HowTheyGotUsersHowTheyGotUsers

DM New Followers a Feedback-Framed Subscribe Ask

DM New Followers a Feedback-Framed Subscribe Ask is a cold outreach tactic for getting your first users: Instead of relying on a dead bio link, the founder DMed each new Instagram follower a friendly copy-paste note that framed the subscribe request as asking for feedback, landing 3-4 subscribers a day.

It's a strong fit for Consumer / mobile apps and Newsletters / media teams, and works especially well for Newsletters, solo creators, early B2C. As a cold outreach play, plan for low effort and expect results to arrive at a steady pace, all grounded in 1 linked primary source.

Cold outreachLow effortMedium

Why does cold outreach work for this?

A feedback request feels like a favor you're asking, which disarms the pitch and lifts replies.

The exact steps (5)

The full step-by-step this founder ran, what they posted, where, and in what order, plus the watch-outs, is part of the library.

Unlock the steps · $29 oncePlus all 3,000+ tactics and the new ones we add weekly.

Sources

Works for
Consumer / mobile appsNewsletters / media

Frequently asked

What kind of products does the "DM New Followers a Feedback-Framed Subscribe Ask" tactic work for?
It is a good fit for Consumer / mobile apps and Newsletters / media — pick it when your product looks like one of those, since the play is shaped around how those users find new tools.
How is the "DM New Followers a Feedback-Framed Subscribe Ask" tactic verified?
It is drawn from 1 primary source — a real founder write-up or interview, not generic advice. It is linked in the Sources section above so you can read the original account yourself.
How much effort is it and how fast are results?
It is low effort, and results tend to be medium.
Where can I see the exact step-by-step?
The full step-by-step a founder ran, documented via Source — IndieHackers, is in the paid library.

Related tactics

Cold outreachMedium effort· Medium

Cold-DM Meme Pages and Influencers With a Value Pitch

Directly message Instagram meme aggregators and influencer accounts, pitching that your tool's output (tweet-to-video) gets better engagement than the screenshots they currently post.

Read the steps →
Cold outreachMedium effort· Medium

Automate Outreach and Social Growth with PhantomBuster Recipes

A commenter's strongly recommended tactic: use PhantomBuster's prebuilt automation recipes to run high-volume outreach and social-media growth hands-off.

Read the steps →
Cold outreachMedium effort· Fast

Mine Hashtags for Twitter DM Validation

Found prospects by searching relevant Twitter hashtags, then opened direct messages to talk through their problem before and during the build.

Read the steps →
Cold outreachMedium effort· Medium

Warm Leads With Profile Visits Before Connecting on LinkedIn

The founder's outreach flow starts by viewing a prospect's profile, waiting a day or two, then sending the connection request, then visiting again so the target gets a reciprocal-curiosity notification.

Read the steps →
Cold outreachMedium effort· Medium

Build a Press Kit Before Pitching Journalists

Assemble a complete, ready-to-use media kit on your site so reporters have everything to write a story, then lead outreach with a link to it.

Read the steps →
Cold outreachHigh effort· Slow

Creator Outreach Is a Volume Game

Landing influencer promotions by accepting that the response rate is low and the math only works at scale — sending the same tight pitch to 100+ creators in your niche, then converting the few who bite.

Read the steps →

Get all 3,000+ tactics in one place

Filter by your product and channel, follow the exact steps, and get the new tactics we add every week. One payment, yours for good.

Unlock for $29 onceBrowse by channel