An introduction email is one of the most useful things you can send. It takes a few minutes, and it can save two people months of trying to find each other. It is also easy to get wrong. Done carelessly, it hands someone a stranger, a vague reason to talk, and an obligation they never agreed to.
The good news is that a strong introduction follows the same shape almost every time.
First, Decide Whether to Ask
The polite default is to check with each person before you connect them. Some people call this a double opt-in introduction. You send each of them a short private note, and you only make the introduction once both say yes.
Asking first matters most when:
- One person is much busier, more senior, or more in demand than the other.
- The introduction mostly helps one side — someone looking for a job, a client, advice, or money.
- You do not know one of them well enough to be sure they would welcome it.
You can usually skip the check when both people have already told you they want to meet, or when the benefit is clearly mutual and both of them know you well.
Subject: Would you be open to meeting [Name]?
Hi [Name],
I know someone I think you would enjoy talking to. [Name] [one sentence on who they are and what they do]. They are [what they are working on or looking for], and I thought of you because [specific reason].
Would you be open to an introduction? No pressure at all — if the timing is not right, just say so and I will let them know.
[Your name]
Make the easy answer "no." People are far more willing to say yes when they know saying no will not cost them anything with you.
The Introduction Email Itself
Once both people have agreed, send one email addressed to both of them. It needs four things:
- Both names in the subject line. So either of them can find the thread later.
- Who each person is, in a sentence or two. Only what matters for this conversation, not their whole career.
- Why they should talk. One specific reason. "I thought you two should connect" is not a reason.
- A light suggested next step. Then get out of the way.
Subject: Introduction: [Name A] <> [Name B]
Hi [Name A] and [Name B],
As promised, connecting you two.
[Name A], meet [Name B]. [Name B] [who they are, in one sentence] and [what makes them relevant to Name A].
[Name B], meet [Name A]. [Name A] [who they are] and [what they are working on or looking for].
I think you would have a useful conversation about [specific topic]. I will let you take it from here.
[Your name]
Write Each Description for the Other Person
The most common weak spot is the description. People write what they know about someone instead of what the other person needs to know.
Ask yourself: if [Name A] reads only this sentence, will they understand why [Name B] is worth twenty minutes of their time? If not, rewrite it. Specific beats impressive. "She has hired subcontractors for three different public agencies and knows how those teams pick vendors" is more useful than a list of job titles.
Only share what you know each person is comfortable having shared. Leave out salaries, health matters, personal circumstances, and anything told to you in confidence. If you are not sure, leave it out or ask.
Do Not Overpromise for Anyone
You are vouching for two people, so be honest about what you actually know. If you have worked with someone, say so. If you met them once at an event, say that instead. "We met at [event] and I liked how she thinks about [topic]" is an honest introduction. "She is the best in the business" may be true, but it sets an expectation you cannot control.
And never promise an outcome. Introduce people to a conversation, not to a job, a contract, or a deal.
How to Reply When You Are the One Introduced
If someone introduces you, answer within a day or two, even if your answer is that you need a couple of weeks. Silence makes the person who introduced you look bad.
Thanks, [Introducer] — moving you to BCC to spare your inbox.
[Name], great to meet you. [One line on why you are glad to connect.] Would you have twenty minutes for a call in the next week or two? Here are a few times that work for me: [times]. Happy to work around yours instead.
[Your name]
Moving the introducer to BCC is a small courtesy that tells them you have it from here, without leaving them stuck on every reply that follows.
Close the Loop
If you asked for the introduction, let the person who made it know how it went, even briefly. A one-line thank-you after the call is the reason they will be happy to introduce you again. If the conversation leads somewhere, tell them that too.
If you made the introduction and nobody replied after a week, one gentle nudge to the person who asked for it is fine. After that, let it go. Your job was to open the door, not to walk anyone through it.
Quick Checklist
- Did both people agree to the introduction, or clearly want it?
- Are both names in the subject line?
- Does each description explain why this person matters to the other one?
- Is there one specific reason to talk?
- Did you leave out anything personal or shared in confidence?
- Is it short enough to read on a phone?
Questions people ask
How do you introduce two people over email?
Put both names in the subject line, explain in one or two sentences who each person is and why they should talk, give one specific reason the conversation is worth having, and then step back so they can take it from there.
Should I ask permission before introducing someone?
Usually, yes — especially when one person is busier or more senior, or when the introduction mostly benefits one side. A short note asking whether they would be open to it protects their time and your relationship with both people.
Who should reply first to an introduction email?
The person who asked for the introduction, or the one who benefits most, should reply first, move the person who introduced them to BCC, and suggest a next step.
What do you say when someone introduces you by email?
Thank the person who made the introduction, move them to BCC so their inbox stays clear, and then speak directly to the new contact with one line about why you are glad to connect and a simple next step, such as a short call.
How long should an introduction email be?
Short enough to read on a phone without scrolling. A few sentences about each person and one clear reason they should talk is enough. Long backstories and attached résumés can come later if they decide to connect.
This article is general guidance on professional writing, not legal or HR advice. Where an email touches a contract, an employment decision, a complaint, or a legal dispute, have it checked by someone qualified in your state before you send it.