• Why DM sales don’t require scripts or discovery calls
• The real reason you feel “busy” but your sales still aren’t moving
• How to use PACE to build consistent momentum without living online
• Why engagement is the fastest path to clients (when you’re talking to the right people)
• How to make your offer feel clean, ready, and trustworthy (so people actually say yes)
• How to keep content simple — and still make it convert

This is the exact breakdown I followed:

1) 50% Engagement
Half your business time goes to conversations: replying, commenting, Threads keyword searches, story engagement, and real connection.

2) 40% Offer Readiness
Because if you stay ready… you don’t have to get ready.
Get the backend clean: onboarding, payments, client flow, clarity, and what you’re actually delivering.

3) 10% Simple Content
One simple piece. Start with the easiest platform for you (mine was Threads), then repurpose into stories to nurture and invite people into the DMs.

• 15 minutes: engage + DM your audience (be normal, don’t be weird)
• 10 minutes: review your offer readiness (if 5 people paid today, are you ready?)
• 5 minutes: post one simple piece of content (a story is enough)

If you don’t know your audience yet (and you’re tired of guessing), start with my free Spark the Conversation Challenge — it’s 5 days, 20 minutes a day, and you’ll walk out with a copy-mining blueprint: pain points, desires, exact words your people use, and the clarity to create content that finally lands.

And if you want ongoing support to build a clear message, sell through stories, and close in the DMs (without discovery calls)… The Phoenix Experience is for mission-led service providers who are ready to burn the script.

00:02 Solo parenting + husband deployed + still signed 12 clients in the DMs
00:58 Why this isn’t about scripts or being online 24/7
01:24 The foundation: audience clarity → message → DM conversations
02:30 Where “PACE” came from (February 2024)
04:21 The quiet-time moment: “PACE” drops in
05:25 CrossFit/Hyrox pacing → business pacing
06:52 PACE meaning: Proceed at Consistent Execution
07:22 The 3 things that stayed: engagement, offer, content
08:12 Why 50% engagement changed everything
09:11 Stop hiding in backend tasks (lovingly)
10:16 Threads keyword search + finding your people
11:14 Audit your conversations: are you talking to your people or randos?
12:41 Why audience clarity makes the offer easier
13:40 Offer readiness + “stay ready” truth
16:48 Spark the Conversation Challenge pitch
17:41 The 10% content rule + keeping it simple for 90 days
19:55 Homework: 30-minute PACE practice
21:09 Phoenix Experience membership invite
23:08 Wrap + next watch prompt

• Why “posting more” isn’t the fix when sales are slow
• How to use Stories to create leads → conversations → clients
• The 3 types of stories that move people into your DMs
• Easy market research story prompts (that don’t take all day)
• My 5-part story selling sequence (problem → reframe → micro tip → proof → CTA)
• How to DM people who engage without sounding awkward or salesy
• Why “Burn the Script” works better than perfect lines and copy-paste pitches
• The weekly homework to start seeing momentum

• 00:00 Why you’re not getting sales (and it’s not posting more)
• 01:10 Who I am + how I’ve helped women sell in DMs since 2023
• 02:05 How I signed 12 clients through DMs (no sales calls)
• 03:40 The season that forced me to simplify (solo parenting + homeschool)
• 08:20 The Stories Playbook: 3 story types that convert
• 09:45 Market research stories: one question a day
• 13:50 Why your first story should be engaging (Shannon McKinstry shoutout)
• 18:10 Story selling sequences: 3–5 slides + what to include
• 22:15 Offer stories: how to ask for the sale clearly
• 24:35 Homework for the week: post, DM, copy-mine
• 27:00 What’s coming next week

Use one per day:

• “What’s the hardest part about getting clients right now?” (poll)
• “The hardest part about ______ is ______.” (fill in the blank)
• “Do you want help with A or B?” (A/B vote)
• “Tap here if you’re struggling with ______.” (tap)
• “How many stories do you actually watch?” (poll)

• Free 5-Day Challenge — Spark the Conversation: https://lisbethgraham.co/freechallenge
• Join My Membership: https://lisbethgraham.co/thephoenixexperience
• Mentioned: Shannon McKinstry — https://www.instagram.com/shannonmckinstrie/

If this episode helped you, do me a favor: leave a quick review and share it with a service-based friend who’s tired of sales calls and wants a simple DM strategy that actually feels human.

Instagram stories to DM sales, DM sales without scripts, how to sell in the DMs, service-based business marketing, story selling strategy, market research on Instagram, selling without sales calls, conversations that convert, alignment business coach, Burn the Script

Host: Lisbeth Graham

If you’ve ever stared at your inbox and thought, “I don’t know who to talk to,” this episode is for you. Your DMs don’t feel awkward because you need a better script—they feel awkward because you don’t have enough context.

In this episode, I’m breaking down my FIRE Method for DM market research so you can start conversations with confidence, collect real audience language, and build content + messaging that actually lands—without sounding salesy.

I’m Lisbeth Graham, a business alignment coach for service-based pros. Since 2023, I’ve helped over a dozen women get clear on their audience, align their offer, and confidently sell in the DMs without scripts. Burn the script.

• Why DMs feel “salesy” even when you’re not pitching
• The difference between cold outreach and warm context (and why it matters)
• The FIRE Method:
  • Ignite: who to DM (warm people only)
  • Spark: what to ask (3 question types)
  • Flame: how to use their words for hooks, content, and offer messaging
• The exact DM openers to start research convos without being weird
• Your simple homework: 3 warm contacts, max 3 questions

IGNITE (who to DM):
Start with warm people:

• engaged with your posts
• replied to your stories
• past conversations
• people in your community

SPARK (what to ask):
Ask questions in 3 categories:

• Pain: “What’s the hardest part of ___ right now?”
• Attempts: “What have you tried so far?”
• Outcome: “If this was solved, what would change for you?”

FLAME (how to use it):
Save their exact words and use them for:

• hooks
• content topics
• messaging
• offer refinement
• sales page language

• “Hey ___, quick question—can I ask you something?”
• “Hey ___, I’m doing a little research. What’s the hardest part about ___ right now?”
• “You mentioned ___ before—what’s feeling most frustrating about it lately?”

1. Pick 3 warm contacts
2. Ask no more than 3 questions total
3. Save their exact words in a doc (your “copy bank”)
4. Use one sentence as a hook in your next post

🔥 Free 5-Day Spark the Conversation Challenge:
Join here → Challenge

✨ New membership coming soon: The Phoenix Experience
If you want weekly support with audience clarity, offer alignment, messaging, and simple DM sales—this is for you.
Reply “PHOENIX” to my email list or DM me on IG and I’ll send details when it opens.

📲 Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/coachlisbethgraham

• DM Market Research
• Audience clarity + offer alignment
• “Burn the script” approach to sales

DM sales, Instagram DMs, market research, target audience, ideal client, offer alignment, messaging, content hooks, story selling, sales without scripts, service-based business, women in business

It’s 2026. We’re talking about the elephant in the room.

Core lesson

• Demographics aren’t enough
• You can help everybody… but you shouldn’t
• Target audience is the center of everything (your spider diagram)

Why it matters

• If you’re having 20–40 DM convos and closing 1–2, something is off
• The pause is the hard part, but it’s the move

Homework

• Poll your audience
  • “If you’re a ___, would you want an offer that solves ___?”
  • Let the answers guide you (even if it stings)

CTA

• Free 5-day challenge (for now)
• REMINDER: like + download

In 2026, we’re done duct-taping strategies onto a shaky foundation. If you don’t know exactly who you serve, nothing you try will stick—content, offers, DMs, emails… all of it.

In this episode, I’m breaking down why “just because you can help them” doesn’t mean you should. I’ll share what I learned the hard way (2014 me, 2022 me… both a little chaotic), why “busy moms” isn’t enough, and how your target audience becomes the center point that everything in your business connects to.

What you’ll learn

• Why “more information” isn’t your problem
• The difference between having a demographic and having a real audience
• Why your DMs won’t convert when your audience is unclear
• How your target audience becomes the center of your entire business
• A simple homework prompt to test your offer with real people

Homework (do this today)
Poll your audience:

• “If you’re a ___, are you interested in an offer that solves ___?”
  Then pay attention to the answers. That’s data.

Free resource
Grab my free 5-day challenge here (for now):

Connect / next steps

• Subscribe to the channel
• Share this with a friend who keeps “over helping” everybody
• Want support getting clear? DM me “PHOENIX” and I’ll tell you what Phoenix Arising looks like right now.

In this episode of Rise to Alignment, Lisbeth Graham discusses the challenges service-based business owners face in making sales.

She emphasizes the importance of understanding one's target audience, moving beyond demographics to truly grasp their pain points and needs.

Lisbeth shares her personal journey, including her struggles with imposter syndrome and the lessons learned from her experiences.

She encourages listeners to engage with their audience and offers a free five-day challenge to help identify their target audience's needs.

Free 5-Day Challenge: Target Audience Alignment
https://lisbethgraham.co/freechallenge

Takeaways

Understanding your target audience is crucial for sales.

It's not just about demographics; focus on pain points.

Engaging with your audience can reveal their true struggles.

Listening to your audience can lead to better business strategies.

Personal experiences can shape your coaching approach.

Taking a step back can provide clarity in business.

Asking the right questions can uncover valuable insights.

A free resource can help identify your target audience.

Consistency and systems are key to managing time effectively.

Sales success often requires understanding your audience deeply.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Rise to Alignment

02:41 Understanding Your Target Audience

07:30 The Importance of Pain Points

10:24 Engaging with Your Audience