One of the most underutilized strategies for building your network, and visibility as a professional, is asking for introductions. One of the most generous things you can do for others is to make an introduction yourself.

Yet most people either never ask, ask badly, or worse, expect introductions without ever making them. The skill of making connections, both asking for them and giving them, is what separates people who have real networks from people who just have a lot of LinkedIn connections.

Here's the thing: introductions are how things happen, whether it's a speaking opportunity, a board position, or an investor meeting. The best opportunities rarely get posted publicly, and instead they tend to go to people who are already known to the right person.

So let's talk about how to actually do this well.

How to ask for a connection: be specific!

One thing that trips people up when asking for introductions is being too vague.

❌ Don't do this: "Hey, do you know anyone in marketing? I'd love to connect."

✅ Do this instead: "I'm looking to connect with someone leading demand gen at B2B SaaS companies because I'm exploring a move into that space. Their experience scaling from startup to Series B would be really valuable for me to understand. Do you know anyone in your network you'd be comfortable introducing me to?"

When you're specific, two things happen. First, your contact immediately thinks of two or three specific people instead of trying to mentally sort through their entire network. Second, they understand why you want the introduction, which makes them more likely to help.

Here's another real example. If you're building visibility in your industry, don't ask vaguely. Say:

"I'm looking to connect with someone on the board at X organization because I'm interested in how that industry is approaching sustainability reporting. I'd love to understand their strategy. Do you know anyone you'd be comfortable introducing me to?"

Now your contact knows exactly who to think of, and they understand you're not asking for a favor, you're asking to have a real conversation.

Make it easy and write the blurb for them

The second part of asking well is removing friction. Offer to write the introduction yourself.

Here's what to send them:

Hi [Name], I'd love to connect with [Person's Name] because [specific reason]. I know you're connected to them, and I think we'd have a valuable conversation about [specific topic]. If you'd be open to an introduction, I've written something you can forward if it's helpful: "[Person], I wanted to introduce you to [Your Name]. They're [your role/context], and they're exploring [specific things]. I thought your experience with [their relevant experience] would be really valuable for them to hear about. [Your Name], [Person] has been leading [their role] at [company] and has a unique perspective on [topic you care about]. I think you'd both learn from each other." No pressure if this isn't the right timing or if you'd prefer not to. Thanks for considering it!

Now they can just copy and paste it, which removes the work and makes them much more likely to help.

Respect their decision if they say “no”

Some people will say no, and that's completely okay.

When someone declines, here's what you do: thank them, don't push, and move on. Don't ask again later and don't try to convince them.

When you handle a "no" well, you've strengthened the relationship. They see that you respect their boundaries, and that matters.

The connection audit

Making connections isn't just about what you ask for, it's also about what you offer. Everyone has their own style when it comes to introducing people, and there's no single right way to do it. What matters most is being intentional about it.

Summer is a great time to work on this. Here's something to do this week:

Step 1: Think of five people in your network who might benefit from knowing each other. Consider across industries, roles, and interests, and write down their names.

Step 2: For each potential introduction, write down why they should know each other, what they have in common, and how the connection would be valuable for both.

Step 3: Make one introduction this week, in whatever way feels most natural to you.

Step 4: Follow up after a week or two and notice whether it led to a real conversation. Over time, you'll get better at understanding who should meet whom, and that makes you more valuable as a connector.

This is how you become known as a connector. This is how you build real visibility, not by being the loudest person in the room, but by being the person who creates value by connecting other.

What this means for your brand

The people with the strongest networks and the best opportunities aren't always the most well known. They're the ones who are genuinely connected, who understand how to ask for what they need, and who give back to their network constantly.

Your network is one of your most valuable assets as a professional. How you cultivate it, how you ask for help within it, and how you give back to it will directly impact your career and your visibility.

— Madeline Fetterly