DMs are the new elevator pitch: How an ESPN anchor, college graduate and social media influencer landed jobs, investments and brand deals by sliding…
It seems the days of cold calls and 30-second pitches are overthe time of the direct message (DM) is upon us.
More from Fortune: 5 side hustles where you may earn over $20,000 per yearall while working from home Looking to make extra cash? This CD has a 5.15% APY right now Buying a house? Here's how much to save This is how much money you need to earn annually to comfortably buy a $600,000 home
Hard sells have long been a favorite of the budding entrepreneurspam calls are a tactic used by the likes of Tesla's Elon Musk and Apple's Steve Jobs.
Famously Jobs, aged 12, called Hewlett-Packards co-founder Bill Hewlett to request some leftover electronic parts. Years later Hewlett offered him an internship.
But the cold call has since morphed into sliding into someone's inbox instead of their voicemail.
It's a tool which is working not only for career help but also investments.
Billionaire investor and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has invested in two companies that sent him cold emails.
But it's not just investments that have arisen out of the lowly DM.
If it weren't for a DM, ESPN audiences wouldn't be used to seeing anchor Max McGee on their screens.
The SportsCenter host told Fortune he reached out to an executive at the network in late 2021 and at the time was working at CBS Baltimore.
McGee sent the executive a number of YouTube links to his work and a brief message saying if the network was holding auditions, he'd love to be considered.
"I figured everybody asks for a job," McGee said. "For me, I just wanted an opportunity to show them what I could do. If they didnt like me, I was willing to live with that."
His key piece of advice is simple: "Shoot your shot".
"You miss every shot you dont take," the TV journalist continued. "Stop being afraid of rejection. You could either choose to change your life or sit there idle and die. While I didnt expect a direct message to parlay into it changing my life, thats the magic of opportunity. Im a living example of having faith in yourself while keeping an open mind."
Story continues
McGee said he often gets DMs from both budding journalists and those already in the industry looking to level up. The trick, he says, is to be concise and authentic: "The ones that get my attention are the ones that arent a Harry Potter book in length long, and that have one or two questions that dont require a quick Google search. Being genuine will never go out of style."
This is the formula Oliver Pour followed when messaging 3,300 people on LinkedIn during his second year at Boston University in March 2020.
The undergraduate was seeking career advice and internship opportunities across the fields of tech, finance and consulting.
He's not alone in the ideaaccording to LinkedIn data half the users on the platform have used the network to gain access to people who previously would have been unavailable to them.
"To be honest I used to think LinkedIn was just another social media platform," Pour admitted. "I was young and naive and had zero idea about what I wanted to do for work.
"So I sorted my page out and just started approaching people at companies I was interested in like Amazon and Facebook."
An approach he quickly nailed down was beginning with an introduction of who he was, why he was interested in the individual he was approaching, and asking an accessible question like "what does your day-to-day look like?"
The result was 600 responses from VPs to sales executives across a range of businesses, and 400 conversations that lead to internships and networking opportunities.
Research from LinkedIn supports Pour's experiences50% of workers surveyed in April 2023 said they have usedthe platformto connect with a professional in their field that they otherwise wouldnt have had access to, with 44% saying networking now takes place online more often than it does physically.
Pour told Fortune he always knew his strengths were in relationships and communication, but in the post-pandemic world communicating online became all the more crucial.
"If you're going for any job or internship I'd message everyone you can find on that team to find out about the role," the New York-based account executive for legal processors Luminance said. "It basically gives you the inside track for the interviewthen when you start you already know the team that works there so it's a foot in the door.
"The best spokespeople on company culture are also the people who work there," Pour added. "It's in the interest of recruiters to sell you on that companythe same goes for the company's websitethe workers are the ones who know if there's a bad culture."
The art of the direct message has also transformed the portfolio and prospects of digital content creator Brooke Monkwho has not only formed relationships with brands like McDonald's thanks to the tactic, but also seen her invest in smaller businesses.
Monk, who has more than 36 million followers across her platforms, said she's had speaking opportunities and brand deals arise out of companies sliding into her DMsas well as opening up equity investment offers.
Usually in the $10,000 to $25,000 range, 19-year-old Monk has invested in brands like skincare business Aloe Attiva and healthy treats supplier Sunday's Creme Cookies.
When crafting a direct message Monk said she highlights a piece of research, work history or accomplishment the other person has achieved before segueing into business discussions.
"The best thing to do is look for people within the field that you're targeting and build genuine relationships and connections with thembefore leading straight into business," she told Fortune. "DM them asking to hop on a call to learn more about what they do and if opportunities do arise out of it, that's great, if not, at least you've made a new friend who can teach you about an industry that you may not know about."
Not every DM is going to hit first timeeven if you've sent the perfect note.
Following up on a cold DM isn't only necessary but expected in some cases, said LinkedIn's career expert Andrew McCaskill who said that in the case of job seekers, the onus is on them to keep the conversation going.
"Its expected and required that you will follow up but hiring managers or people you want to network with might also be busy," he said. "So, follow up once. Follow up a second time, and if you dont hear back, you might try again in a few weeks or request a warm introduction from a second-degree connection."
The odds are in your favor if you connect with someone in your fieldLinkedIn added that its April data shows that 79% of workers who connected with someone in their field onthe site saw itlead to a successful professional outcome.
This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
More from Fortune: 5 side hustles where you may earn over $20,000 per yearall while working from homeLooking to make extra cash? This CD has a 5.15% APY right nowBuying a house? Here's how much to saveThis is how much money you need to earn annually to comfortably buy a $600,000 home
- Indonesian Blockchain Company, Kita Foundation, Unveils Groundbreaking Social-Fi Platform, Pioneering the Evolution of Social Networking - Coinspeaker - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- Lens Network to Migrate to zkSync: Scaling Social Networking on the Blockchain - CryptoDaily - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- AI-generated spam is starting to fill social media. Here's why - NPR - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- Exclusive Decentralization Unleashed: How Mask Network is Rethinking Social Media and Privacy - BeInCrypto - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- CanMar Health and Wellness Hub promises censorship-free social networking | GreenState - GreenState - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- Introducing Wayve: The Revolutionary Social Media Platform Redefining Privacy and Security - PR Newswire - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- How AI-powered smart contracts shape the future of social networks - Cointelegraph - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- Billionaire Frank McCourt's Project Liberty forms consortium to bid for TikTok's U.S. operations - The Globe and Mail - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- Raising Voices, revelations and social networking in a teen drama on Netflix - Sortiraparis - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- Of social media 'likes', fake friends and the true reflections on life - Nation - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- Social Media Reacts to Oregon State, Washington State Playing Pac-12 Games on CW Network - Heartland College Sports - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- Alia Bhatt lands on 'Blockout' list over Gaza crisis silence - NewsBytes - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- 3 reasons WhatsApp could be your next big social network - Android Police - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- Happy 40, Zuckerberg! If You Invested $1000 In Meta Platforms Stock When Mark Zuckerberg Turned 30, Here' - Benzinga - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- Why removing protections on social media in the name of free speech is bad for peacebuilding - The Conversation - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- Can U.S. Soccer punish Korbin Albert for social media activity? The policies and guidance in play - The Athletic - April 8th, 2024 [April 8th, 2024]
- Does social media content creation impact the professional identity of preventive health professionals? - Sciencenorway - April 8th, 2024 [April 8th, 2024]
- Social Networking in Bangladesh: Navigating the Online World - Daily Sun - April 8th, 2024 [April 8th, 2024]
- A photo taken on April 3, 2024 shows the logo of US online social media and social networking service Facebook on a ... - KTBS - April 8th, 2024 [April 8th, 2024]
- Trump sues two Trump Media co-founders, seeking to void their stock in the company - The Associated Press - April 8th, 2024 [April 8th, 2024]
- Donald Trump's net worth plunges $1 billion as his Truth Social stock tumbles - WLS-TV - April 8th, 2024 [April 8th, 2024]
- Q4 Earnings Roundup: Snap (NYSE:SNAP) And The Rest Of The Social Networking Segment - Yahoo Finance - April 5th, 2024 [April 5th, 2024]
- TikTok says it helped SMBs make billions last year - TechRadar - April 5th, 2024 [April 5th, 2024]
- A photo taken on April 3, 2024 shows the logo of US online social media and social networking service Facebook on a ... - Islander News.com - April 5th, 2024 [April 5th, 2024]
- A photo taken on April 3, 2024 shows the logo of US online social media and social networking service Facebook on a ... - The Mountaineer - April 5th, 2024 [April 5th, 2024]
- TikTok ban, social media rules for kids weighed in PA - Spotlight PA - April 5th, 2024 [April 5th, 2024]
- In case you missed it: This week's Top 5 stories on social media - Mayo Clinic - April 5th, 2024 [April 5th, 2024]
- Social Media Driving Force Behind Increased Visits to National Parks | News Center - Georgia Tech News Center - April 5th, 2024 [April 5th, 2024]
- 'The Social Network' Might Have Been a Very Different Movie Without This Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Cue - GQ - April 5th, 2024 [April 5th, 2024]
- Meta's Threads app: Instagram's text-based platform competing with X - Business Insider - April 5th, 2024 [April 5th, 2024]
- Meta asks a judge to throw out an FTC antitrust case - Yahoo Finance Australia - April 5th, 2024 [April 5th, 2024]
- The link between smartphones and social media addiction - Computerworld - April 5th, 2024 [April 5th, 2024]
- Truth Social: why Donald Trump's social media 'meme stock' surged and fell by over US$1 billion within a week - The Conversation Indonesia - April 5th, 2024 [April 5th, 2024]
- School board social media lawsuits: For too long we've sought individual solutions to a collective problem - The Conversation Indonesia - April 5th, 2024 [April 5th, 2024]
- Is social network X falling out of favour with Americans? - The Star Online - April 5th, 2024 [April 5th, 2024]
- Where Will Trump Media (Truth Social) Stock Be in 10 Years? - The Motley Fool - April 5th, 2024 [April 5th, 2024]
- Is the clock ticking for TikTok? Computerworld - Computerworld - April 5th, 2024 [April 5th, 2024]
- Let's be honest, social media isn't driving a teen mental health crisis - City A.M. - April 5th, 2024 [April 5th, 2024]
- Social media use and health risk behaviours in young people: systematic review and meta-analysis - The BMJ - December 2nd, 2023 [December 2nd, 2023]
- Kids who use social media more prone to making dangerous decisions - Study Finds - December 2nd, 2023 [December 2nd, 2023]
- Social networking and fear of missing out (FOMO) among medical ... - BMC Psychology - December 2nd, 2023 [December 2nd, 2023]
- Meta warns that China is stepping up its online social media ... - NPR - December 2nd, 2023 [December 2nd, 2023]
- Q&A: What Is Social Media Doing to Our Kids and Our Sport? - Horse Network - December 2nd, 2023 [December 2nd, 2023]
- Both/And: Mixed methods analysis of network composition ... - BMC Public Health - December 2nd, 2023 [December 2nd, 2023]
- Attachment styles influence the tendency to form emotional bonds ... - PsyPost - December 2nd, 2023 [December 2nd, 2023]
- Executives On Social Media: The Value Of Social Leadership - Dataconomy - December 2nd, 2023 [December 2nd, 2023]
- YouTube is the UK's favourite social media - The Star Online - December 2nd, 2023 [December 2nd, 2023]
- How to Build Your LinkedIn Presence as a C-Suite Executive or ... - The Social Media Butterfly - December 2nd, 2023 [December 2nd, 2023]
- Rise of Social Media and its Impact on Global Communication - Daily Times - December 2nd, 2023 [December 2nd, 2023]
- Supreme Court to Hear Challenges to State Laws on Social Media - The New York Times - October 1st, 2023 [October 1st, 2023]
- Problem drinking linked to alcohol on social media - University of Queensland - October 1st, 2023 [October 1st, 2023]
- Fact Checkers Take Stock of Their Efforts: 'It's Not Getting Better' - The New York Times - October 1st, 2023 [October 1st, 2023]
- Threads still poses a threat to X despite slowed growth, analysis finds - Marketing Dive - October 1st, 2023 [October 1st, 2023]
- Supreme Court will look at new state laws that attempt to control ... - WREX.com - October 1st, 2023 [October 1st, 2023]
- New York Bans Employers From Requiring Disclosure of Personal ... - Perkins Coie - October 1st, 2023 [October 1st, 2023]
- Passionate Horror Fan Now Earns Thousands Teaching Creepy ... - Good News Network - October 1st, 2023 [October 1st, 2023]
- How The Social Network Turned a By the Numbers True Story Into a ... - MovieWeb - October 1st, 2023 [October 1st, 2023]
- Networking boosts Yugorithm's virtual and social media marketing ... - BusinessMirror - October 1st, 2023 [October 1st, 2023]
- Patrick Surtain Takes to Social Media To Express Discontent With ... - Pro Football Network - October 1st, 2023 [October 1st, 2023]
- The dark side of AI on social media - asianews.network - October 1st, 2023 [October 1st, 2023]
- Reddit Is Removing Ability To Opt Out of Ad Personalization Based ... - Slashdot - October 1st, 2023 [October 1st, 2023]
- FCC To Reintroduce Rules Protecting Net Neutrality - Slashdot - October 1st, 2023 [October 1st, 2023]
- Instagram's new Threads social network is live and growing fast - Android Central - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- The Power of Social Media for Mobilizing and Networking - YR Media - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- So where are we all supposed to go now? - The Verge - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- Leaders don't need another social media platform - we need to use ... - HR Grapevine - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- Adapting to the Changing Social Media Landscape - CMSWire - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- Reddit News: One Million Dollar Bounty to Copy - ReadWrite - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- Court rulings vary in cases of blackmail, privacy violation on social ... - Roya News English - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- Enjoyed Celebrity on Netflix? 12 Movies and Shows About Social ... - Leisure Byte - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- In the year since I quit social media, my screen time has fallen, my mood is up even my resting heart rate is lower - The Guardian - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Virtual Business Cards: The Future of Networking - Eye On Annapolis - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Sex Offender Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Minor - Department of Justice - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Platform Powerplay: How to choose the ultimate social media ... - The Sanford Herald - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- LikeRE, A Leading EdTech And Social Network For Real Estate Professionals, Adds Muriel Williams-Thompson To - EIN News - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Experts Say These Are the Best Social Media Platforms for Money Advice - GOBankingRates - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Students agree to give up social media during their exams to boost ... - Nottinghamshire Live - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Elon Musk Moves Twitter Closer To 'Super App' Status With Startup ... - Crunchbase News - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- BJP leader's daughter to marry a Muslim, photo of wedding card goes viral on social media - Devdiscourse - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Survey Unveils Disturbing Prevalence of Sexual Harassment ... - Business Cheshire - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]