Introduction email templates that get a yes

Good introductions are mostly about making the next message effortless to send. Here are three templates you can adapt today, with the short list of rules that decides whether each one works.

The rules behind every good introduction email

Keep it short. If it takes effort to read, it takes effort to act on.
Lead with relevance to the other person, not with your pitch.
Make it forwardable. Write the part your contact can paste straight through, in their voice.
Always give an easy out, so saying no is graceful and saying yes feels safe.
Use a double opt-in: check the other person wants the introduction before any names or addresses are shared.

1. The forwardable request (you to your mutual contact)

You send this to the person who knows the recipient. The goal is to make it trivial for them to help, and to hand them a blurb they can forward without editing.

Subject: A small ask about [Their Name] Hi [Contact], Hope you are well. I am trying to reach [Their Name] at [Company] about [one-line reason that is relevant to them, not to you]. Would you be open to a quick introduction, if you think it is a fit? No pressure at all if the timing is off or it is not the right call. To make it easy, here is something you could forward: "[Your Name] is [one line on who you are]. They are working on [one line that matters to them], and thought it would be worth a quick conversation. Happy to connect you both if you are open to it." Thank you either way. [Your Name]

2. The double opt-in introduction (your contact to them)

This is the message your contact sends once they have said they are happy to be introduced. The opt-in is what keeps the introduction warm rather than an ambush.

Subject: Intro: [Your Name] <> [Their Name] Hi [Their Name], As mentioned, I wanted to connect you with [Your Name]. [One sentence on who they are and why it is relevant to you specifically.] [Your Name], meet [Their Name], who [one sentence of credible context]. I will step back and let you two take it from here. Best, [Contact]

3. The follow-up (you, once the introduction lands)

Reply quickly, move your contact to bcc, and propose one concrete next step rather than asking for open-ended time.

Subject: Re: Intro: [Your Name] <> [Their Name] Thanks [Contact], moving you to bcc to spare your inbox. [Their Name], great to meet you. [One sentence of context, then one specific ask.] Would a 20 minute call next week work? I am flexible around [two windows]. Either way, happy to share [something useful and low-effort] in the meantime. [Your Name]

When you do not have a mutual contact

These templates assume someone in your network can make the introduction. When no one can, The Intro Exchange lets you fund the introduction instead: you set a reward, your bank holds it, and someone who genuinely knows the person can offer to introduce you. The warm introduction playbook covers how to find a path first, and how it works covers funding one when there is no path.