Why a DM Got Me a Client Faster Than a Funnel

The Personal Story: One DM > One Funnel

I’ve built funnels. Landing pages, email sequences, lead magnets—the whole stack.

They work. But one moment made me rethink the whole system.

A while back, I reached out to a founder whose content I had been following. Instead of sending a cold pitch, I sent a DM referencing something specific they’d posted. It wasn’t salesy. It wasn’t long. It was just:

• A signal that I’d actually read what they wrote.

• A short point about how I could add value.

• An invitation to connect further.

Within 24 hours, they replied. Within a week, we were on a call. Within a month, they were a client.

Just one intentional DM.

That moment reminded me that while funnels scale, conversations close.

The Tip: The Warm Signal DM Framework

This became the foundation for what I now call the Warm Signal DM Framework—a simple way to start conversations that double reply rates.

It works like this:

1. Signal — Reference something the person has actually said or done. A post, a podcast, an interview, a product launch. Show you’re paying attention.

2. Bridge — Share a short insight that builds on their idea or points toward a problem you can help solve. Make it about them, not you.

3. Invite — Open the door to a conversation. Simple, human, low-pressure. “Would love to share what I’m seeing with X. Want to connect?”

This isn’t about tricking people into responding. It’s about starting real conversations with people who already care about the same problems you do.

Here’s the thing: funnels can nurture strangers. But a good DM can activate someone who’s already warm and move them into your world today.

The Business Story: Airbnb’s Scrappy Start

If this sounds too simple to be powerful, look at Airbnb.

Before they were a household name, Airbnb’s founders didn’t have ad budgets or massive funnels. They had time, hustle, and a belief in their product.

So what did they do? They manually reached out to users on Craigslist who were listing apartments for rent. They sent direct, personal messages: “Hey, you could list this on Airbnb and earn more.”

Not an ad. Not a funnel. Just scrappy, high-touch outreach.

That strategy got them their first users and created the traction they needed to attract investors. Without those early, intentional messages, Airbnb might not exist today.

The lesson? Conversations create momentum that scale can’t replace.

Bringing It Home

Funnels have their place. Ads have their place. But if you want revenue fast, nothing beats a well-placed, well-written DM.

The day I stopped thinking of DMs as “cold” and started thinking of them as “warm signals,” my business changed. Because I wasn’t spamming strangers. I was inviting real people into real conversations.

And those conversations turned into clients…faster than any funnel I’ve ever built.

If you’re tired of waiting for funnels to “warm up,” I’ll show you how to build a system that drives revenue now.

Through my Creative Catalyst Method, I help founders and executives craft content that earns attention and pair it with outreach that sparks conversations.

Reply with “Warm” and I’ll send you a one page offer doc for my 5-week coaching program.