Limited Offer
Feel Like Your Content’s
Invisible Online?
1-on-1 coaching. Personalized Content Strategies & Viral Techniques & Templates designed for today’s algorithm.
Join 2,000+ content creators proving it’s never too late to breakthrough online.
Selling on Instagram DMs can be awkward and sounds like the fastest way to deter followers.
People might tell you you’re awesome and thank you for the amazingly helpful content you always put out.
But when you try to get them to buy…they stop responding at best, and get angry at you at worst.
Or maybe you’ve been using a DM script you’ve found online, only to find it sounds unnatural, robotic, or worse, it loses you followers.
But before you give up on Instagram DM’s, know that they are still one of the best ways to sell on Instagram (I use them all the time to great success). If you aren’t using it, you could be missing out on a lot of potential clients.
The secret is knowing how to sell on Instagram DMs properly, without being dull, pushy, or overly salesy.
In this article, I’ll go over the 5 steps for success on Instagram DMs, so you’ll have a simple, effective, and scalable way to make money on the platform.
Before We Begin: Who is Selling on Instagram DMs For?
Before I jump into the strategies, let me warn you…
…selling on Instagram DMs is not for everyone!
It works great for:
- Products/businesses that require high trust (coaches, consultants, freelancers, agencies, 1:1 service providers)
- Customized offers (done-for-you services, custom packages, retainers, brand collabs, high-ticket programs)
- People who haven’t figured out their target audience yet (if you don’t have a clear ideal customer profile, dialed-in brand messaging, or a proven offer to scale; selling on DMs can help you figure this out.)
But if you have a low-ticket product or offer, you generally want to avoid DMs since they just add another step to the buying process.
If you have a physical product or are monetizing in some other way, you may want to try a different approach.
Stop Being “Invisible” To The Algorithm
Steal the “Lazy AI Content System” used by 19,107+ creators to go viral without being a tech genius.
100% Risk-Free 60-Day Guarantee
How to Sell on Instagram DMs: The 5-Step Strategy I’ve Seen Work Year After Year
Step #1: Warm Up Your Audience
If there’s one thing you should NOT do, it’s cold-sell your product or service in DMs.
Nobody, I repeat, NOBODY wants to receive a cold offer on Instagram.
They’ll either ignore your DM. Or worse, they might mute, unfollow, or even block you.
So warm up your audience first and build trust. Remember, this is social media. So be social first.
If they follow you and interact with your content, there should already be some trust. The next step is to send them a DM.
You can:
- Talk about something you have in common (scan their profile, and find something you have in common)
- Compliment them for something they’ve posted on their profile
- Ask them how they feel about something you posted (especially if they liked/commented on it)
Avoid mentioning your product in the first message, since it’ll come off as salesy.
The point is to make a connection.
But also be careful not to fall into another trap, which is sending DMs just to build a connection (and not sell anything).
Which leads us to our next step…
Step #2: Guide The Conversation to Your Product
Always remember that you’re sending DMs because you want sales, not to make new friends 😆.
Once the conversation gets going, you’ll want to steer them towards your product.
- If you’re a life coach, ask them about the biggest problems they’re facing in their life right now.
- If you’re a freelancer, ask them about the roadblocks they’re facing in their business.
- If you’re a fitness coach, ask people what’s holding them back from reaching their fitness goals.
Again, don’t rush to mention your product. If you do, you’ll feel disingenuous.
Instead, listen to their problems and struggles first, and be empathetic. Make them feel seen and heard, and let them know that they’re not alone in this.
Then, ask them if they’ve ever used a product or service like yours before.
If they haven’t, this is a great time to explain the benefits that they’ll enjoy with it. You already know their problem, so you can make the benefits super specific to them.
If they have already used a product or service like yours, ask them how they feel about it and why they stopped. This will bring out their objections that you can counter in your offer. Let them know how your product or service is different.
Speaking of which…
Step #3: Make Them an Offer They Can’t Refuse
By this point in the conversation, you should have someone who is almost ready to buy.
They follow you, trust you, connect with you, share their problems with you, and know what you sell.
All that’s left to do is to nudge them over the edge with an irresistible offer.
Show them exactly how your product or service can help their exact situation. Then show them why you’re qualified to help them, testimonials from former students/clients, and then make it easy for them to sign up by giving the exact next steps they need to take to seal the deal.
If you’re selling a high-ticket product or service ($3,000+), the approach is slightly different.
Offer them a freebie first, like an ebook, a mini course, or a free consultation call.
If they like it, get them on a sales call, and close the deal from there. This saves you from wasting your time on people who aren’t ready to buy your product yet.
Do this right, and there’s a MUCH better chance you’ll land a deal than if you cold-sell, or DM without intention to sell.
Step #4: Follow Up
What if they say no?
What if, after all the time and effort going back and forth in DMs, they don’t want your offer?
Well, don’t give up just yet. Don’t be hurt or take things personally.
The truth is, most people don’t say “no” because they’re not interested. They say no because they’re busy, they’re not 100% sure, they’re overwhelmed, or they just don’t like rushing (especially if it’s for a high-ticket program).
So follow up with people who don’t say yes right away, because these are hot leads.
If they were unsure about your offer, you can send them a simple DM like:
“Hey! Just wanted to check in. Curious what your thoughts were after our last chat?”
If you were on a call with them, try to schedule another call before you put the phone down. Setting a date and time greatly increases your chances of getting that follow-up call.
Even if they say “no” outright, still keep them in the loop.
You already know their problems, so follow up, ask them how their business or life is going. Don’t bring up your offer, but don’t let this lead forget about you either. Keep the connection alive.
Because trust me, when their pain comes out again, there’s a big chance they’ll DM you.
Step #5: Create a Script Guide, NOT a Script
If you’re going to DM hundreds of people (which you should do), you’re going to burn out if you don’t come up with a repeatable system.
That’s why it’s important to have a script guide, but NOT a script.
Don’t write one script, then copy and paste messages to different people.
Not only is that impersonal and leads to low answer rates, but Instagram might also flag your account for spam if you send the same message to dozens of people.
Instead, create a script guide on what to say next. So all you have to do is personalize it a bit and send.
Here’s a sample you can build off of:
- Open naturally
- Reference their content or interaction.
- “Saw your comment on ___. Curious what you think about that?”
- Uncover the problem
- Ask what’s not working or what they want to improve.
- “What’s been the biggest challenge with ___?”
- Qualify the lead
- Check if they’re actively looking for a solution.
- “Is this something you’re trying to fix right now?”
- Ask permission to pitch
- Transition without pressure.
- “I help people with this. Want me to explain how?”
- Present + follow-up
- Tie your offer to their problem, then follow up if needed.
- “Just checking in! Got any questions?”
Remember, these are just examples to get you started.
Play around with it, and once you start sending DMs, you’ll notice a pattern of what works for your specific target audience. You can tweak your script guide using this information.
Stop Being “Invisible” To The Algorithm
Steal the “Lazy AI Content System” used by 19,107+ creators to go viral without being a tech genius.
100% Risk-Free 60-Day Guarantee
Ready to Sell on Instagram DMs?
Selling on Instagram doesn’t have to be awkward or overly salesy.
Done right, you’ll hit that sweet spot where your messages genuinely help people achieve their goals and get you PAID.
So don’t be afraid.
Start reaching out to a few people today, take note of how they respond, and use that to build a proven script guide.
From there, all that’s left to do is to scale and continue growing your business.
Need more help selling your digital product on Instagram?
Read my complete guide on how to do this next!
Max Tornow
Founder, Smartphone Freedom Lifestyle
He’s helped thousands of creators across any niche and language turn content into views, followers, and income – with or without showing their face.
Over the past decade, Max has built multiple 7-figure brands, generated over $30M through content and social media, and coached creators worldwide to grow faster with proven systems, strategy, and human support.
→ About Max Tornow
→ About Smartphone Freedom Lifestyle
Selling on Instagram DMs can be awkward and sounds like the fastest way to deter followers.
People might tell you you’re awesome and thank you for the amazingly helpful content you always put out.
But when you try to get them to buy…they stop responding at best, and get angry at you at worst.
Or maybe you’ve been using a DM script you’ve found online, only to find it sounds unnatural, robotic, or worse, it loses you followers.
But before you give up on Instagram DM’s, know that they are still one of the best ways to sell on Instagram (I use them all the time to great success). If you aren’t using it, you could be missing out on a lot of potential clients.
The secret is knowing how to sell on Instagram DMs properly, without being dull, pushy, or overly salesy.
In this article, I’ll go over the 5 steps for success on Instagram DMs, so you’ll have a simple, effective, and scalable way to make money on the platform.
Before We Begin: Who is Selling on Instagram DMs For?
Before I jump into the strategies, let me warn you…
…selling on Instagram DMs is not for everyone!
It works great for:
- Products/businesses that require high trust (coaches, consultants, freelancers, agencies, 1:1 service providers)
- Customized offers (done-for-you services, custom packages, retainers, brand collabs, high-ticket programs)
- People who haven’t figured out their target audience yet (if you don’t have a clear ideal customer profile, dialed-in brand messaging, or a proven offer to scale; selling on DMs can help you figure this out.)
But if you have a low-ticket product or offer, you generally want to avoid DMs since they just add another step to the buying process.
If you have a physical product or are monetizing in some other way, you may want to try a different approach.
Stop Being “Invisible” To The Algorithm
Steal the “Lazy AI Content System” used by 19,107+ creators to go viral without being a tech genius.
100% Risk-Free 60-Day Guarantee
How to Sell on Instagram DMs: The 5-Step Strategy I’ve Seen Work Year After Year
Step #1: Warm Up Your Audience
If there’s one thing you should NOT do, it’s cold-sell your product or service in DMs.
Nobody, I repeat, NOBODY wants to receive a cold offer on Instagram.
They’ll either ignore your DM. Or worse, they might mute, unfollow, or even block you.
So warm up your audience first and build trust. Remember, this is social media. So be social first.
If they follow you and interact with your content, there should already be some trust. The next step is to send them a DM.
You can:
- Talk about something you have in common (scan their profile, and find something you have in common)
- Compliment them for something they’ve posted on their profile
- Ask them how they feel about something you posted (especially if they liked/commented on it)
Avoid mentioning your product in the first message, since it’ll come off as salesy.
The point is to make a connection.
But also be careful not to fall into another trap, which is sending DMs just to build a connection (and not sell anything).
Which leads us to our next step…
Step #2: Guide The Conversation to Your Product
Always remember that you’re sending DMs because you want sales, not to make new friends 😆.
Once the conversation gets going, you’ll want to steer them towards your product.
- If you’re a life coach, ask them about the biggest problems they’re facing in their life right now.
- If you’re a freelancer, ask them about the roadblocks they’re facing in their business.
- If you’re a fitness coach, ask people what’s holding them back from reaching their fitness goals.
Again, don’t rush to mention your product. If you do, you’ll feel disingenuous.
Instead, listen to their problems and struggles first, and be empathetic. Make them feel seen and heard, and let them know that they’re not alone in this.
Then, ask them if they’ve ever used a product or service like yours before.
If they haven’t, this is a great time to explain the benefits that they’ll enjoy with it. You already know their problem, so you can make the benefits super specific to them.
If they have already used a product or service like yours, ask them how they feel about it and why they stopped. This will bring out their objections that you can counter in your offer. Let them know how your product or service is different.
Speaking of which…
Step #3: Make Them an Offer They Can’t Refuse
By this point in the conversation, you should have someone who is almost ready to buy.
They follow you, trust you, connect with you, share their problems with you, and know what you sell.
All that’s left to do is to nudge them over the edge with an irresistible offer.
Show them exactly how your product or service can help their exact situation. Then show them why you’re qualified to help them, testimonials from former students/clients, and then make it easy for them to sign up by giving the exact next steps they need to take to seal the deal.
If you’re selling a high-ticket product or service ($3,000+), the approach is slightly different.
Offer them a freebie first, like an ebook, a mini course, or a free consultation call.
If they like it, get them on a sales call, and close the deal from there. This saves you from wasting your time on people who aren’t ready to buy your product yet.
Do this right, and there’s a MUCH better chance you’ll land a deal than if you cold-sell, or DM without intention to sell.
Step #4: Follow Up
What if they say no?
What if, after all the time and effort going back and forth in DMs, they don’t want your offer?
Well, don’t give up just yet. Don’t be hurt or take things personally.
The truth is, most people don’t say “no” because they’re not interested. They say no because they’re busy, they’re not 100% sure, they’re overwhelmed, or they just don’t like rushing (especially if it’s for a high-ticket program).
So follow up with people who don’t say yes right away, because these are hot leads.
If they were unsure about your offer, you can send them a simple DM like:
“Hey! Just wanted to check in. Curious what your thoughts were after our last chat?”
If you were on a call with them, try to schedule another call before you put the phone down. Setting a date and time greatly increases your chances of getting that follow-up call.
Even if they say “no” outright, still keep them in the loop.
You already know their problems, so follow up, ask them how their business or life is going. Don’t bring up your offer, but don’t let this lead forget about you either. Keep the connection alive.
Because trust me, when their pain comes out again, there’s a big chance they’ll DM you.
Step #5: Create a Script Guide, NOT a Script
If you’re going to DM hundreds of people (which you should do), you’re going to burn out if you don’t come up with a repeatable system.
That’s why it’s important to have a script guide, but NOT a script.
Don’t write one script, then copy and paste messages to different people.
Not only is that impersonal and leads to low answer rates, but Instagram might also flag your account for spam if you send the same message to dozens of people.
Instead, create a script guide on what to say next. So all you have to do is personalize it a bit and send.
Here’s a sample you can build off of:
- Open naturally
- Reference their content or interaction.
- “Saw your comment on ___. Curious what you think about that?”
- Uncover the problem
- Ask what’s not working or what they want to improve.
- “What’s been the biggest challenge with ___?”
- Qualify the lead
- Check if they’re actively looking for a solution.
- “Is this something you’re trying to fix right now?”
- Ask permission to pitch
- Transition without pressure.
- “I help people with this. Want me to explain how?”
- Present + follow-up
- Tie your offer to their problem, then follow up if needed.
- “Just checking in! Got any questions?”
Remember, these are just examples to get you started.
Play around with it, and once you start sending DMs, you’ll notice a pattern of what works for your specific target audience. You can tweak your script guide using this information.
Stop Being “Invisible” To The Algorithm
Steal the “Lazy AI Content System” used by 19,107+ creators to go viral without being a tech genius.
100% Risk-Free 60-Day Guarantee
Ready to Sell on Instagram DMs?
Selling on Instagram doesn’t have to be awkward or overly salesy.
Done right, you’ll hit that sweet spot where your messages genuinely help people achieve their goals and get you PAID.
So don’t be afraid.
Start reaching out to a few people today, take note of how they respond, and use that to build a proven script guide.
From there, all that’s left to do is to scale and continue growing your business.
Need more help selling your digital product on Instagram?
Read my complete guide on how to do this next!
Max Tornow
Founder, Smartphone Freedom Lifestyle
He’s helped thousands of creators across any niche and language turn content into views, followers, and income – with or without showing their face.
Over the past decade, Max has built multiple 7-figure brands, generated over $30M through content and social media, and coached creators worldwide to grow faster with proven systems, strategy, and human support.
→ About Max Tornow
→ About Smartphone Freedom Lifestyle
Limited Offer
Feel Like Your Content’s
Invisible Online?
1-on-1 coaching. Personalized Content Strategies & Viral Techniques & Templates designed for today’s algorithm.
Join 2,000+ content creators proving it’s never too late to breakthrough online.
![7 Best Faceless Instagram Accounts in 2026 [Deep Dive]](https://smartphonefreedomlifestyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/7-Best-Faceless-Instagram-Accounts-in-2026-Deep-Dive.png)
