How To Use Direct Message Tools Effectively

Using Direct Message (DM) tools effectively can significantly enhance your online business, allowing you to grow your email list, engage with potential customers, and sell products without being tied to social media all day. In today's article, we are discussing practical strategies for implementing DM automation, the benefits of chatbots, and how they contribute to business success. Whether you're using chatbots like ManyChat or other DM automation tools, here are 7 key ways to get the most out of these systems.

1. Identify the Goal for Each Keyword

Before setting up any automation, it’s important to know what you want to achieve. Whether your goal is to sell a product, encourage opt-ins, or promote content like a podcast, defining the purpose for each keyword is the first step. For example, if you’re running a Black Friday sale, use specific keywords like "bundle" to promote product deals, rather than generic keywords that could trigger incorrect responses .

2. Ensure Your Auto-Response Prompts People to Follow You

Instagram has introduced a rule that prevents you from sending direct messages to people who don’t follow you. To get around this, make sure your auto-response encourages users to follow you before sending any information. For example, if someone types “hooks,” your response could say, “Follow me, and I’ll send you the 75 hooks right away!” This not only helps deliver your message but also grows your follower count.

3. Choose Keywords That Won’t Be Typed Accidentally

Choosing keywords carefully is critical to avoid accidental responses. For example, instead of using common words like "podcast" as a trigger, choose something like "pod" or "PD" to prevent accidental messages from being sent. This ensures that your chatbot only responds when users genuinely want to engage with your content.

4. Have a System for Following Up if the Bot Malfunctions

Sometimes, your DM automation tools won’t work perfectly. Messages may go unseen, or users may not receive your responses. Set up a system where you or a team member follow up with anyone who comments but hasn’t received a response. This way, you don’t miss any potential leads. Tools like Instagram will also let you know if a message has been seen, making follow-ups easier to manage. If you see in your inbox that it's in there, but it doesn't say seen, that means they didn't get notified. So in this case, put a system in place to follow up.?

5. Use Chatbots to Grow Your Email List

Growing your email list is crucial for building a strong business foundation, and chatbots are an effective way to do this. You may automate this process by providing something valuable like free downloads in return for an email. For example, when someone comments “hooks,” the chatbot collects their email before delivering the PDF. This system has helped us grow our email list significantly—100% through chatbots and without paid ads.

6. Use DM Tools to Sell Specific Products or Services

DM tools can also help you sell products more efficiently. Assign keywords to different products so that when a user types a specific word, they receive a direct link to the product. For example, someone might type “pink” to get a link to a pink lip gloss, or “magnet” for a phone magnet. This automation makes the shopping process seamless and helps boost sales without you needing to manually respond.

7. Use DM Tools to Gauge Interest and Follow Up

Chatbots are great for gathering leads and gauging interest in your offerings. For instance, if you’re launching a course like Vertical Video Mastery, have users comment “vertical” to express interest. Once they do, the chatbot will provide them with more information. During a launch, you can also personally follow up with these leads to answer any specific questions and help them move closer to making a purchase.

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