How do you start an introduction email?

With who you are and why you're writing to this person now, in the first two lines. Leave out "I hope this finds you well". They'll read the first line on a phone and decide from that.

How long should an introduction email be?

Under 100 words, about five lines on a phone screen. If they have to scroll, cut it.

What's a good subject line for an introduction email?

Short and about them: the name of the friend who introduced you, their company, or the event where you met. Avoid anything that reads like an ad.

How do I ask someone to introduce me?

Ask for one introduction, say why, and write the note they can forward. Tell them it's fine to say no. Template 2 has the words.

How do I introduce two people by email?

Ask each of them first, privately, whether they'd like the introduction. Then send one email to both with a line on each and why they should talk, and step back.

When should I follow up on an introduction email?

Three working days later for a prospect, and a week later when you've introduced two people. Reply in the same thread, with two times or something useful.

What if they still don't reply?

Try a call or a message instead of a third email. The sales cadence guide shows how to mix calls, emails and messages over two weeks.

Are the templates free?

Yes. Copy them, print them or download them for Word. There's no sign-up and no form to fill in.

ActivityTracker

Free templates for reps, founders and solo sellers

Introduction email: how to introduce yourself, or someone else, and get a reply

Seven introduction emails for the first message to a new prospect, a warm introduction through a friend, a handover to a colleague and a new role. Each has a subject line, a few short lines, one ask and the day to follow up. Copy one or download them all for Word. Free, no sign-up.

An introduction email has one job: give someone a reason to reply to a person they've never met. The ones that get answered say who you are in a line, why you're writing to this person now, and ask for one small thing. The ones that don't read like a brochure. Each template here stays under 100 words and comes with the day to follow up, because a quiet inbox usually means busy, and busy people answer the second email.

Seven introduction emails to copy

Download for Word

Introduction emails: [your name]

Before you send: one reason for writing now, one ask, and the follow-up date in your calendar

1. Introducing yourself to a prospect

Subject: [Their company] and [the problem you help with]

Body: "Hi [name], I'm [your name], and I help [who] with [problem]. I'm writing because [the reason: their news, a new hire, a customer who mentioned them]. Would a 15-minute call next week be useful?"

Follow up on: [3 working days later] "Hi [name], floating this back up. Is Tuesday or Thursday better for a quick call?"

2. Asking a friend for a warm introduction

Subject: Could you introduce me to [name]?

Body: "Hi [friend], I saw you know [name] at [company]. I'd like to talk to them about [problem], because [one line on why it matters to them]. Would you be comfortable introducing us? There's a short note below you can forward, so it takes you a minute."

The note to forward: "[Your name] helps [who] with [problem], and worked with [a similar company] on [result]. Happy to connect you if it's useful."

Follow up on: [5 working days later] "Hi [friend], no pressure on this. If it's not a fit, just say so."

3. Replying to a warm introduction

Subject: Re: [the introduction]

Body: "Thanks, [friend] (moving you to bcc). Hi [name], good to meet you. [Friend] mentioned [what they're working on]. Could we find 20 minutes next week? I'm free [two times]."

Follow up on: [2 working days later] "Hi [name], do either of those times work, or is there a better day?"

4. Introducing two people to each other

Subject: Introduction: [name A] and [name B]

Body: "Hi [A] and [B], as promised. [A] runs [what they do] and is looking at [problem]. [B] [what they do, and why they're the right person]. I'll let you two take it from here."

Follow up on: [1 week later] "Hi [A], did you and [B] manage to talk?"

5. Handing a customer over to a colleague

Subject: Introducing [colleague], your new contact at [company]

Body: "Hi [customer], from [date] I'm moving to [new role], and [colleague] will look after your account. [Colleague] already knows [one detail about the account] and will call you on [day] to say hello. Thank you for [something specific]."

Follow up on: [the day after that call] "Hi [customer], did [colleague] reach you? Anything they should know from me?"

6. New in the role

Subject: Your new contact at [company]

Body: "Hi [name], I've just started as [role] at [company] and I'll be looking after [your account]. I'd like to hear what's working and what isn't. Could I call you for 15 minutes on [day]?"

Follow up on: [4 working days later] "Hi [name], I'm calling my accounts this week. Is [day] or [day] better?"

7. After meeting at an event

Subject: Good to meet you at [event]

Body: "Hi [name], good to meet you at [event]. You mentioned [the thing they said]. Here's the [article, example or contact] I promised. Would a call next week help?"

Follow up on: [4 working days later] "Hi [name], checking the [thing] reached you. Happy to talk it through."

After you send

Sent today: __ Follow-ups due today: __ Replies: __

Writing to someone with no introduction at all? Use the cold email templates

How to write an introduction email in four lines

Who you are, why now, what you've done, and one ask.

Line 1: who you are, in one plain sentence
Line 2: why you're writing to this person now
Line 3: what you've done for someone like them
Line 4: one ask, small enough to say yes to
Put the follow-up date in your calendar before you press send

How to ask for a warm introduction without making it awkward

Make it easy for your friend to say yes, and just as easy to say no.

Ask one person for one introduction, and say why this one
Write the note they'll forward, so it takes them a minute
Tell them it's fine if it isn't a fit, and mean it
When they introduce you, reply within a day and move them to bcc
Tell them how it went, even when nothing came of it

What to send when they don't reply

Short, in the same thread, on the day you said you would.

Reply to your own email, so the first one sits under it
Offer two times or something useful, never a bare "just checking in"
Space them out: 3 working days, then a week
Stop after the second follow-up, and say you're stopping

A filled-in introduction, and the follow-up that got the reply

Maya Chen, who sells bookkeeping services, writing after a friend introduced her to a cafe owner. The names are made up.

Subject: Re: Maya, meet Daniel
"Thanks, Sofia (moving you to bcc). Hi Daniel, good to meet you."
"Sofia mentioned you're opening a second cafe in March and the books are getting heavy."
"Could we find 20 minutes next week? I'm free Tuesday at 10 or Thursday at 3."
Two working days later, in the same thread: "Hi Daniel, do either of those work, or is there a better day?" He replied that afternoon and took Thursday.

Date the follow-up on every introduction you send

The templates are free. ActivityTracker, the app we make, is paid. It doesn't send email. It keeps the follow-ups you promised from slipping.

Log calls and meetings in one tap
Keep every callback on today's list
Every maybe gets a follow-up date, not a place in your memory

See how sales reps use it

Questions

Send the introduction. Follow up on the day you said.

The templates are free to use. The app is paid and keeps every follow-up you promised on today's list.

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