The Comment That Stayed Public
Jamie posted a thoughtful question on LinkedIn: "What's your biggest challenge with customer retention right now?" Within an hour, 40 people commented. Sarah, a SaaS founder, left a detailed reply: "We're seeing churn spike in month 3—right after onboarding. Can't figure out if it's a product issue or an expectation-setting issue."
Jamie saw the comment. Liked it. And... moved on to the next one.
Three weeks later, Sarah was still dealing with the same retention problem. The conversation that could have helped her never happened—because it stayed trapped in a public thread.
Now imagine Jamie had replied: "Sarah, that's a great question—and I have some thoughts. Mind if I DM you a quick framework we used to solve this exact issue?"
Sarah would have said yes immediately. The conversation would have moved to DMs. And Jamie would have turned a public comment into a real relationship. That's the opportunity most people miss: comments are the start, not the finish. And if you never move LinkedIn comments to DM, you're leaving relationships—and opportunities—on the table.
Why Moving LinkedIn Comments to DMs Matters
Let's be clear: public comments are great for visibility, but terrible for depth. They're performative by nature—everyone's watching, so people stay surface-level. Real conversations—the kind that build trust and create opportunities—happen in private.
Here's what you get when you successfully move LinkedIn comments to DM:
- Deeper dialogue: No audience pressure, so people open up and share real challenges.
- Direct access: You're now in their inbox, not competing for attention in a crowded feed.
- Relationship momentum: A DM conversation is the beginning of an ongoing connection, not a one-off exchange.
- Business potential: Most client relationships, partnerships, and warm intros start in DMs—not comment threads.
But here's the catch: you can't just slide into DMs without context. You need a smooth handoff that feels natural, not forced. That's what this guide will teach you.
The Acknowledge → Reference → Invite Framework
Every successful comment-to-DM transition follows a three-step structure:
Step 1: Acknowledge Publicly
First, reply to their comment publicly. Thank them, validate their point, or add a quick insight. This shows you're engaged and respectful—and it primes them for the DM that's coming.
Example:
"Sarah—great point about month 3 churn. That timing usually signals a gap between expectations and reality. I'd love to share a diagnostic framework we use to pinpoint where the disconnect happens. Mind if I DM you?"
Step 2: Reference in DM
Once they've given implicit or explicit permission (via a like, reply, or "sure!"), send a DM that directly references the public thread. This creates continuity and reminds them why you're reaching out.
Example:
"Sarah—thanks for being open to this! You mentioned churn spiking in month 3. I've seen that pattern a lot. Usually it's one of three things: onboarding didn't set the right milestones, the aha moment came too late, or there's a feature gap. Quick question: are you tracking user engagement in that window?"
Step 3: Invite Continuation
Don't dump everything in one message. Ask a follow-up question or offer to share something valuable. This keeps the conversation going and signals that you're here to help, not pitch.
This three-step handoff respects the public-to-private boundary, builds trust, and sets you up for a real conversation. And it's the same strategic approach that powers all effective relationship-building on LinkedIn.
6 "DM After Comment" Templates
Here are six templates for different scenarios. Each one references the public comment, offers value, and invites dialogue—without sounding salesy or awkward.
Template 1: Share a Resource
Public comment:
"Tom—this is a challenge we're facing too. Mind if I DM you a case study that might help?"
Follow-up DM:
"Tom—here's that case study I mentioned. Company X had the same issue and solved it by [specific tactic]. Let me know if it sparks any ideas for your situation."
Template 2: Ask a Follow-Up Question
Public comment:
"Emma—interesting take. I'm curious how that plays out in practice. Mind if I ask you a couple follow-up questions in DM?"
Follow-up DM:
"Emma—thanks for being open to this! You mentioned [specific point]. How do you handle [related challenge]? We're wrestling with that right now and I'd love to hear your approach."
Template 3: Offer Expertise
Public comment:
"Alex—we've dealt with this exact issue. Happy to share what worked (and what didn't) if you want to continue this in DM."
Follow-up DM:
"Alex—so here's what we learned the hard way: [insight]. The fix that actually worked was [tactic]. Not sure if your situation is identical, but happy to talk through it if helpful."
Template 4: Make an Introduction
Public comment:
"Jordan—you should talk to [Name]. They solved this exact problem last year. Want me to make an intro via DM?"
Follow-up DM:
"Jordan—connecting you with [Name]. [Name], Jordan's dealing with [challenge] and I immediately thought of your experience with [similar situation]. I'll let you two take it from here!"
Template 5: Go Deeper on the Topic
Public comment:
"Priya—this is such a nuanced topic and I don't want to hijack the thread. Mind if I DM you to continue the conversation?"
Follow-up DM:
"Priya—didn't want to write a novel in the comments, but I have a lot of thoughts on this. You mentioned [specific point]. I'd add that [additional insight]. What's your take on [related question]?"
Template 6: Express Alignment
Public comment:
"Lisa—we're thinking about this the exact same way. Would love to compare notes in DM if you're up for it."
Follow-up DM:
"Lisa—it's rare to find someone who thinks about [topic] the way you do. I'd love to hear more about how you're applying this at [Company]. We're experimenting with something similar and I think there's a lot we could learn from each other."
Each template is rooted in the same principle: lead with value, not self-interest. You're not sliding into DMs to pitch—you're continuing a conversation that started publicly and naturally escalated to private dialogue. And when you approach it this way, people almost always say yes.
Tone, Timing, and Consent: The Three Rules for Moving to DM
Rule 1: Match Their Tone
If their comment is casual and conversational, your DM should be too. If they're formal and buttoned-up, stay professional. Mismatched tone is jarring and kills trust instantly.
Rule 2: Don't Rush the Transition
Give the public exchange a little breathing room. Reply to their comment, wait for them to engage (a like, another reply, or a profile view), then DM. If you message immediately after a single comment, it feels transactional—like you were just waiting for an excuse to pitch them.
Rule 3: Ask Permission (or Signal Intent)
The safest way to transition is to ask: "Mind if I DM you?" or "Happy to continue this in DM if you're interested." If they don't reply or don't engage, respect that boundary. Not everyone wants to move offline, and that's okay. The ones who do will make it obvious. This is the same consent-first approach behind all professional LinkedIn etiquette.
When NOT to Move Comments to DM
Not every comment deserves a DM. Here's when to leave the conversation public:
- When they're clearly promoting themselves: If their comment is a thinly veiled pitch, they're not interested in dialogue—they're hunting for visibility.
- When the thread is thriving: If multiple people are engaged in a lively public discussion, don't pull someone aside. Let the collective conversation play out.
- When there's no clear next step: If you don't have a specific reason to DM (resource to share, question to ask, intro to make), don't force it. A good public interaction is better than an awkward DM.
- When they didn't engage with your reply: If you replied publicly and they ignored it, they're not interested. Move on.
What to Do After They Reply in DM
Getting the conversation into DMs is just step one. Here's how to keep it going:
- Reply quickly: If they respond within an hour, try to do the same. Fast replies signal genuine interest and respect.
- Keep it conversational: Don't write essays. DMs should feel like a dialogue, not a monologue. Ask questions, invite their perspective, and keep messages short.
- Don't pivot to a pitch immediately: You just moved from public to private. Don't blow it by selling in message two. Stay curious and helpful for at least 2-3 exchanges.
- Know when to suggest a call: When the conversation feels natural and engaged, that's the time to propose moving off LinkedIn entirely. But not before.
And if you're managing multiple comment-to-DM transitions, staying organized is critical. Learn how to organize LinkedIn relationships so you never lose track of who you've engaged with and where the conversation left off.
Advanced Strategies: Multi-Commenter Engagement
Sometimes a post generates 10+ great comments. You can't DM everyone—but you can strategically choose 2-3 people whose comments signal genuine interest or alignment. Prioritize people who:
- Asked a thoughtful question (not just dropped a hot take)
- Shared a specific challenge or experience
- Engaged with your reply or liked your comment
- Are in your target audience (same industry, role, or problem space)
Focus on quality over quantity. One meaningful DM conversation is worth more than 10 superficial ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it weird to DM someone after they comment on someone else's post?
Not if you participated in the same thread. If you both commented on the same post, you have shared context—use it. Example: "Hey Sarah, saw your comment on Jamie's post about retention. That month 3 churn pattern you mentioned is so common. Mind if I share a quick framework we use to diagnose it?"
What if they don't respond to my DM after moving from comments?
Wait 5-7 days, then send a soft follow-up that adds value (new resource, additional insight, or related question). If still no reply, move on. They may have just been casually commenting, not looking for deeper engagement.
Should I move every comment to DM?
No. Only move conversations to DM when there's clear mutual interest, a specific reason to continue privately, or an opportunity to add significant value. Quality over quantity—always.
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