Guides
Get to the people you need, through the people you know.
Short, practical guides to warm introductions and keeping relationships warm, each with notes you can copy and send today.
- Guides
- 6
- Copy-ready templates
- 14
- Minutes, all of them
- 36
Asking for introductions
Who to ask, what to say, and the notes that make it easy to say yes.
Forwardable intro email templates
What a forwardable intro email is, the five-part structure that works, and copy-ready templates for meeting a client, an investor and a contractor or advisor.
Read the guide →Double opt-in introductions
A double opt-in introduction asks both people before connecting them. Why it's the respectful default, how to make one step by step, and templates for each message.
Read the guide →Keeping your network warm
See who you know, who you've gone quiet on, and how to pick it back up.
How to map your professional network
A practical exercise to see who you actually know: where your network lives, how to sort relationships by strength, and how to spot the introductions hiding in it.
Read the guide →How to reconnect with dormant contacts
Dormant ties are some of the most valuable relationships you have. Why reconnecting works, who to start with, and message templates that don't feel transactional.
Read the guide →Finding work through who you know
Turn the relationships you already have into your next client.
The template shelf
Every note, ready to copy.
The messages from every guide in one place. Open one to read when to use it, then copy it from the guide.
The ask to your introducerHi Alex,
I saw you worked with Jordan Lee at Northwind. I'm trying to meet people who've scaled a support team past 50, and Jordan's name keeps coming up.
Would you be comfortable asking if they'd be open to a 20-minute call? I've written a short note below you can forward, so it should only take a minute. And no pressure at all if it's not a good fit.
Thanks,
SamFrom: How to ask for a warm introductionThe forwardable noteSam Rivera runs customer operations at Brightline, a 40-person software company. They're about to double the support team and want to learn from someone who's done it. Sam would love 20 minutes with Jordan to ask how they structured the team and what they'd do differently. Happy to work around Jordan's schedule.From: How to ask for a warm introductionReplying to the introductionThanks Alex, moving you to BCC.
Jordan, great to meet you, and thanks for making the time. Would Tuesday at 10am or Thursday at 2pm work for a 20-minute call? Happy to fit around you.
SamFrom: How to ask for a warm introductionForwardable: potential clientPriya Shah is a fractional CFO who has led finance at three Series A and B software companies, most recently taking Loop from $4m to $15m in revenue. She's heard Northwind is preparing for its next raise and would welcome a 20-minute conversation with Jordan about how they're thinking about finance leadership through it. No agenda beyond comparing notes, and no worries if the timing isn't right.From: Forwardable intro email templatesForwardable: investorSam Rivera is the co-founder of Brightline, which helps mid-sized logistics companies cut failed deliveries. They launched in March, have 14 paying customers and are growing 20% month on month. Sam is raising a $2m seed round and thought of Morgan given Harbour Ventures' investments in Freightly and Dockside. Would Morgan be open to a 20-minute call? Sam can send a short deck beforehand if useful.From: Forwardable intro email templatesForwardable: contractor or advisorAlex Chen runs product at Tandem, a 30-person health software company. They're moving their platform to meet new hospital data requirements and are looking for someone who has led a similar project, either as a paid contractor for three months or for a one-off advisory conversation. Alex thought of Riley given their work on the same change at Medisafe. Would Riley be open to a short call to see if there's a fit?From: Forwardable intro email templatesWrapping message to your introducerHi Casey,
I noticed you worked with Jordan at Northwind. Would you be comfortable asking whether they'd be open to a chat? I've written a short note below that you can forward as is, or edit however you like. Very happy for you to check with Jordan first, and no problem at all if it's not a fit.
Thanks so much,
Priya
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[forwardable note]From: Forwardable intro email templatesChecking with the other sideHi Jordan,
A friend of mine, Sam Rivera, would love 20 minutes with you. Their note is below. I've known Sam for five years and think you'd enjoy comparing notes on scaling support teams.
Would you be open to an introduction? Completely fine to say no, I won't pass anything on unless you're keen.
AlexFrom: Double opt-in introductionsThe introductionJordan, meet Sam. Sam runs customer operations at Brightline and is about to double their support team.
Sam, meet Jordan. Jordan built the support team at Northwind from 8 people to 70.
I'll leave you two to find a time. Enjoy the chat!
AlexFrom: Double opt-in introductionsWhen the answer is noHi Sam, I checked with Jordan, and the timing isn't right for them at the moment. Sorry I couldn't make this one happen. Happy to think about who else might be helpful.From: Double opt-in introductionsA specific ask to a referrerHi Jordan,
I noticed Harbour led Loop's Series A last month. Companies at that stage often need finance leadership before they're ready for a full-time CFO, which is exactly the work I do.
Would you be comfortable asking the founders if they'd like a chat? I've put a short note below you can forward. Totally fine if it's not the right time.
PriyaFrom: How fractional executives find clients through their networkSomething reminded me of youHi Morgan,
I was in a meeting today where someone described a pricing problem exactly like the one we untangled at Northwind in 2021, and I thought of you. It's been far too long. How are things at Harbour? I'd love to hear what you're working on these days.
SamFrom: How to reconnect with dormant contactsCongratulations on their newsHi Riley,
Just saw you've started at Medisafe. Congratulations, that sounds like a great fit. I still use the planning template you shared with me years ago. Would be great to catch up properly if you're up for a coffee once you've settled in.
AlexFrom: How to reconnect with dormant contactsAn update for someone who helped youHi Casey,
You gave me some advice about going independent back in 2022, and I wanted to tell you it worked out. I've been consulting for three years now and just passed my twentieth client. Thank you again. I'd love to hear how things are going with you.
PriyaFrom: How to reconnect with dormant contacts
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