yes, I fell victim. or maybe I didn’t because the conversation turned out to be beneficial for both myself and said DM-er. 

but the point here is – the reason I answered this one wasn’t just luck. it was because the message felt human, thoughtful, and specific. it sparked real curiosity in me (enough to then slack Sarah + Mackenzie about it) instead of sounding like a copy-paste pitch. 

@LinkedIn can we stop with those promo DMs…

too many people still treat LinkedIn like a numbers game: blast 100 people with the same template and hope one bites. that’s noise, not strategy.

the point isn’t avoiding volume. it’s that volume only works if quality is built in. intentionality scales and 100 thoughtful DMs will always beat 100 copy-paste ones.

two ways in that are actually working:

1. the expert ask. reaching out from a place of curiosity is the“asking for advice” approach. people love to share their expertise,  and when they do, it creates a natural opening for deeper conversation. curiosity builds trust in a way a pitch never will.
2. the partner play. target potential partners, not just buyers.  one strong partnership can compound into  10 more doors opening. connection first, sell later.
   

cold DMs aren’t the close. they’re the opener. done well, they don’t feel cold at all, they feel like the start of a real conversation. and that’s the win.

🥡 the takeaway: people answer people.