Making network connections

[Daniel OKeefe]

I'm working on setting up my deal funnel. While I already have a few good local realtors who are sending me potential deals, I'd like to broaden that network. Taking it a step further, I'd also like to grow my network of contractors, lawyers and tax professionals. In order to do this I was going to draft a letter to each, just to introduce myself and let them know not only about my business but also as an invitation to the new local REIA I'm putting together.

Before I try to reinvent the wheel, have any of you taken this approach as a first point of contact for networking?  Do you have any tips or does anyone have a template they wouldn't mind letting me work off of?