9 Cold DM Mistakes That Will Hurt Your Chances (And How to Avoid Them)

A well crafted DM can open doors, but a bad one gets ignored. Avoid these mistakes to increase your chances of a response.

1. Being too generic - People can tell when they’re part of a copy-paste blast. Show effort - mention a shared interest, a recent post they wrote, or something specific you admire about them.

2. Not having a clear ask - What do you want? Advice? A quick chat? A referral? Don’t make them guess.

3. Sending long messages - No one wants to read an essay. Keep it concise (100-150 words max), use short paragraphs, and make it easy to skim.

4. Not getting the recipient's name right - Shows carelessness. Always proofread! Errors make you look unprofessional.

5. Saying “consider me for any suitable position” – That’s YOUR job to figure out, not theirs. Research and mention a specific role you’re interested in.

6. Not including what value you bring to the table - State what skills or problems you solved could be relevant to this position.

7. Having generic experience - Every other person is an expert in MERN stack. What makes you stand out? Mention something unique about your experience.

8. Using the wrong tone - Keep your tone professional, yet friendly. Avoid overly formal or overly casual language.

9. Not following up - People are busy. If you don’t hear back, a polite follow-up after a few days can make a difference.

Even if you follow all these tips, there’s no guarantee of a response - people are busy, and timing matters.

That’s why the best strategy is to build genuine connections before you need them. Engage with people, add value where you can, and nurture relationships over time. That way, when you do reach out, it won’t feel like a cold DM at all.

Which of these mistakes have you seen before? Any others you'd add?