How to Sell on Instagram DM: Selling on Instagram [July 2023]
Everything you need to know about Instagram Sales and how to sell on Instagram DM. Increase your business sales by selling on Instagram with respond.io.
Looking for Instagram welcome message examples that you can use for your business? In this article, we'll cover the basics and benefits of a welcome message, provide examples and sample templates of messages to use on Instagram and guide you through the process of setting up Instagram welcome messages.
Instagram is one of the most popular social apps in the world and it’s no wonder more and more businesses are using it to engage with customers and convert leads. One easy way businesses can use Instagram to build customer relationships is by sending welcome messages.
An Instagram welcome message is an automated message that is sent to customers when they start a new conversation with you on Instagram Direct.
Next, we’ll take a look at why it’s a good idea to set up welcome messages for businesses.
Welcome messages are a crucial element in creating a positive customer experience. They serve as an introduction to your brand and provide guidance to customers as they navigate their journey with you.
By providing clear, helpful and personalized information in the welcome message, businesses can effectively engage and assist customers, resulting in more satisfying and successful interactions. Here are some of the benefits:
Improve customer satisfaction: A personalized welcome message can make customers feel valued and appreciated. This can help create a positive first impression, which can lead to increased customer satisfaction.
Set expectations: Manage customers’ expectations by clearly communicating when they can expect a reply and include a call-to-action (CTA) to prompt them on what steps to take next.
Now that we’ve learned everything about Instagram welcome messages, we’ll share some ready-to-use examples.
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In this section, we’ll take you through the best practices for crafting effective welcome messages and share a list of samples for various use cases.
When creating a welcome message, it is essential to keep in mind the key principles of effective messaging. The following guidelines will help you compose a message that communicates your purpose and connects with customers.
Here are some recommended best practices to consider:
Keep your messages short and straight to the point
Use a friendly and approachable tone that aligns with your brand's voice
Personalize your message to make customers feel seen and heard. Include their names and other relevant details if possible.
Add a CTA to guide customers and let them know what they should do next
Make sure to monitor and respond to customer messages in a timely manner to ensure a positive customer experience
Now let’s go through the various types of welcome messages you can use for different scenarios.
General welcome messages demonstrate attentiveness to customers and encourage them to make their inquiries confidently. Many businesses use standard greetings like the ones below as a default.
"Hello! We're glad you reached out. How can we help you?"
"Hi! We appreciate you taking the time to contact us. How can we assist you today? 😊”
"Thank you for stopping by [Business Name]'s page! Our support agents are available Monday-Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM 😊. Please leave your question here and we'll get back to you during business hours.
Businesses can use this opportunity to promote their products or services in their Instagram welcome messages. Let’s check out some examples below.
"Hello! We've received your message and will respond to you as soon as possible. We'd like to let you know that we have a treat for all followers. Use the code [Code] at checkout to receive 20% off your next purchase. 🎉"
“Thank you for reaching out, we will reply within the next 3 hours. Also, it’s our 3rd anniversary! We’d like to thank you for your support with 10% off the Signature collection. Just use the discount code [Code] at checkout before [Date].”
“Hi [Name], thank you for dropping by! Our team will get back to you within an hour 🙏🏻 Did you know that we’re offering 20% off all skincare products? Use [Code] at checkout to enjoy this limited-time offer!”
You can also use Instagram Direct Message to collect customer information. Customers who follow your Instagram account are already interested in your products or services and are more open to being contacted on other channels by your company. You may refer to these samples.
"Hi, we’ve received your message and will be right with you. In the meantime, if you want to be the first to know about our promotions, DM us your email address and we'll add you to our email list."
"Hello and welcome to [Business Name]. If you'd like to know more about our services, please leave your email address and an agent will send our catalog over. We appreciate your interest and look forward to assisting you 🙏🏻”
"Hey there, [Name]! We're glad you're interested in our photo printing services 📸 For urgent matters, please share your phone number and we'll call you within the next hour.”
Some businesses use Instagram to provide customer support. Welcome messages like the ones below can help set expectations for visitors in terms of response time or the availability of support agents when seeking assistance.
"Hello and thank you for your message! We're here to help you with any questions or issues you may have. Please send us a message with your concerns and one of our friendly agents will get back to you shortly.”
"Have a question? 🤔 Don't hesitate to leave it here and we'll do our best to respond quickly. Our team is dedicated to providing timely and helpful support.”
“Hi [Name], thank you for reaching out! We’ll get back to you within an hour. For general inquiries, you can also check out our FAQ page at [link].”
Incorporating seasonal elements in your welcome message can improve customers’ perception of your business. Some businesses may have special discounts or items for certain festive seasons and this is the perfect place to mention them.
"Merry Christmas! Thank you for visiting us. We apologize for the delay in responding as we are currently busy preparing and shipping Christmas orders. Please check out our page for special deals while you wait for our reply. 🎁”
"Happy Valentine's Day 💓! We're currently busy and we will respond to you as soon as possible. If you're looking for a last-minute gift, we're happy to inform you that we offer 24-hour delivery on all our items.”
"Thank you for reaching out! We will get back to you soon. As Mother's Day is coming up, we have a curated collection of jewelry that would make the perfect gift to spoil your mom. Don't forget to check it out. 🥰”
Here are a few examples of great welcome messages:
Welcome to our company! 🥳 We’re so excited to have you as part of our team.
We’re glad you’ve chosen us, and we want to show our appreciation by giving you a special incentive. 🎉
We’re delighted to have you as our customer. We know you won’t be disappointed with your purchase. 😊
Thank you for joining us! We’re looking forward to a long and prosperous relationship. 🤝
Next, we will show you the different methods for creating Instagram welcome messages next.
In this section, we’ll walk you through the process of sending an Instagram welcome message via the in-app inbox on Instagram and then through Instagram Direct Message API connected to a customer conversation management software such as respond.io.
Creating a welcome message via your Instagram app inbox can be done in just a few steps.
To set up a welcome message via your Instagram app inbox, follow the instructions below:
1. Click on the three horizontal lines located in the top right-hand corner of your Instagram profile page.
2. Click on Settings, then Business, and finally Welcome message.
3. Turn on the toggle to Show welcome message.
4. Type in your desired message in the text field and click Save. Your welcome message will be sent the next time a customer starts a conversation.
Do note that the ability to set up a welcome message on Instagram is only available on the Instagram app for Android phones. This feature is not available for iPhone users. If you’re an iPhone user, you can find an alternative method in the next section.
Businesses can connect their Instagram Direct Message API to respond.io to set up and automate welcome messages for their Instagram business accounts.
The steps shown in the above link include an option to set business hours and apply welcome messages for all connected channels on respond.io, such as Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and more.
By default, Instagram imposes a 24-hour messaging window for API accounts. However, respond.io's Human Agent Tag feature extends this window to 7 days, providing your agents with more time to effectively handle complex inquiries.
Now that we’ve demonstrated how to set up welcome messages on Instagram, you can start sending them today. Sign up for a respond.io account to get started.
Turn customer conversations into business growth with respond.io. ✨
Manage calls, chats and emails in one place!
If you found this helpful, here are some additional articles on Instagram to level up your business:
Stephanie Yap, a Content Writer at respond.io since 2022, holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication and Media Studies. With her previous role as a content writer, Stephanie has accumulated extensive experience in publishing and advertising. She provides businesses looking to explore messaging with a foothold into the practice through insightful articles.
Everything you need to know about Instagram Sales and how to sell on Instagram DM. Increase your business sales by selling on Instagram with respond.io.