Real examples of stop sending awkward intros: 3 emails that get a real response

The problem with awkward intros (and why people ignore them)

Most networking emails fail for the same boring reasons:

They’re vague: “I’d love to connect sometime.” About what? Why?

They’re needy: “Can I pick your brain for an hour?” That’s work, not flattery.

They’re generic: It reads like you copied it from a template you found on page 3 of Google.

In 2024–2025, people are drowning in email. According to a widely cited analysis of email trends, office workers receive well over a hundred emails per day on average, and attention spans are shorter than ever. The people you’re writing to are skimming, triaging, and deleting in seconds.

That’s why you need clear, specific, respectful intros. The best examples of stop sending awkward intros: 3 emails that get a real response all share three traits:

• They show you’ve done your homework.
• They make a very specific, realistic ask.
• They make it easy for the other person to say yes (or no) without guilt.

Let’s walk through real examples you can steal and adapt.

Example #1: The “asking for advice” email that actually gets answered

This is the classic networking move: you want advice from someone more experienced. Most people send a rambling life story and hope for the best. Instead, here’s one of the best examples of stop sending awkward intros: 3 emails that get a real response when you’re asking for guidance.

Real example: Short, specific, and respectful

Subject: Loved your talk at SaaS Summit – quick question

Body:

Hi Jordan,

I’m a product marketer at a B2B startup in Austin, and I caught your session on pricing strategy at SaaS Summit last week. Your point about testing price before building features really stuck with me.

I’m working on our first structured pricing experiment and I’m running into one challenge: how to recruit enough qualified customers for interviews without annoying our current users.

Would you be open to a quick 15-minute Zoom sometime over the next two weeks to share how your team handled that at [Company Name]? I’d come prepared with 2–3 specific questions so we can make the most of the time.

If it’s easier, I can also send my questions by email instead.

Either way, thanks for the insights you shared at the conference – I’ve already shared your deck with my team.

Best,
Alex
Product Marketing, [Startup]
LinkedIn: [link]

Why this works:

• Concrete connection: Mentions a specific talk and takeaway, not just “I admire your work.”
• Clear context: One sentence about who Alex is and what they’re working on.
• Specific ask: 15-minute Zoom within a time window, not “whenever you’re free.”
• Easy out: Offers an email alternative, so Jordan can still help in less time.

This is a clean example of stop sending awkward intros: 3 emails that get a real response, because it feels like a note from a thoughtful peer, not a cold sales pitch.

How to adapt this example for your situation

You can reuse this structure almost anywhere:

• You listened to someone’s podcast episode and want to ask a follow-up.
• You read a case study and want to understand one specific decision.
• You’re a student reaching out to an alum in a field you’re exploring.

Just plug in:

• Where you found them (talk, article, LinkedIn post, podcast episode)
• One specific insight you liked
• One specific challenge you’re facing
• One small, time-bound request

When you look at multiple examples of stop sending awkward intros: 3 emails that get a real response, this pattern shows up again and again: show you’re paying attention, then ask for something realistic.

Example #2: The intro request that doesn’t make your contact cringe

Asking for an introduction is where a lot of awkwardness shows up. People send a vague “Can you intro me to anyone in your network?” and wonder why nothing happens.

Instead, you want to:

• Be very clear about who you want an intro to.
• Explain why the match makes sense.
• Write something your contact can forward as-is.

Here’s a real example of stop sending awkward intros: 3 emails that get a real response when you’re asking a mutual connection for help.

Real example: The forwardable intro request

Subject: Quick intro request to Taylor at Acme (email below)

Body:

Hi Priya,

Hope things are going well at your new role at Acme – I loved your recent post about building remote-first teams.

I’m reaching out with a quick favor: would you feel comfortable introducing me to your colleague Taylor in Product?

I’m leading partnerships at BrightPath, a small startup focused on onboarding tools for remote teams. From what I’ve read about Acme’s product roadmap, it seems like there might be overlap where we could help your team speed up implementation for new customers.

I’ve drafted a short blurb below that you can forward or edit however you like:

---

Forwardable blurb:

Hi Taylor,

I’d love to introduce you to Sam, who leads partnerships at BrightPath. They help remote-first SaaS companies onboard new customers faster with a lightweight tool that sits on top of your existing product.

Sam saw Acme’s recent launch and thought there might be a fit for your onboarding team. Totally no pressure, but if you’re open to a quick 15-minute chat, I think it could be a useful conversation.

Here’s Sam’s LinkedIn: [link]

---

If you’d rather not introduce us, no worries at all – I know how many requests you must get.

Thanks for considering it,
Sam

Why this works:

• Respects the relationship: Asks if Priya is comfortable making the intro.
• Does the work for them: Provides a forwardable blurb, so they don’t have to write anything.
• Low pressure: Gives Priya an easy way to decline without awkwardness.

Among the best examples of stop sending awkward intros: 3 emails that get a real response, this one stands out because it solves the hidden problem: your contact doesn’t have time to craft the perfect introduction.

More real examples of intro requests

You can tune the tone based on context. Here are two quick variations:

Short, informal version (for close contacts):

Hey Chris,

Random favor: would you be up for connecting me with your friend Dana who runs ops at Northwind? I think there’s some overlap with the supply chain project I’m working on and I’d love to ask her 2–3 quick questions.

Totally fine if now’s not a good time – just thought I’d ask.

Thanks!
Mia

Student or career-switcher version:

Hi Dr. Lopez,

I really appreciated your feedback on my capstone project last semester. I’m exploring entry-level roles in public health data and noticed you’re connected to several analysts at the city health department.

If you feel it’s appropriate, would you be open to introducing me to one person you think might be willing to share how they got started in that role? I’d be grateful for even a 15-minute conversation with someone on the team.

Thank you again for all your support,
Jordan

All of these are solid examples of stop sending awkward intros: 3 emails that get a real response, because they’re specific, polite, and easy to say yes to.

Example #3: The follow-up that doesn’t feel needy or annoying

The follow-up email is where many people either:

• Never send anything (and the opportunity dies), or
• Send something that sounds passive-aggressive or desperate.

You can follow up without being weird. The trick is to be:

• Brief
• Polite
• Clear about what happens next

Here’s a real example of stop sending awkward intros: 3 emails that get a real response when you’re following up after no reply.

Real example: The low-pressure follow-up

Subject: Quick nudge on my note from last week

Body:

Hi Taylor,

Just bumping this up in case it got buried – totally understand if now’s not the right time.

Short recap: I’m the founder of Loop, a small tool that helps distributed teams run async standups. Given your role leading engineering at Acme, I thought a quick 10–15 minute chat might be useful to see if it could save your team some meeting time.

If it’s easier, I can also send a 2-minute Loom video instead so you can take a look on your own schedule.

And if this isn’t a fit, no need to reply – I won’t keep following up.

Thanks again,
Riley

Why this works:

• Acknowledges reality: Emails get buried; you’re not assuming they’re ignoring you.
• Offers options: Call or asynchronous video, depending on preference.
• Sets a boundary: Promises not to keep pestering them.

This is one of the best examples of stop sending awkward intros: 3 emails that get a real response, because it respects the other person’s time and attention instead of demanding it.

More follow-up examples you can reuse

Here are a few more real examples that you can adjust for your situation:

After a conference or event:

Hi Morgan,

It was great meeting you at the NYC FinTech meetup last Thursday – I enjoyed hearing how your team is approaching fraud detection.

You mentioned you were exploring tools to improve your onboarding flow. If you’re still interested, I’d be happy to share how two similar companies cut their onboarding time by ~20% using a pretty simple change.

Would a quick 15-minute call next week be helpful, or would you rather I send a short summary by email?

Best,
Chris

After someone did show interest but went quiet:

Hi Dana,

Hope your week’s going smoothly. Last time we spoke, you mentioned you might want to revisit the pilot in Q4 once your team wrapped the current release.

Just wanted to check whether it’s worth putting 20 minutes on the calendar in the next couple of weeks, or if it makes more sense to reconnect in the new year instead.

Either way works for me – just wanted to make things easy on your side.

Thanks,
Lee

Again, these are all strong examples of stop sending awkward intros: 3 emails that get a real response because they’re clear, calm, and respectful.

How to write your own non-awkward intro in 5 simple moves

Looking across all these examples of stop sending awkward intros: 3 emails that get a real response, there’s a repeatable pattern you can steal.

Think of your email as five short building blocks:

1. A specific subject line
Mention the context or value, not just “Hello” or “Quick question”.

• “Loved your article on remote onboarding – quick question”
• “Intro request to Dana at Northwind (email below)”

2. A one-line connection
Show how you know them or found them.

• “I heard you on the ‘Marketing Today’ podcast…”
• “We met briefly at the Chicago HR meetup last month…”

3. A one-sentence snapshot of you
Who are you and why are you relevant in this context?

• “I’m a senior at UCLA exploring public health analytics.”
• “I lead customer success at a small B2B SaaS startup in Denver.”

4. One clear, realistic ask
Make it small and specific:

• A 15-minute call within a time window
• An intro to one specific person
• A quick yes/no decision about next steps

5. An easy out
Give them permission to say no or ignore it.

• “If now’s not a good time, no worries at all.”
• “If this isn’t a fit, no need to reply – I won’t follow up again.”

If you look back at the best examples of stop sending awkward intros: 3 emails that get a real response in this article, every single one follows this structure. Once you’ve practiced it a few times, you’ll be able to write these in under five minutes.

2024–2025 trends: What’s changed in networking emails

A few recent shifts are worth keeping in mind as you write your own messages:

Shorter is winning.
Busy professionals increasingly read email on their phones. Keeping your intro under 150–200 words dramatically increases the odds of a full read.

Personalization beats automation.
People are savvier about generic outreach and automated sequences. A single specific detail (a talk, article, or quote) does more for you than a fancy template.

Respect for mental bandwidth matters.
There’s growing awareness around burnout and information overload. Even organizations like the National Institutes of Health and Mayo Clinic highlight the impact of constant digital interruptions on stress levels. When your email clearly respects someone’s time, you stand out.

Asynchronous options are appreciated.
Offering alternatives like a short summary email or quick video instead of insisting on a meeting can make your ask feel lighter and more considerate.

All of the real examples of stop sending awkward intros: 3 emails that get a real response in this guide are built for this reality: short, specific, and respectful.

FAQ: Real examples and common questions about non-awkward intros

What are some quick examples of non-awkward intro emails I can send today?

You can model your emails on the real examples in this guide. For instance:

• A 120-word advice request that references a specific talk and asks for a 15-minute call.
• A forwardable intro request where you write the blurb your contact can send.
• A short follow-up that offers an alternative (like a summary email) and promises not to keep nagging.

These are all practical examples of stop sending awkward intros: 3 emails that get a real response that you can adapt in under five minutes.

How long should a networking intro email be?

Aim for 75–200 words. Long enough to provide context and a clear ask, but short enough to read on a phone without scrolling forever. Many of the best examples of stop sending awkward intros: 3 emails that get a real response land right in that range.

Is it okay to follow up more than once?

Usually, yes—but with limits. A good rule of thumb:

• Initial email
• One polite follow-up 5–7 business days later

If you still don’t hear back, assume it’s a no and move on. Organizations like Harvard Business School often emphasize the importance of persistence and respect in professional communication; hounding someone rarely helps your reputation.

How do I avoid sounding like an AI or a template?

Use details only a real person would know:

• Reference a specific quote or slide from a talk.
• Mention a concrete project you’re working on.
• Use your natural phrasing instead of formal clichés.

Read your email out loud. If it sounds like something you’d actually say to a colleague, you’re on the right track.

What’s one example of a subject line that gets a real response?

Here’s a simple example of a subject line that often performs well:

“Your LinkedIn post on hybrid work – quick question”

It’s specific (references where you saw them), respectful (not shouting in all caps), and sets up a small ask (“quick question”). You’ll see similar subject lines in the examples of stop sending awkward intros: 3 emails that get a real response throughout this article.

If you remember nothing else, remember this: the best networking emails feel like a thoughtful tap on the shoulder, not a demand. Use these real examples of stop sending awkward intros: 3 emails that get a real response as your starting point, adjust the tone to sound like you, and you’ll be miles ahead of the generic noise in everyone’s inbox.