Why You Should Embrace Sending LinkedIn DMs Without Fear
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Chapter 1: Understanding the Fear of DMs
Recently, I engaged in a conversation on LinkedIn with someone who expressed, "DMs are intimidating," in response to one of my posts. Curious about her apprehension, I asked her to elaborate. She shared that reaching out in this manner felt awkward and that she disliked transactional discussions.
It's true that many DMs you receive can feel transactional. However, it's essential to recognize that not every DM has to follow that pattern. This is where the core issue arises: our natural inclination towards negativity.
Many who are averse to DMs don't actually dislike the medium itself; rather, they are frustrated by the types of messages they typically receive. Because humans tend to remember negative experiences more vividly, it’s the annoying and frustrating DMs that linger in their minds whenever they think about direct messaging.
Section 1.1: The Role of Confirmation Bias
When we reflect on our inclination towards negativity, it's predictable that the bad DMs will come to the forefront of our thoughts. This cognitive bias can create a self-perpetuating cycle.
Confirmation Bias (noun)
~ the tendency to interpret new information as validation of one’s preexisting beliefs or theories.
In essence, if you believe that all DMs are undesirable, you may hesitate to send them. Then, when you do receive spammy or insincere messages, it reinforces your belief that DMs are inherently bad.
Subsection 1.1.1: Breaking the Cycle
So, how can you disrupt this mindset?
Understanding: The first step is to realize that your perceptions of DMs are influenced by the messages you receive. The issue isn't the DMs themselves, but your assumptions about them. Recognizing this gives you the ability to change your perspective.
Acceptance: Acknowledge that you have full control over the DMs you decide to send. Just because others fill your inbox with poor-quality messages doesn’t mean you must follow suit. You have the opportunity to set a different standard.
Action: Make a commitment to send DMs that feel genuine and authentic to you. This might look like:
"Hi [FIRSTNAME], I noticed your comment about [XYZ] and I [HOW YOU FELT]."
No hard sell. No calls to action. Just a friendly exchange.
It's truly simpler than it seems when you stop viewing LinkedIn DMs as mini sales pitches and instead treat them as real conversations.
Chapter 2: The Power of Effective DMs
Have you just realized that your perception of DMs might be misguided?
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Since 2020, I've sent over 150,000 DMs, generated more than 1,500 qualified leads, and raised over $1 million in revenue.
Effective DMs work when approached correctly.
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