Slide Into Someone’s DMs: What Is It and How to Do It Properly

Recent statistics show that many people prefer using dating apps or social media for dating over traditional methods of meeting people.

It still takes some skill and charm to slide into someone’s DMs the right way.

So, what is the best way to slide into someone’s DMs? Is there a right way to do it? Well, in this article, we’ll try to cover all of the questions you might have on this topic.

What Does It Mean to Slide Into Someone’s DMs?

'DMs' is an abbreviation for Direct Messages, a term used on most social media platforms. Sliding usually refers to sending that first message. In short, it’s slang for sending a stranger or an acquaintance your first message on a social media platform.

Example

“The food looks great! Which restaurant is this?”
This is a very common, simple, but effective way to slide into someone’s DMs. It’s a message related to a post or a story that gives off a friendly vibe and respects the person's boundaries.

Strategy

Sliding into DMs can feel like navigating a minefield. It’s not just about sending a message but making a connection without being awkward. Personalizing your approach is crucial. Find something you genuinely connect with. Maybe they posted about a cool trip or an interesting hobby. Mention it. Show that you’re interested in them as a person, not just shooting your shot.

Practical tips and strategies? We’ve got you covered. Follow these guidelines, and you'll slide into DMs like a pro:

• Personalize Your Message: Reference their posts or stories.
• Be Engaging: Use open-ended questions and humor.‍
• Be Subtle: That's where the 'sliding' part comes in. If you're smooth about it - you'll get much better results. We've got you covered on the how.

How to slide into someone’s DMs?

As we mentioned previously, the most effective way to slide into someone’s DMs is by personalizing the message. However, there are some tried and tested methods you can try that work most of the time. Let’s check them out!

1. Replying To Stories

Replying to stories is one of the surefire ways to get a response when sliding to DMs. And since stories are a thing on most social media platforms, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t go with this method.
It’s an effective method because it gives you current and relatable information that you can use to slide into someone's DMs. So, if your person of interest shares an image of a certain activity, restaurant, etc., you can build a message around this. Ask them what they liked, disliked, or where it’s located.

Examples:

• “I’ve been meaning to go here for months, but could never find the time. Is it worth it?” - This message relates closely to what they’re currently doing and has an open-ended question that can continue the conversation.
• “I just picked up rock climbing as well. Any suggestions for a good climbing gym?” - Again, closely related to their story and interests and a question that increases the chances for a response.

2. Message Them About One of Their Posts

People prefer responding to stories because they are usually the latest content and last only 24 hours. Responding to posts, not so much. Why? Because days (or even months) might have passed from the person’s last post which could feel a bit weird and like you are late to the party.
However, this shouldn’t dissuade you from using posts to slide into DMs as long as you link the post first and then send a message related to the post. Just make sure the post isn’t too old (several months or years), as someone can see this as creepy behavior, even if you have no such intentions.

Examples:

• “Is this your puppy? It’s so cute, my pup is jealous!” - Who doesn’t like getting compliments for their pets? It’s a great opener, but it’s also a great conversation “cliffhanger” because they’ll want to know more about your pet as well.
• “A hilarious video with great edits! Definitely a fan of your content now!” - as much as people love compliments about their pets, they love compliments about themselves. No open-ended question here, but it should get you a response.

3. Mention a Mutual Friend

If you see a mutual friend in some of their stories, highlights, or posts, mentioning them is a good way to connect with someone.

Examples:

• “Hey, I just saw Sarah on your post! How do you know her? We’ve been friends for years now.” - This is a pretty straightforward message, and having that one mutual friend provides you both with a sense of security.

4. Try A Pickup Line

Treat this as a last result. It’s an innocent and simple message that usually incites a laugh. Once you make someone laugh, you’re already at a great start. A huge plus is that you don’t even have to come up with one because you can always find a whole list of pick up lines online.

Examples:

• “Do you have a Band-Aid? Because I just scraped my knee falling for you.”
• “Do you come with coffee? Because you're brewing up some strong feelings in me."

Continue The Conversation

While sliding into DMs the right way is very important to get that first response, it’s just as important to keep that conversation going. The best way to do this is by remaining curious and asking open-ended questions about their interests and hobbies.

YourMove's texting assistant can be useful to make sure you give out the right response to their messages to keep the conversation alive until you can ask them on a date.

Here are some more tips to keep the conversation alive:

• Ask Questions: Dive deeper into their interests.
• Share Experiences: Balance the conversation with your own stories.
• Use Humor: Keep things light with jokes or memes.
• Pay Attention: Respect their responses and boundaries.
• Nurture Over Time: Build a connection by showing genuine interest.

Building Rapport

Building rapport before sliding into someone's DMs can also increase odds of it working. You don't want to come off as random or intrusive. Start by engaging naturally with their content. Like their posts, leave thoughtful comments, and interact in a way that feels genuine.

Replying to their stories is a great way to start. It shows you’re paying attention and interested in what they share. For more tips on how to effectively slide into someone's DMs, check out our guide on initiating conversations via Direct Messages.

Sharing relevant content can also be a good icebreaker. If you see something that reminds you of their interests, send it their way. It’s a subtle way to show you’re paying attention and thinking about them.

Finding common interests is key. Whether it’s a shared hobby, a favorite show, or a mutual love for a specific cuisine, talking about something you both enjoy can make the conversation flow naturally. If you're looking for ways to start engaging conversations, our collection of effective conversation openers for dating apps provides a variety of creative ideas to get started.

Here are some practical steps:

• Engage with Their Content: Like posts and leave thoughtful comments.
• Reply to Stories: Show genuine interest with relevant replies.
• Share Relevant Content: Send them things that align with their interests.
• Find Common Interests: Discuss shared hobbies or favorite activities.

The goal is to create a connection so your message doesn’t feel out of the blue. Keep it genuine and respectful.

Tl;dr

Personalize your messages. Build some rapport before. Send messages that are easy to reply to. We hope that this guide will help you bring success when sliding into someone’s DMs. Just make sure to remember that your messages won’t always result in a response.

For more tips on sending texts that can get you responses, check out our blog. And, if you’re planning on building a profile on online dating apps, you can use our free Dating Profile Generator.