Help Me Help You

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SECTION 1. ASKING THE ASK

Things to avoid when reaching out for help:

  1. Asking if you can ask a question

  2. Asking if you can send a deck

  3. Asking if I can do you a favor

What to do instead:

  1. Ask the question

  2. Send the deck

  3. Ask the favor

It’ll increase your chances of a response 50x. Literally, 1 in 50 emails I’ll reply saying ‘yes’ because the subject line or body felt distinctively impressive, otherwise it’s getting put into the later pile because it just seems like too much work. I don’t know why that is, but I’m just telling you how it is.

Hence, save time, be direct, ask what you wanted to ask, instead of for permission.


SECTION 2. CRAFTING THE EMAIL

What your email asking for help should entail:

  1. Connection: How we met, or how you came across me.

  2. Identification: Who you are, with a LinkedIn handle or Twitter handle.

  3. Admiration: This is really meant to be just acknowledgement, but I am committed to this ending in -tion theme. Mention how you liked my talk, the recent blog, a recent tweet, or something. Just prove this isn’t a freezing cold outreach by doing some prior work on looking me up.

  4. Question: Make your ask. Shoot your shot. Have a go. Don’t assume I know exactly what you’re needing, so be clear how I can help or what you need.

  5. Introduction: If you’re asking to be connected to someone else, include a small bio about you and your company in the body of the email. I will click on your Twitter or LinkedIn handle, but I can’t promise the other person will. Share who you are and why this connection will be fruitful to all involved.

  6. Reiteration: If I reply straight away saying you missed one of the above, it means I care. When you do, do it on a new email chain, reiterate it, don’t reply to it.


    last but not least, in fact possibly the most important…

  7. Appreciation:

    • Did my advice help? I want to know!

    • Are you now inspired? Please share.

    • Got funding because of it? Brilliant, let me know.

    • Met someone cool? Circle back on how it’s going.

    • Didn’t work out? Tell me, so I can follow-up for you!