How to write a forwardable introduction email - Alex Iskold

Quoted on this wiki

Every place a page here uses this source, in the order the words come in it.

1. How do I do that? I would send an email. Now, for me to write this email from scratch would take time. I would need to explain the business, explain why connection makes sense, and add a few bits about the founder, etc. It could easily take 10 minutes out of my day to do it properly. “Forwardable email from the founder reduces the work I have to do, because the founder explains the business and the reason for asking for the introduction. All I have to do is click the Forward button, add a sentence or two about my experience with the founder and the company, and send it over.” Structure & style of the Forwardable Email

   In Asking for introductions

2. One other thing we teach Techstars founders how to do properly is to send something called forwardable emails. “As Fred Wilson wrote a while back, double-opt-in is the typical way people expect to be introduced.” How do I do that? I would send an email. Now, for me to write this email from scratch would take time. I would need to explain the business, explain why connection makes sense, and add a few bits about the founder, etc. It could easily take 10 minutes out of my day to do it properly.

   In Forwardable introduction copy

3. One other thing we teach Techstars founders how to do properly is to send something called forwardable emails. “Even if I know this customer or investor well, I can’t just introduce them. I need to ask if the person on the other end of the introduction is interested and has time to connect.” How do I do that? I would send an email. Now, for me to write this email from scratch would take time. I would need to explain the business, explain why connection makes sense, and add a few bits about the founder, etc. It could easily take 10 minutes out of my day to do it properly.

   In Forwardable introduction copy

4. First a little bit of a background. As Fred Wilson wrote a while back, double-opt-in is the typical way people expect to be introduced. Say a founder is asking me to connect with a prospective customer or investor. Even if I know this customer or investor well, I can’t just introduce them. I need to ask if the person on the other end of the introduction is interested and has time to connect. “I would need to explain the business, explain why connection makes sense, and add a few bits about the founder, etc.” Forwardable email from the founder reduces the work I have to do, because the founder explains the business and the reason for asking for the introduction. All I have to do is click the Forward button, add a sentence or two about my experience with the founder and the company, and send it over.

   In Forwardable introduction copy

5. First a little bit of a background. As Fred Wilson wrote a while back, double-opt-in is the typical way people expect to be introduced. Say a founder is asking me to connect with a prospective customer or investor. Even if I know this customer or investor well, I can’t just introduce them. I need to ask if the person on the other end of the introduction is interested and has time to connect. “It could easily take 10 minutes out of my day to do it properly.” Forwardable email from the founder reduces the work I have to do, because the founder explains the business and the reason for asking for the introduction. All I have to do is click the Forward button, add a sentence or two about my experience with the founder and the company, and send it over.

   In Forwardable introduction copy

6. One other thing we teach Techstars founders how to do properly is to send something called forwardable emails. “Even if I know this customer or investor well, I can’t just introduce them. I need to ask if the person on the other end of the introduction is interested and has time to connect.” How do I do that? I would send an email. Now, for me to write this email from scratch would take time. I would need to explain the business, explain why connection makes sense, and add a few bits about the founder, etc. It could easily take 10 minutes out of my day to do it properly.

   In Permission-based introductions

7. If he declines, I can reply to Krystle’s original email with a decline “By following this style of forwardable email, you minimize the work involved for the connector, and make the introduction process efficient.” Once you are connected, make sure to move the introducer to BCC. This is the thing to do to spare their inbox from unnecessary additional emails, since their job is done.

   In Referrals to the right person

8. By following this style of forwardable email, you minimize the work involved for the connector, and make the introduction process efficient. “Once you are connected, make sure to move the introducer to BCC. This is the thing to do to spare their inbox from unnecessary additional emails, since their job is done.” Try it out and let us know how it works out for you.

   In Warm introduction mechanics