This 3-part DM flow quietly books 4-figure clients from casual convos
Alex's sat cross-legged on her bed, the Austin skyline twinkling through her bedroom window.
Third night this week she'd found herself here, scrolling through dozens of Instagram DMs, searching for answers in conversations that had started with excitement but trailed off into digital silence.
She paused on a message from Sophie, a wellness coach from Denver: "Your story about finding your voice in a crowded market hit me right in the chest. I've been struggling with the exact same feelings." Alex had responded thoughtfully, in her mind… but then 3 days of silence followed.
Another message from James, a financial coach: "Your content on authentic marketing makes everything else seem shallow. I've saved every post." Their conversation had stretched to 6 small-talk-esqe messages before evaporating.
Alex set her phone on the nightstand and walked barefoot to her home office.
The space…carefully designed with plants, natural light, and inspiring books…normally brought her comfort. But tonight, not so much.
She glanced over to her vision board: "Help 100 coaches build authentic, profitable businesses this year." But on her calendar app, glowing from her desktop, a measly two sales calls scheduled for the coming week.
She pulled up her analytics dashboard. Last month's numbers told a story that twisted her stomach:
17 posts created
22,471 accounts reached
8,134 content saves
1,224 comments
437 direct messages received
And at the end of this impressive digital trail: 3 sales calls, 1 new client.
Alex had left her marketing agency job 3 years ago with a clear vision - help coaches market themselves with integrity and authenticity. Now she wondered if those very ideals were somehow holding her back.
From the corner of her desk, her phone screen lit up with a notification.
Tara Johnson, a coach with half Alex's following, had just announced her 3rd sold-out program of the year. Alex clicked on Tara's profile, studying not just what she posted, but how she engaged. The comment sections revealed a pattern.
Tara responded with energy, but always moved the conversation forward with purpose.
Alex leaned back in her chair, the realization settling over her. Her content strategy wasn't failing, but her DM conversion strategy was missing entirely.
She'd mastered the art of creating engaging content and starting DM conversations, but had no system for guiding those conversations toward a sales call.
My ACT Method: A Natural Path to Booked Calls
The transformation in Alex's business came not from changing her content or compromising her ideals, but from implementing a simple 3-part DM conversation framework that turned small-talk into action.
Step 1: (A)cknowledge
True connection begins when someone feels genuinely seen. This first step involves recognizing something specific about the person reaching out… not with generic pleasantries, but with precise observation.
When someone messages you, acknowledge a specific detail from their message, comment, or profile.
Notice the exact language they use, the particular challenge they mention, or the unique perspective they share. This creates an immediate sense of being understood at an individual level.
Step 2: (C)onnect
The critical bridge forms when you link their specific situation to your expertise through relevant, actionable value. This isn't about displaying your knowledge… it's about applying your insights directly to their context.
Share a perspective, observation, or insight that speaks directly to their situation. This step establishes your understanding while positioning you as a guide who sees both their challenge and the path forward.
Step 3: (T)rigger a Response
Conversations gain momentum through questions that invite dialogue. These aren't casual inquiries…but instead strategic questions that reveal deeper challenges while creating natural openings for your expertise.
Ask about specific aspects of their situation, their previous attempts at solving the problem, or what success would look like for them. Their answers reveal exactly what they need and create a natural path toward your solution.
Let's examine my framework through the lens of an actual conversation transformation:
Before (Alex's typical approach):
Saw you grabbed the ‘Authentic Marketing Guide’ - have you had a chance to read it yet?
Let me know if you'd like to hear more about how my program might help you!
After (Using the ACT Method):
I noticed you mentioned feeling "stuck between staying authentic and actually selling" in your coaching practice (Acknowledge).
One approach that I’ve seen transform this is restructuring how you present solutions. I.E., start focusing on the client's transformation journey rather than your specific methodology. (Connect).
What specific situations have made this disconnect between authenticity and selling feel most uncomfortable for you? (Trigger)
You deliver immediate value through perspective, and you create forward momentum through questions that both parties genuinely want to explore.
Your Turn: Put my ACT Method Into Practice
Conduct a conversation autopsy Open your DMs and identify 10 promising conversations that stalled. For each one, note:
The exact message where engagement dropped
Whether you acknowledged something specific about them
If you provided relevant value based on their situation
Whether you asked a question that invited meaningful further dialogue
Look for patterns across these stalled conversations… they'll reveal your specific conversion blind spots.
Create your situational response framework Develop 3 customized response templates following the Acknowledge-Connect-Trigger structure for the most common scenarios in your business:
For content appreciators:
Acknowledge: Note the specific content they mentioned and what resonated
Connect: Share a deeper insight related to that specific topic
Trigger: Ask how that particular concept applies to their situation
For problem sharers:
Acknowledge: Reflect the exact challenge they've described, using their language
Connect: Offer a perspective or approach that addresses their specific situation
Trigger: Ask about previous attempts to solve this or what success would look like
For offer inquirers:
Acknowledge: Note their interest and any context they've provided
Connect: Share how your approach differs for their specific situation
Trigger: Ask what prompted their interest at this particular time
Implement with intentional practice Choose 3 existing conversations from the 10 you pulled, 1 from each category above, and then respond using your new ACT templates. After each response, note:
How quickly they respond compared to previous messages
The depth and detail of their response
Whether they ask questions that move toward working together
This immediate feedback will help you refine your approach in real time.
Build your conversion metrics dashboard Create a simple tracking system recording:
Conversation length (number of meaningful exchanges)
Time to call request (how many messages before working together is discussed)
Qualification quality (how much you know about them before the call)
Call show rate (percentage of scheduled calls that actually happen)
Call-to-client conversion rate (percentage of calls that become clients)
Compare these numbers weekly as you refine your approach.
When clients I've consulted implement this framework, their DM-to-call conversions transform within weeks.
Conversations that previously died due to no clear direction are engaging the whole way through, while always moving towards next steps.
Prospects begin asking about the next step rather than simply waiting for the suggestion.
And most importantly, calendars fill with qualified leads who already understand why your offer would benefit them.
Today’s Mega-Prompt: "ACT Method Response Template Development"
You’ve got people sliding into your DMs… but turning those quick messages into real sales conversations? That’s the missing link. And today, we fix it.
This mega-prompt gives paid members a complete set of response templates based on my Acknowledge–Connect–Trigger (ACT) method, so you never leave another warm lead hanging. Whether it’s someone praising your content, sharing a personal struggle, or asking about your offer, you’ll know exactly what to say next.
Paid members get exclusive access to:
✔ Custom templates for 3 common DM types: content fans, challenge-sharers, and offer inquirers
✔ Plug-and-play responses that deepen connection and spark conversion-worthy conversations
✔ A personalization guide so every message still sounds like you