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    Referral and introduction request email templates

    A warm introduction is the shortest route to a meeting, and most teams ask for far fewer than they could. The main reason is that the ask is vague: 'know anyone who might be interested?' gets a polite nothing.

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    Quick answer

    Ask for one specific introduction, explain in a sentence why that person would want to hear from you, and write the intro for them so forwarding takes ten seconds. The templates below cover customer referrals, internal referrals and the forwardable intro itself.

    Specific asks get specific answers. Name the person or the role, say why now, and do the writing for your contact.

    How to use these templates

    Every {{placeholder}} marks something you must research or write yourself. Replace all of them before you send, and if you cannot fill one with something true and specific, pick a different template.

    The names mean the same thing on every page: {{first_name}} and {{company}} are always the prospect and their business, {{your_name}}, {{your_company}} and {{your_phone}} are always you, and {{their_phone}} is the number you called them on.

    Each email ends with {{signature}} and {{opt_out}}. {{signature}} is your full name, role, company, website and phone number. {{opt_out}} is one plain line. On a cold email: If this isn't relevant, reply "no thanks" and I won't contact you again. In an ongoing conversation it can be quieter: Prefer not to hear from me? Reply "unsubscribe". Keep both in every commercial email, including short follow-ups.

    Who to ask, and when

    Ask customers after a result they have acknowledged, such as a good quarterly review or a project milestone. Ask prospects for internal referrals when you have the wrong person. Ask peers and partners when you can offer them something useful in return.

    • Name the person, or at least the role and the company.
    • Give them a reason the other person would care.
    • Write the forwardable email for them.
    • Make saying no easy, so the relationship stays intact.

    Use the double opt-in introduction

    The cleanest introduction asks the third person first. Your contact checks whether they are happy to be introduced, and only then connects you both by email. It protects your contact's relationship and means the first email you send is welcome, which also settles the consent question.

    The templates

    Each template has subject lines, the body with placeholders, when to use it, why it works, three variants, common mistakes and a compliance note.

    The customer introduction ask

    Subject line options

    • quick favour, {{first_name}}?
    • intro to {{target_name}}?
    • would {{target_company}} find this useful?

    Email

    Hi {{first_name}}, Glad {{result_they_acknowledged}} has landed well for the team. Quick favour: I noticed you're connected with {{target_name}} at {{target_company}}. They're {{reason_relevant}}, which looks a lot like where you were in {{month_started}}. Would you be comfortable introducing us? I've drafted a short note below you can forward or edit. If it's awkward, no problem at all. {{forwardable_intro}} {{signature}} {{opt_out}}

    When to use it

    With a customer, shortly after a result they have acknowledged out loud.

    Why it works

    It ties the ask to their own success, names one person and one reason, and removes the effort by including the draft. The easy out keeps the relationship safe.

    Variants

    Short

    Hi {{first_name}}, Would you be open to introducing me to {{target_name}} at {{target_company}}? Draft below if helpful. {{forwardable_intro}} {{signature}} {{opt_out}}

    Formal

    Dear {{first_name}}, Thank you for your kind words about {{result_they_acknowledged}}. I wondered whether you might be willing to introduce me to {{target_name}} at {{target_company}}, who appears to be facing {{reason_relevant}}. I have included a short draft below for convenience. Please do not feel obliged. {{forwardable_intro}} Kind regards, {{signature}} {{opt_out}}

    Aussie-direct

    Hi {{first_name}}, Stoked {{result_they_acknowledged}} is going well. Cheeky ask: you know {{target_name}} at {{target_company}}, right? They're dealing with {{reason_relevant}}. Any chance you'd intro us? I've written something below so it's a ten-second job. Totally fine if not. {{forwardable_intro}} Cheers, {{signature}} {{opt_out}}

    Common mistakes

    • Asking before the customer has seen a result.
    • Asking for 'anyone you know'.
    • Emailing the target before your contact has introduced you.

    Compliance note

    Customer emails are part of an existing relationship, but an introduction is the third person's choice. Wait for the intro, or for their agreement, before you email them.

    The internal referral email

    Subject line options

    • who owns {{topic}} at {{company}}?
    • pointing me in the right direction
    • {{topic}}: right person?

    Email

    Hi {{first_name}}, I think I've got the wrong person, so apologies for the interruption. I'm trying to reach whoever looks after {{topic}} at {{company}}. Would that be {{guess_name_or_role}}, or someone else? If you're happy for me to mention you pointed me their way, that would help. If not, I'll leave your name out. {{signature}} {{opt_out}}

    When to use it

    When the contact you reached clearly does not own the problem, or a gatekeeper has given you a general address.

    Why it works

    It is honest, takes ten seconds to answer and offers a guess, which is easier to confirm than a blank question. Asking permission to use their name is polite and makes the next email warmer.

    Variants

    Short

    Hi {{first_name}}, Who looks after {{topic}} at {{company}}? Is it {{guess_name_or_role}}? {{signature}} {{opt_out}}

    Formal

    Dear {{first_name}}, I believe I may have contacted the wrong person. Could you advise who is responsible for {{topic}} at {{company}}? I would be grateful for a name, and will only mention you with your permission. Kind regards, {{signature}} {{opt_out}}

    Aussie-direct

    Hi {{first_name}}, Reckon I've got the wrong person, sorry. Who handles {{topic}} at your end? Is it {{guess_name_or_role}}? Cheers, {{signature}} {{opt_out}}

    Common mistakes

    • Copying the whole leadership team.
    • Using their name in the next email without asking.

    Compliance note

    The referred person still needs a published work address or an introduction, and a message relevant to their role.

    The forwardable introduction

    Subject line options

    • intro: {{your_name}} ({{your_company}}) and {{target_name}}
    • {{target_name}}, meet {{your_name}}
    • worth a chat: {{topic}}

    Email

    Hi {{target_name}}, I'd like to introduce {{your_name}} from {{your_company}}. We've worked with them on {{what_they_did}} and {{result_in_plain_words}}. When you mentioned {{target_situation}}, I thought of them. Worth 15 minutes? I'll leave it with you both. {{referrer_name}}

    When to use it

    The draft you write for your contact to send. Keep it under 80 words and in their voice, not yours.

    Why it works

    It reads like a genuine note from a peer, gives one reason to talk and ends with a light handover. Because it comes from someone the target trusts, it does not need a pitch.

    Variants

    Short

    Hi {{target_name}}, meet {{your_name}} from {{your_company}}. They helped us with {{what_they_did}}. Worth a chat about {{target_situation}}? {{referrer_name}}

    Formal

    Dear {{target_name}}, I would like to introduce {{your_name}} of {{your_company}}, who has supported us with {{what_they_did}}. Given your comments about {{target_situation}}, I thought a conversation may be useful. I will leave you both to connect. {{referrer_name}}

    Aussie-direct

    Hey {{target_name}}, Meet {{your_name}} from {{your_company}}. They sorted out {{what_they_did}} for us and it's been good. You mentioned {{target_situation}}, so thought you two should chat. Over to you both. {{referrer_name}}

    Common mistakes

    • Writing it in your sales voice, so it is obvious your contact did not write it.
    • Overstating the result your contact got.

    Compliance note

    This email is sent by your contact, not by you, so it is a personal introduction. Your reply to it should still carry your full {{signature}}.

    Close the loop with the referrer

    Tell the person who introduced you what happened, whether it turned into a meeting or not. A two-line update ('We spoke on Tuesday and are meeting again next month, thanks again') makes them more likely to introduce you again, and it is the polite thing to do. If the referral becomes a customer, thank them properly.

    Spam Act checklist for every template

    Australian B2B email is legal and regulated by the Spam Act 2003. Before you send any template on this page, check these four things.

    Australian cold calling and Spam Act rules
    • Consent. You need express consent (they agreed) or inferred consent. For B2B, consent can be inferred where a work address is conspicuously published, the message is relevant to the person's role, and there is no statement that they do not want unsolicited messages.
    • Identification. Every message clearly identifies you and your business, with contact details that stay accurate for at least 30 days after you send it.
    • Unsubscribe. Every commercial message includes a working opt-out, which must be actioned within 5 working days and keep working for at least 30 days after sending.
    • No harvested lists. Do not use address-harvesting software or lists built with it. A bought list does not come with consent.

    Calls in the same cadence follow different rules: wash Australian numbers against the Do Not Call Register and call within permitted hours. New Zealand and Singapore recipients are covered by their own laws, summarised on the template library hub. This is general information, not legal advice. AU, NZ and Singapore rules

    FAQ

    Referral and introduction requests: questions

    Practical answers from SDR managers who run outbound every day.

    Still have questions?

    Book a 30-minute call

    Name one person or role, give one reason they would care, and include a short draft your contact can forward. Make it easy to say no.

    Shortly after they have acknowledged a result, such as a positive review meeting or a milestone. Asking before they have seen value feels like a favour you have not earned.

    Your contact asks the third person whether they are happy to be introduced before connecting you. It protects the relationship and makes your first email welcome.

    Under 80 words. It should read like a quick note from a peer: who you are, why they should talk and a handover.

    Once, a few days later, referencing the person who introduced you. If there is still no reply, thank your contact and leave it.

    A name alone does not. An introduction where the person agrees to hear from you does. Otherwise rely on a published work address and a message relevant to their role. This is general information, not legal advice.

    Thank them and move on. A no to an introduction is not a no to the relationship, and pushing will cost you more than the referral is worth.

    Related templates and guides

    Multi-threading emails

    Reach more people in the same account

    Nousu referral partners

    Commission for referred clients

    Emails to the C-suite

    When the introduction is to an executive

    Appointment setting

    Qualified meetings booked for you

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