MarrowBeta

Five messages for the three moments of a referral

Thank the person who referred you the same day, write to the person referred within a day, and tell the referrer how it turned out. The update tells the referrer how their trust was used.

A referral asks you to send three messages, not one: thank the referrer, write to the person they sent you, and later tell the referrer what came of it. The examples follow one referral. Tariq Benali at Marsa Legal suggests you get in touch with Benedikt Aurell of Nordlys Shipping, whom you met over coffee at the port authority open day. Each message is complete as written.

Five messages across one referral

A one liner, to thank the referrer

Fits the same day the referral arrives; send it before you write to the new contact.

Tariq, thank you for sending Nordlys Shipping my way. I will look after them.

A three sentence note to the person referred

Fits your opening message to the new contact.

Benedikt, we met over coffee at the port authority open day, and Tariq Benali at Marsa Legal has now suggested I get in touch. He mentioned that Nordlys Shipping is renewing its crew training contract. If it would help, I could walk you through how I would run the tender on a short call next week.

One with a concrete offer, to return the favour

Fits a referral that has become work.

Tariq, Benedikt and I have agreed a tender review, which would not have happened without you.

To return the favour: Omran Fakhoury at Helios Rooftop Solar is looking for a lawyer who can read shipping contracts for imported panels, and I thought of you. Tell me if that is useful and I will set it up this week.

One for a warmer relationship, when it did not work out

Fits a referrer you know well, when the referral went nowhere.

Tariq, a quick update on Nordlys Shipping, since you made the connection. We spoke twice and it is not the right fit for now, because they have already chosen a provider. Thank you anyway, and I owe you a dinner.

One in a more formal register

Fits a senior referrer.

Dear Mr Benali,

Thank you for recommending me to Nordlys Shipping. Mr Aurell has been in touch, and we meet on Monday 12 October.

I am grateful for your confidence, and I will make sure it is well placed.

With kind regards,

The order that works

  • The same day, thank the referrer.
  • Within a day, write to the person referred, naming the referrer.
  • Once there is an outcome, good or bad, update the referrer.

Where Marrow fits

Marrow does not track referrals by itself. Tell it who referred whom in a note on the person, and ask it to set a follow up for the day you owe the update. When it is due, ask for a draft, marked not sent. You send it yourself, because Marrow does not send messages on your behalf. Marrow is in Beta. If referrals reach you rarely, a calendar reminder is enough.

The request Draft a short note to Salma Qattan sending the pilot pricing for the cold storage trial, and Marrow's reply: Here's the draft to copy and send yourself, then a subject line, a greeting, thanks for the call on Thursday 1 Oct about the pilot scope, the pricing for the cold storage trial, a sign off with the user's name, and the line Not sent, it's yours to send
The request Draft a short note to Salma Qattan sending the pilot pricing for the cold storage trial, and Marrow's reply: Here's the draft to copy and send yourself, then a subject line, a greeting, thanks for the call on Thursday 1 Oct about the pilot scope, the pricing for the cold storage trial, a sign off with the user's name, and the line Not sent, it's yours to send

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Install the app, sign in with your email, and send it the last business card you are still carrying. Marrow is in Beta.

Last updated 10 October 2026.