The Intro That Changed Everything
Rachel had been trying to connect with the CMO of a major SaaS company for months. She'd sent a thoughtful connection request—ignored. She'd commented on his posts—no response. She'd even tried a cold email—crickets. Then she remembered: one of her former colleagues, David, used to work at that same company and probably knew the CMO.
Instead of asking David to "introduce her," Rachel sent a specific, low-friction request: "Hey David—I saw you worked with Alex Thompson at [Company]. I'm working on a content partnership that I think would be really valuable for their team, and I'd love to get his perspective. Would you feel comfortable making an intro? Totally fine if not—I know these asks can be awkward. If you are, here's a short blurb you can forward: [2-sentence intro]. Thanks either way!"
David forwarded the intro that same day. Alex responded within an hour. They had a call the following week and ended up partnering on a co-branded content series that generated six figures in pipeline. That partnership never would have happened without the warm intro.
Meanwhile, across LinkedIn, another intro request was happening—badly. "Hey, can you introduce me to your CEO? I have a product I think they'd love." No context. No benefit to the CEO. No easy way for the connector to say yes. The request was ignored, and the relationship between the asker and the potential connector cooled.
The difference? Rachel understood how to ask for LinkedIn intros in a way that made it easy for David to say yes. She gave context, showed the value to both parties, and reduced friction. That's the structure that works.
In this guide, you'll learn exactly how to request warm intros on LinkedIn, how to give intros that strengthen your network, and the etiquette that keeps everyone happy throughout the process.
Why Warm Intros Work (And Cold Outreach Often Doesn't)
Warm introductions bypass the default skepticism that greets cold outreach. Here's why they're so effective:
- Borrowed trust. When someone you trust vouches for someone else, you extend that trust to the new person.
- Higher response rates. Warm intros have a 70-80% response rate, compared to 5-10% for cold outreach.
- Faster relationship building. You skip the "prove you're not a spammer" phase and start from a position of credibility.
- Mutual accountability. Both parties want to honor the connector's relationship, so they're more likely to follow through.
That said, asking for intros poorly can damage your relationship with the connector. The key is to make the ask thoughtful, specific, and low-friction.
How to Ask for a LinkedIn Intro: The 4-Part Structure
Here's the framework for requesting an intro that gets results:
1. Context: Why You Want the Intro
Start by explaining why you want to connect with the person. Be specific. Vague requests get ignored.
Bad: "Can you introduce me to Sarah? I'd like to talk to her."
Good: "I'm working on a research project about remote work policies in tech, and I saw that Sarah recently wrote a great piece on this topic. I'd love to get her insights for a case study I'm putting together."
2. Benefit to the Target: What's In It for Them?
Show the connector (and the target) what value the introduction will bring to the person you want to meet. This is critical—if it only benefits you, the connector will hesitate.
Bad: "I want to pitch her our product."
Good: "I think Sarah would find this interesting because it aligns with the work she's been doing on X, and I'd be happy to share some data from our research that might be useful for her next article."
This approach mirrors the same value-first mindset taught in asking for LinkedIn calls.
3. Low Friction: Make It Easy to Say Yes
Reduce the work required of the connector. The easier you make it, the more likely they are to help.
How to reduce friction:
- Write the intro for them. Give them a 2-3 sentence blurb they can copy, paste, and send.
- Offer an opt-out. Make it clear they can say no without damaging the relationship.
- Be specific about what you're asking for. Don't make them guess.
Example of low-friction language:
"Would you feel comfortable making an intro? If so, here's a short blurb you can forward: 'Hey Sarah—I wanted to introduce you to [Your Name]. They're working on [brief context] and thought you might find it interesting given your work on [topic]. No pressure to engage, but wanted to connect you two.' Totally fine if this doesn't feel right—I know these asks can be tricky."
4. Gratitude and Opt-Out: Honor Their Choice
Always thank them in advance and give them an easy way to decline. This signals respect for their time and relationship capital.
Example:
"Thanks so much for considering this—no worries at all if it's not a fit or if now's not the right time. I appreciate you either way!"
5 Intro Request Templates for Different Scenarios
Here are five templates you can adapt for different situations:
Template 1: Partnership or Collaboration
"Hey [Connector Name]—I saw you know [Target Name] from [Context]. I'm working on [Project/Initiative] and I think there's some interesting overlap with what they're doing at [Company]. Would you feel comfortable making an intro? If so, here's a short blurb you can use: 'Hey [Target]—wanted to intro you to [Your Name]. They're working on [Brief Description] and I thought it might align with your work on [Topic]. Worth a quick chat if you're curious. No pressure!' Totally fine if this doesn't feel right—appreciate you considering it!"
Template 2: Seeking Advice or Insights
"Hey [Connector Name]—I know you're connected to [Target Name], and I'd love to get their perspective on [Specific Topic]. I'm working on [Context] and their experience with [Relevant Experience] would be incredibly helpful. Would you be open to making an intro? Here's a note you can forward if it feels right: 'Hi [Target]—this is [Your Name]. They're exploring [Topic] and I thought you'd have great insights given your background with [Experience]. Happy to connect you if you're open to a quick chat.' No worries if it's not a fit—thanks for thinking about it!"
Template 3: Hiring or Recruiting
"Hey [Connector Name]—I saw you worked with [Target Name] at [Company]. We're hiring for a [Role] and I think they might be a great fit—or might know someone who is. Would you feel comfortable making an intro? If so, here's a blurb: 'Hey [Target]—wanted to intro you to [Your Name]. They're hiring for a [Role] at [Company] and I thought it might be interesting for you or someone in your network. No pressure—just thought I'd connect you.' Totally fine if this doesn't feel appropriate—appreciate you either way!"
Template 4: Business Development (Without Being Salesy)
"Hey [Connector Name]—I noticed you know [Target Name] at [Company]. We've been working on [Product/Service] that helps teams like theirs with [Specific Problem], and I think there might be a fit. Would you be open to making an intro? Here's a short blurb if you're comfortable: 'Hey [Target]—wanted to intro you to [Your Name]. They've built [Product/Service] that I thought might be useful for your team, especially around [Pain Point]. Worth a conversation if you're curious. No hard sell!' Let me know if that feels right, or totally fine if not."
Template 5: Reconnecting with a Dormant Contact
"Hey [Connector Name]—I used to work with [Target Name] back in [Year/Context] and we lost touch. I saw you're connected and thought I'd ask—would you feel comfortable reintroducing us? Here's a quick note you can use: 'Hey [Target]—you and [Your Name] used to work together at [Company], and they wanted to reconnect. Thought I'd make the reintro!' No worries if it feels awkward—I can also reach out directly. Thanks for considering!"
These templates follow the same respectful, value-first tone recommended in LinkedIn DM best practices.
How to Give a Great LinkedIn Intro
Now let's flip the script. If someone asks you for an intro—or if you want to proactively connect two people—here's how to do it well.
1. Ask Permission First (From Both Sides)
Never blindly connect two people without asking. It's presumptuous and can create awkwardness.
Message to Person A (who requested the intro):
"Hey [Name]—I'd be happy to make that intro. Let me check with [Target] first to make sure the timing's right, and I'll get back to you."
Message to Person B (the target):
"Hey [Target]—[Person A] is working on [Context] and thought you might have good insights given your work on [Topic]. Would you be open to a quick intro? No pressure—just wanted to check before connecting you two."
If both sides say yes, proceed. If either hesitates, don't force it.
2. Make the Intro Valuable to Both Sides
A great intro isn't just about connecting two people—it's about explaining why the connection matters to each of them.
Template for the intro message:
"Hey [Person A] and [Person B]—I wanted to introduce you two because I think there's some interesting overlap between what you're both working on.
[Person A]—meet [Person B]. They're [Brief Background] and are currently working on [Relevant Project]. I thought you'd appreciate their perspective on [Topic].
[Person B]—meet [Person A]. They're [Brief Background] and are exploring [Context]. I thought you might find their work on [Topic] interesting, especially given your experience with [Related Experience].
I'll let you two take it from here. Enjoy the conversation!"
3. Step Out of the Thread
Once you've made the intro, bow out. Don't linger in the thread or try to mediate the conversation. Let them take it from there.
Add this line at the end: "I'll let you two take it from here!"
Intro Etiquette: Do's and Don'ts
Here are the unwritten rules of LinkedIn intros:
Do's:
- Do ask permission from both parties before connecting them.
- Do provide context about why the intro is valuable.
- Do thank the connector immediately. A quick "Thanks so much for the intro!" goes a long way.
- Do follow up if the intro leads to something meaningful. Let the connector know how it went—it reinforces that their help mattered.
Don'ts:
- Don't ask for intros to people you could easily reach via cold outreach. If someone's email is public and they're active on LinkedIn, reach out directly first.
- Don't make multiple intro requests to the same person in a short period. It burns relationship capital.
- Don't pitch immediately after an intro. Build rapport first. Thank both parties, have a real conversation, then move toward a business discussion.
- Don't forget to thank the connector. This is basic manners, but it's often forgotten.
The Thank-You and Follow-Up
After someone makes an intro for you, always send two thank-you messages:
1. Thank the Connector Immediately
Example:
"Thanks so much for making the intro, [Connector Name]! Really appreciate you taking the time to connect us. I'll take it from here and keep you posted on how it goes."
2. Thank the Target and Move the Conversation Forward
Example:
"Hey [Target Name]—thanks for being open to connecting! [Connector Name] speaks highly of you. I'd love to [Specific Next Step—share insights, schedule a call, etc.]. Does [Time Option 1] or [Time Option 2] work for a quick chat? Looking forward to it."
3. Close the Loop with the Connector
After the intro leads to a conversation, meeting, or outcome, let the connector know. This reinforces that their help was valuable and makes them more likely to help you (or others) in the future.
Example:
"Hey [Connector Name]—just wanted to close the loop: I had a great call with [Target Name] and we're moving forward with [Outcome]. Thanks again for making the intro—it made a huge difference."
When to Skip the Intro and Reach Out Directly
Not every situation requires a warm intro. Sometimes, cold outreach is more appropriate. Skip the intro if:
- The person is very active on LinkedIn and responds to DMs. Just message them directly with a thoughtful, personalized note.
- You have a weak connection to the potential connector. If you barely know the person you'd ask for the intro, don't burn that relationship capital.
- The ask is very small. If you're just looking for a quick opinion or resource, a direct DM is fine.
- The connector has already done multiple favors for you recently. Don't overuse your network.
Instead, use the principles from crafting strong first DMs to reach out directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I ask for an intro if I don't know the connector well?
Be extra respectful and acknowledge the ask is a bit bold: "Hey [Name]—I know we haven't connected much, but I saw you know [Target]. I'm working on [Context] and would love an intro if you're comfortable. Totally understand if not—no pressure at all." If they decline or don't respond, don't follow up. This respectful approach aligns with ethical outreach principles.
What if the connector says no?
Thank them anyway: "Totally understand—thanks for considering it!" Don't press or ask why. Respect their boundary and move on. There are other paths to the same person.
Should I offer something in return when asking for an intro?
It's not required, but it's a nice touch if you can: "If there's ever anyone I can intro you to, just let me know!" This signals reciprocity and strengthens the relationship.
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