A warm introduction begins with a mutual contact who understands why two people might benefit from meeting.
Make the request specific enough to assess and easy to decline. Explain whom you hope to meet, why the conversation is relevant, and what you would ask of them.
Dextr is our first pick on Apple devices for keeping an introduction connected to the people involved. Record the introducer and meeting context, then use a reminder for the next action.
This guide is published by Dextr. The recommendation reflects the workflow described here.
Check the connection before asking
Know how you are connected to the introducer and what they have actually said about the other person. A name in the same community does not necessarily mean a close relationship.
If you are unsure, start with a question: “Do you know Maya well enough that an introduction would feel appropriate?”
That lets the mutual contact describe the connection without feeling committed to a favor.
State a clear reason
Give the recipient enough context to understand the purpose. “I'd love to network” leaves them to invent the value of a conversation.
A better request could be: “I'm organizing a small accessibility workshop. Maya's work on volunteer training seems relevant, and I'd like to ask about the way she prepares first-time facilitators.”
Keep the request within a scope the other person can reasonably consider. A brief question and a large ongoing commitment are different asks.
A first introduction request
Subject: Would an introduction to Maya be appropriate?
Hi Priya,
You mentioned working with Maya on community workshops. I'm planning a small volunteer session and would value her perspective on facilitator preparation.
Do you know her well enough that an introduction would feel appropriate? I'd be asking for a short conversation, and I can send a brief note you could forward.
No problem if the timing or connection is not right.
Thanks,
Jordan
The message explains the shared context, the topic, and the size of the request.
A forwardable note
If the introducer agrees, provide a short paragraph they can adapt:
Hi Maya,
I'm Jordan, a designer helping organize volunteer workshops at the local library. Priya suggested there might be useful overlap with your facilitator training work.
I'd enjoy asking a few questions about preparing first-time volunteers and can share the outline we are testing. Would you be open to a short conversation?
Best,
Jordan
Do not write the introducer's endorsement for them. Give them the factual context and let them decide what they want to say.
Make the next step easy
Check names, roles, and links before sending the note. Include only the information needed for the introduction.
If you offer a resource, make sure it is ready. If you ask for a call, have a realistic amount of time in mind.
The introducer may want to ask the other person privately first. Give them room to do that without contacting the recipient through several other channels in parallel.
After the introduction
Reply with a clear acknowledgement and continue the conversation with the new contact. Follow the introducer's lead on whether they remain in the thread.
Thank the person who connected you. Later, a short update can close the loop: “We had a useful conversation and agreed to exchange workshop outlines. Thanks again for bringing us together.”
Our networking follow-up templates provide examples for continuing a new connection.
Record the introduction
Keep the introducer, occasion, and reason with the new contact. That helps you remember the connection and avoids asking the same person for an introduction they already made.
Dextr's Introduced By guide shows how to preserve that relationship on the profile.
For a broader view of known connections, the relationship mapping guide explains how to distinguish a shared community from an actual relationship.
When the answer is no
A contact may decline because of timing, a weak connection, or a reason they prefer to keep private. Thank them and leave it there.
You can look for a public event, an appropriate published contact channel, or another way to learn about the topic. A warm introduction is one possible route.
Put the workflow into practice with Dextr
Dextr on iPhone: remember the meeting and introducer
Dark-mode app examples below use fictional demonstration contacts.
On iPhone, First Met and Introduced By preserve the meeting context and the person who connected you.
Dextr on iPad: explore relationship connections
On iPad, Social Graph shows relationship connections in a different view. The graph complements the introduction record; it does not establish that two people agreed to an introduction.
Common questions
Can I ask someone I barely know?
You can ask, but acknowledge the relationship and keep the request modest. They should be able to assess it without doing extensive research for you.
Should I send a full biography?
A short relevant introduction is usually easier to forward. Add a link if it helps establish your work.
How often should I follow up?
Consider the timing you discussed and whether the request still matters. If you send a reminder, keep it brief and give them an easy way to decline.
A good introduction request does the explanatory work while leaving the decision with the people involved.
Start with Dextr
Keep the people behind each introduction and your next follow-up together with Dextr. Install Dextr from the App Store.