No-Bullsh!t advice on how to write DMs for Twitter newbies
(and older accounts in case you're doing it wrong 👀)
📸 Screenshots from my own inbox ⬇
❌ "Hi thanks for following me."
And then nothing.
No interaction, no exchange, nothing to offer, not even a question.
Why did you bother to DM me then?
✅ DM with a purpose.
Examples of purpose:
1. Introduce yourself
→ mention what you tweet about
→ say you're glad they found your profile interesting
💡 Don't introduce yourself to a NEW follower, say this to someone who has interacted with your tweets
2. Offer something
→ don't sell your shit in the first DM
→ don't even promote a thread you want more engagement on
(Unless you're SURE they'd appreciate it)
What to offer, that is the question. Read on.
You're trying to make friends here. Get to know them.
Check out their profile, find out what they're into.
→ Go see what they've pressed the Like button on.
Why don't people do that before sending a DM? I don't get it.
Back to the point.
What to offer:
→ Only offer something you can be sure they're interested in.
→ First, engage with them outside of DMs
→ Build rapport + get an idea of what you may offer.
This is what Arthur did. @DevLinguistic
(More on his opening DM later 👀) 👇🏻👇🏻
3. Ask a question
→ about things on their Bio, and what they do
→ follow up on a tweet they wrote
→ ask for their input, advice, or feedback
→ hell, ask what they'd like to see more from you
(and then deliver)
Arthur's opening DM which he later followed by "offering" me a pdf 👇🏻
✔ talked to me in comments first
✔ referred to previous interactions
✔ pointed out a common interest
✔ complimented my thread
✔ despite being new to Twitter, I wasn't creeped out
✔ and yet, it is brief
Now, it is time for MY messages.
Here's a quick rundown of 10 different *types* of DMs that I did for #hypefurychallenge:
This came up in a conversation with Arthur (@DevLinguistic) about a line in his thread on building habits that was too good to be hiding inside a thread.
Here's what to do when you find that gem.
1. Cover a wider and more general scope
- Break down and parse your original content to get a broader view.
- "How to write consistently" is specific.
- Break it down into two broader topics
- How to write consistently = How to write + How to be consistent.
The role of your Bio in converting Visitors to Followers, or better yet, to FRIENDS.
A THREAD
I came to Twitter to write more, but with #hypefurychallenge, I've learned a LOT about tweaking my profile for growth (and I've grown so much). Here I am writing about Twitter growth.🤷🏻♀️
There are a few ways Visitors land on your profile. ⬇⬇
1️⃣ Via Tweet
I see your tweet, it resonates with me so much that I'm curious about you.
On your profile, your banner will be the first thing I see. It should pop off the screen and fall into my eye. Figuratively, of course.
Here's the banner that inspired this whole thread.
Here's a quick thread on my experience. There may be some tips in there 👀
⬇️
Time difference - I'm ahead in time, & living in the future so I had more time for tasks + checking the hashtag and engaging.
Planning ahead - After finishing with my Bio, I was brainstorming what story to tell and I came up with ideas for a bunch of threads.
I wrote 3 threads in 2 hours that morning. I was confused about which one to post.
Then I saw @nathanarodgers' humongous goldmine of a thread and decided to merge all 3 of my threads, discard the bullshit & do one big thread. I edited out A LOT & ended up with 22 tweets in it.