Making The Perfect Email Introduction
Networking courtesy is to ask first, then make the intro second.
The perfect, I mean the absolutely perfect email introduction....these occasionally occur and when they do, it is sheer networking joy.
If you're thinking to yourself, "I want to bring joy to someone's inbox! How do I make the perfect email introduction?" don't fret.
I have you covered.
I'm sharing below the actual text from the perfect email introduction request I recently received (note have used JKH note + [ ] where I have made edits to the original email).
Hi Kelly, hope all is well!
[JKH note: line or two of past interactions here as the email came from someone I had not interacted with for a while, and then, only briefly in connection with an interview]
Also, one of the business leaders that we interviewed on the website (NAME) came across your interview and is interested in connecting.
When you have a moment, would you mind letting me know if it is OK for us to facilitate an introduction between you and [NAME] via email?
For background, [NAME] is a [backstory on the person and why they are seeking an introduction / conversation].
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
Warmly,
I imagine you're thinking "WHAT makes this so perfect?" as an email introduction.
My answer is very simple: They asked.
Yes, it's that simple.
Ask.
The email sender in the example above didn't jump to make an introduction - they asked first and provided me with the ability to say yes, or no.
Networking Pro-Tip: contain your enthusiastic rush to make an intro. Networking courtesy is to ask first, then make the intro second.
Listen up!
I have a lot to say about networking, and shared my networking know-how, pet peeves and tips on with the hosts of the Let's Talk Ladies podcast (find my episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify) + the Branding Room Only podcast + on The She Leads podcast (find my episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify).
Take a listen, then reach out to let me know your takeaways from these conversations.
💡 And taking about listening...my Wayfinder coaching colleague, Christine Soja is offering a 6-week course, The Listening Path (inspired by Julia Cameron's book). Course starts June 30. Learn more, here.
I'm a networking strategist, and author who has spent her career making the case that the right relationships change everything. Behind all my posts and musings are years of research, extensive client work on the power of social capital, and my personal experience - that is, my own hard-won reinvention to the subject. The Social Billionaire: A Networking Roadmap for Women Seeking to Flourish and Achieve More - is my second book on networks — and is the advice I wish I'd had when navigating numerous career twists, turns and transitions.
😱 📵 Oh, my! I did a thing - I followed by own advice.
In keeping with The Social Billionaire framework, I decided to take a break from highly processed socials for the summer (hey, I like a bag of potato chips as much as anyone, but as perfect a food group as it can appear in the moment, funnily enough, it's not), so I deleted the Instagram app off my phone and logged out of my account online. This newsletter, along with posts on LinkedIn and Substack will continue (so I won't be totally MIA - missing in action, not Miami).
