Every time someone asked what I did, I gave them the perfect answer to make…
Stop Waiting To Be Discovered – Sending LinkedIn DM’s to Grow Your Business
You don’t need a bigger audience. You need a braver send finger.
A few weeks ago, I sent a LinkedIn DM to someone in my network, about something I thought she’d find interesting. No hard sell. Just curiosity.
Her reply started normally enough. Polite. Affirming. And then I got to this part:
“On a separate note, I’ve been pitching you to one of my clients. I think you could provide a great workshop for their membership. The folks in this sector could do more to promote themselves and their work. Can you send me more information about your workshops and presentations?”
I read it twice. Then a third time.
Here’s the thing: I wasn’t in her inbox pitching my workshops and presentations. I was asking about something completely different. And that single DM turned into a potential workshop opportunity for her clients.
Would it have happened if I hadn’t sent that message? Almost certainly not.
DMs are one of the most underused tools in a senior professional’s visibility toolkit. Not because people don’t know they exist, but because they’re scared of coming across as salesy. And honestly? That fear is valid. We’ve all been on the receiving end of a cold pitch disguised as a compliment.
If you’re starting off with DMs, here are three ways to build the habit.
Idea 1
Start with Zero Stakes
The lowest-pressure DM you can send is a birthday note or a congratulations on a new role. These are already sitting in your notifications, practically begging to be used. Start there. Not because you have something to promote, but because you’re building the habit of showing up for people. Do this consistently and the muscle memory kicks in.
Idea 2
Use Events as a Warm-Up
If you’re attending a conference or industry event, reach out ahead of time to people who are also going. A simple “I see you’ll be at [Event]. It would be great to connect in person” is warm, relevant, and opens a door before you even walk into the room. No awkward cold approach required.
Idea 3
Take the Conversation off the Feed
When someone posts something that stops your scroll, most people hit like and move on. Some comment. Very few send a note to the author directly. That note is where the real relationship starts. Tell them what resonated. Be specific. No ask, no angle, just genuine appreciation.
Once these habits are in place, talking about business in the DMs stops feeling awkward. It starts feeling like a natural extension of a real relationship.
But your profile has to match
DMs can open the door, but your LinkedIn profile is what makes people stay. If someone receives your message and clicks over to your profile and sees something generic, outdated, or unclear, the momentum stops right there. Your profile has to reflect the version of you that just showed up in their inbox.
Not sure where yours stands? The LinkedIn Profile Audit walks you through the key areas where senior professionals tend to leave credibility on the table, and shows you exactly what to fix.
What would change in your business if you started sending one intentional DM a day?
Cheers,
Leanne
P.S. Visibility isn’t always about broadcasting to the masses. Sometimes it’s one well-timed message to the right person. Start there.
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