How to stop getting just likes and saves... and start getting DMs
Your content is too good (and it's costing you conversations)
You got 500 saves on Tuesday’s post.
By Thursday morning? Zero DMs. Not one.
You’re staring at the analytics, trying to make sense of it.
The content is clearly working.
people are saving it
sharing it in stories,
leaving comments about how helpful it is
But nobody’s actually messaging you.
So you open LinkedIn and scroll through your own saved folder… and that’s when you notice something…
The posts you save are the ones that answer your question completely.
Problem solved. Done.
The posts you actually DM people about?
They leave you hanging. Make you curious. Give you a reason to reach out.
Oh.
Your content is too good.
It’s so complete, so thoroughly helpful, that it removes every reason for someone to start a conversation. You solved their problem so well they have nothing left to ask.
You optimized for engagement, not conversations.
Today I’m sharing 3 ways to fix this… simple shifts that turn passive scrollers into active conversations.
🔹 The curiosity gap technique that makes people want to know more (without being clickbaity or weird)
🔹 Why saying “DM me” doesn’t work but this specific invitation does… and the exact words that make people comfortable reaching out
🔹 The one thing to hold back in your content that makes your DMs blow up
Let’s fix this...
Most coaches think creating valuable content is enough.
It’s not. Value alone doesn’t start conversations.
Here’s what actually works:
1️⃣ The Curiosity Gap (The AI Overview Effect)
Think about Google’s AI Overviews. They give you the answer right at the top. Complete. Done. No need to click anything.
Your audience does the same thing with your posts.
When you give the complete answer, they save it, love it, and scroll on. No reason to message you because you already solved it.
❌ Before (Complete Answer): “Here’s my 5-step framework for booking calls: 1) Build rapport, 2) Ask about their situation, 3) Explore challenges, 4) Share value, 5) Propose the call. Follow these and you’ll book more calls.”
✅ After (Curiosity Gap): “Most coaches structure their DMs backwards. They start with rapport when they should actually start somewhere else. The highest-converting DMs I’ve tested? They all begin with one specific element… and it’s probably not what you’re thinking.”
What to do:
Give them the insight (DMs are backwards)
Create the gap (there’s a better starting point)
Hint at surprise (it’s unexpected)
Now they know there’s something valuable. They just don’t have all the pieces. That’s what makes them DM.
2️⃣ The Permission Signal (Just Tell Them to DM You)
AI Overviews don’t just show information… they tell you exactly what to do next. “Search for reviews” or “Visit website for pricing.”
Your content needs the same thing.
Most coaches assume people know they can DM. They don’t.
People need you to explicitly tell them it’s okay to reach out.
❌ Before (Assumed Permission): “If you want help with messaging, I work with coaches one-on-one. My approach focuses on authentic conversations that convert.”
✅ After (Explicit Permission): “DM me the word ‘MESSAGING’ and I’ll send you the exact opening line I use that gets 60% response rates. Takes 2 minutes to customize for your niche.”
What to do:
Clear action (DM me this word)
Immediate value (exact opening line)
Low friction (2 minutes)
See the difference? You stopped assuming and started directing.
The word “MESSAGING” is a low-stakes entry point.
They’re not committing to anything… just getting a resource.
But now you’re talking.
3️⃣ The Value Preview (Show the Map, Offer the GPS)
Here’s where most coaches mess up… they either give everything in the content -or- hold everything back.
Both wrong.
The right move, show how the process in your content.
Offer the personalization in DMs.
❌ Before (Everything or Nothing): “Want to know how to handle objections in DMs? Book a call and I’ll show you my framework.”
OR
“Here’s every objection I’ve ever seen and exactly how I respond to each one. 47 scenarios with word-for-word scripts.”
✅ After (Process + Personalization): “The objection framework I use has 3 layers: Surface objection, underlying concern, and core belief. Most coaches only address the surface… which is why the objection keeps coming back in different forms.
DM me your most common objection and I’ll show you which layer it’s actually coming from. Most coaches are surprised.”
What to do:
Teach the framework (3 layers exist)
Show why it matters (wrong layer = doesn’t work)
Offer personal application (send me yours)
You gave them something valuable… they get that there are 3 layers.
But they don’t know which layer their objection lives in. That gap starts the conversation.
Why This Actually Works
Same principle that makes AI Overviews work for local businesses: structured info with clear next steps.
Your content = the structure.
Your DMs = the next action.
Complete answers kill conversations. Strategic gaps create them.
The coaches getting DMs aren’t making better content than you… they’re just building in conversation triggers.
Start With One Post
Don’t overthink this.
Take your next post and pick one of these:
Create a curiosity gap (teach the insight, not the full how-to)
Add a permission signal (tell them exactly what to DM you)
Show the process, offer personalization (teach the framework, customize their situation)
The difference between 500 saves and 50 DMs is usually one small change.
Your content’s already good. Now make it conversation-worthy.
Your content isn’t bad… it’s just too complete.
When every post gives the full answer, people engage without converting.
Today’s paid member mega-prompt rewrites any post to drive DMs.
Paid members get:
✔ AI rewrite that keeps your message but adds DM triggers
✔ 3 versions: curiosity gap, permission signal, and value preview
✔ Notes on what changed and why it works
✔ Response templates for when they actually DM
• ChatGPT Version → Copy-paste friendly. Clean text format you can drop straight into ChatGPT.
• Claude Version → XML structured. Optimized for Claude (and other models that follow tags closely) so the output stays tight and consistent.
• Automation-Ready Version → JSON format. Built for builders who want to plug AI outputs into workflows like Zapier, n8n, Airtable, or APIs.