How to Automate DMs on Social Media in 2023

Updated on March 8, 2023

7 min to read

Marketing @ Vista Social

Published March 8, 2023

How to Automate DMs on Social Media in 2023
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PSA: you can automate DMs on social media to save more time!

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As your follower count grows, manually responding to DMs across all profiles and networks can become super time-consuming.

Juggling Instagram’s three separate inboxes (primary, general, and requests) alone can be a daunting task for any social media manager.

And let’s be honest, we all have enough on our plates as it is! 🫠

So, we’re breaking down how to automate DMs on social media — so you can ditch the stress and spend more time growing your bottom line.

Table of contents

What are automated DMs on social media?

Automated DMs are pre-written responses that are automatically sent to people who send you direct messages on social media platforms.

These pre-set messages can be a game-changer for social media managers looking to save time and streamline their workflows.

With automated DMs, you can quickly respond to your followers and engage with them in a personalized way without the hassle of manual messaging.

Ready to streamline your DM responses & save a ton of time? Sign up for Vista Social to try our AI Assistant feature today! 🤖💬

Is it safe to automate DMs on Instagram?

The answer is yes, as long as you follow Instagram’s terms of service and community guidelines.

Many social media managers and creators have concerns about whether automating DMs on social media is safe.

This is a totally valid concern; nobody wants to spam or accidentally offend someone within their audience.

But there is a completely safe way to do it––more on that below!

How to automate DMs on social media in 2023

Use an AI Assistant for social media!

With AI-powered SMM tools, you can automate responding to DMs, freeing up your valuable time to focus on more creative pursuits – like crafting that perfect Instagram story or nailing your TikTok dance routine.

With Vista Social’s AI Assistant, you can streamline the process of responding to comments, DMs, reviews, and mentions – all without ever leaving your dashboard.

Simply click the AI Widget icon and let the power of automation do the work for you!

Don’t like the response? Simply click ‘generate reply’ to receive a new option.

No more wasting time typing out repetitive responses – now you can get back to creating content and engaging with your fans like the social media pro you are.

Pro Tip: Save responses for questions you frequently receive so that you can quickly and easily respond in seconds.

How to automate DMs on Instagram in 2023

You can automate DMs on Instagram by using the direct message tool within the app!

These questions will be displayed when people try to message your account on Instagram Direct. Here’s how to get started:

  1. From your Instagram home screen, tap the Messenger icon in the top right corner of the screen.
  2. Under “Set Up Automated Responses,” tap “Get Started.”
  3. Toggle on “Show Questions” to enable automated responses.
  4. Under “Questions,” tap “Add Question.”
  5. Enter the question you want to automate and optionally add an automated response. Repeat this step for up to four frequently asked questions.
  6. Tap “Save” once you’re done.

That’s it – now your frequently asked questions will be displayed to anyone who messages your account on Instagram Direct, and the automated responses will save you time and streamline your DM process.

And the best part? You can add, delete, or edit your questions and responses at any time, so you can always keep your automated DMs up to date and relevant to your followers.

9 tips for automating DMs on social media

#1: Personalize your messages

Use automation tools to personalize your messages and make them relevant to your followers.

So why is personalization so important? Well, for starters, it helps build trust and loyalty with your followers. 💙✨

When your messages feel personalized and relevant to their interests, followers are more likely to engage with your content and continue following your brand.

#2: Set clear goals

Define your goals for automating your DMs, whether it’s to save time, improve engagement, or drive conversions.

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  • Save time: Focus on automating responses to common customer service inquiries or frequently asked questions.
  • Improve engagement: Segment your audience by asking a series of questions to provide personalized conversations that drive engagement.
  • Drive conversion: Use automation to nurture leads and guide followers toward a purchase or sign-up.

By defining your goals, you can also track your progress and measure the effectiveness of your DM automation strategy.

#3: Use AI-powered tools

Consider using AI-powered tools like Vista Social’s AI Assistant to help automate your DM responses and make them more accurate and effective.

Not only do AI-powered tools save you time and streamline your workflow, but they can also help you improve your engagement and build stronger relationships with your followers.

By providing accurate and helpful responses in a timely manner, you can increase your followers’ trust and loyalty to your brand.

#4: Set expectations

Let your followers know that you’re using automated responses, and set expectations for response times and availability.

Letting your followers know that you’re using automated responses can help set expectations and avoid confusion or frustration down the line.

It’s also a good idea to set expectations for your availability and response times. If you’re only able to respond to DMs during certain hours or on certain days, make sure to communicate that to your followers so that they know when to expect a response.

#5: Don’t automate everything

Not every DM should be automated – make sure to use your judgment and respond manually when necessary.

There will be times when a personal touch is necessary, such as when dealing with sensitive customer service issues or responding to a follower who needs extra attention.

When deciding whether to automate a DM response, use your judgment and consider the context of the message. Is it a common question that can be easily answered with an automated response? Or does it require a more personal touch, such as a follow-up question or clarification?

#6: Test and refine

Test different automated responses and see what works best, then refine your approach over time to improve your results.

Here are some tips for testing and refining your automated DM responses:

  • Start with a small sample size: Begin by testing your automated responses on a small group of followers so that you can make adjustments and refine your approach before rolling it out to a larger audience.
  • Analyze your metrics: Use analytics tools to track metrics like open and response rates and adjust your approach based on what’s working best.
  • Personalize your messages: Make sure that your automated messages feel personalized and relevant to your followers. Consider segmenting your messages based on different types of inquiries or messages so that your automated responses are more targeted and effective.

By testing and refining your automated DM responses, you can optimize your approach and ensure that you’re providing the best possible customer service to your followers.

#7: Segment your responses

Segment your responses based on different types of inquiries or messages so that your automated responses are more targeted and relevant.

Here are some tips for segmenting your automated DM responses:

  • Analyze your DMs: Start by analyzing your DMs to identify common inquiries or issues that your followers are messaging you about. This will help you determine which types of responses to automate.
  • Create response categories: Once you’ve identified common inquiries or issues, create categories for your automated responses. For example, you might have separate categories for product questions, customer service inquiries, and feedback or suggestions.
  • Craft targeted responses: For each category, craft targeted responses that address the specific inquiry or issue. Make sure your responses are accurate and helpful and avoid using generic or canned responses.

By segmenting your automated DM responses, you can provide more targeted and relevant responses to your followers while also saving time and streamlining your social media workflow.

#8: Avoid sounding robotic

Use conversational language and avoid sounding robotic or impersonal in your automated responses.

Avoid using overly formal or technical language, and instead, strive for a tone that feels friendly and approachable. Use common language that your followers can relate to and engage with.

Consider adding a personal touch, such as a friendly sign-off or a reference to something the follower mentioned in their message!

#9: Monitor and adjust

Monitor the performance of your automated DM responses, and adjust your approach as needed to improve your results.

Some key metrics to watch are:

  • Response rates
  • Engagement rates
  • Customer satisfaction levels

And don’t forget––it’s important to regularly review and update your automated DM responses to ensure that they remain relevant and effective over time.

This may involve updating your response templates to reflect changes in your business or industry or adding new responses to address emerging trends or issues.

Level up your DM game today!

By following these tips, you can automate your DM responses in a way that feels personal and effective while also saving time and streamlining your social media workflow.

Ready to elevate your DM game? Try Vista Social’s AI Assistant today and start automating your DM responses like a social media superstar! 🌟

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With the power of AI at your fingertips, you’ll be able to respond to your followers with lightning-fast speed and accuracy without sacrificing the personal touch that your followers expect.

So why wait? Sign up for Vista Social now and experience the future of social media! 🤖💙✨

About the Author

Marketing @ Vista Social

Brittany Garlin serves as the Head of Marketing at Vista Social, the leading social media suite that's pushing the boundaries of innovation. Steering the platform to achieve an impressive milestone of over 2 million connected social profiles, Brittany's expertise has been acknowledged in a recent appearance on the Social Pros podcast, where she discussed making marketing to marketers more human-centered. With a knack for strategic disruption, Brittany also redefines what it means to be a woman in the tech sector. Her thought leadership is frequently highlighted in prestigious outlets like Forbes and HubSpot.

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