Email outreach.
The master reference for PerkUp's article / email outreach — the play, the trackers, every template, and the partner one-pager, in one place.
How outreach works
PerkUp runs an article / backlink swap play. We pitch other platforms to feature PerkUp in their “Top #” listicle, and in exchange we feature them in one of ours. Both sides gain a contextual backlink and more visibility in AI answers. This page is the master reference: the trackers, the pitch, every email template, and the partner one-pager.
Ground rules
- Position PerkUp as a swag management platform only — not an employee-recognition tool. (For recognition-led partners, frame it as “a swag management platform that powers employee recognition through branded swag and gifts.”)
- Lead with the listicle. “Top #” roundups outperform other formats and drive ~63% of AI citations.
- Always offer the exchange — a spot in our blog for a spot in theirs (or a paid placement / credit when a swap isn’t possible).
- Sequence is four emails. Pitch → follow-up → follow-up → friendly break-up. Always ask for a referral to the right person if you have the wrong contact.
- On a yes, hand off to the copywriter (Mikah) and send the partner the PerkUp one-pager Google Doc.
Trackers & key links
Everything lives in Notion under the Automated Article Outreach hub. Verify access if a link 404s.
| Resource | What it’s for |
|---|---|
| Outreach Tracker (Automated Email Outreach Campaign Tracker) | The main database — every lead contacted across all campaigns: status, replies, collab stage, backlinks. |
| AI Visibility Tracker | AI citation / visibility tracking. |
| Automated Article Outreach (parent hub) | Action-plan hub; the trackers sit under here as subpages. |
| Global Outreach | Category-based global targets (HR tools + event-marketing tools); 55 net-new companies verified clean. |
| PerkUp one-pager (Google Doc) | “Everything a partner needs to know about PerkUp” — send this on a yes. |
| Why listicles win in AI (Search Engine Land) | The data behind “~63% of AI citations point to listicles.” |
| Example swap — Hoppier: their article featuring PerkUp · our article featuring Hoppier | The reference example to cite in cold emails. |
Cold email sequences
Three plays, each a four-email sequence. Click an email to expand it, then Copy. Highlighted [fields] are what you fill in per lead.
1 · Competitor Mention
Use when the partner is a direct competitor you’re already featuring — offer them a top-5 spot for a spot in their listicle.
Email 1 — “We’d love to include [company] in an upcoming blog”
Hi [name],
I’m [name], PerkUp’s [role]. We’re a swag management platform that supports companies to send swag and event merch to 65+ countries.
We’re putting together an article on the top [category] platforms, and [company] was one of the first names that came to mind. We’ve already contacted [competitor 1] and [competitor 2], and we’ll feature them on the list.
That said, we have a proposal: we feature [company] in our article (among the top 5), and in return, we ask that you include PerkUp in your [listicle]. Our blog has DR 63, ~10K monthly organic visits, regularly shows up in Google AI Overviews, and ranks #4 for AI visibility in the space. A spot in one of our blogs will be a good SEO/GEO opportunity for [company].
Let me know what you think so we can secure your spot.
Have a nice day!
Sign-off — Thomas Mirmotahari (CEO & Co-founder) or Mica Mendelsohn (Marketing Manager), perkupapp.com.
Email 2 — follow-up
Hi [name],
Hope you’re doing well!
I’m just circling back on the roundup that I mentioned in my last email.
Right now, [company]’s spot is still open in our upcoming article.
In case it’s helpful, here’s the gist again: we’d feature [company] on our blog (DR 63, ~10K monthly organic visits, regularly cited in Google AI Overviews, #4 for AI visibility in the industry), and all we’d ask in return is a spot for PerkUp in your [listicle]. A real SEO and GEO win for [company].
[Closing line — varies by sender, see note below]
Hope to hear from you soon!
Closing line by sender — Thomas: “If you’re up for it, let me know, and I’ll connect you with our marketing manager and copywriter.” / Mica: “…I’ll connect you with Mikah, our marketing copywriter.” / Mikah: “…I’ll send everything you might need to include PerkUp in the list.”
Email 3 — follow-up
Hi [name],
Circling back again on my last email about a possible content collaboration between PerkUp and [company].
We’re finalizing our roundup of the top [category] platforms, and [competitor 1] and [competitor 2] are already on the list. It’s a good listicle to be part of, as our blogs show up in Google AI Overviews and AI search results.
If you’re up for it, just let me know, and [company] gets a feature on our blogs, while PerkUp goes in one of your listicles (the [listicle] would be perfect).
And, in case you’re not the right contact for this, would you be so kind as to point me in the direction of the right person?
Thank you for your time!
Email 4 — break-up
Hi [name],
Since I haven’t heard back from you, I’ll take that the timing isn’t right for [company] now. But that’s completely okay! We’ll feature [competitor 1] and [competitor 2] for now.
If you ever change your mind (or you stumble upon this email again on a random day), I’d love to chat with you. There’s always room for a future article opportunity.
Wishing you all the best!
2 · Article Swap
Use for adjacent platforms — a full “Top Platforms of 2026” article in each other’s category.
Email 1 — “Quick Collab Idea between PerkUp x [company]”
Hi [name],
I’m [name], PerkUp’s [role]. We’re a swag management platform that supports companies across 65+ countries. We handle everything from employee swag to client gifting and event merch.
I wanted to see if you’d be open to a content collaboration between [company] and PerkUp.
This is something that works really well for us (we’re now ranked #4 on AI visibility in our industry). We’ve done similar collaborations with companies like Giftronaut and Hoppier.
To give you a concrete example, here’s how our exchange with Hoppier looked:
• Hoppier’s article featuring PerkUp: https://www.hoppier.com/blog/top-swag-platforms
• Our article featuring Hoppier: https://perkupapp.com/post/top-8-employee-stipend-platforms-of-2025
With [company], what we’re proposing is to have a “Top Platforms of 2026” article in each other’s respective categories. For example:
• Your article: [article] (featuring PerkUp)
• Our article: [listicle] of 2026 (featuring [company])
Of course, if you have another format in mind, we’re open to exploring that as well.
Would you be interested in discussing this further?
Email 2 — why it’s a fit
Hi [name],
It’s me again!
This time, I just want to share why we believe a content exchange with PerkUp will be a great opportunity for your team.
Blog-wise, we have a DR 63 with ~10k monthly organic visits.
SEO-wise, we’re often cited in Google AI Overviews when you search ‘swag management platforms,’ and we’re ranked #4 on AI visibility within the industry. We’ve actually had this same kind of content exchange with other platforms like Goody and Swag42, and in the process, we helped increase their visibility in Google AI Overviews, too.
Partnership-wise, we’re easy to work with, and we can definitely discuss what content opportunities will work best for both of us. It’s a win-win for both sides!
If you’re not the right person on your team for this, I’d really appreciate a point in the right direction.
Hope to hear from you!
Email 3 — follow-up
Hi [name],
Just following up on this to share why a content collaboration with PerkUp will work for [company].
Aside from what I’ve mentioned earlier (our blog with DR 63 with ~10k monthly organic visits and PerkUp ranking at #4 on AI visibility within the industry), a content exchange with us will get you a contextual backlink and a placement in front of our audience.
Plus, listicles are currently the most-cited content type in AI tools, which is exactly why a “Top Platforms” article exchange with us will perform really well. We’ll both gain more SEO authority and can start showing up more often in AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity when buyers research our respective categories. A win for us both!
If this is something you’re interested in discussing, do let me know!
Email 4 — break-up
Hi [name],
Since I haven’t heard back from you, I’ll assume a blog collab isn’t on your radar right now. No worries! I’ll keep in touch in case a new opportunity comes up in the future.
If, by chance, there’s a different person to talk to about a content partnership, a quick point in their direction would be great and really appreciated.
Have a great rest of the day!
3 · Listicle Inclusion
Use when you just want PerkUp added to their existing roundup — offer a feature, a credit, or a swap in return.
Email 1 — “Quick idea for your [article]”
Hi [name],
I’m [name], PerkUp’s [role]. We’re a swag management platform that supports companies across 65+ countries. We handle everything from employee swag to client gifting and event merch.
I’m reaching out to see if you’d be open to adding PerkUp to your [listicle]. I can send over whatever info you need to make it a quick and easy update.
In exchange, we’d love to include [company] in our [existing or new article].
For context, we have DR 63, ~10K organic visits per month, are regularly cited in Google AI Overviews, and rank #4 for AI visibility in our industry, so a feature of [company] on our blog will work well for your SEO and GEO.
Of course, we can also collaborate on other content formats if that’s what’s more suitable for you.
Let me know your thoughts!
Email 2 — follow-up
Hi [name],
Hope you’re doing well!
I just want to follow up on my last email about PerkUp and the possibility of being included in your [listicle]. We’d love to be part of it if you’re open to an update.
As a thank you, we’d be happy to send you a credit or collaborate in other ways, too.
Let me know if you’d like any additional info or if there’s a better time to reconnect.
Email 3 — follow-up
Hi [name],
I know inboxes can get busy, but I figured I’d send another email.
In case you missed it, I’m hoping to get PerkUp added to [company]’s [listicle].
Whether that’s a paid placement or in exchange for [company]’s inclusion in our own blog, [existing or new article], that’s fine! We’re definitely open to either.
If you’re not the right contact for this, would you be so kind as to point me in the direction of the right person?
In any case, thank you for your time!
Email 4 — break-up
Hi [name],
I’ll assume, with the lack of responses, that it’s either not the right time or it’s something you can’t move forward with right now.
Either way, thank you for your time. If there’s any chance that you change your mind (or you see this email on a random day), I’d love to connect with you.
Have a great day!
After a positive reply (copywriter handoff)
Once a lead says yes, the rep loops in the copywriter (Mikah), who takes it from here with one of these. Always attach the PerkUp one-pager.
Handoff V1 — Listicle Inclusion (after a yes)
Thanks, Thomas! I’ll take it from here.
Hi [Name],
Nice to e-meet you! I’m Mikah, the marketing copywriter of PerkUp.
Glad to know that [company] wants to join our lineup alongside [competitor] and [competitor] in our [listicle title] roundup.
To get things started, I’d just like to ask for a couple of things from you:
• Features and/or differentiators you’d like us to highlight
• One (1) preferred destination URL
• Any specific positioning for your company
Once I have this, I can begin adding you to our listicle.
As for PerkUp, we’d love to be included in your [article title] list.
Here’s a Google Doc containing everything you need to know about PerkUp. Alternatively, I can also write our section so you can just add it to the article. Just let me know which you prefer!
Handoff V2 — Article Swap (after a yes)
Thanks, Thomas! I’ll take it from here.
Hi [Name],
Nice to e-meet you! I’m Mikah, the marketing copywriter of PerkUp.
Glad to hear [company] is up for a swap! For a quick rundown on how it works: we write an article featuring [company], and you write a blog featuring PerkUp.
Here’s what we’re thinking:
• What we’ll write and publish on our site: [article title]
• What [company] will write and publish on your side: [article title]
For our article, I just need a few things from you:
• Features and/or differentiators you’d like us to highlight
• One (1) preferred destination URL
• Any specific positioning for your company
Once I have this, I can begin writing the draft.
Here’s a Google Doc containing everything you need to know about PerkUp for the article you’ll write.
Let me know if you have any questions!
Worked examples (real sends)
Real exchanges, lightly trimmed — useful for tone and for the kind of details partners ask about (links, anchor text, screenshots, timelines).
Lob — article swap
Hi,
Glad to hear Lob is up for a swap!
For a quick rundown on how it works: we write an article featuring Lob, and you write a blog featuring PerkUp.
Here’s what we’re thinking:
• What we’ll write and publish on our site: Top Direct Mail Platforms of 2026
• What Lob will write and publish on your side: Top Corporate Gifting Platforms to Pair with Direct Mail in 2026
For our article, I just need a few things from you: features/differentiators to highlight, one preferred destination URL, and any specific positioning.
Here’s a Google Doc containing everything you need to know about PerkUp for the article you’ll write. Of course, we’re open to other articles if you have some in mind — just let me know!
Xoxoday — listicle inclusion
Glad to know Xoxoday wants to join our lineup alongside Snappy and Sendoso.
For our collab, we’ll include you in our “Top Employee Recognition and Gifting Platforms in 2026,” alongside Snappy and Sendoso. In exchange, we’d love to be included in your “Top 10 Best Employee Recognition Software Solutions in 2026” article.
One note on positioning: we’d love to be described as a swag management platform that powers employee recognition through branded swag and gifts. If easier, I’m also happy to write our section for you to drop straight into the article.
If adding us to that list isn’t feasible, a new listicle with us at #1 would work just as well — and as a thank-you, we’ll make sure Xoxoday is at the #1 spot in our roundup.
From you, we’ll need: features/differentiators to highlight, one preferred destination URL, and any specific positioning for Xoxoday. For PerkUp’s positioning, here’s a Google Doc with everything you need to know.
NectarHR — link logistics
Thank you, Mica, I got it from here.
Hi Kelsey, nice to e-meet you! I’m Mikah, the marketing copywriter of PerkUp.
Link requirements: we only need one contextual dofollow link, placed naturally within the listicle copy. For NectarHR, we’ll match whatever attribute you’d prefer for the PerkUp link in your blog.
Live URLs: on your side, we’d love to be added to your “15 Top Employee Recognition Platforms For Companies At Every Stage” piece (described as a swag management platform that powers employee recognition through branded swag and gift cards). On our side, we’ll feature Nectar in our “Top Employee Recognition Platforms of 2026” listicle.
Timeline: we’re aiming to have both pieces live in two weeks (maybe three if there are constraints).
Anchor text for PerkUp: “PerkUp” is fine. Landing page: https://perkupapp.com/. Your team can write the PerkUp section so the tone aligns; we’d love to review it afterward (a PerkUp branding doc is available too).
Our format also includes a quick rundown of limitations for each platform, so a couple of cons/trade-offs you’re comfortable with us mentioning would help round it out.
Corporate Traditions — article swap
Thanks, Mica! I’ll take it from here.
Hi Austin, nice to e-meet you! I’m Mikah, the marketing copywriter of PerkUp.
Glad to hear Corporate Traditions is up for a blog collab! How it works: we write an article featuring Corporate Traditions, and you write a blog featuring PerkUp.
• We’ll include you in our upcoming blog: Top Employee Recognition Platforms
• Corporate Traditions will write and publish: Top Platforms for Branded Employee Gifts and Swag (happy to align on a different angle if you prefer)
For our article, I just need: features/differentiators to highlight, one preferred destination URL, and any specific positioning. Here’s a Google Doc with everything you need to know about PerkUp.
PS — if it’s not too much to ask, we’d also love to be included in your existing “5 Best Employee Recognition Gift Websites” listicle.
Retreats and Venues — alignment check (both drafts ready)
Hi William,
Thanks for sending the draft over! Now that we both have drafts ready, a quick alignment check:
Publishing arrangement:
• On the PerkUp blog (we’ll publish): “What Are the Best Corporate Retreat Venue Sourcing Platforms for Global Teams?” — written by your team.
• On the Retreats and Venues blog (you’ll publish): “Top 5 Platforms to Send Swag to Retreat Venues” — written by us.
On your other questions: photos — no need, we usually use the homepage of sites we feature. Links — happy to allow two; send them with preferred anchor text. Disclaimer — we don’t add standalone disclaimers; we weave that context into the body (e.g., “They don’t publish pricing publicly, but according to G2 reviews their range is typically $2,000–$5,000”).
On screenshots — happy to pull these from a populated account. Which screens would be most useful (swag store, gifting flow, admin dashboard, catalog view, order tracking), and would they go in the article you’ll publish?
PerkUp one-pager (what to send partners)
This is the approved description partners use to write the PerkUp section. The full, shareable version is the Google Doc; it also lives on the brand strategy page.
PerkUp is a swag management and gifting platform built for global teams. It handles sourcing, customization, warehousing, fulfillment, and shipping on a single platform — a natural pairing for an employee-recognition program that needs tangible rewards. Offerings: bulk swag, On Demand swag (1-unit minimum), swag kits, event swag, swag stores, automated milestone gifting, and 5,000+ gift cards.
| Feature | What it means |
|---|---|
| Swag flexibility | Bulk, On Demand, kits, event & marketing swag, swag stores, and digital gift cards. |
| Integrations & automated gifting | 200+ HRIS integrations send swag and kits automatically on preset conditions. |
| Transparent pricing | All fees shown on every order; zero warehouse receiving fee. |
| Comprehensive dashboard | Reporting and insights, plus tracking and shipping timelines for events. |
| Secured platform | SOC 2 Type II certified. |
| Sustainable efforts | Eco-friendly options; partners with Pledge 1% and Stripe Climate. |
Deeper dive: the PerkUp deep-dive article.
Sources: the Articles Outreach Master Reference, the Email Outreach Templates doc, and the PerkUp Branding one-pager (Marketing). Keep the trackers in Notion as the source of truth for live status.