Chapter 1: The Downside of DM Templates

Many individuals have attempted to utilize direct message (DM) templates on LinkedIn that were shared by influencers or featured in pricey courses. Have these approaches been fruitful for you? Likely not.

Section 1.1: The Inbox Overload

One primary reason these templates fail is the sheer volume of messages flooding inboxes. Numerous users are sending identical templates, and my inbox is a testament to this reality, receiving countless bland messages daily. Here’s a recent example I encountered:

"Hey Tara, I noticed you're a business owner (like me) and we share similar interests. Let's connect?"

Yeah, right. That approach worked back in 2019—time to move on.

Section 1.2: The Self-Centered Approach

Another issue is the self-serving nature of these templates. If your initial message emphasizes your work or highlights your offerings, it misses the mark. Here’s a typical message I received recently:

"Hey Tara, I hope you're having a fantastic week! I just put together a free resource detailing my successful 5-step LinkedIn growth strategy, which brings in free leads and 4-5 figure sales weekly. Interested?"

Seriously? I don’t need your strategy; I’ve developed my own that’s more effective.

Section 1.3: The Lack of Personalization

Many of these messages lack genuine personalization. Using an automated tool to insert someone's name or title does not equate to true personalization. Here’s an example of a faux-personalized message:

"Hey Tara, I really admire what you’re doing with Introvert Agency and would love to stay in touch."

Oh, you admire my work? What exactly do I do, Simon? Clearly, you haven’t a clue.

What Should You Do Instead?

You might be asking yourself, if templates aren’t the solution, then what is? Surprisingly, templates can be effective—just not in the conventional sense.

#### Why Templates Are Beneficial

Templates can serve as a helpful foundation for your LinkedIn DM strategy by:

1. Offering a clear structure for your messages.
2. Saving time, thus enhancing your overall strategy.
3. Allowing for edits that improve clarity and confidence, leading to more impactful messages.

#### Where to Source Effective Templates

The key is to create your own templates. Avoid copying from others, and definitely steer clear of automated systems. Draft templates that foster genuine connection and dialogue. Here’s a starting point:

"Hey {First Name}, {personalized first line}."

Bonus tip: To encourage responses, make your messages entertaining!

Another Approach

In my LinkedIn Minimalist course, I provide templates. However, I can assure you that even among five participants from my latest cohort, if you received their messages, you wouldn’t even recognize them as templates unless you were specifically looking for that.

Crucially, even those who realize the messages are templated don’t mind because they find them engaging. If you’re interested in discovering all my strategies for expanding your business via DMs, comment 🔥 below. I’ve opened up the waitlist for round two of the LinkedIn Minimalist course, and being on this list is essential if you want a chance to join the next cohort.

The first video titled "Industry Examples: How To Generate Leads From LinkedIn - Cold Messaging That Actually WORKS!" provides practical insights into effective outreach techniques that can boost your lead generation efforts.

The second video, "Cold Outreach List: How to Build a Cold Email & Prospecting List that Converts," offers strategies for developing a targeted outreach list that enhances conversion rates.