# CRISPR Brief — LinkedIn DM Template (Unsolicited)
## Draft: for outbound scouting to non-connected biotech VC scouts/associates. Use after verifying recipient matches buyer profile.

---

## When to use this template

Use this when the owner identifies a biotech scout or VC associate who:
- Has a public LinkedIn profile with recent CRISPR or gene-editing activity
- Has NOT received a warm intro or prior contact
- Does NOT have a known prior relationship with the owner

**This is NOT a warm intro.** A warm intro requires a trigger from the recipient's actual recent work (a deal, publication, talk). This DM template is for outbound prospecting to profiles that match the buyer persona.

---

## Consent and compliance note

LinkedIn's Terms of Service prohibit unsolicited mass messaging. This template is for one-to-one prospecting, not bulk outreach. Use responsibly:
- Personalize the opener to the recipient's public profile activity
- Do not send to more than 5–10 prospects per week initially
- If the recipient declines or says not interested, do not contact them again

---

### LinkedIn DM ( unsolicited)

```
Hi [Name] — I've been following the CRISPR gene-editing space 
and noticed [reference something specific from their profile — 
e.g., "your work on prime editing at [Firm]" or 
"the panel on gene therapy板凳 at [Event]"].

I put together a twice-monthly brief — CRISPR Brief — that 
synthesizes the one bioRxiv preprint, one FDA filing, and one 
pipeline move that actually matter for biotech scouts and VC 
associates each cycle. Written for deal screening, not broad 
biotech coverage.

Issue Zero is free, no account needed:
https://store-v2-khaki.vercel.app/crispr-brief-issue-zero.html

Happy to share if it's useful for your deal flow.
```

> **DM character count: ~290 chars** (LinkedIn DM limit is similar to connection request — stay under 300 chars)
> **The opener must reference something specific from their profile.** Generic openers ("Hi, I noticed you're in biotech") are not effective and often get ignored or reported.
> **Do NOT mention price in the DM.** The one-pager handles pricing and subscription.

---

### Personalization checklist (required before every send)

- [ ] Opener references something specific from the recipient's public LinkedIn activity:
  - A deal they worked on (check their posts or articles they've shared)
  - A company they mentioned in a comment or post
  - An event they spoke at or attended
  - A CRISPR-adjacent company in their portfolio (if trackable from public profile)
- [ ] One-pager URL confirmed live: `curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" https://store-v2-khaki.vercel.app/crispr-brief-issue-zero.html` → returns HTTP 200 ✅
- [ ] [Name] replaced with recipient's first name
- [ ] Check the recipient's recent 5–10 posts/comments for a specific hook before sending
- [ ] If no specific hook is available from public profile, do not send — use the warm intro template instead

---

### What NOT to say in LinkedIn DMs

| Don't say | Why |
|---|---|
| "I came across your profile" | False intimacy — LinkedIn shows when you view profiles |
| "I noticed you're in biotech/VC" | Too generic, no value add |
| "Would you be interested in a newsletter?" | Asking permission delays action; just send the link |
| "It's only $10/mo" | Do not mention price in unsolicited DMs |
| "I found you on LinkedIn" | Obvious, no personalization |
| "Just wanted to reach out" | No hook, no value proposition |
| Anything that sounds like a template | Personalize or don't send |

---

### The funnel this DM fits into

```
Owner identifies biotech scout/associate via LinkedIn profile research
  → Personalized DM sent (this template)
  → Contact opens Issue Zero (no gate)
  → Either:
    A) Contacts back → warm conversation → subscribe
    B) Ignores → no follow-up (unsolicited, respect inbox)
    C) Opens but doesn't convert → follow-up skeleton (only if engagement signal observed)
```

**The DM's only job:** Deliver the one-pager URL with enough context that the contact opens it. No pitch, no price, no subscription ask — those all happen on the one-pager and downstream pages.

---

### Relationship to other warm-channel assets

| Asset | When to use |
|---|---|
| Warm intro template | Contact has a known trigger (deal, publication, event) you can reference |
| LinkedIn DM template (this file) | Contact matches buyer persona but no known trigger — outbound prospecting |
| Follow-up skeleton | Contact opened/clicked Issue Zero but hasn't subscribed — engagement-contingent only |
| Partner/referral ask | Contact is an existing subscriber who knows someone who fits the buyer persona |
| Community referral ask | Existing subscriber shares CRISPR Brief in a closed biotech community |

**Do not use the LinkedIn DM template as a follow-up to the warm intro.** If you've already sent a warm intro, use the follow-up skeleton instead (and only if you observed engagement).