Introductions Made Super Simple
Someone recently asked us how to structure an email when introducing two people to each other, and we thought it might be useful for everyone — it comes up more than you'd think, whether you're connecting a client with another expert in the community, looping in a colleague, or making a referral.
A good intro email does a few things at once: it explains why you're connecting them, gives each person enough context to start a real conversation, and then gets out of the way. Here's a simple structure that works:
A subject line that names both people
Something like "Introducing You Two" or "[Name] <> [Name]" — clear and low-pressure, so no one's wondering what the email even is before they open it.Open with the "why"
A line or two on why you're connecting them — what you think they'd get out of knowing each other. This is the part people skip, and it's the part that makes the intro actually land instead of feeling random.Give each person a short, warm intro
A sentence or two on who they are and what they do — written so each person is meeting the other, not just reading a bio. Specific is better than generic here; "she's brilliant" tells people less than "she's helped a dozen clients untangle QDROs this year."Hand it off
Close with something like "I'll let you two take it from here!" — this signals you're stepping back and it's now their conversation to continue. Optional but helpful: a light nudge toward next steps, like "might be worth a quick call to see where there's overlap."
EXAMPLE:
Subject: Introducing Mary x Rhoda
Hi Mary and Rhoda,
I wanted to connect you both — you're both new to the building and honestly, you should know each other. It seemed silly not to make the introduction.
Mary, meet Rhoda — she's up on the fourth floor, whip-smart, does window displays for Hempel's, and has strong opinions about pretty much everything, which I mean as a compliment.
Rhoda, meet Mary — she's just moved to town, works over at WJM, and is far too polite for her own good, so don't let her tell you she's "not that hungry" if you invite her over for dinner. She is.
I'll let you two take it from here!
Warmly,
Phyllis
A couple of small etiquette notes worth mentioning: if you're not sure both people want to be connected, ask first rather than assuming — a quick "mind if I connect you with someone?" goes a long way. And once you've made the intro, it's generally best to bow out of the thread rather than stay CC'd on everything that follows.