Tips for approaching a prospective grad adviser:
  1. DON'T send a boilerplate email, à la "Dear Professor, I'm interested in your research area". That's a total turnoff...
  2. DO show you really are interested in the professor's research area, by writing a personal email that demonstrates you have spent at least 5 minutes (hopefully more) exploring their area. And for crying out loud, at least add their name: "Dear Professor Dumbledore" rather than "Dear Professor"!
  3. DO (briefly) describe your industrial and academic experience.
  4. DON'T be overly lengthy. Two paragraphs should suffice: one  for point (2), one for point (3).
  5. DO be polite. (Duh...)
  6. DO or DON'T attach a short CV. Up to you. 
  7. DON'T attach anything else. If there's an interest you'll be asked for additional material.
 Material for prospective grad students: