31: Cold DMs, Fake Gurus and Why Social Media Trust Is In The Bin

Social media is getting weird.Cold DMs.Copy and paste messages.Fake case studies.People trying to sell before they’ve even said hello.And somehow… people are still surprised it doesn’t work.In this episode of Coffee With Dan, Dan Meredith and Laura Baker get into the reality of selling on social media right now.The good, the bad, and some genuinely ridiculous messages they’ve both received.From “how much do you earn?” as an opener…To full breakdown videos telling you everything you’re doing wrong…To the same scripted messages sent by ten different people at the same time…It’s no wonder trust is at an all-time low.But this isn’t just a rant.They break down what actually works instead.Because while most people are playing a short game trying to force sales…The people who are winning are doing something very different.They’re building relationships.They’re having real conversations.They’re being normal.Not weird. Not pushy. Not robotic.Just normal.They also get into:– Why most cold DMs fail instantly– The difference between starting a conversation and trying to sell– Why people can spot scripted messages a mile off– How trust has been damaged across social media– Why doing your job well is still the best marketing strategy– The long game of building real connections (and how it actually pays off)– Dating app behaviour vs social media behaviour and why they overlap– How to approach conversations without being creepy or forcedThere’s also a lot of real talk around authenticity, AI-generated content, and why being slightly imperfect is now one of the only ways to stand out.Because when everyone sounds the same…The only thing left is being yourself.If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of terrible DMs…Or you’re trying to grow a business online without sounding like everyone else…This episode is for youFollow Dan MeredithInstagram: @therealdanmeredithFollow Laura BakerInstagram: @girlgainzblogContact the [email protected]:00 – Beauty & The Beast intro and setting the tone02:00 – The worst cold DMs (real examples)05:00 – Why “how much do you earn?” is a terrible opener08:30 – Scripted messages and cookie-cutter sales tactics12:00 – Loom videos telling people they’re doing everything wrong16:00 – Why cold DMs feel like bad first dates20:00 – Social media trust at an all-time low23:00 – Why doing your job well beats any sales tactic27:00 – Short-term tactics vs long-term relationships31:00 – What actually works when starting conversations35:00 – The line between personalised and creepy39:00 – Dating apps vs social media behaviour43:00 – Why people are tired of the same conversations47:00 – AI content, authenticity, and standing out51:00 – Final thoughts: be normal, do good work