Templates · · 8 min read

How to Introduce Yourself in an Email: Templates & Best Practices

Learn how to introduce yourself in an email and earn the recipient's trust with personalization, a clear explanation of why you’re reaching out, and a solid CTA. 

how to introduce yourself in an email

People don’t often trust emails from unknown sources. If they see an address they don’t know, that email goes straight to spam. Sometimes email service providers do that automatically. 

The introduction is the best place to start gaining our prospects’ trust. Learning how to introduce yourself significantly improves the chances that the email gets read. 

Do you introduce yourself, your company, and your position? Should you use an email icebreaker? Or, do you go for a joke?

There are tons of options to choose from. The question now is, which email introduction fits your audience best? We’re here to help you find the answer. 

What to Include in an Email Introduction

Email introductions should be engaging, concise, and personalized. However, they shouldn’t be too focused on the “introduction.” That might be counterintuitive, but intros should be about the prospects.

What can prospects expect? What are the benefits? Is the intro intriguing enough for them to continue reading? Here are the elements to include in your introduction to get just that. 

email introductions

Personalization 

Personalization doesn’t just mean using dynamic custom variables like first names or company names. It’s about aligning your email introduction to something that matters to prospects. 

Mention a mutual connection, discuss a recent event you both attended or reference a common interest. You need to do in-depth research to do this right. 

But in-depth research doesn’t have to take hours with tools like Instantly B2B Lead Finder. For example, you can use the “news” filter to see relevant and recent updates about a prospect. 

This ultimately makes personalization easier since you already know how to align your unique value proposition with something relevant, valuable, and engaging. 

Unique Value Proposition

Your unique value proposition or unique selling proposition answers the question, “What’s in it for me?” One of the best ways to do so is to highlight the benefits first, not the features. 

Be specific about the benefits. Avoid generalizing. Work within the confines of the lead data at your disposal. Ensure that the value proposition is focused on solving prospect needs. 

Let’s say your prospect just scaled operations and needs to hire more people to fill new roles. Instead of saying, “We can help you save x% on talent acquisition,” you can say:

“We can help {{company name}} scale talent acquisition sustainably by automating and centralizing lead data at a fraction of the cost of hiring new hiring specialists.” 

Leverage the Subject Line

The subject line and introduction go hand-in-hand. Think of it as a mini version of your introduction since it uses the same elements. Relevant, value-driven, and personalized. 

Let’s say you’re targeting companies about to scale. The subject line can be about pain points that come with scaling. For example, “{{first name}}, how are you dealing with {{pain point}}?”

Then the introduction gives a quick overview of how to solve that pain point for them. As always, keep the subject line concise and aligned with the rest of the email, not just the intro. 

Explain Why You’re Reaching Out

Never jump straight into the ask. Always explain concisely why you’re reaching out to prospects. Do you want to collaborate? Are you looking to sell a service? Or, just looking for a reply? 

One of the easiest ways to do this is to use phrases like “I’m reaching out because. . .” But that doesn’t mean you have to use these phrases all the time. You can always be subtle about it. 

For example, you can say: 

Hey, {{first name}}, I’m {{your name}}, from {{your company}}. Just wanted to congratulate you on {{milestone}}. I do {{service}} for companies like {{prospect’s company}} and help with {{pain points}} that come with {{milestone}}. 
If you need any advice or help, feel free to contact me at any time. 

Include a Solid Call-To-Action

After introducing yourself, you need to add a call-to-action that ties your email together. Professional email etiquette says to only use one CTA per email. 

Having one CTA ensures the highest likelihood of converting prospects. For example, if you want them to view a case study, say, “Check out our case study.

Don’t say, “If this interests you, I’d love to hop on a 10-minute discovery call, but if not, then you can always check out our case study to get more information.”

9 Email Introduction Templates To Save

email introduction templates

Email introductions should be tailored for each prospect. But that doesn’t mean that you’d have to start over for each one. So, we created a list of nine email intro templates that fit most business needs. Find what works, adjust, and iterate. 

Cold Email Introduction: How to Introduce Yourself Through USP

The best unique selling propositions (USPs) are personalized and dynamic. There are dozens of ways to angle your USPs to fit prospect needs such as:

  • Solving prospect pain points 
  • Targeting unconsidered needs 
  • Offering a better alternative to the current solution
  • Focusing on differentiators
  • Highlighting client success 

Here is an example of how you can introduce yourself through your USP in a cold email

“Hey, {{first name}}, I’m {{your name}}, from {{your company}}. Saw your LinkedIn post on {{topic}} that blew up. Great insights on {{subtopic}}. But, I noticed you’re still doing {{manual task}}. Do you already have a scaling solution? 
We run a {{service}} that automates {{manual task}} for our clients which significantly cuts operation costs or onboarding costs. I think it would be a perfect fit for {{prospect’s company}}. I’d love to send you more information about it.
Would this be something you’re interested in? 
Thanks in advance,
{{your name}}

Formal Self Introduction That Doesn’t Sound Too Robotic

Formal emails are the standard in most business communications. But, that doesn’t mean that your emails should be lifeless and robotic. To do this, you have to:

  • Be genuine in your intent 
  • Write a concise email introduction
  • Focus on building connections instead of selling
Good day, {{first name}}, 
My name is {{your name}} at {{your company}}. I’m reaching out today because I saw you on LinkedIn and noticed that we’re both {{position}} in the same industry.
I wondered if we could exchange ideas on how to deal with {{pain point 1}}. Just last month, we solved {{pain point 2}} by {{quick description of how you solved pain point 2}}. 
If you’re ever dealing with {{pain point 2}}, feel free to reach out anytime. I’d be happy to help out in whatever way I can. 
Best regards, 
{{your name}}

Self Introduction Email To Colleagues

Starting a new job is always exciting. Most people want to kick things off right by doing the cold intro in the email first, then a warm introduction when face-to-face. Here’s an example:

Hey, {{first name}}
My name is {{your name}}, the new {{position}}, at {{your company}}. Just wanted to do a quick introduction. My first day is on {{date}} and I look forward to working with you and getting to know you and the team. 
If you need to contact me about anything, feel free to hit me up on {{contact information}}. 
Thanks in advance,
{{your name}}

Introducing Yourself Through a Mutual Connection

Having a mutual connection is a surefire way to establish trust. Studies suggest that 9 out of 10 people trust recommendations from peers. The best way to find mutual connections is through is through LinkedIn prospecting

Find out who your mutual connections are then use that as an anchor for the main purpose of your email. Here’s an example: 

Hey, {{first name}}, 
I’m {{your name}}, from {{company}}. {{mutual connection}}, (add CC) mention that you might be looking for a {{service}}. We took a look at {{prospect’s company}} and have a lot of ideas to share if you’re up for it. 
If this interests you, I’d love to schedule a call whenever you’re available. (link to calendar)
Sincerely,
{{your name}}

Official Introduction Email Example

Journalists, media, universities, or government bodies have websites with high domain authority. These are sites you want to do outreach to if you want to secure a high DA backlink. You want to craft an email that’s formal, concise, and provides value. 

Good day, {{journalist name}},
My name is {{your name}}, {{position}}, at {{your company}}. I noticed you were looking for a resource for {{topic}}. I’ve been working on {{topic}} for {{number of years}} and would love to share my insight with your audience. 
I have experience with: {{list experiences relevant to the topic}}. My previous work has been featured on {{publication name}}. 
If this collaboration is something you’re interested in, don’t hesitate to contact me at {{contact info}}. 
Sincerely,
{{your name}}

Follow-Up Email After Meeting at an Event

Networking at live events is one of the best ways to meet potential prospects. The best part is, that following up becomes a lot easier since you already met in person. Here’s an example template: 

Hey, {{first name}}, 
It was great meeting you at {{event name}}. I had an amazing time talking and learning about {{topic discussed}}. Super interested to learn more about your role as {{position}} at {{prospect’s company}}. 
If you have time this week, would you be free for a quick catch-up on Zoom? 
I’m free on {{date}}, does that work for you? 
Thanks in advance,
{{your name}}

How to Introduce Yourself for a Job Application

Sending an email directly to a company is a great way to get noticed. But, you have to ensure that you’re following the proper email formats and introduction. 

Good day, {{first name}} 
My name is {{your name}} and {{brief introduction about yourself}}. I saw that {{position}} was open on your website and I think I could be a great fit because {{quick description of why you’re a great fit}}.
Here is my {{cover letter/resume}}. If you need any further materials or documents, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your kind consideration. 
Best regard, 
{{your name}}

Leveraging Confidence In Your Email Introduction

If you believe in your product or services, show it in your email. This can help you grab your prospect’s attention in a way that’s confident and engaging. 

Hey, {{first name}} 
I saw your podcast interview on {{podcast name}} about {{topic}}. Congratulations on the {{milestone}}. I’m {{your name}} from {{your company}}. We’re great at helping fast-growing companies like {{prospect’s company}} scale operations sustainably, without {{pain points}}. 
We helped {{competitor}} see {{benefit}} within the first quarter. I’d love to show you what we can do for {{prospect’s company}} and how we would tailor our services to your needs. 
Do you have 10 minutes this week for a quick call? I promise it’ll be worth your time.
Looking forward to talking to you,
Best regards, 
{{your name}}

Introduction to Business Collaboration

Looking for a new business partner is never easy. There’s a lot that goes into sales negotiations or collaborations.

If you want to collaborate with another business, ensure you have a solid introduction and proposal. Here’s an example to try: 

Hey, {{first name}}, 
I just finished reading your article on {{topic}} and it blew my mind. I never thought of it like that. I’m {{your name}} from {{your company}}. We’ve been developing tools that could help automate a large chunk of your process. 
I’m reaching out today to ask for a collaboration. Combining your insights with our tech could be game-changing. Plus, you seem like a fun guy to work with! What do you say? 
If this is something that interests you, feel free to contact me anytime. 
Cheers,
{{your name}}

Key Takeaways

Learning how to introduce yourself in an email is an essential skill that’s used in most business communications. To recap, here are the five elements you need to include in every introduction:

  • Personalization: Tailor your introduction to each prospect. 
  • Unique value proposition: Focus on the benefits, not the features.
  • Aligned subject line: The subject line serves as a snippet of the introduction.
  • Explaining why you’re reaching out: Be focused and concise with your reason.
  • Solid CTA: Stick to one CTA per email. 

Instantly is your best bet if you need a tool to help scale your email introductions to businesses, prospects, or colleagues. You can automate everything from subject line personalization to your CTA. Try it out for free today. 

Read next

10x your leads, meetings and deals.

Instantly scales your outreach campaigns with unlimited email sending accounts, email warmup, B2B lead database and generative AI