The Networking Email That Always Works

The Networking Email
That Always Works
Kaneisha Grayson
for
RISE Conference 2013
May 15, 2013

© 2013 Kaneisha Grayson TheArtofApplying.com
About Your Presenter
• Kaneisha Grayson
• Austin native
• Pomona College 2006; Harvard MBA & MPA 2010
• Entrepreneur & Admissions Consultant:
The Art of Applying
• Self-Help Author:
Be Your Own Boyfriend
• present this talk at colleges, conferences, and
organizations around the nation
2

What You’ll Learn Today
• who else is in this room—and how they can help you
• why most outreach emails are ineffective and go unanswered
• what to ask for when you ﬁrst make contact with someone
• how to ﬁnd the people who will be most responsive to your outreach
• exactly what to write in the outreach email to get a response
• questions to ask during a networking call
• how to stay in touch after the call without being annoying
3

Introductions
• Name
• Organizational Afﬁliation (if any)
• Kinds of people you are looking to connect with through
networking
4

Reasons to Network
• Get the “real deal” on a job opportunity, company, or program
• Establish an inside contact and internal advocate at an
organization
• Find someone to partner with on a project
• Learn more about an organization, person, or project before
making a bigger request
• Gain candid advice and insight from someone with experience
5

Who to network with
• hobby / passion / interest / experience / niche
• industry / profession / company
• neighborhood / city / state / nation
• race / ethnicity / religion
6
People readily do favors for those in their “tribe.”
You can easily ﬁnd people in your tribe
who will share information, advice, and contacts with you.

How to Find People Online
7
Live Demonstration

Why most outreach emails
are ineffective
• subject line is confusing or nonexistent
• too long, too cluttered, not enough white space
• no connection or afﬁliation established
• approached as an inferior rather than as an equal and potential friend
• no context for outreach
• available times not given
• the ask is unclear or over-reaching
9

The Networking Email that Always Works
10
To: Shannon Lori
Subject: [RISE Presenter] quick chat to learn from you
Hi Shannon,
I’m Kaneisha Grayson, a fellow RISE presenter. I’m an author and entrepreneur here in Austin (see my website
here), and I’m presenting on Wednesday the talk “The Networking Email That Always Works.”
I saw in the PeopleFund newsletter that you’ll be one of the presenters for their Innovation Week, and I found your
information on your website. If you have the time, I’d appreciate a 15-minute chat via phone with you about how
that opportunity came about and any advice you have for me for booking more paid and volunteer speaking
engagements here in Austin.
If you are available, I am available during the following times:
all times in Central Time
Mon 5/13 10 am - 3 pm
Tue 5/14 10 am - 1 pm, 4-5 pm
Wed 5/15 8-10 am, 4-6 pm
Thur 5/16 1-5 pm
Thank you!
Kaneisha
512.555.5555

Why does this email always work?
11
To: Shannon Lori
Hi Shannon,
information on your website. If you have the time, I’d appreciate a 15-minute chat with you about how that
opportunity came about and any advice you have for me for booking more paid and volunteer speaking
Mon 5/13 10 am - 3 pm
Tue 5/14 10 am - 1 pm, 4-5 pm
Wed 5/15 8-10 am, 4-6 pm
Thur 5/16 1-5 pm
Thank you!
Kaneisha
512.555.5555
points out our tribe

Why does this email work?
12
To: Shannon Lori
Hi Shannon,
Mon 5/13 10 am - 3 pm
Tue 5/14 10 am - 1 pm, 4-5 pm
Wed 5/15 8-10 am, 4-6 pm
Thur 5/16 1-5 pm
Thank you!
Kaneisha
512.555.5555
lets the person know what I want

13
To: Shannon Lori
Hi Shannon,
Mon 5/13 10 am - 3 pm
Tue 5/14 10 am - 1 pm, 4-5 pm
Wed 5/15 8-10 am, 4-6 pm
Thur 5/16 1-5 pm
Thank you!
Kaneisha
512.555.5555
short, clear introduction

14
To: Shannon Lori
Hi Shannon,
Mon 5/13 10 am - 3 pm
Tue 5/14 10 am - 1 pm, 4-5 pm
Wed 5/15 8-10 am, 4-6 pm
Thur 5/16 1-5 pm
Thank you!
Kaneisha
512.555.5555
where I learned
about her and
how I found her
information

15
To: Shannon Lori
Hi Shannon,
Mon 5/13 10 am - 3 pm
Tue 5/14 10 am - 1 pm, 4-5 pm
Wed 5/15 8-10 am, 4-6 pm
Thur 5/16 1-5 pm
Thank you!
Kaneisha
512.555.5555
a request that is easy to say yes to.
Be sure to clarify whether the
meeting request is for in-person or
via phone.

16
To: Shannon Lori
Hi Shannon,
Mon 5/13 10 am - 3 pm
Tue 5/14 10 am - 1 pm, 4-5 pm
Wed 5/15 8-10 am, 4-6 pm
Thur 5/16 1-5 pm
Thank you!
Kaneisha
512.555.5555
a clear agenda for the call

17
To: Shannon Lori
Hi Shannon,
Mon 5/13 10 am - 3 pm
Tue 5/14 10 am - 1 pm, 4-5 pm
Wed 5/15 8-10 am, 4-6 pm
Thur 5/16 1-5 pm
Thank you!
Kaneisha
512.555.5555
times given in the recipient’s time zone

18
To: Shannon Lori
Hi Shannon,
Mon 5/13 10 am - 3 pm
Tue 5/14 10 am - 1 pm, 4-5 pm
Wed 5/15 8-10 am, 4-6 pm
Thur 5/16 1-5 pm
Thank you!
Kaneisha
512.555.5555
a well-formatted block of
times that only encompass
a week

19
To: Shannon Lori
Hi Shannon,
Mon 5/13 10 am - 3 pm
Tue 5/14 10 am - 1 pm, 4-5 pm
Wed 5/15 8-10 am, 4-6 pm
Thur 5/16 1-5 pm
Thank you!
Kaneisha
512.555.5555
provides my phone number
right below the closing

The Intro Request That Always Works
21
To: James Casey
Subject: [Bootstrap Austin] request for an introduction to Shannon Lori
Hi James,
I hope you are doing well and that things with StartupHound are going well. Things are going well with me. My book
is out and selling well. I’m also gearing up for the next admissions season. One goal I have this season is to book
more live speaking engagements since I love to present. I saw on LinkedIn that you went to college with Shannon
Lori. Would you be willing to introduce me to her? If so, I’ve drafted an introduction that you can pass on to her.
Thank you!
Kaneisha
[paste the Networking Email That Always Works here]

22
To: James Casey
Hi James,
Thank you!
Kaneisha
reminder for how we know each other

23
To: James Casey
Hi James,
Thank you!
Kaneisha
lets the recipient know that I want an introduction
and who I am trying to meet

24
To: James Casey
Hi James,
Thank you!
Kaneisha
references the recipient’s latest project, which shows that I’m not
just a taker. I am interested in his life as well.

25
To: James Casey
Hi James,
Thank you!
Kaneisha
a short update on how I am doing and what I am
working on assuages any fears the recipient has that
“we don’t know each other that well.”

26
To: James Casey
Hi James,
Thank you!
Kaneisha
lets the recipient know how I found out about his
connection to the person I am trying to connect with

27
To: James Casey
Hi James,
Thank you!
Kaneisha
a clear and direct ask

28
To: James Casey
Hi James,
Thank you!
Kaneisha
lets the recipient know that I’ve made it very easy for him to
help me

29
To: James Casey
Hi James,
Thank you!
Kaneisha
Now, the recipient can just copy and paste my
networking email, add a short intro just like I did and
pass it on.

The Networking Call
31
• Ask if it’s still a good time to speak.
• Thank the person for his/her time.
• Brieﬂy remind them of who you are and what favor you want.
• Some easy but valuable questions:
• What has been your experience so far at x organization?
• What are the skills you use the most in your role?
• If I am interested in one day holding a similar role, what are the skills, experiences, and
coursework I should pursue now?
• Do you know of any similar opportunities for someone at my level at your organization?
• Who else would you recommend I speak with?

Reminders When Networking
32
• Avoid the hangout hangover.
• Don’t ask a question you wouldn’t want to answer.
• Don’t multitask. Really listen.
• Don’t interrupt. Let the person ramble a little if they want.
• Thank them at the beginning and end of the call.
• Stick to the agenda of the call. Don’t start pitching them ideas and
projects.
• Let them know you may reach out again.

Keeping In Touch
33
• Use the search function in your calendar to see who you
talked to and when. (Tip: Label all networking calls in your
calendar “Networking Call: [Name of person]” so you can
easily go back and search).
• Send a short follow-up email 1-3 weeks later letting them
know what you did with the information and thanking
them for their time.
• Feel free to reach out again to ask for another small favor.

Discussion:
• Name
• Your top project you are currently working on
• Who you are looking to connect with
35

Thank you for attending!
• Name: Kaneisha Grayson
• Email: hello@kaneisha.com
• Phone: 512.677.4747 (voicemail line)
• Author Site: http://kaneisha.com
• Coaching Site: http://theartofapplying.com
36

The Networking Email That Always Works

Empfohlen

Empfohlen

Weitere ähnliche Inhalte

Andere mochten auch

Andere mochten auch (7)

Ähnlich wie The Networking Email That Always Works

Ähnlich wie The Networking Email That Always Works (18)

Kürzlich hochgeladen

Kürzlich hochgeladen (20)

The Networking Email That Always Works