a cold email in Turkish
Short answer
Open with the first name plus Bey or Hanım ('Merhaba Ayşe Hanım,'), use the formal 'siz' throughout, keep it short and indirect, and end by asking whether the topic is relevant rather than with a calendar link. Write in Turkish from the start instead of translating English copy.
In short
- Greeting: 'Merhaba Ahmet Bey,' or 'Merhaba Ayşe Hanım,'; the first name alone when the gender is not known.
- Always 'siz', never 'sen'. Closings such as 'İyi çalışmalar dilerim,' or 'Saygılarımla,'.
- Avoid translated phrases ('umarım bu e-posta sizi iyi bulur', 'hızlı bir soru') and clichés ('sinerji', 'değer katmak').
- A first email asks about interest; it does not push a meeting.
Last checked:
Structure of a Turkish cold email
- Greeting with the right form of address. See Turkish greeting rules.
- One sentence on why you are writing to this person: something true about their company or role.
- The problem you solve for people in that role, in their terms, and one line of proof.
- A soft question: is this a topic for them, or is someone else the right person?
- A formal closing and your full name and company.
What reads as translated
- Openers carried over from English: 'Umarım bu e-posta sizi iyi bulur.'
- 'Hızlı bir soru' as a subject line.
- Business clichés such as 'sinerji', 'değer katmak', 'değerlendirmeye alınmak üzere'.
- Addressing someone by surname with Bey ('Yılmaz Bey') or with 'Sayın' in an ordinary B2B email.
How TechSales writes Turkish copy
For the Turkish market the Campaign Builder writes formal, indirect copy and avoids a list of banned phrases; a lint warns on 'sen' and on a bare first name where an honorific is expected. Bey and Hanım are only used on single-gender lists and checked in every step before sending. See B2B outbound in Türkiye.
Frequently asked questions
- Should I write in English to Turkish companies?
- For international companies English can be fine. For most Turkish companies, a well-written Turkish email is read as more respectful and more relevant.
- How long should it be?
- Short enough to read without scrolling on a phone. The Turkish market default in TechSales is a four-email sequence with a short first message.
- Is there a Turkish version of this guide?
- Yes, a longer one: Cold email nasıl yazılır?.
See it on your own market
Access is invite only and starts with a demo call. We walk through TechSales on your own list and tools.