Using AI to Write Cold Emails Based on PDF Instructions

Salek A. · 2025-12-20T05:04:25.391Z

Hey guys, can AI be used on a cell with a preset PDF as instructions? Let's say after generating the entire data on a clay table. I need to use AI to write cold emails using all the data. But I have a PDF book on how to write cold emails in Shakespeare's/Alex Hormozi/Blah blah blah style. You get the idea.... AI will only use the knowledge from the PDFs to write the Email Copy. Is that even doable?

Using AI to Write Cold Emails Based on PDF Instructions | Clay

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Clay Support
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Clay's AI can write cold emails using your table data, but it doesn't directly support uploading PDFs as instructions.
However, you can achieve something similar by customizing AI prompts to write in specific styles. Clay already has templates that draft emails in the style of famous writers like Seth Godin, David Ogilvy, and Leo Burnett.
For your PDF content, you'd need to extract the key writing principles and incorporate them into your AI prompts manually. The AI can then use all your enriched table data plus those style instructions to generate personalized emails.
You could also try Clay's Sculptor tool (top-right corner) to help build custom workflows for this specific use case.
Clay Support
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Did that answer your question?
Salek A.
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not really. Very much aware how to do that already.
Clay Support
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I'm sorry to hear that the information wasn't helpful. I'll connect you to one of our human agents who can assist you further.
Clay Support
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Our support team has got your message and we'll get back to you soon! We're currently outside of our standard office hours (9 AM to 9 PM EST, Monday through Friday), so it may take a little longer for us to respond.

If you’re dealing with a specific table, drop the URL below so we can help you quicker. Otherwise, someone from our team will be in touch soon!

image.png(93 kB)
Bo (.
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Yes, you can do this.
In Clay, the way to “teach” the AI your PDF rules/style is to use a Use AI column (Content Generation) and attach the PDF as Document Context. Then the model can reference that document while writing the cold email.
To make it behave the way you want, add a rule in the prompt like:
“Use the PDF as the primary style guide.”
“If the PDF doesn’t specify something, ask for clarification or leave it blank. Don’t invent rules.”
Clay Support
APP
·
·
We haven't heard back from you here, so we're going to go ahead and close this thread out.

Still need help here? Reply back and someone will jump back in.

Have a question thats not related to this thread? We recommend kicking off a new ticket in the support channel!

Clay Support
APP
·
·
Clay's AI can write cold emails using your table data, but it doesn't directly support uploading PDFs as instructions.
However, you can achieve something similar by customizing AI prompts to write in specific styles. Clay already has templates that draft emails in the style of famous writers like Seth Godin, David Ogilvy, and Leo Burnett.
For your PDF content, you'd need to extract the key writing principles and incorporate them into your AI prompts manually. The AI can then use all your enriched table data plus those style instructions to generate personalized emails.
You could also try Clay's Sculptor tool (top-right corner) to help build custom workflows for this specific use case.
Clay Support
APP
·
·
Did that answer your question?
Salek A.
·
·
not really. Very much aware how to do that already.
Clay Support
APP
·
·
I'm sorry to hear that the information wasn't helpful. I'll connect you to one of our human agents who can assist you further.
Clay Support
APP
·
·
Our support team has got your message and we'll get back to you soon! We're currently outside of our standard office hours (9 AM to 9 PM EST, Monday through Friday), so it may take a little longer for us to respond.

If you’re dealing with a specific table, drop the URL below so we can help you quicker. Otherwise, someone from our team will be in touch soon!

image.png(93 kB)
Bo (.
·
·
Yes, you can do this.
In Clay, the way to “teach” the AI your PDF rules/style is to use a Use AI column (Content Generation) and attach the PDF as Document Context. Then the model can reference that document while writing the cold email.
To make it behave the way you want, add a rule in the prompt like:
“Use the PDF as the primary style guide.”
“If the PDF doesn’t specify something, ask for clarification or leave it blank. Don’t invent rules.”
Clay Support
APP
·
·
We haven't heard back from you here, so we're going to go ahead and close this thread out.

Still need help here? Reply back and someone will jump back in.

Have a question thats not related to this thread? We recommend kicking off a new ticket in the support channel!