Should I Send a Welcome Message on Instagram?
Nurturing your audience on Instagram is not only a major element of building a loyal community, but it can be so fun to connect with your audience and learn more about them.
When you receive a new follower, it can be tricky to establish a connection from the start through comments and likes. This is where direct messages (DMs) are the spot to get more personal conversations started and it can be beneficial to start the convo right from the beginning.
Should I Have a Welcome Message on Instagram?
Long story short, we are huge fans of welcome messages to your ideal audience. But, a major disclaimer, this welcome message should NOT be about you! It should be about your audience and starting a connection with them. We repeat: this is not for selling or spammy messages.
Why you should have a welcome message on Instagram:
First Impressions Matter
First impressions are everything with your potential customers. If you start off on a good note, you'll likely have their attention from the start.
Establish a Connection
We are all a little shy sometimes! Establishing that connection right away can help when questions or comments pop up, they will likely feel more comfortable with coming to you.
Learn About Them
This is a great opportunity to learn more about them and why they followed you, so you can continue to cater better to your audience.
Learn About You
It's important to NOT be spammy or try to sell in your welcome message, but if asked, you can direct them or share more information about you and your brand specifically. This can be a great chance to let them know details about you from the start, speeding up the 'warming up your audience' process.
Tips for Writing Better Welcome DMs on Instagram:
Be personal. Check out their account to find a connection point, use their name, or start with a compliment.
DO NOT sell anything, unless they ask about your offer.
Don't copy & paste. No one wants a cookie-cutter DM. Take the time to write something unique.
If they don't answer, accept it. Some people like to warm up to your brand in other ways, and that's completely okay. Be respectful and don't double message if they aren't feeling it.
Instagram Welcome Message Examples:
1.) Hi [Name]! Thank you for following, we are so excited to connect! [insert question about them] (i.e. How long have you been in business? What made you follow us today? How are you doing today?)
2.) Hi [Name]! New here? No worries! Check out our story highlights to get a quick tour of our top content, products, and behind-the-scenes moments. Tap on the 'Highlights' button to start exploring!
3.) Hey [Name]! We're thrilled to have you in our Instagram family. This is your space to connect, share, and inspire. Use our hashtag #[YourBrandedHashtag] to join the conversation.
4.) Hello, friend! We're excited to have you with us. To get things started, tell us: What's your favorite [Related Topic]?
5.) "Hey there! Thanks for the follow. We're all about [Your Brand's Mission]. What brought you here today?
6.) Welcome to [Your Brand Name]! We're so excited to have you here. Don't hesitate to DM us if you have any questions or just want to say hi!
Now that you have the insights on why you should send welcome messages, how to write better welcome messages, and a few example messages you can use to craft your own, we can't wait to see how this transforms your connection with your audience.