Instagram DMs are a strong tool for any brand or business. It helps to generate new leads, build customer relationships, and drive sales. However, with 200 million Instagram users messaging businesses monthly, keeping up with your inbox in a time-efficient method can feel overwhelming.
Enter automated Instagram DMs. They might help you streamline your conversations and make sure you never miss out on user interactions with these interested in your services or products – even when you’re off the clock.
Ready to drive sales via automated Instagram DMs? Here are all the things you should know.
What Are Automated Instagram DMs?
Because of the recent launch of Facebook’s Messenger API for Instagram, brands can now use automated DMs on Instagram to reply to their customers more effectively.
Automated DMs are programmed responses that may be as simple as answering the most typical questions you get about your products and services, to extra customized, interactive conversations where you’ll be able to guide clients to different answer results depending on how they respond.
Take a look at how @socialsavvyhq makes use of automated prompts to answer regularly asked questions in her DMs.
You’ll be able to build automated conversations by using an Instagram-approved bot-building platform like ManyChat, Inflact, Chatfuel orMobileMonkey, or build your solution in-house.
You may also use automated dialog prompts to gather helpful details about your clients – like names, email addresses, and product preferences – to assist your general Instagram marketing strategy.
Why Use Automated Instagram DMs?
A current international survey showed that 75% of people need to have the ability to message a business, whereas 64% prefer messaging over email or the phone.
And while businesses receive messages 24 hours a day, it’s not all the time possible – or cost-effective – to have somebody answering these all day lengthy.
With automated Instagram DMs, you possibly can reply to clients and potential leads instantly, making them much less likely to go to a competitor for your products and services.
6 Methods to Use Automated Instagram DMs to Drive Sales
From driving visitors to your website to offering customer service that inspires people to buy your products, here are six methods to use automated Instagram DMs to level up your marketing efforts and drive sales:
#1: Provide 24-7 Customer Service
Automated Instagram DMs will help you reply to frequently asked questions from new and existing clients – at any time. Providing timely, useful 24-7 customer service will assist to build brand loyalty and encourage people to buy from you again.
You can even automate icebreakers – the little message bubbles that show up whenever you first DM a business – to prompt users with common questions they could have (like @juliaroseboston)
A current marketing survey showed that 40% of consumers expect brands to reply to their messages within an hour of reaching out. Quick answers to questions and comments make clients feel like their needs are essential and like they’re a valued part of your brand or business’ community.
#2: Promote Products
If you’ve received a new product or an exciting announcement to make, automated Instagram DMs make it simple to tell all of your followers about your brand or business’ latest developments.
Keeping your followers up to date on your news, latest products, and upcoming sales is an effective way to promote your offering and drive sales.
By messaging your followers with updates on specific products or services you offer, you’ll be able to target the sales you need to focus on in a direct, more personalized way.
#3: Gain Leads
One of the most efficient methods to capture leads is by utilizing Instagram stories as a place to begin. Over 500 million people interact with Instagram Stories every day, so there are many opportunities to funnel customers into your DMs through creative and interesting stories.
Take a look at how @blume used an Instagram Stories sticker in their post to interact with their existing and potential customers about their beauty product:
When you’ve received a user’s engagement in your DMs, you’ll be able to automate a welcome reply, refer them to your website or suggest products and services for them to try.
Likewise, you should use automated DMs to send instant replies to people who have tagged your brand or business in their own Instagram stories.
#4: Build Your Email List
You may also direct users to your DMs by requesting they message you with a selected automated set-off word for competitions, promotions, and giveaways.
For instance, if you’re an eCommerce store providing a discount code for a Black Friday promo, you can say, “If you want to get a 10% discount code, message us FRIDAY10.”
When someone sends you that message, you should use automated Instagram DMs to trigger a conversation. This might be a prompt to create an account to receive a unique discount. This is an effective way to build your email checklist.
#5: Drive Traffic To Your Website
Automated direct messages are additionally an effective way to steer Instagram users to your website.
By automating messages to include hyperlinks to your products and services, you’ll be able to encourage message recipients to visit your website. Then you can create more opportunities for sales.
Take a look at how makeup brand Charlotte Tilbury follows up on a product query with a linked offer for a beauty consultation:
As the above message shows, you should use your brand voice to make a huge impact in your automated DMs. Fun, engaging messages encourage users to click on the triggered link, boosting website traffic and sales within the process.
#6: Build A Loyal Community
Building a community of loyal clients requires two-way communication. Regularly communicating with your followers humanizes your brand and builds trust.
The private nature of DMs means customers feel like they’re having a one-on-one conversation with a brand or business. And sending common automated messages will make them feel seen and valued. Whether to thank them for a mention, tell them your updates, or brighten their day with a discount code.
Not only can automated Instagram DMs make it easier to streamline your inbox and save you useful time. They may also be a strong tool to drive sales. Whether that’s via community engagement, customer support, brand awareness, or product promotion.