Connect.
Start a real conversation. No ask.
WHY IT USUALLY FAILS
There are no leaky pipelines. There are only un-invited prospects.
Most people do not have a lead problem.
They find fifteen interested people, and quietly decide none of them are ready.
No one gets asked. The month ends. They blame the content.
So they go make more content, which is the one thing that was already fine.
The leak is almost never your content. It is the ask you never made.
BEFORE YOU SEND ANYTHING
Before you send anything
Not replying is not rejection.
"You cannot take it personally if people don't reply. People are overwhelmed. They have a business problem, a career problem. You cannot assume that just because they don't reply, it means they don't care about you."
Cold by choice is fine. Cold by laziness is not.
A client's own summing up, which Marc confirmed: it is fine to let something go cold as long as you know you are not doing it because you are lazy to follow up.
The one that unlocks the send button.
"I used to be a yes man. I was damn scared. I don't like to piss people off. But I realised if my intention is to serve, even if the way I say it sucks, I can live with it. Even if I make mistakes, if I have the best intentions, there's nothing to feel guilty about."
Change your state first.
"Process less, just do, and listen to some music."
Two kinds of people, pick yours:
Some people act first and the feeling follows. Others have to clear the feeling before they can act. Neither is wrong. But if you are the second kind and you keep trying to force yourself to just send, that is why it is not working.
You will not do this forever.
"The cool thing is you don't have to do this forever. Next time you pass it to a team member, or just do less and go straight to the point. Now I don't do this as often, but if next month I want to step up my leads, I go back to doing this."
THE FRAME
Every DM you send is one move. Only one.
Qualify.
Find out what they actually want.
Invite.
Offer one clear next step.
CONNECT → QUALIFY → INVITE
Pick one job per message.
Trying to reconnect, qualify and pitch in the same message is why people go quiet on you.
Five kinds of message. Three jobs. One job each.
HOW MUCH RAPPORT BEFORE YOU ASK?
How much rapport before you ask?
Marc's own answer, and he was blunt about it:
"I can't be bothered to build that much rapport actually. I only build rapport with people if you want to work with me, or you want to grow a business. If not, I don't."
He also flagged it as his style, not a law:
"Whatever I say, you might not need to take, because it's you. You are the person."
The rule underneath it: build rapport in proportion to how much they have signalled they want your help. Not as a fixed ritual.
PLAIN WORDS FIRST
Some of these words get used a lot. Here is what they mean, in normal English.
- Opt in. Someone typed their email into your form to get your free thing. They have not paid you anything.
- Lead magnet. The free thing itself. A guide, a checklist, a short training.
- Autoresponder. A message that sends itself the moment someone opts in, without you touching your phone.
- Qualify. Finding out what someone actually wants, and whether you are the one who can help, before you offer them anything. It is not a test they pass or fail. It is you finding out if you are the right person.
- Objection. A reason someone gives for saying no or not yet. "Too expensive", "bad timing", "let me think about it".
- Probe. One polite question that asks why they said no, so you learn something. You are not arguing with them.
- Ladder. A set of messages sent one rung at a time, each one a reply to what they just said. You never send all the rungs at once.
- Easy out. A short line that gives them permission to say no without feeling rude. "All good if you aren't interested too!"
ONE · CONNECT
Send them something that actually helps. That is the whole move.
No ask. No hook. No link to your own thing every single time.
You saw something useful, you thought of them, you sent it.
My own line
"If it's not useful, it hurts you. So only send what fits."
WHEN TO USE IT:
Someone warm has gone quiet, and you have something they would actually open.
Warm
Hey [Name]! Super random, but I recently attended [a workshop] awhile back and thought this notes could be useful for you:
[link]
Enjoy!! And hope all has been well too haha
Same move, two temperatures. The second one is for people who do not know you yet.
Colder
Hey [Name]! Random, but I finally finished the thing I've been building for months & thought of you In it I cover: The filter that keeps your calendar full of the right people The asset that replaces the 24 page PDF nobody finishes The 15 minute daily rhythm that turns quiet followers into replies Want me to send it over? :)
Why this one works
- "Super random" takes the pressure off. It tells them this is not a setup.
- The reason comes before the link, so they know why it landed in their inbox.
- The warm line sits after the link, and there is no question in it. Nothing to answer means nothing to avoid.
GUARDRAILS
- Short reason, then a colon, then the link.
- The link goes on its own line.
- The warm close goes after the link, never before.
- (KEY) Share other people's stuff too, not only your own.
- Never tell them how long it takes to read.
It cannot read as yours
"The problem is you need to make sure it's damn bloody good. If someone keeps following up with you and sending you their own stuff, how would you feel? Self-serving, right?"
The rule he was given by a mentor:
"Stop being a summary guy. You need to add your own insights and perspectives as an entrepreneur."
Weak
Hey bro, this is an article I wrote about this
Strong
Hey bro, just FYI, I actually did research over the past four months about [person]. Here are my biggest notes. If you want, amazing, if not, no problem. Have a great week ahead
"Can you see? The packaging is very different."
And the third-party version: if you see something good that is not yours, send that. "Hey, this article, I thought of you."
GUARDRAIL: do not fake the benefit.
"I'm not trying to fake the benefit, or fake a message just so you can say yes. I really believe it's going to be useful."
FINISHED EXAMPLE: That is the shape it went out in. The blanks are yours to fill.
Takeaway:
If you only ever send your own things, you are not sharing. You are promoting.
On this exact message: "This actually got me clients. Without a sales call." That is his own memory of it, not a tracked number. Take it as a story, not a promise.
FOR COLDER PEOPLE
Three bullets, for people who do not know you yet
A warm person opens your message because it is you. A colder person does not. They need to see what is in it before they will spend the tap.
So for anyone cold, put three bullets in the message. Not five. Three is skimmable on a phone, five is a brochure.
There are only two shapes, and you pick by what you are sending.
GUARDRAILS
- Three bullets. Two is thin, five is a brochure.
- Each one under twelve words.
- Warm people do not need them. Adding bullets to a friend makes it feel like a broadcast.
- Only promise what is actually in there.
SHAPE ONE: what is inside
Use it when you are sending a guide, notes, a resource, a training.
Template
In it I cover: [the bit they would flip to first] [the bit most people get wrong] [the bit nobody else is saying]
Sample
Hey [Name]! Random, but I finally finished the thing I've been building for months & thought of you In it I cover: The filter that keeps your calendar full of the right people The asset that replaces the 24 page PDF nobody finishes The 15 minute daily rhythm that turns quiet followers into replies Want me to send it over? :)
SHAPE TWO: even if you
Use it when you are inviting someone to a call, a workshop or an offer. The bullets are their reasons to say no, said out loud before they can think them.
Template
...even if you: [their first reason it would not work] [their second reason] [their third reason]
Sample
Since we're chatting, wanted to personally reach out to see if I can help you add [outcome] in the next few months, even if you: Have no clear idea or offer to sell right now Struggle with the time & energy for your most profitable work Have no proven system for consistent leads & sales Are feeling stuck about the exact next steps to take Would you be remotely interested at all? All good if not! :)
THE RULE UNDERNEATH IT
Marc, coaching a client on cold messages: if they are cold, the first and second line have to be very clear. What do they get, and who is it for. You do not get to warm up first.
So the order for a cold message is: who it is for, what they get, three bullets, then the ask.
Where the bullets go: after the reason you are messaging, before the ask. Never after the ask, because by then they have already decided.
TWO · CONNECT INTO QUALIFY
Get a small yes before you ask for a big one.
Do not send the thing. Offer the thing.
The reply is the point. A person who typed yes will open it. A person who was handed it will not.
"It needs to scream potential value, but you do not give the value in the first message."
WHEN TO USE IT:
You have a guide, a checklist or a short training, and a list of people it fits.
Three clocks, not one
"Think less of, did you check my previous message, versus every month, what's the one or two things I can send that might be useful to you?"
Clock 1, inside a live thread
24 hours, then 48 hours, then one message closing it off. Three in total, then stop.
SCRIPT (the three message ladder):
Hey [Name]! I made a short guide I go through with my own clients before they commit
Want me to send it over? Just reply yes :)
(2 days later) Hey [Name]! Not sure if you saw my last message haha
I know you're probably busy, which is honestly why I made it
Still happy to send it over if useful! All good if not too :)
(4 days later) Hey [Name]! Last time I'll bother you on this haha
Guide's still here if you want it, otherwise I'll leave you to it & you can always message me down the road!
What to send when they say yes is the next section.
Clock 2, after you parked it warm
Five to seven days before your next move. Not the next day.
"So let's say like five days later, seven days later. Then you can go and invite them for anything you want."
Clock 3, the value layer
Roughly once every two weeks, and two campaigns a month.
"Every month you choose about two campaigns to promote. Maybe one giveaway, one workshop. You can send about once every two weeks."
The fallback
Use this when you genuinely have nothing to send. If you have anything useful, lead with that instead.
Hey [Name]! Did my last message reach you okay? :)
The ban is on checking in with nothing to say, not on checking in.
"Hey bro, how have you been, such a long time since I heard from you? Just want to check if everything is okay with your investment journey."
GUARDRAILS
- Clock 1, inside a live thread: Two nudges, then one message closing it off. Three in total, then stop.
- Close the file warmly. Do not vanish.
- The ban is on checking in with nothing to say, not on checking in.
Now you are in a conversation instead of a delivery.
Takeaway:
If they type yes, they open it. If you just send it, they delete it. Same guide.
TWO, PART TWO · THEY SAID YES. NOW WHAT?
Sending the guide is not the win. It is the start.
Most people send the thing and go quiet. That is a delivery, not a conversation.
Three messages turn it into one. Hand it over, ask one easy question, then point them somewhere based on what they say.
MESSAGE 1. Hand it over, and open a second door
SCRIPT, message one:
Here you go [Name]! [guide] The bit most people skip is on page [X], so don't miss that one I also have a second one on [topic]. Can you receive it? :)
The second offer is the one doing the work. It earns a second yes, so you stay in a conversation instead of finishing a delivery.
GUARDRAILS
- Name one specific page or section. It proves you know your own thing.
- The second offer must actually exist.
- One second offer, not a menu.
MESSAGE 2. The A, B or C question
This is the most useful message in the whole sequence. Send it once they tell you the guide arrived.
Concrete choices beat open questions here. Asking someone what is holding them back makes them stop and think. Asking them to reply A, B or C takes two seconds on a phone.
SCRIPT, message two:
Hey [Name]! Glad the guide reached you :) Spent [time] pulling that together from [what you did], covers both the inside and outside stuff because most people need both Quick question so I can point you to the right next thing Where are you at right now? Most people I chat with are in one of these spots: A) [Making money but it's scattered] B) [Doing okay but stuck, can't see what's blocking it] C) [Still early, figuring things out] Which one's closest? Just reply A, B or C, or say it in your own words if none fit!
GUARDRAILS
- Three options, never five. Five is a survey.
- Write the options in their words, not yours.
- Always leave the "or say it your own way" door open.
MESSAGE 3. If they go quiet
SCRIPT, nudge wording:
Hey [Name]! Bumping this up in case it got buried haha A, B or C? Takes 2 seconds & helps me point you to the right thing :)
SCRIPT, closing wording:
Hey [Name]! Last one on this from me Even if you're just watching for now, would love to know where you're at. That one question has helped a lot of folks get clear just by sitting with it If now's not the right time, all good, just let me know & I'll close this off on my end :)
Clock 1, inside a live thread: Two nudges, then one message closing it off. Three in total, then stop.
THEN: point them somewhere based on the letter
You are not sending the same thing to all three. That is the whole reason you asked.
They said A
Making money, but it is scattered.
Highest urgency. Name the thing you both know is broken, then invite them to the call.
They said B
Doing okay, but stuck and cannot see the block.
Tell them this is common. Their problem is not more tactics, it is not being able to see themselves clearly. Then invite.
They said C
Still early, just looking.
Do not push. Tell them the guide is plenty for now, and leave the door open for later.
If they said A or B
Got it, thanks for sharing! Honestly this is the exact spot I was in [when]. [One line about what actually fixed it] Here's what I'd love to do. I run a [name of your call], [length] where I help you: [Diagnose the thing that is actually blocking them] [Map your 1 to 2 biggest moves for the next 30 to 60 days] [Walk away clear, whether we work together or not] [Your own real client result here] [Your own second real client result here] Want to grab a slot? [link] Let me know once you've booked so I can confirm on my end :)
If they said C
All good, most people start here! Honestly the guide alone will give you plenty to work with for now If you ever want to go deeper, I run a [name of your call] where I help you map where you're at & what's actually possible No rush at all. It's here whenever you want it :)
GUARDRAILS
- Use your own real client results. Never borrow someone else's.
- Never write "no pitch" or "no pressure". Saying it out loud creates the thing you are denying.
- One link. One ask.
A yes to the guide is a small yes. The letter is the second one. The call is the third. Nobody jumps straight to the third.
THREE · INVITE
Tease first. Details second. Never the link straight away.
Two yeses, not one.
The first yes is tiny, so almost nobody says no to it. The second yes is the real one, and by then they asked for it.
"When I say would you like some details, it's a smaller yes than would you like to attend, you realise?"
WHEN TO USE IT:
You have something real to invite them to, and they are warm.
SCRIPT, message one:
Hey [Name]! Hope all has been well man!!
Anyway, after [time period] of work, I finally published my step-by-step guide to [topic] and thought you might be interested!
In it I cover: [the bit they would flip to first] [the bit most people get wrong] [the bit nobody else is saying]
Would you be interested to access it? All good if you aren't! :)
SCRIPT, message two, only after they say yes:
(on yes) Great!! Here's the link to access the guide:
[link]
Can you access it? :)
Save the date
Hey [Name]! Next month I'm organising something on [topic] Wondering, would you like more details when I announce it? Thought it could be useful for most of my friends anyway :)
"That one is not so chit-chat, because you're only asking people to save the date, and it's a bit more casual."
Two seconds to say yes. And you get a warm list before the campaign even exists.
GUARDRAILS
- Never send the link in message one.
- Name two or three real benefits, not a topic.
- Always give an easy out.
- Ask if they can access it. It reopens the chat.
Takeaway:
Make the first yes as small as you possibly can.
FOUR · CONNECT
The first message after long silence has no question in it.
A question in message one reads as "what does he want from me".
The guard goes up before the warmth lands.
So message one gives, and asks for nothing. Their reply is your opening.
WHEN TO USE IT:
Past clients and old contacts you have not spoken to in a year or more.
SCRIPT, message one:
Hey [Name]! Just wanted to share a note of gratitude for your trust & support with MI & me years back hahah
Trust everything's been going great for you lately, and I know while not everything might be 100% smooth all the time as that's life, as long as you keep the faith & keep taking action, you got this :)
Take care yes!! Sending you lots of love & joy today
SCRIPT, message two, only after they reply:
(only after they reply) Anyway what you been focused on these days? Always curious where you're channeling your energy now haha 💙
GUARDRAILS
- No question in message one. None.
- Do not name the old product they bought.
- Keep the "not everything is 100% smooth" line. It stops it sounding fake.
- Message two asks what, never "you good?".
FINISHED EXAMPLE: both scripts above are the finished versions. Only the name changes.
Takeaway:
Message one is pure give. The question is message two, after they answer on their own.
FIVE · QUALIFY
Second Positioning. Write it from their side, then score it.
Most bad DMs are not badly written. They are written from the wrong chair.
So before you type, move seats.
Change your state.
Walk, breathe, move rooms. Break the pattern.
Step into their shoes.
What are they worried about this week?
Name their motivators.
Three to five things they actually want.
Name their concerns.
Three to five reasons they would say no.
Rewrite it
with all of that in front of you.
CHANGE YOUR STATE → STEP INTO THEIR SHOES → NAME THEIR MOTIVATORS → NAME THEIR CONCERNS → REWRITE
Then ask yourself: if I were them, nought to ten, how likely am I to reply?
"If you score it 0 to 10, if it's not at least an 8, you want to rewrite it."
Under eight, go round again.
WHEN TO USE IT:
Any message you are nervous about. Also any message that keeps getting ignored.
SCRIPT (a real one, with no ask in it at all):
Hey, random but thought you might find this super useful! haha
In short, while prepping to be a new dad, I took a looong time to create the Busy Season Playbook, aka everything I'm doing to grow my business & stay focused during this crazy season:
[link]
If it's not your thing, no worries at all, just wanted to share either way!
Have an amazing week ahead :)
GUARDRAILS
- Write the motivators and concerns down. Do not do it in your head.
- Score it as them, not as you.
- Under eight means rewrite, not send anyway.
- If you cannot name one concern, you do not know them yet.
Takeaway:
When a DM is not landing, it is almost always because you wrote it from your side, not theirs.
THE REPLY
Acknowledge. Insight. Ask one question.
Three short bubbles, not one block. Use it on every single reply.
Acknowledge.
Say back what they said, like a person.
Insight.
One line of your own story. That is the rapport.
Ask.
One question that moves forward, with a reason attached.
SCRIPT:
You're welcome! This should be really useful, especially if you're building a side hustle right now
Honestly it was only after I got serious about my own mindset that I had the guts to start. A lot of my clients were stuck on the same thing
So btw right, are you thinking of starting your own thing too? Can send you some personalised resources if you are! :)
GUARDRAILS
- Always give a reason for the question.
- One question. Never two.
- Open questions only. Never "you good?".
- Answer an objection once, twice at most.
- Then point them at your content and step back.
The reason sounds like this: "I'm asking because I feel this could be useful for you."
FINISHED EXAMPLE: the script above is the finished example.
Permission to park a thread with no ask
Wonderful man! So assuming everything's going amazing & perfect, just hope you enjoy the things above & have a great day ahead
No ask. No closing-the-file language. You just stop, warmly, and you pick it up later with something useful.
THE 8 OUT OF 10 TEST
Three signals tell you they are ready.
How long are their replies getting?
What is the quality of those replies?
(KEY) Do you honestly believe you can help them?
On the second one
"It's like dating. If they reply you one or two words, you think they're going to say yes to the date?"
When those three add up to eight out of ten confidence, ask.
Not before, and not on a hunch.
GUARDRAILS
- Do not persuade. Your content does that.
- The message is for connection, not for closing.
- If it is a six, keep talking. Nothing is lost.
THE RHYTHM
Warmest names first. Always.
PENDING INVITES
People you already asked who have not answered.
FRESH REPLIES
People who have just messaged you back.
RE-OPENERS
People you spoke to before who went quiet.
NEW LEADS
Strangers and new followers you have not spoken to yet.
PENDING INVITES → FRESH REPLIES → RE-OPENERS → NEW LEADS
Most people run this backwards.
They spend their best energy on strangers and leave the warmest threads for last.
GUARDRAILS
- 45 to 60 minutes, blocked in your calendar.
- Closest to cash first, coldest last.
- Clock 1, inside a live thread: Two nudges, then one message closing it off. Three in total, then stop.
- Re-open in a few weeks, not never.
Ten to thirty reach-outs a day is a guide, never a guarantee or a target you must hit.
My own habit
"I used to send DMs while watching wrestling. Fifteen minutes once a week to write one good message, then copy, paste, change the name all week. That is what building volume looked like."
WHEN THE BUYER IS WEALTHY
When the buyer is wealthy
One property agent Marc studied serves only billionaires. Some of his funnels run two years. Somebody he meets today buys in 2028. But one deal can be worth ten years of an ordinary salary.
Rule 1: interview before you write anything.
"Go and talk to your rich friends, the top five people, to survey them. Record the calls. Because I can guess, but I'm not a rich person."
The interview, in his order. Situation first, then outcome, then problems.
Situation and buying behaviour:
When was the first time you bought one? What made you decide to finally jump? Was it impulse, or did you plan it properly? Cash or financing? And if cash, could you have?
Dream outcome:
What does buying these actually bring you? Joy? Significance? Pride? Or does your wife ask you to?
Problems:
When you buy, does it take a long time? Do you know exactly what you want, or is the deciding the frustrating part?
Rule 2: be an investigative journalist.
"Why is this one green, when the rest of your cars are blue? You need to be curious about that."
Rule 3: go to them, not their inbox.
"If you go to their house it's better, because they like to show off their toys. You get the energy. You don't want just the words, you want the energy."
The research invite:
Hey [Name]! I'm actually researching [who they are] to find out what their problems are I'd really love to learn more, because recently I realised a passion of mine is helping people [get the outcome] without all the trouble most people go through Is it okay if I drop by for 15 to 30 minutes to go through a few questions? :)
Rule 4: the third currency is an experience.
"Rich people can buy already. Unconsciously they're not looking to buy more things, they're looking for experiences. Even if they don't pay a single cent, you can give them an experience and they remember you for that."
So their value follow-up is not an article. It is: I got a lobang to a [event], want to come?
Rule 5: the relationship CRM.
"The first time he orders teh peng, you shut up, you write it down. Next time you come early and order it before he arrives. He'll be like, wah, this guy remembers me."
Same with their partner, their kids, what they said last time.
"If you're the number one guy, you just need to do a bit more prep than the everyday person."
GUARDRAIL: rich people like to buy, they do not like to be sold to. The whole sequence above never asks for money.
CROSS-LINK: message FIVE tells you to write down their motivators and their concerns. This interview is how you find out what those actually are.
You are not learning five messages. You are learning to stop needing luck.
When you can start a real conversation on purpose, a quiet month stops being an emergency.
Nobody can take that off you, in any market, on any platform.
THE DM SCRIPT LIBRARY
The full script library: every message, filled in and blank
Every script here appears twice.
SAMPLE is Marc's own filled-in version. Read it first so you can see what a finished message actually looks like.
TEMPLATE is the same message with [square brackets] where your own words go. Copy that one into your phone and fill it in.
Do not ship a sample without its template, and do not ship a template without its sample. Seeing the finished one is what makes the blank one usable.
"The only copy and paste DMs I still send are the cash campaign invite, and a proper seasonal message at the end of the year. I've done that one every year for four years."
Everything else in the library is a shape, not a send-as-is.
HOW TO READ THIS
Eight sections. They run in the order a real conversation runs, from the moment someone hands over their email to the moment they are sitting on a call with you.
Each section tells you three things before any script appears:
- WHEN TO USE IT. The moment you send it.
- WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. What you are waiting for after you hit send.
- GUARDRAILS. Two or three things that break it if you get them wrong.
Then each script has a plain What this does line above it, so you never have to guess.
PLAIN WORDS FIRST
Some of these words get used a lot. Here is what they mean, in normal English.
- Opt in. Someone typed their email into your form to get your free thing. They have not paid you anything.
- Lead magnet. The free thing itself. A guide, a checklist, a short training.
- Autoresponder. A message that sends itself the moment someone opts in, without you touching your phone.
- Qualify. Finding out what someone actually wants, and whether you are the one who can help, before you offer them anything. It is not a test they pass or fail. It is you finding out if you are the right person.
- Objection. A reason someone gives for saying no or not yet. "Too expensive", "bad timing", "let me think about it".
- Probe. One polite question that asks why they said no, so you learn something. You are not arguing with them.
- Ladder. A set of messages sent one rung at a time, each one a reply to what they just said. You never send all the rungs at once.
- Easy out. A short line that gives them permission to say no without feeling rude. "All good if you aren't interested too!"
MY TEXTING RULES, AND WHY YOU NEED YOUR OWN
These are the rules I text by. I did not make them up, I counted them out of my own sent messages. Some of them are just good craft and will work for anybody. The rest are mine, and copying those will make you sound like me instead of you. Read the list, take the craft, then go read your own last twenty messages and write down what you actually do.
The parts that work for anyone: keep a first message short and split it into a few bubbles, one thought each. Give an easy out on anything with an ask in it. Do not end on a full stop, it reads cold on a phone. Say why you are messaging in the first line or two.
The parts that are mine: haha, :), the blue heart, & instead of and, and the Singlish. Those are my tics. Yours will be different, and yours are the right ones for your people.
If you change a script, keep these. They are the reason the messages sound like a person.
Hey [Name]!Never a comma after the name.- Never end a message on a full stop. End on
!,!!,:),k!or nothing at all. &instead ofandinside the message.hahais fine.HAHAandlolare not, they belong in messages to your mates.:)and 💙 belong here. 😂 does not.- No Singlish to a prospect. Save it for friends.
- Anything with an ask in it carries an easy out.
- Never write
uorur. Writeyou. - No em dashes, and no hyphen used to join two halves of a sentence. Use a comma or a full stop.
On length. A first message to someone runs 50 to 100 words, split across 2 to 4 short bubbles, one thought per bubble. Replies in the middle of a live conversation run much shorter, sometimes one line. Both are correct. The long rule is for openers, not for every reply.
THE NUMBERS IN MY SAMPLES ARE MINE, NOT YOURS
Every number below is one I have actually counted and can back up if somebody asks. They are printed here so you can see where a credibility line sits inside a message and how light it should be. They are not for you to use.
- 1,200+ students taught
- 150+ clients coached
- $1M+ in cash collected
- $7M+ in client results
- 2,200+ coaching calls delivered
- Former number one Tony Robbins affiliate in Asia, 2019, one year only
Your templates leave every number blank, because they are your numbers, not his. If you do not have a number yet, take the line out. Do not borrow one.
01
AFTER THEY OPT IN
WHEN TO USE IT: The moment someone gives you their email for your free guide, or right after they buy something small from you.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: You are fishing for one word back. "Yes". That single word turns a name on a list into a conversation.
GUARDRAILS
- Ask if they got it. Do not send it again on top. The reply is the whole point.
- Say you are a real person in the first two lines, or it reads like spam.
- Make the reply one word long. "Yes" takes two seconds on a phone. A paragraph does not.
1.1 The WhatsApp autoresponder
What this does: Fires by itself the second they opt in, so the first message lands while they still remember signing up.
Sample
Hey [Name]! Marc here from Master Implementers, this is an autoresponder but I read every reply after this myself! Just wanted to check if the Busy Season Playbook reached your email already? Just reply "yes" if you got it, & if not we'll send it to you directly here :)
Template
Hey [Name]! [Your first name] here from [your business name], this is an autoresponder but I read every reply after this myself! Just wanted to check if [the name of your free guide] reached your email already? Just reply "yes" if you got it, & if not we'll send it to you directly here :)
1.2 The manual version
What this does: The same job, typed by you, 12 to 24 hours later. Use this on Facebook and Instagram, where you cannot automate it.
Sample
Hey [Name]! Marc here, not a bot k haha Just wanted to check if you managed to register for & receive the Busy Season Playbook already? Just reply "yes" if you did! If not, I'll send it straight over to you here so you don't have to dig through your inbox :)
Template
Hey [Name]! [Your first name] here, not a bot k haha Just wanted to check if you managed to register for & receive [the name of your free guide] already? Just reply "yes" if you did! If not, I'll send it straight over to you here so you don't have to dig through your inbox :)
02
AFTER THEY SAY THEY GOT IT
WHEN TO USE IT: They typed "yes". Send both of these before the day is out, while the chat is still warm.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: They tell you the one thing that is actually stuck. That answer is the whole reason you sent the guide in the first place.
GUARDRAILS
- Never tell them how long the guide takes to read. It is not your business how they spend their evening.
- Point at one specific bit of your own guide. It proves you actually made it.
- One question. Never two. Two questions get zero answers.
2.1 The delivery message
What this does: Confirms they have it, points them at the best part, and opens a second door so the conversation does not end on a full stop.
Sample
Great!! It's going to be really useful so do check it out when you get the chance :) The part most people skip is the weekly reset at the back, so don't miss that one Btw, since you were interested in this one, I've a second guide I'd love to send you too. Can you receive it? :)
Template
Great!! It's going to be really useful so do check it out when you get the chance :) The part most people skip is [the specific page or section they should not miss], so don't miss that one Btw, since you were interested in this one, I've a second guide on [your other topic] I'd love to send you too. Can you receive it? :)
2.2 The One Thing question
What this does: Gets them to name their single biggest block in their own words, which is the only thing that tells you whether you can help.
Sample
Before I send it over, can I ask you one quick question? What do you feel is the biggest reason you're not where you want to be right now? Another way to put it: what's the One Thing in your business or life that, if you solved it, would make everything else feel easier? It's helped me get a lot of clarity over the years, & it means I can send you resources that actually fit you instead of generic ones! All good if you'd rather not share too :)
Template
Before I send it over, can I ask you one quick question? What do you feel is the biggest reason you're not where you want to be right now? Another way to put it: what's the One Thing in your [business / health / career] that, if you solved it, would make everything else feel easier? It's helped me get a lot of clarity over the years, & it means I can send you resources that actually fit you instead of generic ones! All good if you'd rather not share too :)
03
IF THEY GO QUIET
WHEN TO USE IT: You asked the One Thing question and nothing came back.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: Either they answer, or you close the file yourself. Both are fine. What is not fine is leaving it hanging for six weeks and then reappearing.
GUARDRAILS
- Clock 1, inside a live thread: Two nudges, then one message closing it off. Three in total, then stop.
- The ban is on checking in with nothing to say, not on checking in.
- Closing the loop warmly often gets the reply. People answer the message that lets them off the hook.
3.1 The fallback
Use this when you genuinely have nothing to send. If you have anything useful, lead with that instead.
What this does: Makes it easy for them to reply late without feeling bad about it.
Sample
Hey [Name]! Did my last message reach you okay? :) No rush at all, it's a question that takes a bit of reflection. It's one that's helped me a ton over the years, inspired by a book called The One Thing All good if you'd rather not share right now too! Just let me know either way so I can close it off on my end :)
Template
Hey [Name]! Did my last message reach you okay? :) No rush at all, it's a question that takes a bit of reflection. It's one that's helped me a ton over the years, [where you first got it from] All good if you'd rather not share right now too! Just let me know either way so I can close it off on my end :)
3.1b The variant, when they went quiet on the guide itself
What this does: Same job, but for the person who never told you whether they opened your guide at all.
Sample
Hey [Name]! Just wanted to ask if you managed to check out the Busy Season Playbook so far? If you have, did you find any of it helpful? & if not yet, shucks, promise me you'll take a look k! Everything in there is stuff I've used & tested on myself first, so I'd hate for it to just sit in your inbox :)
Template
Hey [Name]! Just wanted to ask if you managed to check out [the name of your free guide] so far? If you have, did you find any of it helpful? & if not yet, shucks, promise me you'll take a look k! Everything in there is stuff I've used & tested on myself first, so I'd hate for it to just sit in your inbox :)
3.2 The 48 hour nudge
What this does: Your last message on this thread. It gives the question away for free, whether they reply or not.
Sample
Hey [Name]! Last one from me on this :) If it's not the right time, all good, I'll close it off on my end Either way I hope you still take a moment to sit with the question yourself. It's one of my favourite ones to ask myself & my clients, & it's been really helpful over the years Have an amazing week ahead!
Template
Hey [Name]! Last one from me on this :) If it's not the right time, all good, I'll close it off on my end Either way I hope you still take a moment to sit with [the question you asked] yourself. It's one of my favourite ones to ask myself & my clients, & it's been really helpful over the years Have an amazing week ahead!
3.3 Close the file
What this does: Ends the thread on purpose instead of letting it rot, and leaves the door open for later.
Sample
Hey [Name]! Assuming this isn't the right fit for you right now, which is completely fine :) Closing the loop on my end so I'm not clogging up your chat If anything changes down the road, you know where to find me & my door is always open Take care yes!! Have an amazing week ahead 💙
Template
Hey [Name]! Assuming this isn't the right fit for you right now, which is completely fine :) Closing the loop on my end so I'm not clogging up your chat If anything changes down the road, you know where to find me & my door is always open Take care yes!! Have an amazing week ahead 💙
04
AFTER THEY SHARE A CHALLENGE
WHEN TO USE IT: They told you what is actually stuck. Reply the same day if you can.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: They say yes to hearing more about a call, or they say no. Either way you now know something real about them.
HOW THESE THREE GO OUT: Message 4.1 goes first, on its own. Let it land. Then 4.2 and 4.3 go out together as one message. That is roughly 90 words, which is exactly right.
GUARDRAILS
- Say back the specific thing they mentioned. Not "your challenges". The actual words they used.
- Never write "this is not a sales pitch" or "there'll be no pitching". Saying it out loud creates the suspicion it is denying.
- Offer the call. Do not sell the call. The offer is one line, then an easy out.
4.1 The acknowledge
What this does: Shows you actually read what they wrote, and that you have been in the same spot.
Sample
Ah shucks, thanks for sharing that with me! Especially the part about your offer feeling scattered, that one is more common than you'd think I was in the exact same spot back in 2024, so I know how draining it gets
Template
Ah shucks, thanks for sharing that with me! Especially the part about [the exact thing they said], that one is more common than you'd think I was in [the same spot / right there with a client of mine] [when], so I know how draining it gets
4.2 The confidence line
What this does: Tells them, once and without hype, that you have handled this before.
Sample
I've a few tried & proven strategies that would really help here, especially after coaching 150+ clients through the same kind of thing Pretty confident I can help you out, & at the very least give you some direction & clarity on it fast!
Template
I've a few tried & proven strategies that would really help here, especially after [your own real experience or number, or delete this half of the line if you don't have one yet] Pretty confident I can help you out, & at the very least give you some direction & clarity on it fast!
4.3 The call invite
What this does: Offers one clear next step, with a door out of it built in.
Sample
What usually works best is hopping on a 60 minute Private Business Clarity Consult, where I show you exactly how I'd handle it if I were you, built around your situation & not generic advice Want me to send you the details? :) All good if you aren't interested too!
Template
What usually works best is hopping on a [length] [name of your call], where I show you exactly how I'd handle it if I were you, built around your situation & not generic advice Want me to send you the details? :) All good if you aren't interested too!
4.4 The buyer variant of the invite
What this does: Same invite, but for someone who already bought something small from you. It names the four things that are usually in the way, so they recognise themselves.
Sample
By the way, since we're already chatting, I wanted to personally reach out to see if I can help you build toward $20-50K a month, even if you: Have no clear offer to sell right now Struggle with limited time & energy for the profitable work Have no proven system for consistent leads & sales Feel stuck & unsure of the exact next step Would you be remotely interested at all? Just reply "yes" if you are, & all good if not too :)
Template
By the way, since we're already chatting, I wanted to personally reach out to see if I can help you [reach the result you help people reach], even if you: [The first thing that's usually in their way] [The second thing] [The third thing] [The fourth thing] Would you be remotely interested at all? Just reply "yes" if you are, & all good if not too :)
05
BOOKING AND CONFIRMING
WHEN TO USE IT: They said yes to the call. Now get it into a calendar and keep it there.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: They book, they confirm, and they show up ready instead of showing up cold or not at all.
GUARDRAILS
- Short reason, then a colon, then the link on its own line, then the warm close underneath. Never the other way round.
- Ask them to tell you once they have booked. It reopens the chat and it catches the ones whose booking silently failed.
- Ask for prep once, warmly, with a
k?on the end. Do not lecture them about your time.
5.1 The link
What this does: Hands over the booking link and gets one more small yes on the way past.
Sample
Great!! Here's the link to grab a slot at your earliest convenience: marcteo.com/work-with-us Let me know once you've booked so I can confirm it on my side! :)
Template
Great!! Here's the link to grab a slot at your earliest convenience: [your booking link] Let me know once you've booked so I can confirm it on my side! :)
5.1b The variant, when you'd rather offer times than a link
What this does: Same job without a booking page. Three options, and they reply with a number. Use this when they have gone cold on links, or when you have no calendar tool yet.
Sample
Great! I've a few slots left next week that might suit you: 1. Tue 16 Sep, 2pm 2. Wed 17 Sep, 10am 3. Thu 18 Sep, 8pm Which one works? Just reply 1, 2 or 3 will do :)
Template
Great! I've a few slots left next week that might suit you: 1. [Day, date, time] 2. [Day, date, time] 3. [Day, date, time] Which one works? Just reply 1, 2 or 3 will do :)
5.2 The confirmation
What this does: Tells them it is real and locked, and makes sure the calendar invite actually landed.
Sample
Great! Locked it into my calendar :) Also sent over a calendar invite, could you check if you received it & accept it if you haven't yet? Talk to you then!!
Template
Great! Locked it into my calendar :) Also sent over a calendar invite, could you check if you received it & accept it if you haven't yet? Talk to you then!!
5.3 The prep note
What this does: Sets up how the call will run so nobody wastes the first fifteen minutes, and sends them the one thing worth watching first.
Sample
Ok, talk to you next week! Sorry can't do any earlier, we're already full for the next few days haha Since both our time is valuable, please show up on time, prepared, & somewhere quiet you can focus in k? What will really help us make the most of it is watching this before we speak: callbooked.marcteo.com See you! :)
Template
Ok, talk to you [when]! Sorry can't do any earlier, we're already full for the next few days haha Since both our time is valuable, please show up on time, prepared, & somewhere quiet you can focus in k? What will really help us make the most of it is watching this before we speak: [your prep video link] See you! :)
06
THE ACA WARM-UP
ACA stands for Acknowledge, Compliment, Ask. It is three small moves, in that order, and it is how you talk to someone who is not expecting to hear from you.
WHEN TO USE IT: On someone you have not spoken to in a while, usually off the back of something they just posted or told you.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: Nothing, on purpose. You are building enough goodwill that a question later does not feel like an ambush.
THE RULE THAT MAKES IT WORK: Three rounds is the patient end of the range. The impatient end is one question that goes straight to what they actually have or want. Both work. Pick by how much interest they have shown.
GUARDRAILS
- If you are commenting on their posts, move to the DM after one or two comments. If it has been years, comment a few more times first.
- Never ask a question on the first comment. That is the move everyone can smell.
- Name a trait in the compliment, not just the thing they did. You want something you can call back to later.
6.1 Acknowledge
What this does: Says back what they just said or posted, so they know a human is on the other end.
Sample
Wow this looks so good! Where is this place? Congratulations on quitting your job!! All the best for your fitness journey!! Exciting times ahead Two kids & you're a full-time accountant...
Template
Wow [your honest reaction to what they posted]! [One short question about it]? Congratulations on [the specific thing they just did]!! All the best for [the thing they just started]!! [Two or three warm words] [Say their situation back to them in their own words]...
6.2 Compliment
What this does: Names a good trait behind the thing they did, so you have something to bring up again later.
Sample
Can see that you definitely know where the best places to eat are yeah!! Must take a lot of courage to do what you did! Not everyone is willing to start that journey & it's really awesome that you did!! Supermum! So hardworking, managing a full-time career & 2 kids...
Template
Can see that you definitely [the trait you're naming] yeah!! Must take a lot of [courage / discipline / patience] to do what you did! Not everyone is willing to [the hard thing they did] & it's really awesome that you did!! [A one-word nickname for the trait]! So [trait], managing [the two hard things they juggle]...
6.3 Ask
What this does: One open question that quietly points at what you help with. Three rounds is the patient end of the range.
Sample
How do you find the time to research all these food places? Must be quite tiring! So what are your immediate plans since you quit your job? So how has your progress been since you started the journey? Do you get any time for yourself these days?
Template
How do you find the time to [the thing they do]? Must be quite [tiring / full on]! So what are your immediate plans since [the change they made]? So how has your progress been since you started [their thing]? Do you get any time for [the thing your work is about] these days?
The impatient version, worked
Sample
Wow that's amazing man! Is it in your portfolio right now?
Then whatever they say next tells you the fear. Then:
Template
Recently I was putting together a [toolkit] to help people with exactly that. Want me to send it over?
07
THE QUALIFYING LADDER
Qualifying means finding out what someone actually wants, and whether you are the one who can help, before you offer them anything. It is not a test. It is you finding out if you are the right person for them.
WHEN TO USE IT: Once the ACA warm-up has done its job and they are talking back properly.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: By the last rung you either have a call in the diary, or you know for certain you are not the right fit. Both are wins.
HOW THE LADDER WORKS: One rung per message. Each rung is a reply to what they just said. Never send two rungs in a row, and never send all five at once. These are short on purpose, because they are replies inside a live conversation, not openers.
GUARDRAILS
- Always give a reason for the question. "Asking because I can send you something useful" turns an interrogation into a favour.
- Say their goal back in their own words before you ask the next thing.
- If a rung gets a one-word answer, do not climb. Go back and warm it up again.
7.1 Clarify goal
What this does: Finds out what they are actually trying to do, before you assume anything.
Sample
Understand! So what are you trying to do now when it comes to your coaching business? What are your goals in the first place? Asking because I can send over some tips or resources based on what I've done myself, if any of it is useful to you :)
Template
Understand! So what are you trying to do now when it comes to [their area]? What are your goals in the first place? Asking because I can send over some tips or resources based on what I've done myself, if any of it is useful to you :)
7.2 Label problem
What this does: Says their goal back to them, then asks what is in the way. Saying it back is what makes them open up.
Sample
Understand! So you're trying to build up to $20-50K a month with one offer & one funnel What's been your biggest challenge or struggle with that so far?
Template
Understand! So you're trying to [their goal, in their own words, including [the number they named]] What's been your biggest challenge or struggle with that so far?
7.3 Overview pain
What this does: Finds out what they have already tried, so you do not offer them something that has already failed them.
Sample
Got it! Have you tried other ways to solve it before? & how did those go for you?
Template
Got it! Have you tried other ways to solve it before? & how did those go for you?
7.4 Create curiosity
What this does: Tells them you have a way through, without explaining the whole thing in a DM.
Sample
Understand! I've a few tried & proven strategies that would really help with this, especially after coaching 150+ clients & delivering 2,200+ coaching calls over the years Especially the part you mentioned about your offer changing every month, because I've been through that exact thing myself
Template
Understand! I've a few tried & proven strategies that would really help with this, especially after [your own real experience, or delete this half if you don't have one yet] Especially the part you mentioned about [the exact thing they said], because [what you went through, or who you've helped through it]
7.5 Get on the phone
What this does: Asks for the call. One line, one question, one easy out.
Sample
What usually works best is hopping on a 60 minute call where I walk you through the exact strategies & frameworks, built around your specific situation instead of generic advice Would you be up for that? :) All good if the timing isn't right too!
Template
What usually works best is hopping on a [length] call where I walk you through the exact strategies & frameworks, built around your specific situation instead of generic advice Would you be up for that? :) All good if the timing isn't right too!
08
THE RE-OFFER LADDER
A re-offer is when you already offered something, got nothing back, and offer again without nagging. The trick is that each time you come back you bring something new, not the same request louder.
WHEN TO USE IT: They went quiet on an offer, a link, or an invite.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: You either get a yes to something smaller, or you get a real reason for the no. The reason is worth almost as much as the yes.
GUARDRAILS
- Bring something new each time. A second video, a different topic. Never the same ask twice.
- Clock 1, inside a live thread: Two nudges, then one message closing it off. Three in total, then stop.
- When they say no, ask why once, politely, and then let it go. One probe, not a debate.
8.1 The fallback
Use this when you genuinely have nothing to send. If you have anything useful, lead with that instead.
What this does: Gives them a clean way to reply late. This one line is the whole message.
Sample
Hey [Name]! Did my last message reach you okay? :)
Template
Hey [Name]! Did my last message reach you okay? :)
8.2 The 48 hour re-offer
What this does: Assumes the best about their silence, then puts something new on the table instead of repeating the old ask.
Sample
Hey [Name]! Assume you must be busy, so no stress at all But since I thought this might be up your alley, I recently shot a video on building a $20-50K month with 1 offer & 1 funnel, & exactly how you can replicate it yourself Step by step, with real examples. Want me to send you the link? All good if not too! :)
Template
Hey [Name]! Assume you must be busy, so no stress at all But since I thought this might be up your alley, I recently shot a video on [your topic], & exactly how you can replicate it yourself Step by step, with real examples. Want me to send you the link? All good if not too! :)
8.3 The video fallback
What this does: They said no to the first video. So you offer a different one, once, and then stop.
Sample
All good! One of the other most popular trainings I've ever run is on getting your first 10 clients from your own contact list Would you be interested in that one instead? :)
Template
All good! One of the other most popular trainings I've ever run is on [your other topic] Would you be interested in that one instead? :)
8.4 The polite no probe
What this does: They said no to both. This asks why, once, so you learn something real. You are not trying to change their mind.
Sample
All good! Will keep sending you useful stuff down the road anyway :) Was just curious though, could I ask what's making it a no for now? Perhaps everything is going 100% smooth for you already haha Only asking so we can keep making resources that actually help folks All good if you'd rather not answer too! Thanks in advance & have a great week ahead :)
Template
All good! Will keep sending you useful stuff down the road anyway :) Was just curious though, could I ask what's making it a no for now? Perhaps everything is going 100% smooth for you already haha Only asking so we can keep making resources that actually help folks All good if you'd rather not answer too! Thanks in advance & have a great week ahead :)
DO IT NOW
Send ten messages tonight.
Trigger: the moment you sit down in front of the TV tonight.
Do this:
Open your phone. Start with the ten warmest names, not the coldest. One job per message. Pick the type off the map at the top of this page.
Deadline: before you sleep tomorrow night.
If you get to six and the night is gone, six is fine. Ten is the aim, not the rule.
Post your reply count in the group.
Drop how many you sent and how many came back. That is how we all learn what actually lands.
TAKE THE COACH WITH YOU
The AI DM Coach.
Every script and every rule across both pages, packed into one file.
Paste it into ChatGPT or Claude, type START, and it writes the message with you. One question at a time, then a real draft in bubbles.
It never sends anything. You always send it yourself.