Referral messages are an important part of networking and making connections in business and personal life. When you refer someone for a job, introduce two parties who could benefit from knowing each other, or recommend a product or service, the referral message needs to be clear, enthusiastic, and provide relevant details to help the recipient.
Crafting an effective referral message takes thought and care. You want to paint the referred person or product in a positive light while also being truthful and realistic. The message should explain who is being referred, their relevant skills and qualifications, your relationship to them, and why you are making the referral.
Here are some tips on what details to include in different types of referral messages:
Referring Someone for a Job
When referring someone for a job opportunity, your message should include:
– Brief introduction explaining who you are referring and for what position. Use their full name and the exact job title.
– Description of your relationship with the candidate. How do you know them and for how long? Professional connection, client, college alumni, neighbor, etc.
– Overview of the candidate’s background. Education, past positions, relevant hard and soft skills. Adjust details to fit the role they are being referred for.
– Details on why you think they are a good fit. Connect their experiences and qualities to the job requirements. Provide specific examples when possible.
– Reiteration that you fully recommend them and endorsement of their abilities.
– Permission for them to use your name as a reference. Offer to provide more info if needed.
Here is an example job referral message:
Hi Jane,
I wanted to refer my colleague, Robert Smith, for the Senior Engineering role that just opened on your team. I have worked closely with Robert in the Engineering department at Acme Co. for the last 3 years.
Robert is an experienced engineer with over a decade in the industry. He has a B.S. in Computer Engineering from State College and an M.S. in Systems Engineering from Tech University. His background includes leading technical development teams, designing complex systems architecture, and implementing quality assurance processes.
I believe Robert would excel in this leadership position given his technical expertise, project management abilities, and effective communication skills. He is highly organized, dependable, and adept at mentoring junior engineers. I give Robert my full recommendation. Please let me know if I can provide any other details on his background and accomplishments. I am happy to expand on why I think he would be a great addition to your team.
Thank you,
[Your name]
This provides key details on the candidate while keeping things concise. Make sure to adjust specifics like education and experience to accurately reflect the person you are referring.
Introducing Two Parties Who Could Benefit from Meeting
When making an introduction between two people or entities who may have common interests, your referral message should include:
– Brief background on each party. Name, company, position, and other relevant details. Explain your relationship to them.
– Reason for the introduction. What common goals, synergies, or interests do they share? Why could this be mutually beneficial?
– Any key points of contact, upcoming initiatives, or specific ways you see them working together. Recommendations for projects, collaborations, or exchanges.
– Suggestion to connect. Offer to facilitate or host an intro call or meeting.
– Note that you have informed both parties of the introduction and the other is expecting to hear from them.
An introductory referral could be:
Hi Matt,
I wanted to introduce you to my good friend and former colleague Sue Lee. Sue is the Marketing Director at Smith Enterprises. I worked closely with her for 5 years at Acme Co.
Like you, Sue has been looking to expand her company’s footprint in Southeast Asia. She has spearheaded several successful regional marketing campaigns in China and Thailand over the last few years.
I think there could be some great synergies between your expansion goals in Singapore and Malaysia and Sue’s team at Smith. She can provide valuable insights on localizing campaigns and influencing regional audiences.
Would you be open to an intro call next week with Sue? I’ve already looped her in and she’s excited at the prospect of collaborating. Please let me know some days/times that could work for a 30 minute virtual meeting and I can coordinate between you two.
Looking forward to connecting you both!
Best,
[Your name]
This warm, enthusiastic introduction provides context on why the connection could be mutually beneficial. Adjust the specifics to fit your particular referral situation.
Referring or Recommending a Product or Service
When referring someone to a product or service you use and recommend, key details to include are:
– What is being referred. Name of product, service, brand, or local business. Category or industry it is in.
– How you found out about it and how long you’ve used it. Personal experience with purchasing/using it.
– Why you love it and what makes it stand out. Features, quality, customer service, or other factors that impress you as a loyal customer.
– Any relevant deals, discounts, or incentives available. Special savings for new customers. Access to free trials or samples.
– Call to action. Suggest they check it out or provide a link, contact info, or promo code. Offer to help answer any questions.
Here is an example referral message for a product:
Hey Sara!
I wanted to share about this amazing planner I discovered recently. It’s called the Focus Planner by Design Co. I heard about it through an influencer I follow on Instagram who raved about how much it improved her productivity.
I’ve been using the Focus Planner daily for the last 3 months and absolutely love it. It’s incredibly well-designed and has all these great goal setting and habit tracking features. Very clean layouts and motivational prompts too. I seriously can’t recommend it enough – it has really helped me stay organized and focused this year!
They’re offering 20% off plus free shipping through the end of this month with code FOCUS20. Definitely check them out if you’re looking for an awesome new planner! Let me know if you have any other questions.
[Include referral link or specific URL]
This provides personalized details on why the product is worth trying along with key purchasing info. Do research beforehand if needed to get the right information to share.
Key Takeaways
– Referral messages should explain who is being referred and why. Provide relevant background details and qualifications.
– Describe your relationship to the referred person or company. How do you know them?
– For job referrals, connect candidate skills and experience to the role. Provide examples when possible.
– For introductions, explain the mutual benefit of connecting the two parties. Suggest ways they could work together.
– For product/service referrals, share personal experience using it. Provide discounts or special incentives available.
– Include a clear call to action, whether to apply for a job, schedule an intro call, or check out a product site. Offer your help as well.
– Always get permission before referring someone for a job opportunity or making an introduction. Respect privacy.
– A warm, enthusiastic tone goes a long way. You want the recipient to trust your recommendation or referral.
Taking the time to write thoughtful, detailed referral messages can help your contacts in valuable ways. A good referral email or note is worth sending!
Referral Message Templates
Here are some template examples you can use as a starting point when crafting different types of referral messages:
Job Referral Email Template
Dear [Hiring Manager Name],
I am writing to refer [candidate name] for your open [job title] position. I have known [candidate name] for [number of years] in my role as [your relationship]. [He/she] has an impressive background that makes [him/her] well-qualified for this opportunity.
[Candidate name] has [number] years of experience in [field/industry], including [specific positions held]. [He/She] has a strong educational background, including [degrees]. Some of [his/her] skills and qualifications that would add value in this role include:
– Skill 1
– Skill 2
– Skill 3
I believe [candidate name] has the right mix of [relevant hard skills] and [relevant soft skills] to excel in this position. [Give 1-2 specific examples of times the candidate demonstrated these skills].
[Candidate name] comes with my highest recommendation. Please let me know if I can provide any other information about [his/her] background and experience. I am confident [he/she] would make a great addition to your team.
Thank you for your consideration,
[Your name]
Introductory Referral Email Template
Hi [name],
I wanted to introduce you to [contact name], [title] at [company]. I’ve had the pleasure of working with [him/her] over the last [number of years] in [context of relationship].
Based on my understanding of your goals to [shared goals/interests], I think there could be an exciting opportunity to collaborate together. [Contact name] has successfully [relevant achievements] and has extensive expertise in [area of expertise].
Would you be open to a brief intro call next week with [contact name]? If so, let me know some times that work for you and I will coordinate with [him/her] to set something up.
[He/She] is looking forward to learning more about [your company/products]! Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Best,
[Your name]
Product/Service Referral Message Template
Hi [name],
Hope you’re doing well! I recently started using [product/service] and have been really impressed so far.
[Brief background if useful. How you discovered, how long you’ve used/subscribed, etc.]
I highly recommend checking out [product/service] if you’re looking for [explain key features/benefits/value]. Some of the key things I love are:
– [Feature 1]
– [Feature 2]
– [Feature 3]
[If relevant: They offer a free trial of [length of trial] so you can experience it yourself. And for new users, you can get [discount offer] by using promo code [code].]
Let me know if you have any other questions! I’m happy to help explain more about the product.
[Your name]
Sample Referral Messages
Review these examples of referral messages for different contexts:
Job Referral Email
Hi Jane,
I wanted to recommend my friend and former colleague Daniel Thompson for the Marketing Manager role you have available. Daniel and I worked together for over 2 years when we were both in the Marketing department at Acme Co.
Daniel has over 7 years of experience in marketing and communications roles. He earned his Bachelor’s in Business from State University and Master’s in Marketing from Tech College. His skills and expertise include managing multi-channel campaigns, performing in-depth market research, collaborating cross-functionally, and leading high-performing teams.
Some specific examples of Daniel’s accomplishments and capabilities:
– Increased website conversions by 15% in 6 months through targeted content and SEO optimizations
– Led rebranding campaign that boosted brand awareness scores by 30% year-over-year
– Recruited and mentored a junior marketing associate who became a top performer
Daniel is highly strategic but also excels at execution – from developing marketing plans to overseeing day-to-day tasks. He is an excellent communicator who builds strong partnerships across departments and with external vendors and agencies.
I enthusiastically recommend Daniel for this position. He would be a great asset to your marketing team. Please let me know if I can provide any other details about his background and experience. I am happy to expand on my recommendation.
Thank you,
Jane Smith
Introducing Two Contacts
Hi Sue,
I hope you’ve been well! I wanted to introduce you to my good friend John Chen.
John is the Senior Product Manager at Acme, Inc. We first met during my time working in Acme’s R&D department. I collaborated closely with him on developing Acme’s new consumer drones lineup.
Like you, John has been spearheading innovations in commercial drone technology for industrial applications. I know you have been doing fantastic work on safety and efficiency improvements for inspection and survey drones. Given your shared expertise in this space, I thought it would be great for you and John to connect!
I’ve already looped John in and he’s excited to learn more about the work your team is doing. Would you have some time next Tuesday or Wednesday for a quick virtual intro call? I’m happy to help coordinate.
Looking forward to making this connection happen! Let me know if you need any other details.
Best,
Tim
Referring a Local Business
Hey sis,
I hope you’ve been enjoying settling into the new house! I wanted to share an awesome home services company that we’ve started using since we moved to the area.
It’s called Swift Home Services – they provide repairs, maintenance and installation for things like HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems. We’ve had them do some handyman projects and repairs over the last few months and have been super impressed with their work.
The owner Sajad is extremely knowledgeable and experienced. He walked me through options to improve our AC unit’s efficiency and his team handled the whole upgrade seamlessly. I feel like I can trust them to do any home project well, whether it’s a major renovation or simple light fixture installation.
Sajad really values building a relationship with his customers. His pricing is fair and they do quality work. I highly recommend giving them a call for any projects or maintenance needs that come up! Let me know if you want their contact info.
Hope the house projects are going well! Looking forward to visiting soon.
Love,
Kelly
Tips for Writing Strong Referral Messages
Here are some additional tips to make your referral messages as compelling and effective as possible:
– Proofread for errors and typos before sending. The recipient is more likely to trust your referral when it is professional and polished.
– Be truthful about the person or product you are recommending. Never exaggerate or misrepresent.
– When relevant, quantify accomplishments and impact. Provide numbers and data.
– Speak to character in addition to qualifications. Include positive personality traits.
– Make it personal and speak from experience using “I” statements.
– Express genuine enthusiasm and confidence in your referral. Use words like “highly recommend” or “no hesitation.”
– Include a specific call to action, don’t just say “Connect with them!” Make it easy for the recipient.
– Follow up if you don’t get a response. Politely ask if they received your note and reiterate your referral.
– Always get the referred person’s or company’s consent before sharing their information.
– Follow up with the referred party too. Let them know you shared their info and with who. Offer assistance.
Putting thought and personalization into your referral messages is key. This allows you to compellingly communicate why your connection is worthwhile and well aligned to the opportunity. Taking the extra effort goes a long way!
Conclusion
Referral notes and emails may be short, but they require care and strategy. The most effective referral messages explain the who, what, and why behind the recommendation. They provide relevant background details, highlight key qualifications, and share your positive personal experience with the person, product or service.
Use the templates and examples here, along with the writing tips, to craft referral messages that make an impact. This allows you to leverage your network in a meaningful way while helping connect others to opportunities. With a well-written referral note, you can easily share your valuable personal recommendations.