Introduction request email
Founders
The person you are asking is spending their reputation. Keep the ask short, make the forward optional, and give them a way to say it is not a fit without a speech.
Subject. Worth an intro to Sam?
Hi — I am trying to reach Sam at Northwind about the onboarding problem their team wrote about. You know both of us, so I am asking you before I write them cold.
If you are willing, I will send a note you can forward unchanged. If it is not a fit, I will not make it awkward.
Worth an introduction?
- I'll intro you
- Not a fit
- Send more first
In Gmail these are buttons. The recipient clicks one. The answer comes back to the thread. They do not install anything.
Before you send. Change the names. The reason has to be real, and “you know both of us” has to be true. If they do not know the other person, this is a cold email and you should not dress it up as an intro.
Why this gets more replies
Intro requests die because forwarding you means writing a blurb, and declining you means writing an apology. Offering to supply the forwardable note removes the writing from the yes. A not-a-fit button removes the apology from the no. Send more first is for the friend who is willing but not yet convinced.
FAQ
What is in the forwardable note?
Who you are, why this person, and one sentence they can stand behind. No deck. They are lending you a sentence of trust, not hosting a pitch.
They asked for more first. What do I send?
The context they would need to feel fine forwarding you. Not the whole story of the company. Then ask the same question again, once.
Free for 50 sends a month. The other person does not install anything.