Introductions (Business Tool)

2012.04 - LifeLongLearner - How to Ask for An Email Introduction
- Send them a brief preliminary intro request to gauge the strength of their relationship and willingness to connect.
  - Ask for the intro in the first 2 sentences.
  - I appreciate when someone acknowledges that not all connections are people I feel comfortable making an introduction to. Framing the request with this in mind makes the ask a whole lot more manageable and is just a courteous practice.
    - As the person being asked for an intro, I never like to make introductions when I don’t know if both parties will benefit.
- After you’ve got confirmation that the connecting party feels comfortable making an introduction, send a similar email with some additional context because it will be forwarded to your target.
  - Key elements:
    - Explicit Ask
    - Compelling Context Why
    - Strengthening Example
    - Appreciation
  - Hey X,
    Was hoping that you might be able to introduce me to Johnny Dealmaker at Project X?
    I wanted to connect with him because our email list targets a similar demographic with limited overlap. Seeing as our products are non-competitive, I wanted to touch base to see if he was up for brainstorming ways to leverage our existing user bases to grow both of our lists.
    We did this with Company R in the past, and both parties received a 15% lift in new subscribers.
    Any help is much appreciated.
    -Scott
2016.03.14 - Gigster - The Importance And Art Of The Intro In Silicon Valley
- Great article, I should summarize it here.
- Advice he gives on giving an intro for someone else:
- Advice he gives on asking for an intro:
  - Do your homework and be able to explain the value you would bring to the person you’re trying to meet.
    - This is something you need to show to both the person you’re trying to meet along with the person you’re requesting the introduction from.
  - Show the introducer that you’ve put thought into it and that you have sound reasons for making the request.
    - The more you can show alignment and make the introducer’s job easier the more comfortable they will be making the introduction for you.
  - If they choose not to do the intro then they’ll be able to give you good reasons why now that they know your motivation and process.
    - That feedback can often be more valuable than the introduction you were originally asking for.
2016.08.31 - Alex Fishman - How NOT to raise money
- [Inappropriate requests for intros] share a common trait: I don’t/barely know them and they ask me to introduce them to local big shots.
- For me to introduce you to anyone, I first must know you well. So I can vouch for you. In no other circumstances I can make an introduction. Regardless how cool your project is.
- You are always taking a risk when making an introduction. If the intro is a waste of time, it’ll affect your own reputation, putting your social capital at risk. Do it too often and you are out of the networking game. The only way to mitigate that risk is to know both parties well to ensure it is indeed a valuable match.
- If someone agrees to introduce you without writing two meaningful paragraphs about you, then chances are, you won’t see any benefit from that intro.
- Summary: Research the person you are looking to be introduced to. Then, find the best person in your network that can connect the dots for you. The connector should already know you well, so don’t sell yourself. Instead, sell them the benefits both sides may reap in case of a successful match. Your connector will be happy to take the credit for a great match and gladly intro you.
2016.10.14 - YouTube - Reid Hoffman at Startup School SV 2016
- 12:06 - Q: If I want to raise money from Greylock, what can I do to be successful?
  - A: 1) You're much stronger off with a referral saying "Here's why you should pay attention to this." "I probably get somewhere between 30 and 50 unsolicited decks every single day." "How many of those have you funded?" "None that I'm aware of."
    - 13:00 - Q: Who counts as a good intro?
      - A: Someone I know, trust, and respect.