The Pitch Slap

People hate being sold to. Yet every day, thousands of eager salespeople slide into LinkedIn DMs with the subtlety of a car alarm at 3 AM.

I checked my inbox this morning. Among the usual notifications were four messages from strangers. Each one launched directly into a sales pitch without bothering to see if I had the problem their solution supposedly fixes.

Why Your Sales Pitches Are Being Ignored

The math is simple. Cold pitches fail because they skip the most fundamental step in human interaction: establishing a connection.

When you immediately pitch your product or service, you're essentially saying, "I don't care about you as a person. I only care about what you can do for me."

... Not exactly the foundation for a productive business relationship.

Your target prospects are already drowning in a sea of pitches. Another wave of "revolutionary solutions" and "game-changing opportunities" just blends into the noise.

Start Conversations, Not Sales Pitches

The most successful LinkedIn networkers understand a simple truth: good business starts with good conversation.

Instead of launching into your sales script, try:

• Commenting thoughtfully on their content before messaging them - show you've actually paid attention to their work.
• Asking a genuine question about their recent professional achievement or article.
• Sharing an insight relevant to their industry without expectation of return.
• Finding authentic common ground, whether it's a shared connection, your shared love of tennis, or even a recent post you both engaged with.

The Conversation Formula That Works

The best cold outreach follows a simple pattern: Value first, relationship second, business third.

Start by offering something useful. This could be a relevant article, a practical resource, or simply a thoughtful observation about their work.

Then focus on building rapport:

• Ask questions.
• Show interest in their challenges and goals.
• Be a human talking to another human.

Only after establishing this foundation should you even consider steering toward business opportunities. And when you do, frame it as a continuation of the helpful conversation you've been having, not a sudden pivot to your sales agenda.

The Long Game Wins

Yes, starting conversations takes longer than blasting sales pitches. That's precisely why it works better.

The connections you build through genuine conversation yield results far beyond a single transaction. They create advocates, not just customers. And they open doors to referrals, partnerships, and opportunities you couldn't have predicted.

Next time you're tempted to copy-paste that sales template into someone's LinkedIn messages, PAUSE. Ask yourself: "Would I approach someone this way at a networking event?"

If the answer is no, rethink your message. Your future self will thank you when your inbox fills with responses instead of silence.