As we move further into the 21st century, networking is gaining greater and greater significance. Building a group of reliable business contacts can help you succeed in many areas, so knowing certain things, like how to write a good networking email, can get you far on that road.
If you need help finding employment, assistance with a project, a doctor’s advice, or just about anything else, having a network of valuable connections makes all that much easier.
Consequently, networking is something you should actively invest in, and learning how to write a good networking email is a great place to start. This article will teach you how to compose one like a pro, so you can expand your network with ease.
Key Takeaways
- Networking is a great way to meet people who can provide you with advice and assistance.
- Sending a networking email can benefit you in many ways. It can help you find a job, increase your salary, and gain advice on how to grow your career, among other things.
- To write the perfect networking email, you should learn more about the recipient, craft a compelling subject line, emphasize shared interests, suggest a course of action, offer something of value in exchange, and end with a heartfelt expression of gratitude.
- Your email should be brief, upbeat, and followed up on.
- Avoid being rude or demanding, and keep your communication simple and straightforward.
- You can use the provided templates as starting points to speed up the process.
When Should You Send a Networking Email?
You can’t expect to achieve professional and personal success without engaging in networking activities. Connecting with others who may be able to help you in your personal and professional lives is what networking is all about.
For instance, if you are currently job hunting, a contact in your network may be able to recommend you for a position. They can also aid in gathering funds for your current endeavor.
On the other hand, if you need a mentor to help you advance in your profession, one of the people you’ve met through networking could become that person.
So, it’s clear that making connections is crucial and useful. Besides the examples given above, you can also use a networking email if you:
- Need a recommendation letter for college admissions
- Want to learn more about the employment gap
- Would like to improve your technical skills
Step-By-Step Guideline on Writing Networking Emails That Work
With your newfound understanding of networking and its significance, we can move on to the next step: crafting an email that will help you build your contact list through networking.
#1. Research The Person
The first thing you should do is get to know the person. You would not want to talk to an individual without knowing at least a little bit about them.
You can find them on LinkedIn and look into their work background. You can also check their Facebook for a social element of their life, if that is relevant.
If you can’t find them on the web, you can inquire about them and see if you have any mutual contacts who can provide you with further information.
#2. Create an Effective Subject Line
A networking email subject line is quite important. What you want must be specified for the sake of clarity between you and the intended receiver.
If you write an engaging subject line, the receiver will be more likely to open and respond to your email, regardless of the gravity of the subject matter.
Be as descriptive as you can in the subject line. In a networking context, you might say something like, “I’m interested in learning more about [job title] rather than [available openings].” As an alternative to “searching for a collaborator,” you may use “let’s collaborate on [project name]” if you want to share a project suggestion.
#3. Identify Connection Point
When writing a networking email, it’s important to highlight the ways in which you and the recipient are similar.
You’ll have a better idea of how likely they are to respond, whether they’ll be willing to help, whether they take their connections seriously, and so on.
You might casually emphasize these parallels in the email. Avoid comments like “Oh, me and you are so similar” or “we have this and that in common.” Instead, emphasize something remarkable they’ve accomplished and how your values are aligned with theirs.
This will serve as a natural and seamless compliment, prompting the other individual to respond, and it might lead to even more networking opportunities.
#4. Propose a Course of Action
Remember to suggest a course of action. Don’t assume someone will respond to a favor request sent by email. That’s not how connections are made in the business world.
Let’s say you need a letter of recommendation for a new job. You should explain how important it is to you that that person in particular writes a recommendation letter for you., You should also include whether you’d prefer they write it by hand or email it to you, along with any other important details.
Just by being straightforward, you’ll make things easier on the recipient and increase their motivation to assist you.
#5. Offer Something Back
There are those who lend a hand without seeking anything in return, but there are also those whose generosity is motivated primarily by the hope of receiving something in return.
So, if the individual is looking for mutual benefit and you know that networking with them is crucial, offer them something. It could be something you are knowledgeable about that they may need assistance with in the future.
#6. Thank Them
Even if they don’t reply, it’s good to express gratitude, as it demonstrates that you value the other person’s time and attention dedicated to reading your request, let alone responding to it.
Expressing your appreciation will indicate your enthusiasm and the significance of this networking opportunity to you, which should motivate them to respond and connect with you.
Networking Email Best Practices
Here are some of the dos and don’ts for composing networking emails:
Dos
- Keep it brief. Don’t overwhelm the recipient with long, winding explanations in your email. These emails are often ignored because recipients just do not have the time to read them, or they don’t feel they’re worth their time. To increase the likelihood of a response to your email, be sure to keep it short and to the point.
- Be positive. Show a positive attitude in your email. The language you use really matters. You want to show that you are a kind person who is looking to network. Naturally, positivity is more likely to be reciprocated than negativity, and your emails might come off that way if you use harsh and direct language.
- Follow up with them. After your initial email, you should also send a sort of follow-up networking email. In the follow-up, you can provide more information about your request or incentives and address any concerns they may have.
Don’ts
- Don’t be aggressive. Be polite in your email correspondence. Do not become frustrated or angry if the recipient does not respond or declines your networking offer.
- Don’t use jargon. Stay away from industry jargon in your email. If you use terms and phrases not many people know about, you may lose the recipient’s attention. Therefore, make use of both formal and colloquial language to convey your meaning.
- Don’t ask for favors. If you ask for a favor, chances are you will get a negative response. It’s best to be specific about your needs, how much you value their help, and what you have to offer in exchange.
Networking Email Templates
Listed below are some networking email referral templates that can be used in a variety of contexts.
#1. Networking Email to a Friend of a Friend
Greetings, [Name]
My name is [your name], and I was given your contact details by our mutual acquaintance [your acquaintance’s name]. He/she suggested that we should meet because [person’s name] knows we both have a strong affinity for and experience in the realm of [shared interest].
I wanted to contact you and see if there is any way I can help you advance your career, and I’m also quite interested in learning more about you and your background in [insert area here].
I am looking forward to connecting with you!
Best wishes,
[your name]
#2. Networking Email to Learn Some Information
Greetings, [Name]
I hope that all is well with you.
I am [your name], and I work for [the company] as a [your job title]. I find it truly inspiring how hard you worked and how far you’ve gotten with [outlet]. I am curious about [the field] myself and would appreciate it if you could spare some time to share information you have acquired from your time there.
If you’re interested, I’d like to buy you a coffee and discuss the ways in which I can contribute to the advancement of your career. I can also send some questions over email if that works better for you given your busy schedule.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sending kind regards,
[your name]
#3. Networking Email to Someone You Briefly Met
Greetings, [Name]
I hope you are having a fantastic week!
It was great to finally meet you in person at [insert meeting location here] and have such a pleasant conversation about [what you discussed]. Following our discussion, I came upon this story [attachment]. I thought you would find this information useful, so I’m passing it along to you.
Once again, it was great meeting you, and I hope we stay in touch. Feel free to contact me if you’d like to discuss this subject further and share your thoughts.
Best Wishes,
[Your Name]
#4. Networking Email to Someone You Admire
Greetings, [Name]
I hope you are doing well!
Hello, my name is [your name], and I am in [your position] at [company]. I wanted to reach out to you because I discovered your work thanks to [insert method of discovery here], and I have come to greatly respect your expertise or experience.
If you’re interested in [keeping in touch] or [learning more about my experience], I’d love to [get coffee/connect on LinkedIn/take another opportunity to get to know you]. I would love the opportunity to learn from you and share what I’ve learned so far about our common area of study.
I am looking forward to hearing from you!
Best regards,
[Your name]
Final Thoughts
If you’ve come this far, you should have a much better understanding of networking emails, their format, and how to write them.
Anyone’s professional and personal lives can greatly benefit from networking. You can uncover potential scam employment, learn about salary negotiation strategies, advance your career, and much more by expanding your network.
You will need to write a superb networking email to reap the maximum benefits, so we hope this article has helped you feel confident enough to create one on your own and use the knowledge to excel in your career.
