Sick of drowning in DMs? Yeah, we hear you. Juggling Instagram chats, message requests, and direct messages no longer has to be that chaotic, though. Thanks to a little help from Manychat, your Instagram DMs can practically run themselves.
But hold up — before we go over how you can be the master of Instagram direct messages, let’s talk about what changed…
Instagram Direct Messages Evolved — Did You?
Way back in 2020, when Meta was still figuring out how to be Meta, they merged Instagram and Messenger chats. This was huge, right? Suddenly, users could handle all their direct messaging in one place, on both platforms. But we’re here to talk Instagram, where this upgrade means you can reply to specific messages in a thread and keep those chats organized.
But that was 2020. It’s time to get a grip on your Instagram chat strategy. We’ve got a plan to make sure you never again lose hours manually replying to messages. Because guess what? Automation is your new best friend.
Automate Your Instagram DMs with Manychat
Replying manually to every Instagram user who slides into your DMs? No thanks. Let’s save that for people who still use flip phones. Automation is the key to staying sane while scaling up your brand. With Instagram Automation by Manychat, you can create automated flows that respond to direct messages for you. This gives every follower and customer a slick experience.
Here’s how automating your Instagram direct messaging can save your sanity:
- Manage customer questions like a boss: Set up a chatbot with pre-built responses that tackle your most common customer queries. Now, instead of playing DM ping-pong all day, you can focus on the stuff that matters.
- Promote sales without lifting a finger: Got someone new to your Instagram chat? Welcome them with a conversation starter that points them straight to your latest sale or offer. Better yet, take a page from brands like hideAWAY Handmade and throw in a fun quiz that ends with a coupon.
- Run giveaways like a pro: Forget manually managing contest entries. Use Instagram automation to DM users who comment on your posts and instantly enter them into your giveaway. Roma by Rochi did this and saw a 741% lift in engagement — not too shabby, right?
- Collect customer data (ethically, of course): Ask for contact info during chatbot flows — like emails for sending freebies or reminders. Just be sure to keep it GDPR compliant!
- Stay on top of Story mentions: Manychat’s Story Mentions trigger can automatically respond to all those mentions you’re getting, boosting engagement and making you look like a superstar in your followers’ eyes.
Not Everything Should Be Automated (but Most Things Can Be)
Of course, you’re still going to need to dive into your Instagram chat sometimes. The Manychat Live Chat dashboard is there for the moments when your personal touch is needed, but for the majority of those Instagram direct messages, automation can do the heavy lifting.
How to Reply to a Specific Instagram DM
Now, in case you’re the hands-on type (or just curious), here’s how to reply to an Instagram direct message manually on both iOS and Android. Spoiler: it’s super easy.
- Open the Instagram app and tap the little Messenger icon in the top right.
- Find the message you want to reply to.
- Swipe right on the message or press and hold until the Reply option pops up.
- Type your message and hit send. Done.
Web version? Same steps, but you’ll click a few more icons. Log in, find the message, hit reply, and let it rip. Easy, right?
Your Secret Weapon for Customer Retention
Sure, Instagram direct messages are great for snagging new customers, but if you’re not using them to keep your current customers coming back for more, you’re leaving money on the table. Customer retention is way cheaper than acquisition, and DMs are the perfect way to stay top of mind.
Here’s how Instagram DMs can keep your customers hooked:
- Personalized follow-ups: After a sale or interaction, hit your customers up with a personal direct message. Whether it’s a “thank you” for their order or a quick check-in, it adds a human touch that automated emails just can’t beat.
- Exclusive offers and VIP treatment: Make your loyal customers feel special by sliding into their DMs with exclusive discounts or early access to new products. The catch? Make these offers Instagram-only. They’ll keep watching your DMs like a hawk.
- Customer support that doesn’t suck: We’ve all experienced the pain of waiting for customer support, but with Manychat automation, you can instantly answer FAQs or escalate complex issues to live support when needed. The faster you solve a customer’s problem, the more likely they’ll stick with you.
- Re-engage dormant customers: Got customers who haven’t interacted in a while? Use DMs to re-engage them with a personalized message — whether it’s a reminder of their past purchase, a recommendation based on their history, or a limited-time offer that’s too good to pass up.
Stop Drowning in Instagram DMs and Start Scaling
The days of frantically typing responses to every Instagram user are over. With Instagram Automation by Manychat, you can focus on what matters: building your brand, making sales, and delivering next-level customer experiences.
Get started with Manychat and turn those message requests into real relationships.
