This is probably obvious to most but man:
When you’re going to randomly message someone you’re not close with, make sure you have something to talk about.
Don’t just go “hi, what’s up”, and expect a good conversation to happen.
please
I know y’all mean well, but if you’re messaging me for something just cut to the chase. You’ll get way more respect from me than some dork who thinks they need to spend an hour leveling up my Social Link before they ask me for a commission
And especially when someone has social anxiety like I have. Just give me something, it makes me feel like a dick when I don’t know what to say and the message just ends up going unanswered. I don’t mind talking to my followers if you have questions and what not, but if all you give me is “Hello” I don’t have any point of reference to work with and the anxiety just ends up winning out.