How To Write Networking Emails That Get Opened

Building strong relationships is an essential part of your career, but they don’t always come about organically. As with any other aspect of your career, making strong and meaningful connections takes time and work.

And every new relationship has to start with an introduction.

There are many ways to meet new people and expand your network professionally. For example, attending industry events, through your current job, or online through networking sites like LinkedIn.

But how do you turn those brief encounters into solid working relationships?

Well, the best place to start is with an introductory email. But knowing how to phrase it correctly can be difficult. Especially if you’re targeting other busy professionals. After all, in your time, you’ve probably moved a few emails straight to your junk folder.

However, there is a way to get around this. How to write network emails that are opened.

Research the recipient

First and foremost, you need to research as much as you can about the recipient before you even think about sending that email. You need to be able to prove to them that you’re reaching out for a valid reason, that you can add value, and that you have something in common. If you don’t know enough about them or their current location, it becomes much more difficult.

So before you start, carefully check their online presence using tools like LinkedIn and their company website to make sure you know who you’re talking to.

That way, as you write the email, you can create something appealing that is more likely to be opened. You also increase your chances of getting a response as you prove to the recipient that you have done your research and have something to offer them.

Create a captivating subject line

Subject lines can make or break an email.

Think about it; This is the first thing your recipient reads and determines whether they even open, let alone read, the email. Therefore, you need to craft a compelling subject line that encourages them to click.

This can be difficult if you don’t have much experience with email marketing or networking. However, there are some simple steps you can take to succeed.

You need to make sure your subject line is short and attention-grabbing, ideally around three to five words that immediately grabs their interest. It is also important to personalize these, e.g. E.g. “Nice to meet you, {your name}” or “Episode of {event name}”.

Remember, you don’t want your subject line to be truncated in preview, so keep it as succinct and engaging as possible. This increases the likelihood that they will even open your email.

Keep your introduction concise

OK, so the subject line got you through the door, and they opened your email; You don’t want them to junk it right away because they’ll lose interest.

Therefore, not only your subject line has to be short and sweet. In the body of the email, you must provide a brief introduction that gets straight to the point. At this stage you should briefly describe who you are, where you work and why you are contacting us.

Although you may want to discuss a lot with them, save that for a follow-up call or meeting. Everyone’s busy, and you don’t want to scare them off right away by jumping in with huge, rambling paragraphs.

mention similarities

Although your email shouldn’t be too long, you should take this opportunity to mention some common ground besides your work area. For example, did you go to the same college or are you from the same hometown? This increases your chances of them responding and shows once again that you’ve done your research.

You might also take this opportunity to add to one of their impressive works, especially if they were part of a project that you particularly enjoyed or admired.

Let’s narrow that down: don’t be creepy or act like you have a brown nose. Make sure you’re always genuine and the tone is professional but conversational.

End with a strong CTA

Finally, you need to make sure you end your email with a strong CTA (Call to Action) that encourages them to come forward. This could mean they look at your resume or meet up for coffee, but either way, make sure you include your preferred contact details in the email.

By following the steps above, you increase the likelihood of a potential connection by not only opening your email, but also following it up.