Honest answers to the questions people ask about introductions, referrals and doing business across borders.
Find a person who knows you both and ask them for a short introduction that says why you should meet. Make it easy: name the person, give one line on why it helps them, and offer to draft the note. For example, a Vancouver web designer who wants to meet a hotel's marketing head asks the hotel's accountant, who knows both. In My Most Trusted that path is mapped for you: you search the people your connections trust and ask for an introduction, and the member who knows them decides whether to make it.
Go one step further out. Ask the people you trust who they trust, because the person you need is often a friend of a friend. Be specific about who you want and why, so your contacts can think of the right name. For example, an exporter in Mumbai with no London contacts asks a supplier with UK clients for one introduction. In My Most Trusted, the Magic Box searches the people your connections trust, and a club host can help find the path.
Usually, by a long way. A warm introduction carries trust from someone the other person already knows, so they are far more likely to read it, reply and take the meeting. A cold email has to earn that trust from nothing, in a crowded inbox. For example, a consultant who cold emails directors rarely hears back, while an introduction from a mutual client often leads to a coffee. Every introduction in My Most Trusted is a warm introduction, made by someone who knows both sides.
It still works sometimes, for a quick question or a follow-up, but busy decision makers ignore most cold messages. Short, specific and human messages do best, never pasted templates. When a warm path exists, take it instead: check who you both know before you message. My Most Trusted makes that check easy by showing which of your trusted connections can introduce you, so you can ask for an introduction rather than knock cold.
Be specific, make it easy, and make it about them. Say exactly who you hope to meet, why it would help that person, and offer to write the introduction note yourself. Then thank them, whatever happens, and return the favour. For example: "Do you know an HR manager at a mid-size firm in Leeds? I help teams cut hiring time." My Most Trusted is built on this habit: members ask, introduce and say thank you, one trusted person at a time.
Keep it to three short sentences. Name both people, say in one line why they should meet, and step back. Put both in the To line with a subject such as "Introduction: Priya, meet Tom". For example: "Priya exports spices from Mumbai; Tom buys for London delis. I think you could help each other." In My Most Trusted the app drafts this note for you, and you send it yourself or let My Most Trusted send it.
Find people who already do business there and ask them for introductions to clients, partners and advisers. Chambers of commerce and official trade bodies help, and so does a local host who knows the market. Respect local business culture and expect relationships to take time. For example, a Canadian firm entering India might be introduced to a Chennai partner by someone who has worked with them for years. My Most Trusted's business bridges, such as Canada-India and UK-Qatar, connect members in two countries through a host on each side.
Start with warm introductions: someone who already knows the market can introduce you to your first clients, partners and advisers. Take local advice on rules and tax early, and visit in person when you can. Trusted local contacts save years of trial and error. For example, a Yorkshire firm winning London clients may never need a London office if the right people introduce it. My Most Trusted's clubs and business bridges connect members to trusted contacts in new cities and countries.
Ask people you trust who they use and would recommend, and ask them to introduce you rather than just passing on a name. A recommendation from someone who has worked with them beats any online review. Ask what they were like to work with, not only whether they were good, and whether they suit a business your size. In My Most Trusted you can describe who you need in the Magic Box, such as "export lawyer in Mumbai", and ask for a personal introduction.
An introductions-based business community is one where members grow by introducing each other to the right people, rather than pitching to a room or meeting a weekly quota. The value lies in who members know and trust, and their willingness to introduce. For example, a member who needs a printer in Johannesburg asks and is introduced to one another member has used for years. My Most Trusted works this way, through local clubs and business bridges, each with a named host.
The best measures are actions, not opinions: introductions made, introductions that led to a meeting, and recommendations from people who have worked with someone. Counts of connections or followers say little. For example, someone who keeps making useful introductions and is recommended by the clients they have served is clearly trusted. My Most Trusted measures this with its Trust-O-Meter, earned through trusted connections, introductions and Golden Recommendations, and never bought.
An introduction only works when a real person stands behind it. Automated introductions are cold messages in disguise: nobody vouches for either side, so they are ignored, and they damage the sender's reputation. For example, a tool that sends "you two should meet" emails in bulk soon trains people to delete them. My Most Trusted uses software to suggest who should meet and to draft the note, but a member who knows both people always decides and presses send.