How to Effectively Introduce Yourself In a Text Message

Introducing yourself by text message can feel intimidating. After all, it’s a lot to juggle.

You’re being asked to sum up who you are and why you’re texting someone—all within a 160-character limit (although MMS messages allow up to 1,600).

You have to sell your value, too: After reading your text, the recipient needs to know why they should bother replying or taking action.

If that sounds like a lot, don’t worry. I’ve spent hours researching effective texting techniques that real business owners use to get great results and make a stellar first impression.

I’ll share those tips with you here, plus some templates you can use for your own text introductions.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What Is an Introduction Text?
• The Anatomy of a Text Message Introduction
• How to Introduce Yourself Over Text Message
• Sample Introduction Text Messages

What Is an Introduction Text?

An introduction text is simply a text you send to start off a text conversation with a new contact. Whether you’re texting a customer, colleague, or coworker, setting the proper tone for your interactions right away is important.

You’ll need to let your contact know that you’re trustworthy, engaging, and have something valuable to offer. Doing so successfully can lead to new partnerships, more revenue, and better professional relationships.

The Anatomy of a Text Message Introduction

I could throw a lot of marketing jargon at you to tell you how the best text introductions are written, but instead, let me direct your attention to this speech from Luke Skywalker to Jabba the Hutt as an example.

“Greetings, Exalted One. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight and friend to Captain Solo… I seek an audience with Your Greatness to bargain for Solo’s life. With your wisdom, I’m sure that we can work out an arrangement which will be mutually beneficial and enable us to avoid any unpleasant confrontation. As a token of my goodwill, I present to you a gift: these two droids.”

There you go. That’s the basic (if a bit flowery) anatomy of a text introduction. Let’s break it down. 

• Start with a polite greeting (Greetings, Exalted One). Greet the recipient politely and in a friendly manner.
• Introduce yourself (I am Luke Skywalker…). Let them know who you are and your brand name or job title, depending on who you’re texting — bonus points for mentioning any connection you may have to them.
• Let them know the purpose of your text (I’m sure that we can work out an arrangement…). Tell them why you’re texting and what you’re hoping to accomplish, whether that’s just making them aware of your brand or introducing the idea of a business partnership.
• Give or tell them something of value (I present to you a gift). Let them know why they should reply, click the link you included, call you back, or visit your store to incentivize them. 

How to Introduce Yourself Over Text Message

Now you’ve got the basic structure down, but there are still a few pointers to keep in mind before you introduce yourself. 

It’s all about knowing which information to put in….and what to leave out. 

Keep it Short and to the Point

One really important rule to follow when writing a text message introduction is to keep it focused. This isn’t the time to chat about the weather ー get the point across and be concise.

It goes like this:

This message includes a polite greeting, the sender’s name, how the two connected, and a direct question explaining why the recipient is getting the text in the first place.

Include Action Steps

When you send an introduction text, don’t just introduce yourself and leave your contact unsure about what to do next. 

Include a call to action or question that prompts a response, like, “Visit my calendar and choose a meeting time,” or, “Are you still available for a consultation?” 

This keeps the interaction moving and gives your contact a clear next step to follow.

Keep Your Tone Conversational

Even though you’re sending your text in a business context, there’s no need to be too formal, just professional. 

Keep your tone conversational. One of the biggest reasons texting is currently so popular is that it’s an intimate way to communicate. So, you’ll want to sound like a normal person in your messages.

You can even include emojis for a little variety ー they’ll make you sound even more approachable and personable (although you can skip this step if you’re texting your new supervisor or potential brand partner).

Sample Introduction Text Messages

Use these sample introduction text messages to start productive, successful conversations with your business contacts.

Networking Introduction

Professional connections are worth their weight in gold, so make sure you follow up with a new business contact quickly and with the right text introduction to get the ball rolling on your new venture or partnership.

New Client Introduction

When you’re introducing yourself to a new client, give them a friendly hello and an option to set up your next meeting.

Introduction to a New Team 

You work closely with your team. If you’re working with a new group of coworkers or employees, reaching out with a conversational introduction can help you get established.

Sales Conversation 

Reaching out personally to make your sales is a great way to keep clients coming back in the long term. Your customers will love the personalized attention.

New Employee Welcome

If you’ve just brought a new staff member on board (particularly if you’re the new person’s manager or point of contact), reach out to introduce yourself and welcome them to the team. 

Let them know you’re glad to be working with them and tell them how to reach out with any questions.

Job Interview Invitation

When you interview a potential new employee, you want to come off as friendly and approachable. It’s also easy to send along a calendar link for quick scheduling.

The Wrap on Introduction Texts

The right introduction text can be a useful tool for developing great relationships and improving your response rate. 

Even better, they’re easy to write if you know what to include.

Since you’re now an expert on how to introduce yourself in a text message, you can start building strong relationships with your customers and colleagues in just a few clicks.