How to make your DMs sound human (even when you're using AI)
3 humanity markers that get responses
You're parked outside Target at 2:47 in the afternoon on a beautiful day… phone in hand… staring at the DM you just sent to a potential client
And… something's wrong.
You wrote it yourself… no AI, no templates… but it still sounds like chatGPT wrote it. Like every other coach's message in their inbox.
The message has all the right elements.
You mentioned their recent post.
Asked about their challenge.
Offered value.
But it reads like a bot trying to sound human.
Something people don’t realize… we've trained ourselves to write like AI… before AI even showed up.
Years of following "proven templates" and "swipe copy" have stripped the humanity from our messages.
Now, with actual AI flooding inboxes, sounding human isn't just important… it's your only real advantage.
Today, I’m sharing the 3 humanity markers that make prospects stop and actually respond… even when their inbox has 47 other "Hey, loved your post!" messages:
→ The micro-details only a human who actually engaged would notice
→ Why breaking grammar rules makes you trustworthy
→ The follow-through that proves you're not just copy-pasting
Let's fix your robot-sounding DM problem...
The 3 Humanity Markers That Get Real Responses
1️⃣ Marker #1: Specific Observation Anchors
❌ BEFORE (Robot Mode): "Hey Sarah! Loved your post about business growth. Really resonated with what you shared about scaling challenges. I help coaches like you overcome these exact obstacles..."
✅ AFTER (Human Mode): "Sarah, that line in your post about crying in the Whole Foods parking lot after your launch… I've been there, except mine was a Trader Joe's and I was eating their dark chocolate peanut butter cups straight from the container. The way you described feeling successful on paper but exhausted in reality? That's exactly where I was 18 months ago..."
Why this works: You reference something so specific that no AI would catch it. Not the main point of their post… the throwaway detail that actually revealed their real struggle.
🔹 Implementation Strategy #1: Read their content for 90 seconds before writing anything. Find the sentence that made them vulnerable, not the one that got the most engagement.
🔹 Implementation Strategy #2: Reference something from their second-to-last post. This proves you're actually following them, not just responding to what popped up in your feed today.
🔹 Implementation Strategy #3: Connect their specific detail to your specific experience. Not "I've been there" but "I've been there, and here's exactly what my version looked like."
2️⃣ Marker #2: Conversational Imperfection
❌ BEFORE (Robot Mode): "I noticed you mentioned struggling with consistent lead generation. This is a common challenge many coaches face. I have developed a proven system that addresses this exact issue..."
✅ AFTER (Human Mode): "Okay so I just watched your stories about lead gen… and that part where you said you're 'good at selling but terrible at finding people to sell to'? That used to be me. Like, embarrassingly me. Still working on not starting every sales call with 'sorry if this is weird but...' 😅"
Why this works: Real humans don't write in perfect sentences when they're actually engaged. We start sentences with "So" and "Okay" and use fragments. We acknowledge awkwardness instead of pretending everything's smooth.
🔹 Implementation Strategy #1: Start at least one sentence with a conjunction. "And another thing..." or "But here's what changed everything..."
🔹 Implementation Strategy #2: Include one moment of self-awareness. "This might sound random but..." or "I know everyone says this, but..."
🔹 Implementation Strategy #3: Use incomplete sentences where natural. "The exhaustion? Real. The confusion about what to post? Daily. The wondering if everyone else has it figured out? Constant."
3️⃣ Marker #3: Context Continuity
❌ BEFORE (Robot Mode): "Following up on my previous message. Did you have a chance to review my offer? I'd love to discuss how I can help you achieve your goals..."
✅ AFTER (Human Mode): "Hey! So I keep thinking about what you said Tuesday about your clients ghosting after the price reveal. Did you ever try that 'investment range' approach we talked about? I tested it with 3people yesterday and... mixed results… but learned something interesting about timing..."
Why this works: You're continuing a specific conversation, not starting fresh every time. You remember details, reference past exchanges, and build on what's already been established.
🔹 Implementation Strategy #1: Reference the day and specific detail from your last exchange. Not "our previous conversation" but "Tuesday when you mentioned your Zoom fatigue."
🔹 Implementation Strategy #2: Share what happened since you last talked. "I tried that thing you suggested" or "I kept thinking about your situation and realized..."
🔹Implementation Strategy #3: Ask about something they said they were going to do. "How did that team meeting go?" instead of generic "How are things?"
The Humanity Audit Framework
Before sending any DM, run this 10-second audit:
Could ChatGPT have written this? If yes, add one specific observation
Does it sound like a LinkedIn robot? If yes, break one grammar rule
Could this be sent to anyone? If yes, reference something only they said
The goal isn't to be perfectly human… it's to be recognizably human in a world of perfect robots.
When every DM feels templated (even when it's not), lead’s disengage.
Today's paid member mega-prompt helps you protect your human voice while using AI for leverage.
Paid members get:
✓ The Human Voice Protector - Never sound like a robot again
✓ 5-point humanity audit for every message
✓ Specific rewrite suggestions that keep YOUR voice
✓ Framework for blending AI efficiency with human connection
P.S. If you're enjoying 8am in Atlanta, consider sharing it with a coach friend. They'll get the same messaging strategies I've used to generate $3M+ in cash collected in <24 months for high-ticket programs… without sounding desperate.