Most cold DMs fail because they lead with the ask. Within the first two sentences, the sender is pitching their product, requesting a meeting, or asking for a favor. The recipient's mental filter immediately tags this as spam, and the message goes unread.
But there's a simple template that flips the script, and it consistently gets 40%+ reply rates. Here's how it works and why.
The Template
Here's the exact format:
"Hey [Name], saw your post about [specific thing]. [Your genuine observation or insight about it]. No ask—just wanted to share that."
That's the entire message. No pitch. No link. No call-to-action. No ask for a meeting. Just a genuine human interaction.
Why This Works
This approach works for three psychological reasons:
- It proves you actually read their content: By referencing something specific, you demonstrate this isn't a mass message. The specificity creates authenticity.
- It provides value without asking for anything: You're giving them a compliment, an insight, or a connection. This triggers reciprocity—people want to respond to those who give without expectation.
- It stands out from the 50 pitch DMs they receive daily: When every other message is asking for something, the one that doesn't ask becomes memorable.
The Follow-Up Strategy
If they reply—and they often will—resist the urge to pivot to a pitch immediately. Have a real conversation first. Ask about their work. Share relevant insights. Build the relationship over 2-3 exchanges before even thinking about your product.
Here's the counterintuitive truth: the slower you move toward the ask, the more likely they are to say yes when you finally make it.
Scaling Personal Outreach
This approach requires more effort than mass DMs, but the conversion rate justifies the investment. Here's how to scale it:
- Set aside 30 minutes daily for outreach
- Keep a running list of people you want to connect with
- Set up Google Alerts for their names
- When they publish something, reach out within 24 hours
- Track your conversations in a simple spreadsheet
Play long-term games with long-term people. The relationships you build through genuine outreach will pay dividends for years—far beyond any single sale or partnership.