Content Writer
Instagram automated messages are a fast and simple way to engage with your prospects and keep them interested in what you have to offer.
Posting regularly on Instagram is not the only practice that will help you grow your brand and generate conversions. Besides, you need to know the exact best times to post on Instagram.
The community management aspect of Instagram is also a detrimental part of how businesses interact with their customers and provide a pleasant experience that will gain their loyalty.
With this being said, let’s find out how you can grow your Instagram using automatic messages.
Streamline your marketing with an efficient social media strategy template.
What Are Automated Instagram Messages?
Instagram automated messages are pre-written responses sent automatically for business or engagement purposes. They include instant replies, automated greetings, and DMs triggered by user actions. Advanced versions use chatbots to handle conversations more dynamically.
Automated Instagram messages allow you to send messages to your Instagram followers or non-followers, in a fast, immediate way, without any manual work from you.
This ensures that you build a solid presence on Instagram which according to research from Solitaired shows that Instagram features among the top 10 apps used in America, underscoring the staying power of these apps. In the comment section, you can send those messages either as an Instagram direct message in their DM inbox or publicly.
You’ll find all your direct messages in the top right corner of your screen, and this applies to both web and mobile devices.
It is enough to check your Instagram notifications to see any new comments, or go to your latest Instagram post and look at the comments.
Types of Automated Instagram Messages
Now that you know what Instagram auto messages are, let’s take a look at the top five types of messages and how you can use them to better engage with your potential customers.
Here are five types of automated Instagram DMs:
- Thank you messages
- Welcome messages for new followers
- Acknowledge new messages
- Customer orders support
- Outreach to new accounts
1. Thank You Messages
Sending “Thank you messages” can work wonders for your Instagram.
You can use “Thank you messages” in the following situations:
- Sending a message
- Placing an order via Instagram shoppable posts
- Following your Instagram page
- Replying to your Instagram Story
- Mentioning you in a post
| Example: Thank you for mentioning us in your story! |
2. Welcome Messages for New Followers
There is also the possibility to send automated messages to new Instagram followers. In this case, instead of sending a “Thank you for following” message, you can rely on a “Welcome” message.
The first message you send to your new followers helps create a powerful one-on-one interaction with the people who are getting to know your business better.
| Example: Hi! Welcome to our Instagram page. We are happy to meet you! |
3. Acknowledge New Messages
DM automation is useful for acknowledging new messages.
Being in touch with your audience 24/7 and providing fast replies sounds like a dream, but it might be a bit complicated to apply in real life.
With an around-the-clock automated messaging system, you can acknowledge new messages and assure your audience that they’ll receive a reply soon. This is reassuring and also gives off a great first impression.
| Example: Thank you for your message. We’ll reach out to you in the next few hours. Kind regards, [business name] |
4. Customer Orders Support
Another case where you can use Instagram automation is for customer support messages. These messages can send an instant reply to any question a user might have and keep the conversation quick and straight to the point.
This can happen by integrating a question such as “Was this answer useful?”, for which users can choose between the “Yes” or “No” options. If the support case requires further handling, you can step in and help the users solve their problems.
| Example: Hi there! Thank you for getting in touch. We’ll do our best to answer your question in the next 4 hours. |
5. Outreach to New Accounts
How about using messages on Instagram to outreach to new followers? You can start by sending your new followers ‘Welcome’ messages, and you can get creative by adding a link to your website, or a purchase link that contains a discount.
As you can already tell, doing this will increase your conversion rate and lead to an increase in sales.
| Example: Hi! Happy to meet you. Buckle up, because we offer a 10% discount on all our products! You can use this discount code: XXXXX on our website. |
Instagram DM Automation vs. Messenger Bots
Here are a few differences between an automated direct message and messenger bots:
- The audience
- The messaging process
- The follow-up process
1. The Audience
Instagram has an audience that is half a billion smaller than the Messenger one. Because of that, direct messages on Instagram have a simpler format. While you might share GIFs on Messenger or add different integrations, Instagram automated messages offer fewer options.
2. The Messaging Process
Messenger gives you a unique link to visit in case you want to start a conversation with someone.
However, if you want to send direct messages on Instagram, you’ll have to navigate to the person’s profile or reply to their story.
3. The Follow-Up Process
If your business has received an Instagram direct message, you have a 24-hour window to reply to it. If you don’t follow up with your followers during that time frame, you’ll have to wait for them to engage with you again.
The same rules apply to Messenger, the difference being that you can use other options that allow you to start the conversation with your followers again.
How to Use Instagram Automated Messages
So, we talked about Instagram automated message types, now all we have to do is focus on the practical side of things.
Here is how to use Instagram automated messages for better results:
- Auto-reply to comments on feed posts
- Auto-reply to mentions on Instagram Stories
- Move Instagram users from the comments section to your DMs
- Offer customer support directly in their inboxes
- Follow up on pending conversations with automated messages
- Acknowledge when a new message has been received
- Strive for lead generation and lead qualification
- Improve content visibility in front of your current followers
- Check-in with existing followers and customers
- Reach out to influencers for brand exposure
1. Auto-reply to Comments on Feed Posts
A comment auto-responder is one of the best ways to increase Instagram engagement. Send automated messages and watch the engagement increase.
You can ask your target audience to comment on your posts using a specific keyword. When people add comments containing that keyword, it can trigger an Instagram DM that can then increase the Instagram traffic to your website.
Not to mention, this is also a fast way to add visibility to your posts and increase your current engagement levels. Instagram auto-replies are the way to go.
2. Auto-Reply to Mentions on Instagram Stories
Stories are a great starting point for an Instagram direct message. They can effortlessly kickstart a conversation.
You can set your direct messages on Instagram to be instantly sent whenever a user mentions you in their Instagram Story. Instagram auto-replies should become your secret tool.
It can be either a simple “Thank you” message, or you can take advantage and provide the users with a link that will drive traffic to your website.
3. Move Instagram Users from the Comments Section to Your DMs
There might be comments that could be better addressed through an Instagram DM, especially when we’re talking about orders or different issues your users might experience.
Depending on the rules you set, you could respond to certain comments with a simple “Thank you for your inquiry, we’ve sent you an Instagram DM to further discuss this” message.
4. Offer Customer Support through DMs
You can send automated direct messages for social media customer support too. Furthermore, you can use clickable links via messages on Instagram and in this way, provide users with different articles or help sections from your website.
5. Follow Up on Pending Conversations with Automated Messages
Another way to use Instagram direct messages is to launch a drip campaign.
You can also use a general template in your Instagram auto message to follow up on any pending conversation. In the end, we all get busy sometimes and forget to reply to that message we read, said we’d reply to, and then never got around to it.
6. Acknowledge When a New Message Has Been Received
Direct messages are a great way to set expectations in terms of how soon users can get a reply. It can be any time frame you choose, as long as you never fail to consider the 24-hour window for sending back any Instagram direct messages.
You can also take advantage of Instagram auto DM tool and offer answers to the common questions you know your users have.
7. Strive for Lead Generation and Lead Qualification
Instagram DMs have the power to help you out with lead generation too. That is because you can send automatic messages as a response to a trigger, such as a keyword.
For example, you want to offer a certain discount code to users who send you a specific word. When they take this action, they’ll be asked for their email address.
By doing this, you can instantly grow your email list and use email marketing to nurture and guide your new leads through your sales funnel.
8. Improve Content Visibility in Front of Your Current Followers
“Psst, have you missed our newest post?”
An automated DM is a great way to increase content visibility. How? By promoting your newest posts you increase the chances of your content being liked and shared.
Also, the different time zones might play a role in the visibility of your post, so make sure you pay attention to timing. You can also thank your followers for mentioning your profile on their Stories.
Having fresh content to promote on your feed is important, and the good news is that you can use a tool like SocialBee to post on Instagram.
9. Check-In With Existing Followers and Customers
Short and sweet “Hello, just checking in with you” Instagram DMs hold a lot of power, as they give your brand communication a more personal touch.
Humanizing your brand can give you a substantial advantage in the face of your competitors. Also, checking in is a great opportunity to have a conversation with your existing followers. Soon enough, your fans will become customers. All it needs is persistence and a good communication strategy.
10. Reach Out to Influencers for Brand Exposure
Reaching out to influencers for brand exposure through messages on Instagram is another great way to connect and take advantage of DM automation.
Make sure you include in your message the reason why you reached out to them, why they’d be the best person for your brand, and what to expect in exchange for working with your brand.
It’s safe to say that a short and clear Instagram message can go a long way, especially when it comes to your brand’s exposure. Don’t be afraid to reach out to influencers, their high exposure levels will surely benefit your brand, both in the short and long run.
How to Set Up Automated Instagram DMs
Instagram doesn’t have a built-in way to enable you to send a direct message that’s automated. However, there are third-party apps that can help you out with that.
InstaChamp by MobileMonkey is one of those apps since it’s an Instagram auto DM tool. All accounts that have 1k to 100k Instagram followers are eligible to use InstaChamp by MobileMonkey.
Image credit: Mobilemonkey
Here’s how to set up an automated message using the MobileMonkey tool:
- Connect your Instagram account to the app through a Facebook Business Page.
- Allow the app to use automated Instagram messages.
- Create engaging Instagram replies with InstaChamp by MobileMonkey for story mentions, post comments, and Instagram DMs replies.
Alternative: IG Community Management Handled by Real People
| IMPORTANT: SocialBee does NOT support automated Instagram messaging. It allows users to view their DMs, comments, and mentions, from one place and reply manually to each message. |
Want to connect with your audience and keep conversations handled by real people? We’ve got something that makes it easy and keeps your team in the loop.
Try SocialBee’s Social Inbox to manage your Instagram interactions like messages, comments, and mentions. It simplifies everything by putting all your interactions in one place, so your team can see what’s going on and respond promptly and thoughtfully to every comment, question, or concern.
Stay active on Instagram, build real connections with your customers, and grow your business without having to manually check for new comments or messages.
The best part? You can manage more than your Instagram interactions.
Here are the social media platforms our social inbox supports:
- Instagram Business Profiles: mentions, comments, and DMs
- Facebook Pages: mentions, comments, and DMs
- X (Twitter) Profiles: mentions and comments
- LinkedIn Company Profiles: mentions and comments
- YouTube Channels: comments
- Google Business Profiles: questions
Managing engagement is just one of the many tasks you can tackle with SocialBee. Our platform offers a streamlined space to create, publish, reshare, and analyze your content effortlessly, reducing the manual work from your strategy. Additionally, it offers efficient team collaboration features and AI-powered tools that enable you to quickly generate captions and images.
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Instagram Automated Messages FAQ
Improve Your Instagram Communication
In a nutshell, while automated Instagram messages can quickly grab your prospects’ attention, they aren’t the only key to growing your brand. Real engagement comes from real conversations.
That’s where SocialBee steps in—it keeps things genuine and lets you handle messages personally, so you can build stronger connections with your audience.
Try SocialBee’s Social Inbox and see how it simplifies managing interactions without losing that personal touch. Ready to try it? Start with a free 14-day trial and make your social media management smoother and more personal.
