How to make a stellar email intro

3 steps to nailing the intro email

You’ve been asked to make an email introduction. Maybe you’re introducing your boss to a new client or maybe you’re connecting your buddy who has been building that company that does who knows what to a VC you met on twitter dot com. Either way, you need to nail the intro email.

Here’s your three step guide:

#1) Use this basic structure:

<<Email opening phrase you prefer (e.g. Howdy All, Morning, Evening, etc)>>,

<<Name of the person you are introducing>>, I’m excited to introduce you to <<Name of the person(s) you are introducing them to, title, and what they do>>. <<Insert line about how you know the person you are introducing the first person to AND a line that praises the person you are connecting them to in order to pump them up a bit in the email>>.

<<Name of the person(s) you have introduced>>, please meet <<Name of the person you have introduced>>. <<Insert line that provides a small it of context around why you are introducing he/she to the person you know more closely>>. <<Insert a piece of information that the people you have introduced can use to break the ice when they connect with the person you have introduced>>.

I’ll let y’all take it from here!

Here’s an example:

Howdy!

Alex, I’m excited to introduce you to Jessica. Jessica has recently founded Tesla and seeks to shake up the auto industry with the first affordable electric EV. Jessica and I went to school together back in Boston. Jessica let steal all of her exam answers and is the only reason I graduated.

Jessica, please meet Alex. Alex is a close friend and a VC at a16z. Alex has shared how he’s the world’s biggest Yankees fan… Jessica, you may want to hide your burning passion for the Red Sox.

I’ll leave it to y’all from here!

A few notes on this structure:

• You provide a bit of context as to how you know each person(s). Inevitably, the first ice breaker question they may ask when they connect is “oh how do you know Greg?”. Make that conversation easy.
• Better yet, provide them a funny joke or anecdote they can reference in their follow up email and in their future conversation. In this example it’s the baseball rivalry. Kicking off a first call with a laugh is a great way to cement a relationship. Help them do that!
• Note: Informal banter has to be applied appropriately. Find the right social grease depending on the situation.

#2) Insert links:

• When you refer to people add a link to their LinkedIn profile.
• When you refer to a company add a link to the company’s website (only when relevant… no need to link to the Yankees or Red Sox in the above example)

#3) Keep it short!

• There’s an old saying that goes “the chances I’ll read your entire message are 1 out of the number of letters in your message”.
• Keep it short. 1–3 sentences at most.

Good luck! 🤘