How to write an email asking for something
This is the general email template I use to reach out to people I either don’t know or kind of know.
This is the general email template I use to reach out to people I either don’t know or kind of know.
Hey, [Person’s Name]—
Not sure if you remember me, but we met at [where we met]. I’m writing because [I need this thing from you and I’m not going to bury it in the email, I’m going to ask you immediately].
[This is why I think it makes sense for you to help me get what I need.]
[Mention that you know they’re busy so if they don’t get back, it’s not an issue.]
Talk soon,
[Your Name]
P.S. [A random specific thing from the time you met—my preference is proof that you consumed a recommendation from them. This is special and will kick you very quickly up the list of people to pay attention to.]
P.P.S. [An optional invitation for dinner/drinks or some random inside joke.]
Now let’s write a fictional email using the above template. Let’s imagine a scenario in which a guy I met at a holiday party (Nick) just got a job as the assistant to a director (James). I’m a film editor and I’d like Nick to get me a meeting with James just so he knows who I am.
Hey, Nick—
Not sure if you remember me, but we met at Robin’s holiday party last December. I’m writing because I saw on social that you just got a job working as a director’s assistant with James—CONGRATS! btw—and I’d love to meet with him at some point, just so he knows I exist.
I know James has a few films in development and the truth is, I think working together would be of serious mutual benefit. The questions he raises in Somewhere are the same types of questions I’ve been thinking about over the last few years of my life and I think artists that are drawn to similar topics should know each other.
I am positive you’re busy with the new gig, so if you don’t have a chance to respond, no worries at all. Best of luck either way!
Talk soon,
Jesse
P.S. Thanks for the Ego is the Enemy recommendation. I finally started it last week and I’m absolutely loving it. “Impressing people is utterly different from being truly impressive.” Ryan is brilliant.
P.P.S. If you have a free night in the next month, let’s grab dinner and/or drinks and ignore work completely and talk nerdy book stuff. And also talk about how Robin’s Apple Pie was terrible.
I feel like my template is fairly modular and flexible and pretty much anyone can use it. The main takeaways are:
Put your ask up front. Don’t bury it under a bunch of bullshit. We think we have to trick people into asking for things—this is false. Directness and clarity is kindness. Ask. They may say no, but ask.
Be you. I love ChatGPT as much as some people hate it, which is to say, a lot. But you can’t quite get an email written with the exact right amount of human touch you need to break through (likely because more and more emails are AI-generated). Being human allows you to stand out (for now).
Offer value. You can do this in a lot of ways, but the way I think about this is following up on a recommendation they mentioned to me. Book rec? Read it. Movie rec? Watch it. Restaurant rec? Eat it. Show them that you’re listening with your actions. This will elevate you into a tier that no amount of email rewriting ever can.
Comment below if you have any other tips for writing effective emails—or if you have any comments on how I do.
May the best ideas win.