How to Write a Networking Email That Gets Results in 2024 [Templates]

The way we network and build professional relationships is rapidly evolving. With the rise of hybrid and remote work, many of us have fewer opportunities for those spontaneous in-person interactions that can spark a valuable connection. At the same time, the future of large networking events and conferences remains in flux.

In this new landscape, the ability to network effectively via email is becoming an increasingly critical skill. Email remains the top communication channel for many professionals. A thoughtful, well-crafted message can help you expand your network, gain new insights, and open up career opportunities.

However, this doesn‘t mean you should start firing off emails to everyone you want to meet. Networking emails that are vague, impersonal, or ask for too much up front are likely to be ignored. Instead, you need to be strategic and focus on building genuine relationships.

In this post, we‘ll break down the anatomy of a networking email that gets results. We‘ll cover what not to do, key elements to include, and templates you can adapt for different scenarios. Whether you‘re reaching out to a stranger or looking to reconnect with a past colleague, these tips will help you make the most of every networking opportunity in 2024 and beyond.

What Not to Do in a Networking Email

Before we dive into best practices, let‘s look at an example of a networking email gone wrong.

Imagine you receive the following message from a stranger, Jane:

Subject: Need an introduction

Hi John,

My name is Jane Smith, and I run Acme Organic Pet Food, a new company here in Cleveland. I see on LinkedIn that you‘re connected to Jim White over at Acme Pet SuperStore.

Could you introduce me to Jim? I‘d really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance,
Jane

At first glance, this email might seem innocuous. Jane is polite and direct in her request. However, there are a couple key problems with her approach:

Problem 1: Jane assumes you and Jim are close. She has no idea about the nature of your relationship. For all she knows, you and Jim may have only met once briefly. Asking you to leverage a tenuous connection for her benefit puts you in an awkward position.

Problem 2: Jane‘s request creates work for you. She‘s asking you to take time out of your day to make an introduction, without offering anything in return. You have no real incentive to help her.

The underlying issue is that Jane is trying to extract value from you rather than building a mutually beneficial relationship. Her message doesn‘t provide any context about who she is or why she wants the introduction to Jim. There‘s no attempt to establish trust or find common ground.

When sending a networking email, always look for ways to give value before making an ask. One of the best things you can do is ask for advice and insights. Most people love to share their knowledge, but they don‘t want to feel like you‘re just using them for their connections.

With that in mind, let‘s look at a better approach Jane could have taken.

Key Elements of an Effective Networking Email

A networking email that gets results has a few key ingredients:

1. A specific reason for reaching out. Reference something about the recipient that prompted you to contact them, such as a recent article they wrote or a mutual connection.

2. Some context about who you are. Share a bit about your background and what you currently do. Try to highlight any commonalities you have with the recipient.

3. A clear request for advice or insights. Frame your ask in terms of wanting to learn from their experience, not asking for a favor. Be specific about what you‘re hoping to discuss.

4. Gratitude and a next step. Thank them for their time and consideration. Suggest a specific way to continue the conversation, such as a quick phone call or coffee meeting.

Here‘s how Jane could have restructured her initial email using this formula:

Subject: Fellow Cleveland pet food entrepreneur who would value your insights

Hi John,

My name is Jane Smith, and like you, I‘m building a pet food business here in Cleveland. I founded Acme Organic Pet Food last year.

I‘m reaching out because I‘m a big admirer of what you‘ve accomplished at Pet Food Palace. I would love to learn from your experience and hear any advice you might have for a fellow entrepreneur.

If you have a few minutes to spare, I‘d be grateful for the chance to ask you a couple questions about your biggest lessons learned while growing your business. Could we hop on a quick call sometime in the next few weeks?

I know you must be busy, so thank you for considering my request. I‘m happy to work around your schedule.

Best regards,
Jane

See the difference? In this version, Jane leads with a commonality (being a pet food entrepreneur in Cleveland), offers a genuine compliment, and asks for the chance to learn from John‘s insights. She also communicates gratitude for his time and suggests a clear next step.

With this approach, John is much more likely to agree to a conversation. Even if he doesn‘t have time for a call, he may share a few quick thoughts via email. And if Jane approaches that initial conversation with curiosity and respect for John‘s experience, an ongoing mentoring relationship could develop over time.

Of course, every networking situation is unique, and you‘ll want to adapt your email accordingly. In the next two sections, we‘ll look at more specific tips and templates for reaching out to strangers vs. people you already know.

How to Write a Networking Email to a Stranger

Reaching out to someone you‘ve never met before can feel intimidating, but it doesn‘t have to be. The key is to find a way to form a genuine connection.

Here are five things to try when emailing a stranger:

1. Reference something about their work that you admire. Maybe it‘s a recent article they wrote, a social media post that resonated with you, or a project they worked on. Showing that you‘re familiar with their work is a great way to break the ice.

2. Highlight any commonalities. Did you attend the same college? Work in a similar industry? Share a hobby or passion? Mentioning these things can help the recipient see you as a kindred spirit rather than a total stranger.

3. Share how you can add value. Offering your expertise or resources can be a good way to make the relationship a two-way street. Just be sure that whatever you offer is genuinely helpful and relevant to their work.

4. Ask for their advice or feedback. Again, this positions the interaction as a chance for you to learn rather than asking for a favor right off the bat.

5. Start with a small ask. Suggesting a quick call or a few emailed questions makes it easier for the person to say yes. You can always make a bigger request down the road once you‘ve established more of a relationship.

Here‘s a template that puts these tips into action:

Subject: [Something that reflects how you can help or what you have in common]

Hello [Name],

[Sentence about how you know of or found them.]

[Sentence about something you admire about their work or a topic they‘re knowledgeable about.]

[Brief intro to who you are and any relevant background info or commonalities.] [Sentence about why you‘re reaching out and what you‘re hoping to learn or discuss further. End with a question.] [Closing line reiterating that you appreciate their time and expertise.] [Your name]

And here‘s an example of what this could look like in practice:

Subject: Content marketer who loved your recent SEO article

Hello Sam,

I recently came across your article on the Moz blog about optimizing blog posts for search engines. The tips you shared about strategic internal linking were super helpful and relevant to some projects I‘m working on.

By way of background, I‘m a content marketing manager at a B2B software company. I‘m relatively new to the SEO side of things and always eager to learn from experts like you.

If you have a few minutes, I would love to get your thoughts on a couple specific questions I have about keyword research. Would you be open to a quick email exchange or 15-minute call sometime in the next few weeks?

I know your time is valuable, so no worries at all if your schedule is too full. Either way, I appreciate you considering my request and sharing your SEO knowledge with the wider marketing community.

Best regards,

Alex

How to Write a Networking Email to Someone You Know

When reaching out to a past colleague, client, or other professional acquaintance, you have the benefit of already having some rapport. The goal of your email is to rekindle that relationship and find ways to support each other‘s current endeavors.

Here are some tips for reconnecting with someone you know:

1. Remind them of your connection. Mention the context in which you worked together or met previously. You might even reference a specific conversation or shared experience to jog their memory.

2. Share an update on what you‘re doing now. Give a brief summary of your current role or projects. Focus on highlights and developments that are most relevant to your relationship with this person.

3. Show interest in their recent work. Mention anything noteworthy they‘ve accomplished since you last spoke. This shows that you‘ve been keeping tabs on their career and value staying connected.

4. Ask for their advice or perspective. As with a cold email, framing your request around getting their insights is usually better than asking for a favor straight away. Provide context on why you‘re seeking their expertise on a particular topic.

5. Suggest reconnecting over coffee or a call. If the person is local, try to get together in person. Otherwise, suggest a phone or video chat to catch up properly. Offer a couple specific time windows to make scheduling easy.

Here‘s a template you can use:

Subject: [Your name]/[Reason for reaching out]

Hello [Name],

I hope this finds you well! [Sentence about the last time you saw each other or what prompted you to reach out].

[Sentence or two updating them on your current work/life situation and any recent milestones or developments.]

I‘ve been following your work at [company name] and was impressed by [something specific they‘ve accomplished]. I‘d love to hear more about [aspect of their work you‘re curious about].

If you‘re open to it, I‘d really value the chance to get your perspective on [1-2 specific topics or questions]. Would you have time for a coffee chat sometime soon, or perhaps a quick call if that‘s easier? Let me know if any of the following windows work for you:

• [Date/time 1]
• [Date/time 2]

If none of those are convenient, I‘m happy to work around your schedule.

Thanks in advance,

[Your name]

And here‘s an example of what this could look like:

Subject: Reconnecting/Jamila

Dear Eduardo,

I hope this email finds you well! It‘s been a while since we worked together on the big product launch at Acme Corp a couple years ago. Your ability to rally the engineering team and hit that tight deadline was really impressive.

I recently took on a new role leading product marketing for a startup in the finance space. It‘s been an exciting challenge to build the marketing function from scratch and figure out our product positioning. Your advice on cross-functional collaboration has definitely come in handy!

I saw on LinkedIn that you‘re working on some really innovative projects at Startup X. I‘d love to hear more about your experience transitioning from a large corporate environment to a startup.

If you‘re up for it, I would really value the chance to get your feedback on a couple product messaging questions I‘m grappling with. Could we grab a quick coffee next week, or hop on a Zoom if that‘s more convenient? Let me know if either of these times work:

• Tuesday 3/12, 8-9 a.m.
• Thursday 3/14, 3-4 p.m.

I‘m happy to be flexible if neither of those windows are good for you.

Thanks and talk to you soon,

Jamila

Following Up After the Initial Email

Congrats, you sent a thoughtful networking email and landed a meeting! Now what?

The real key to a productive networking conversation is to be an engaged, active listener. Come prepared with a few specific questions, but be open to letting the discussion flow organically. If you sit quietly and absorb the other person‘s wisdom, you‘ll gain valuable insights while also building trust and rapport.

After the conversation, be sure to send a thank you note within 24 hours. Recap one or two of your key takeaways and reiterate your appreciation for their time and advice. If you offered to make an introduction or share a resource, include the relevant information.

From there, look for opportunities to stay in touch and add value over time. This could mean:

• Sharing an article or podcast episode relevant to your discussion
• Congratulating them on a recent accomplishment or work milestone
• Introducing them to someone in your network who could be a valuable connection
• Inviting them to an event or webinar on a topic they care about

The goal is to cultivate a genuine relationship based on mutual respect and support. As you build trust through consistent, thoughtful interactions, the person will likely become more open to making introductions, providing references, or collaborating in the future.

Key Takeaways for Effective Networking Emails

In our increasingly digital world, being able to expand your professional network remotely is quickly becoming a must-have skill. By crafting compelling, personalized emails, you can connect with valuable mentors, potential partners, and other industry contacts – no matter where you‘re located.

To make your networking emails as effective as possible, remember to:

• Do your research and find a genuine reason to connect
• Prioritize asking for advice and insights over favors
• Provide context about who you are and why you‘re reaching out
• Suggest a clear next step and make it easy for the person to respond
• Follow up thoughtfully and look for ways to add value over time

By approaching networking with curiosity, humility, and a spirit of generosity, you‘ll be well on your way to building a strong support system to help you navigate your career in 2024 and beyond.