[FAQ]

Hi,

I’m trying to be more intentional about networking on X this year, and I’m wondering about the right way to use DMs. It feels a bit… forward… to just slide into someone’s DMs, especially someone I respect in my industry.

What’s the right etiquette for this? Should I only DM people who follow me? Is it okay to cold-message someone if their DMs are open? I don’t want to come across as spammy or unprofessional, so I’m looking for some best practices on how to start that first conversation and what to say.

Appreciate any advice!

[Jeff Bullas]

A very smart question that separates amateurs from professionals.

Short Answer: Professional networking in DMs is a text-based exercise in precision; it should only happen after you have established a public presence by engaging with their video and text content.

The DM itself is a specific content format, and how you use it depends entirely on the formats you used to warm up the contact first.

Before you ever send a DM, you must first engage with their public content formats; this means leaving insightful text-based replies on their threads or sharing their video content with your own valuable commentary. This is non-negotiable and proves you are a peer, not just a pest. Second, when you do send the actual DM, the format must be 100 percent concise, personalised text. You should never open with a generic, unsolicited audio note, a cold-pitch video, or an image of your work, as these formats are highly invasive in a private message and will be ignored. Finally, your text-based message must be data-informed; reference a specific piece of their content and clearly state the mutual value in connecting. The most harmful practice is sending a cold, un-researched text-based DM that looks like a copy-paste job; it is the fastest way to get your account muted or blocked.

Cheers,

Jeff

[Author]

Posts