How to Send an Introduction in LinkedIn

Introductions let you contact users in your network through the people you know. If you want to contact a user who is two or three degrees away from you, you can request an introduction through one of your connections. Your connection will decide whether to forward it to the desired recipient (in your second degree) or to a shared connection (in your third degree).

To send an introduction, follow these steps:

While logged in to LinkedIn, search for the person you’d like to meet.

You can use the Search box in the top-right corner of any LinkedIn page, or you can click on your Connections and search your friend’s networks.

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From the list of search results, click the name of the person you want to contact. (If you didn’t find the person you’re looking for, try another search.)

This step takes you to the recipient’s profile page, where you should see two things: a chart along the right side of the page showing how you’re connected to this person and a link entitled Get Introduced through a Connection. (If you don’t have anyone in your network yet, you won’t see the chart or the link.)

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On the person’s profile page, click the Get Introduced through a Connection link to start the Introduction process.

You’re taken to the Request an Introduction page, as shown here. Fill out the contact information section that you would like to share with this individual. Then pick a category and subject for this request. Write a short but informative message as to why you want to meet this person.

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Scroll down and add a message for the person who will be passing on your Introduction.

It’s required to add a note, as shown here, so the facilitator (the person who receives this Introduction request from you) knows why you want to reach the other party. After all, this facilitator is going to vouch for you when he sends this request to the intended party, so the more information you give, the better.

Click the Send button to send the request.

You see a confirmation message at the top of the page as you’re taken back to that person’s profile page, and your first-degree connection will receive this Introduction request in his LinkedIn Inbox.

After that, your facilitator friend will accept or decline your request, and you’ll get a notification about the facilitator’s decision.

You may want to send an e-mail to your facilitator friend first before starting the Request for Introduction, especially if you think he may not want to forward your request or the intended recipient may be too busy to receive an Introduction request.