A letter of introduction opens a door before anyone has asked you to knock. It comes in two forms.
Daniel Okafor, Head of Marketing at Fernwood Goods
Hi Daniel,
My name is Priya Raman, and I'm a brand content strategist who helps consumer product companies turn their story into copy that actually sells. Maya Torres, who worked with your team on the spring campaign, suggested I reach out, so I wanted to introduce myself directly.
I'm reaching out because I've been following Fernwood's move into refillable packaging, and the launch messaging is strong but a little buried on your product pages. That's exactly the gap I close: over the last six years I've rewritten launch and lifecycle copy for three DTC brands, and in each case add-to-cart rates on the reworked pages rose 20% or more within a quarter.
I'm not pitching a big project. I'd just love to share a short teardown of two of your product pages, with a few specific rewrites you're free to use whether or not we ever work together. No cost, no strings.
If that's useful, a 15-minute call next week would be plenty to walk you through it. Either way, thank you for reading, and congratulations on the refill line.
Warm regards,
Priya Raman
In the first, you introduce yourself: you reach out to a hiring manager, a potential client, or a new team to say who you are and why you're worth a reply. In the second, you introduce someone else, vouching for a colleague or a contact so they land in front of the right person with your credibility behind them.
This page focuses on the first and most common case, introducing yourself. Unlike a cover letter, an introduction letter isn't tied to a specific job posting.
You send it when there's no open application: to build a network connection, to greet a team you're about to join, or to pitch a freelance service to a company that never advertised for one. That freedom is the challenge.
Nobody asked for this letter, so it has to earn attention fast. The best ones say who you are and why you're writing in the first two lines, offer one clear reason the reader should care, and end with a small, easy ask rather than a demand.
Use the example below as a template, keep it short, and make it about the reader, not your resume.
The reader didn't ask for this letter, so don't make them dig for the point. State your name, what you do, and the reason you're reaching out right away. If you have a mutual connection or shared context, lead with it: it buys you the extra seconds of attention that carry the rest of the note.
An introduction that lists your accomplishments reads like a monologue. Instead, name a specific thing about the reader's company, team, or work, and connect your background to a gap or goal they actually have. The letter should feel like it was written for one person, because it was.
Three or four tight paragraphs is the ceiling, not the target. Every extra line lowers the odds of a reply. If a sentence isn't earning attention or moving toward the ask, cut it. A short, confident note signals you respect the reader's time.
You need to prove you're worth answering, but a wall of achievements does the opposite. Pick the single most relevant win, a result, a client, a role, and state it plainly with a number if you have one. One concrete proof point does more than five vague ones.
Close with one small next step that's easy to say yes to: a short call, a quick reply, a free sample of your thinking. Avoid demanding a meeting or leaving the ask vague. The lower the pressure, the more likely you get a response, and a response is the entire goal.
Keep the tone professional and specific. Swap in real names, dates, and details so the letter reads as genuine, not a filled-in template.
What's the difference between a letter of introduction and a cover letter?
A cover letter responds to a specific job posting and pairs with an application. A letter of introduction isn't tied to any open role: you send it to network, greet a new team, or pitch a service to a company that never advertised. Because nobody asked for it, an introduction leans harder on grabbing attention fast and making a low-pressure ask.
What are the two types of letters of introduction?
The first introduces yourself: you reach out to a contact, client, or team to say who you are and why you're writing. The second introduces someone else: you vouch for a colleague or contact and connect them to a person in your network. This page focuses on introducing yourself, which is by far the more common case.
How long should a letter of introduction be?
Short. Three or four brief paragraphs, roughly 120 to 200 words. Since the reader never requested it, a long letter almost guarantees it goes unread. Lead with your point, offer one reason to care, and close with a small ask.
How do I introduce someone else in an introduction letter?
Name the person and your relationship to them, state clearly why you're connecting them to the reader, and highlight one specific strength or result that makes them worth the reader's time. Keep it brief, be genuine, and only vouch for people you'd stake your own credibility on.
How do I start a letter of introduction?
Open with your name and what you do, then the reason you're writing, ideally in the first two sentences. If you have a mutual connection, a shared event, or specific context about the reader's work, lead with that instead of a generic greeting. Skip openers like "I hope this finds you well" that delay the point.
