> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.inboxapp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Outreach best practices > Who to message, how to write DMs people reply to, when to send, and how to stay within platform rules. Available on Pro. See [Plans](/get-started/plans). Reply rate tracks how relevant and respectful you are, not how many messages you send. Most weak campaigns fail on targeting and copy, not tooling. ## Fix the profile first People open the DM, then check who you are. | Element | What to aim for | | - | - | | Photo | Clear face or recognizable mark — avoid a logo-only brand avatar when possible | | Bio | Who you help and how, in plain language | | Activity | Recent posts that show a real person | | Verification | Strongly preferred on X — X often filters messages from unverified accounts into requests or blocks them | Personal accounts usually outperform brand accounts for cold outreach. People reply to people. ## Choose who to message Define your ideal customer on each platform: * Keywords and phrases that show up in bios * Creators, communities, or accounts they engage with * Locations, roles, or niches that convert for you * Signals they're open to DMs, such as active posting and public conversation Prefer warm context over pure cold: | Source | Why it works | How to treat it | | - | - | - | | People who already follow or engage with you | They took a step toward you | Reference shared content; softer ask | | Replies or likes on relevant posts | Fresh context | Mention the post; keep it short | | Lists, followers of niche accounts, CSV imports | Scalable, but colder | Stronger personalization | | Prior conversations | Highest trust | Don't re-pitch blindly — continue the thread | Segment lists by source and intent so the opener can match — [Lead lists, tags, and filters](/help/sales/lead-lists). Build lists only from imports and research you have rights to use, and exclude **Contacted** when you don't want repeats — [Sending pace and duplicates](/help/sales/pacing). Skip purchased engagement and scraped dumps of unrelated users. ## Write DMs people finish reading * Keep the first message to a few sentences * Open with a specific detail (bio, recent post, shared niche), not a pitch * Ask one easy question, or offer one useful observation * Skip links in the first message unless the prospect asked, or you're sharing a post or resource they expect * Avoid walls of text and identical copy — vary messages across segments * Use [variables](/help/sales/sequences#personalize-with-variables) for name or company, and add a human detail by hand | Pattern | Example shape | | - | - | | Context + question | “Saw your note on {topic} — are you still exploring {problem}?” | | Soft value | “We put together a short checklist for {ICP} dealing with {pain}. Want it?” | | Warm follow-up | Reference their reply or post before asking for time | Hard sells and “book a demo” openers usually tank reply rates. ## Sequence without nagging One strong first message beats a noisy sequence. Add steps only after a one-message campaign already gets replies — [Sequences](/help/sales/sequences). 1. Intro + specific context 2. Soft follow-up a few days later 3. Final note with a clear ask or resource, then stop Space steps by days, not hours, and keep it to two or three follow-ups. ## When to send * Schedule for the prospect's local daytime — [Scheduling](/help/sales/sequences#schedule-across-time-zones) * Weekday mornings and early business hours usually beat late nights and weekends for B2B * If you can, engage lightly on public posts before a cold DM ## When to stop Stop when they reply (positive or not), ignore the full sequence, ask not to be contacted, or delivery keeps failing. Persistence past a clear “no” is how outreach turns into harassment. ## Reply like a human * Answer quickly while the thread is warm * Keep the same tone you used in the opener * Move to a call or link only after they engage * If they're not interested, thank them and exit ## Stay within platform rules Follow each platform's rules — on X, [X's rules](https://help.x.com/en/rules-and-policies) and the [platform manipulation and spam](https://help.x.com/en/rules-and-policies/platform-manipulation) policy. Inboxapp paces sending for you; you're still responsible for how you message people. Don't try to bypass platform limits, blast identical copy at scale, buy engagement, or scrape data outside authorized channels. Those patterns get accounts restricted. | Do | Don't | | - | - | | Authentic accounts with a clear identity | Fake, disposable, or misleading accounts | | Relevant, non-duplicative DMs | Bulk identical or unsolicited spam | | Automation that stays within allowed product limits | Unauthorized scripts or aggressive bot behavior | | Follow-ups that stop when ignored | Harassment, relentless chasing, or scam tactics | * You're responsible for third-party apps you authorize on your accounts. Don't stack multiple senders to force volume. * Don't buy followers, likes, or engagement. One authentic presence beats a farm of lookalike accounts. * If messages show as undelivered or failed, pause and fix the account before resuming — [Undelivered](/help/platforms/x/message-icons) · [Failed to send](/help/platforms/x/message-icons). ## Measure and iterate Track reply rate and conversation quality before volume — [Campaign stages and results](/help/sales/campaign-results). If replies are low, fix list fit and copy before you scale. 1. Segment a tight list for one ideal customer 2. Write one short opener only that segment would believe 3. Add a 2–3 step sequence once the first message works 4. Iterate on list and copy, then scale ## Related * [Create your first campaign](/help/campaigns/build/create-your-first-campaign) * [Sequences, personalization, and scheduling](/help/sales/sequences) * [Sending pace and duplicates](/help/sales/pacing) Still stuck? Contact support from the app. This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.