An intro email? Read this before hitting ‘send’

Making connections can be hugely beneficial, but make sure you do right so you don’t waste everyone’s time and damage your own reputation.

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We can’t live without them. But when misused, overused, or abused, they can diminish your personal brand, waste your time, and tarnish the relationships you value most.

I would like to make the case for being judicious with introductions and to encourage you to closely guard your most cherished relationships. In most cases I would heed Fred Wilson’s advice about the “double opt-in” email for intros—in which you ask for permission before green-lighting an unsolicited introduction.

I give introductions frequently. I also request them from time to time. I’m not against introductions. This article is simply a reminder that whom you introduce, and how you do them, will affect your credibility.

The details

Lately I’ve seen some friends and colleagues go nuts with intros. I’ve commented to several of them that I don’t understand their motivations.

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