What are ghost emails?

A ghost email is a warm introduction request that you write, but your connector sends — from their own inbox, as if they wrote it themselves. It's one of CTD's most effective features for getting introductions without burdening the people you're asking.

Why ghost emails work

The hardest part of getting an introduction isn't finding the right connector — it's making it easy enough for them to actually follow through. Most connectors want to help but don't have time to craft the right message. Ghost emails solve this completely:

• You write the email (CTD can help draft it)
• Your connector receives it pre-written and just reviews it
• One click and it's sent from their address, to the person you want to meet
• You're CC'd when the target replies

The introduction comes from a trusted voice. The target treats it like any other personal intro from someone they know — because it is.

How to create a ghost email

1. Find a warm path. Search for the person or company you want to reach. CTD shows you every path from your team's network, ranked by connection strength.
2. Choose your connector. Select the team member with the strongest relationship to the target. CTD will show you their relationship score and context.
3. Draft the email. CTD provides a template pre-populated with the connector's name, the target's name, and your ask. Edit it to make it specific and valuable. The best ghost emails are under 100 words, mention a shared context, and make it easy for the target to say yes with a low-commitment ask.
4. Send to your connector for approval. CTD routes the draft to your connector with a simple approve-and-send interface. They read it, optionally tweak it, and send it — all in one click.
5. Get notified when the target replies. You're automatically CC'd on the sent email, so the conversation continues directly in your inbox.

The Send permission requirement

For one-click sending to work, the connector needs to have Send permission enabled on their CTD account. This allows CTD to send the email from their inbox the moment they approve it.

• With Send permission — the connector approves the draft and CTD sends it instantly from their address. One click, done.
• Without Send permission — CTD shares the draft with the connector, who reads it and decides whether to send it themselves from their own email client. The connector review step still applies — they receive the draft and decide whether to send it themselves.

For Business Edition users, Send permission is controlled by the email access scope configured by your admin. See Domain-wide delegation & email scopes for details.

Who can create ghost emails

Any CTD user can create a ghost email to any connector in their workspace — including external members. External members receive the draft, review it, and send it from their personal email account. This is especially powerful when board members or advisors are external members: their introductions carry significant weight, and ghost emails make it effortless for them to help.

On Business Edition, admins can define outreach approvers for ghost emails. This means that before a ghost email is sent to a connector, it first goes through a designated approver — typically a manager or team lead — who reviews the draft and decides whether to forward it. This gives organizations control over outbound communication quality without creating friction for reps.

Tips for effective ghost emails

• Be specific. "I'd love to chat" is weak. "I'd love 20 minutes to share how we helped [similar company] reduce their sales cycle by 30%" is actionable.
• Make it about the target. Lead with what's in it for them, not what you need.
• Keep it short. Under 100 words is ideal. Your connector is forwarding this — a wall of text makes them look bad.
• Give the connector an easy out. "Feel free to edit this however you'd like" reduces friction and gives the connector ownership.
• Choose the strongest connector, not the most senior one. A genuine connection from a peer beats a lukewarm intro from an executive.

Ghost emails via MCP

If you use CTD with an AI assistant via MCP, you can create and send ghost emails entirely from your chat interface. See Ghost email via MCP for example prompts.

Have a question or running into an issue? Email us at support@ctd.ai — we're happy to help.