Best examples of thank you email examples for referrals that actually get replies

Real examples of thank you email examples for referrals you can copy

Before we talk structure or strategy, let’s get straight into real examples. Seeing live wording is the fastest way to learn what works—and what doesn’t.

Below are several examples of thank you email examples for referrals tailored to different situations. You can use them as is, or tweak them to sound more like you.

1. Simple thank you email for a client referral

This is the workhorse. Short, warm, and to the point.

Subject: Thank you for the referral, Maria

Hi Maria,

Thank you so much for connecting me with James. I really appreciate you thinking of me for his marketing project.

I’ll reach out to him this week and keep you posted on how the conversation goes. If it turns into a project, I’ll make sure he’s as well taken care of as you’ve been.

Thanks again for your trust and support—it means a lot.

Best,
Alex

Why this works: It acknowledges the referral, states what you’ll do next, and reinforces trust without sounding salesy. When people look for examples of thank you email examples for referrals, this is often the baseline they need.

2. Thank you email when the referral becomes a paying client

When a referral actually turns into business, your gratitude should go up a notch.

Subject: Quick update and a big thank you

Hi Daniel,

I wanted to share a quick update and a big thank you. I had a great call with Priya last week, and we’ve officially decided to work together on her Q1 campaign.

I’m very grateful you introduced us. Referrals like yours are the highest compliment—you’re trusting me with your reputation, and I don’t take that lightly.

If you ever need anything from my side—an intro, a second opinion, or just a sounding board—please reach out.

Gratefully,
Simone

This example of a thank you email shows how to close the loop: you confirm the outcome and make it clear you’re available to reciprocate.

3. Thank you email for a job referral (internal or external)

Referrals in hiring carry extra weight. You’re not just thanking someone for a lead—you’re thanking them for putting their name on the line.

Subject: Thank you for the referral to the Product Manager role

Hi Chris,

I really appreciate you referring me for the Product Manager position at Summit Labs and taking the time to speak with the hiring team about my background.

I had my first interview yesterday, and your context about the team’s priorities was incredibly helpful. It made it much easier to connect my experience to what they’re looking for.

Thanks again for your support and for believing I’d be a good fit. I’ll keep you posted on how things progress.

Best,
Jordan

Modern hiring data from sources like LinkedIn and SHRM (see SHRM.org) consistently show that referred candidates tend to move faster through the hiring funnel. That makes these kinds of examples of thank you email examples for referrals especially valuable for your career.

4. Thank you email for a warm intro on LinkedIn or email

Think of this as the “networking referral” thank you.

Subject: Thanks for the introduction to Taylor

Hi Morgan,

Thanks so much for introducing me to Taylor—our conversation was incredibly helpful. We talked through a few options for scaling our customer success team, and I walked away with several ideas I can implement right away.

I really appreciate you taking the time to connect us. If there’s anyone in my network I can introduce you to in return, I’d be happy to.

Thanks again for being so generous with your network.

Best,
Renee

Notice the reciprocity. The best examples include a clear offer to give back, even if the other person never takes you up on it.

5. Thank you email for a partner or vendor referral

Partners who send you business are gold. Treat them that way.

Subject: Thank you for sending Acme our way

Hi Lee,

I wanted to thank you for referring Acme Logistics to us. We had our kickoff call yesterday, and they’re a fantastic fit for our platform.

I really value our partnership and the trust you’ve placed in our team. As we discussed, we’ll make sure your team has full visibility into the implementation, and I’ll personally keep you updated on milestones.

If there’s anything we can do to support you or your clients this quarter, please let me know.

Appreciate you,
Dana

This example of a thank you email for referrals shows how to balance gratitude with professional reassurance.

6. Thank you email for a referral that didn’t work out

Not every referral will turn into a client, job, or partnership—and that’s okay. You should still say thank you.

Subject: Thank you again for the introduction

Hi Priyanka,

I wanted to thank you again for introducing me to your colleague, Mark. We had a good conversation, but the timing isn’t quite right for his team to move forward.

Even though it didn’t turn into a project, I really appreciate you thinking of me and making the connection. It means a lot that you’re willing to recommend my work.

If there’s ever another situation where I might be helpful, I’d be glad to talk.

Warmly,
Evan

This is one of the best examples to keep in your back pocket. It protects the relationship and encourages future referrals.

7. Thank you email for multiple referrals from the same person

When someone sends you repeat business, treat it like the VIP move it is.

Subject: You’ve been sending amazing people my way

Hi Aisha,

I just wanted to say a heartfelt thank you. Over the past few months you’ve introduced me to three incredible clients, and I’m now working with two of them.

Your referrals have had a real impact on my business this year. I’m grateful for your trust and for how generously you speak about my work.

As a small thank you, I’d love to offer you a complimentary strategy session next quarter—no strings attached.

With appreciation,
Marco

This is a real example of how you can weave in a small, ethical token of appreciation without turning referrals into a transactional “bounty system.” For guidance on ethical gifting and conflicts of interest, especially in regulated industries, you can look at resources from organizations like the U.S. Office of Government Ethics.

How to write your own thank you email for referrals (using the examples above)

Now that you’ve seen several examples of thank you email examples for referrals, let’s break down the pattern they all share. You can think of it as five simple pieces you can rearrange as needed:

1. Subject line that sounds like a human wrote it

Skip the corporate jargon. Plain, specific subject lines work best, such as:

• “Thank you for the referral to [Name]”
• “Appreciate the introduction to [Company]”
• “Quick thank you for the referral”

Short, specific subject lines tend to perform better in email marketing studies from groups like Harvard Business School and other research institutions. They help your contact instantly recognize what the message is about.

2. Start with a direct thank you

Don’t warm up for three paragraphs. Say thank you in the first line:

“Thank you for referring me to…”
“Thanks so much for connecting me with…”

This is a common thread across the best examples: no suspense, no mystery, just clear appreciation.

3. Name the specific referral and context

You’ll notice in every example of a thank you email above, the writer mentions:

• The person or company they were introduced to
• The role or project (if appropriate)
• What stage they’re in (had a call, got the job, not a fit, etc.)

Specifics make your message feel personal instead of templated.

4. Share the outcome or next step

Even if nothing has happened yet, say what you plan to do:

• “I’ll reach out to her this week and let you know how it goes.”
• “We’ve scheduled a first interview for next Tuesday.”
• “We agreed to revisit the conversation in Q3.”

Closing the loop builds trust; people like to know that their referral didn’t disappear into a black hole.

5. Offer reciprocity (without being weird about it)

The strongest examples of thank you email examples for referrals include a light, sincere offer to help in return:

• “If I can ever return the favor with an introduction from my side, please ask.”
• “If you need anything from me—a reference, an intro, a second opinion—I’m glad to help.”

You’re not creating a transaction; you’re reinforcing a relationship.

2024–2025 trends that shape how you say thank you for referrals

The etiquette of referrals hasn’t changed much, but how we communicate has. A few trends to keep in mind as you adapt these real examples to your own style:

Short, mobile‑friendly emails win

Most people are reading your message on their phone. That means:

• Keep paragraphs short and scannable.
• Put the thanks and the key detail in the first 2–3 lines.
• Avoid long backstories; this is a thank you, not a memoir.

Personal beats polished

In 2024–2025, obviously scripted emails stand out—in a bad way. The best examples include:

• Natural language you’d actually say out loud
• Occasional contractions (“I’ll,” “you’ve,” “we’ll”)
• A tone that matches your relationship (more formal for a senior partner, more relaxed for a close colleague)

If you’re in a regulated field like healthcare or finance, you’ll also want to be careful about privacy. For instance, in healthcare, HIPAA rules (see HHS.gov) limit what you can say about patients and referrals in email. When in doubt, keep details minimal and avoid including sensitive information.

Thank you messages across platforms

Referrals now happen over:

• Email
• LinkedIn
• Slack or Teams
• Text messages

The wording of these examples of thank you email examples for referrals adapts well to other platforms. For LinkedIn, you might shorten the message. For Slack, you might be more casual. The structure—thank, specify, update, reciprocate—stays the same.

Adapting these examples to your industry and tone

The best way to use these examples of thank you email examples for referrals is to treat them like a starting point, not a script. Here’s how to customize them quickly.

Adjust formality based on your relationship

You might say:

“Hi Dr. Nguyen,”
“Dear Ms. Carter,”

in a legal or healthcare context, but:

“Hey Sam,”
“Hi Jamie,”

in a startup or creative setting.

If you’re unsure, err slightly formal on the first thank you. You can always relax the tone later as your relationship develops.

Watch for confidentiality and compliance

In fields like healthcare, law, and finance, you may need to:

• Avoid naming specific clients or patients in your email.
• Skip detailed descriptions of the matter being referred.
• Use secure channels if required by policy.

For example, a therapist thanking another provider for a referral might say:

“Thank you for the referral you sent last week. I appreciate your confidence in my practice and will keep you informed in a way that respects the client’s privacy and applicable guidelines.”

Professional organizations and educational sites—such as APA.org for psychology or NIH.gov for medical research—often publish guidance on professional communication and confidentiality that can help you fine‑tune your wording.

Add a small, ethical gesture (when appropriate)

In some industries, it’s common to send a handwritten note, a small gift, or a discount as a thank you. In others, that might violate company policy. Always:

• Check your company’s rules.
• Check your client’s or partner’s rules.
• Keep any gesture modest and clearly framed as appreciation, not payment for referrals.

When you can’t send a gift, a thoughtful, specific email often stands out more anyway.

FAQ about writing thank you emails for referrals

What are some simple examples of thank you email wording I can use right away?

Here are a few quick lines you can plug into any message:

• “Thank you for thinking of me and making the introduction to [Name].”
• “I really appreciate you referring me to [Company] for this opportunity.”
• “Your referral means a lot—I know you’re putting your reputation on the line, and I don’t take that lightly.”

Use these as building blocks alongside the longer examples of thank you email examples for referrals above.

How soon should I send a thank you email after a referral?

Aim for within 24–48 hours of receiving the referral or introduction. The sooner you send it, the more genuine and attentive you appear. You can always send a second, shorter thank you later if the referral turns into a job, client, or project.

Do I need to send another thank you if the referral becomes a client or job?

Yes. One of the best examples in this guide is the follow‑up thank you after the referral turns into something concrete. The first email thanks them for the introduction; the second thanks them for the outcome and reinforces how much you value their trust.

Is it okay to ask for more referrals in my thank you email?

You can, but do it gently. Instead of saying, “Please send more referrals,” try something like:

“If you know anyone else who might benefit from this kind of support, feel free to send them my way—I’d be happy to help.”

In most of the best examples, the focus stays on appreciation, not on prospecting.

What’s one example of a very short thank you email for referrals?

If you’re pressed for time, you can keep it to a few lines:

Subject: Thank you for the referral

Hi Alex,

Thanks so much for referring me to Jordan at Northline. I really appreciate you thinking of me and making the introduction. I’ll reach out to him this week and let you know how it goes.

Best,
Maya

Even this short, it follows the same pattern you’ve seen in the longer examples of thank you email examples for referrals throughout this guide.

Use these real‑world examples as templates, then adjust the tone, detail, and formality to match your relationship and industry. With a few saved drafts ready to go, you’ll be able to send thoughtful, professional thank you emails for referrals in minutes—without ever sounding stiff or scripted.