You might be a natural in person, but online conversations work differently. This is a simple approach to starting and keeping conversations going — without feeling spammy or forced.
Starting the conversation
Be friends first. Don't message people you don't know just to pitch the business, and don't get to know someone only to sell to them. Focus on the relationship — the business follows naturally if it's going to happen at all.
A few simple ways to start:
- To a new follower: "Thank you so much for following! It means a lot."
- To someone who engaged with your post: "Thanks for your thoughtful comment — I also wanted to mention..."
- To someone you haven't talked to in a while: "It's been so long! I saw that you [detail] — how have you been?"
Replying to someone's Story is another easy way in — your message lands directly in their inbox.
Keeping it going
Keep messages short. A long message feels copy-pasted, even when it isn't — nobody wants to read a paragraph in a DM. Ask a question, then give the other person space to respond, the same way you would in a real conversation.
Online conversations can stretch over days, not minutes. If someone goes quiet, it's usually not personal — they're busy, or the message just isn't for them right now. A gentle follow-up works fine:
- "This got lost in the shuffle — just looping back on [topic]."
- "Things have been busy, but I wanted to check back in on [topic]."
Turning to business
Once there's a real relationship, mentioning the business should feel natural — not like a pitch. A few easy openings:
- Gift-giving season: "Have you finished your holiday shopping? I found the best gift for [person] — want me to help you shop for anyone?"
- A sale or promotion: "I know you've heard me talk about [product] — it's on sale right now. Want me to grab it for you?"
Ending with a question invites a response. If you don't ask, the answer is already no.
A few final tips
- Use your own voice — authenticity matters more than any formula
- A short voice memo or video can build a stronger connection than a typed message
- Quality over quantity — a few genuine conversations go further than many copy-pasted ones