Decide Who Gets in Your DM's
When someone sends you a message for the first time, it’s up to you to reply or like them back, which lets them know you’re into chatting and getting to know them. If you’re not feeling it, they won’t be able to send you any follow-ups.
Make a Great First Impression
If you’re thinking, “Yikes, my first message better be a good one,” you’re right! You don’t have to agonize over what to say to get their attention; that’s way too much pressure. All you have to do to make sure you’re sending meaningful first messages is to make sure you’re reading the person’s profile. Spend some time getting to know them through their photos and written profile, and send a thoughtful and personalized message. That way, they'll know you’re actually interested in them and you’re not just firing off messages to any profile you see.
If you don’t get a message back after that, don't get discouraged! After all, there are Plenty of Fish in the sea ;)
Keep in mind you'll need to have a main profile image to successfully send messages!