Relationships: The art of the e-mail introduction

It’s common these days to help two people in your network of relationships by introducing them to each other through e-mail. But entrepreneur Auren Hoffman says too often this is done mechanically, and the potential value to them is squandered. His suggestions:

· Take the time to really think why both parties will benefit from each other and spell it out to them. Avoid the type of hastily written e-mail introduction he once received: “Auren/John – you two just HAVE to meet each other. You two take it from here.” He would have liked to know who John is and why they should meet.

· E-mail the two parties and ask for permission to introduce them, explaining the benefit you see.

· Be clear in your e-mail introduction what the next action for them should be, suggesting whether they should meet for lunch, coffee, over the phone, or just exchange e-mails. “Often people should just have a quick phone call and you don’t want to waste the time of one or both people by suggesting a lunch,” Mr. Hoffman writes on his Summation blog.

· Give their first and last names, and quick bios. Clearly give the location of each person, which is often forgotten in these introductions. Copy their assistants on the note if that seems appropriate.

“As an introducer, your goal should be for both parties to be glad that you made the intro. If only party one gets value from the meeting, you have failed,” he concludes.

1 year ago  /  0 notes  /  Source: