I’ve spent the last six months sending cold emails to US agencies, and honestly, it’s exhausting. I get maybe a 5% response rate, and half those conversations go nowhere because the fit isn’t there from the start.
Meanwhile, I keep hearing about people in this community who are getting warm introductions to partners—like, someone from the hub just says “hey, you should talk to this person, they’d be great for X.”
I want that. Not because I’m lazy, but because it actually works. An intro from someone trusted is immediately different from an unsolicited email.
So here’s what I’m realizing: I don’t fully understand how to position myself in the hub so that those introductions actually happen. Like, what does my profile or my activity need to look like for people to think “oh, this person should meet so-and-so”?
Is it about being active in discussions? Offering help to others? Being specific about what you’re looking for? Or is there an actual system people use?
I’m also curious about the other side—when you make an introduction between two people, what’s the etiquette? Do you just tag them in a thread? Set up a private chat? Send them an email first?
Anyone here actively connecting people? What’s actually making these introductions happen?
Oh, this is literally my job (and my passion). So let me be direct about what actually triggers introductions:
First, make it easy for people to help you. This sounds obvious, but most people aren’t clear about what they need. Instead of “looking for US partners,” say: “I’m working with 5-7 DTC brands in the fitness space who need UGC creators. We handle brief creation and performance tracking. Looking for a partner who has an established creator network and can commission content in bulk.”
See the difference? The second one, I immediately have 2-3 people in mind.
Second, be genuinely helpful first. Don’t show up asking for intros. Answer questions. Share a case study. Tag someone whose insight would be valuable in a conversation. When people see you contributing, they naturally think about connecting you.
Third—and this is key—share your wins, even small ones. If you just landed a partnership or a client through the hub, mention it. Not to brag, but because it makes it real for others. It shows the hub actually works, and it positions you as someone worth knowing.
On the etiquette side: I usually send a private message to both people before making an introduction. Something like: “Hey Alex, I think you and Dmitry should talk—your influencer network + his agency’s brief precision could be powerful. Let me know if you’re open?” Only if both say yes do I make a three-way intro.
But in threads? I do tag people sometimes, especially if the conversation is public and relevant. Example: “Hey @Alex, I think your experience with this could be valuable here.”
The real accelerant is: Be specific + contribute value + ask thoughtfully. Do those three things consistently, and people will want to introduce you.
Svetlana’s right, but I’ll add the agency perspective.
What makes me want to introduce someone to my network is simple: they’ve demonstrated that they actually know their shit. If you’re in a thread talking about influencer ROI, and you’re sharing real numbers and asking smart questions, I notice. If you then DM me with a specific ask, I’m way more likely to think of someone.
But here’s the thing—warm intros take effort. I’m not going to introduce you to someone just because you asked. I introduce people when I genuinely believe it’ll be valuable for both sides. That’s why being clear about what you do and what you need matters so much.
I also look at track record. Do you follow through on things you say? If I introduce you to someone and you ghost them, that reflects on me. So I’m usually vetting indirectly through community activity.
As for etiquette: I send a private message or email introducing both parties, CC’d if it’s email. Keep it short: “Dmitry does X and needs Y. Alex does Y and needs X.” Then I step back and let them talk.
One more thing: ask for warm intros specifically. Don’t just say “connect me with people.” Say: “If you know anyone in the US who works with DTC beauty brands and has a UGC creator network, I’d love an intro.” The specificity is what gets people moving.
I see this from a different angle since I’m a creator, but I get asked for intros sometimes. Here’s what makes me say yes:
You have to have made an impression on me first. Like, if you’ve liked my posts, commented thoughtfully, and then DMed me, I’m way more open. If you just show up asking for an intro, it feels cold even in a warm community.
I also only intro you if I genuinely think it’ll benefit both people. I don’t want to be like “yeah, sure, here’s a connection” and then regret it later.
What I notice is that the best connectors in this space are the ones who are already known as connectors. Svetlana gets tons of leverage because people know she only makes quality intros.
So build reputation first, then leverage it to make intros. It’s not transactional; it’s relational.
As for positioning yourself: share your work, engage authentically, and be specific about your gaps. I’m way more likely to think of someone to intro if you’ve told me clearly what you’re looking for.
From a strategic angle, there’s actually a system to this that most people miss.
Positioning yourself for intros:
- Identify niches where you have genuine expertise or proven results.
- Share data and insights about those niches publicly.
- Be the person people think of when they need someone in that niche.
Example: If you’re doing UGC campaigns for fitness brands, post about UGC benchmarks in fitness. Share case studies. Ask questions about fitness brand pain points. After a few weeks of this, you become the “UGC for fitness” person in people’s minds.
When someone needs a UGC partner for fitness, you get the intro.
The hub aspect: I think what you’re missing is that the hub works best when you’re using it as a filter, not as a broadcast channel. Don’t post “looking for US partners.” Post thoughtful commentary on threads about US-Russia partnerships. The right people notice, and the conversations happen privately.
On making intros: I usually email both parties separately first. Get permission. Then, if both are interested, I do a warm email intro with context for why I think they should talk.
The key insight: The hub isn’t about broadcasting your need. It’s about becoming someone worth knowing first.
Real talk: cold outreach is dead for me too, and I finally understood why.
When I was sending cold emails, I was treating introductions like a transactional thing. “Hi, want to partner?” But what actually works is showing up and being useful first.
Here’s what changed for me:
Month 1: I posted about a challenge we were facing—international payment processing for influencers. I wasn’t asking for help; I was just sharing the problem. Someone in the hub responded with actual solutions, and we started a conversation.
Month 2: That person asked me for advice on something I knew well. I helped them out. No expectation.
Month 3: They intro’d me to their US partner. Not because I asked, but because they wanted to. It felt natural.
That intro converted to our biggest partnership to date.
So what did I actually do?
- Showed up with real problems and learnings
- Helped people without expecting anything back
- Was specific about what we do (so people could think of relevant connections)
- Followed up when someone helped me
The intros come after you’ve shown character.
On etiquette: I always DM the connector first. “Hey, I appreciated your insight on X—would you be open to intro’ing me to anyone you know who does Y?” It’s asking permission and showing respect for their network.
Then, when the intro happens, I treat it seriously. Respond fast, bring the other person value, deliver on what we discuss.