How to Send a Message to New Followers on Instagram (2026)

Why Messaging New Followers Matters

For years, creators and brands using Instagram automation have been waiting for one simple capability: a reliable way to start a conversation the moment someone new follows you.

The logic is obvious. New followers are high-intent. They’ve just discovered your content, chosen to follow, and are more likely to engage than someone who’s been passively following for months. A short welcome message feels like the natural next step to turn a follow into a relationship.

Meta has been testing versions of a “Follow-to-DM” feature in limited rollouts, which is why you’ll often hear that the feature is “in beta.” But the story is more nuanced than that. Messaging someone because they followed sits at the intersection of user expectations, anti-spam safeguards, API permissions, and delivery reliability. As a result, while the demand for this feature is real, it isn’t yet consistently available or dependable for broad use.

That’s why most brands today should focus less on whether they can DM new followers automatically, and more on how to welcome and engage new followers in ways that actually work at scale.

This guide explains what’s possible today, and how to achieve the same outcome through smarter, more reliable methods.

Can You Send a Welcome Message to New Followers on Instagram?

Instagram has experimented with follow-triggered messaging, but in practice, a follow action alone does not reliably open a messaging permission window.

What Instagram does reliably support is messaging after a user takes an explicit interaction, such as commenting on a post, replying to a Story, clicking a button, or sending a DM themselves.

That distinction matters.

It’s why some people see follow-based messages work temporarily, while others never see them work at all. The functionality exists in testing environments, but it isn’t something brands can depend on consistently today.

Because of this, the most effective strategies are not built around forcing a DM after a follow, but around inviting the conversation.

The Safer, Smarter Way to Message New Followers

Instead of trying to message someone simply because they followed, the strongest Instagram strategies are built around consent, context, and timing.

Below are three proven approaches that brands use today to welcome new followers reliably, without depending on unstable follow-triggered messaging.

Method 1: Greet Everyone Who Engages

Instead of trying to DM people just because they followed, a more reliable (and scalable) approach is to welcome every person who engages with you, meaning every comment and every Story reply. This creates the same “welcome new followers” effect, but it’s triggered by actions Instagram consistently supports.

The core idea is simple: Engagement = permission + perfect timing.

How it works (the scenario logic)

You run one global scenario that listens to:

• all comments (posts + Reels)
• all Story replies (and optionally mentions)

When the scenario runs, it checks one thing first:

✅ Has this person already been greeted before?

• If they’re already in your “Greeting done” folder → do nothing
• If they’re not → treat them as a first-time engager and greet them

This ensures:

• You can welcome people at scale
• Nobody gets the same greeting twice
• Repeat commenters don’t trigger the flow again

Example greeting DM (first-time engager)

“Hey, thanks for engaging 🙌 I really appreciate you being an active supporter here.”

Then you add the “surprise” flow based on follower status.

Step-by-step setup in Inrō

Create one scenario for “All comments + all Story replies”

1. Turn on triggers for:
   • Comments (posts + Reels)
   • Story replies (and optionally mentions)

Add an “already greeted” condition (to prevent repeats)

1. Condition: If contact is in folder “Greeting done” → stop scenario
2. This prevents the automation from running again even if they comment or reply in the future

If they’re not in the folder → run the welcome sequence

1. Send the greeting message:
   • “Hey, thanks for being an active engager…”
2. Add them to “Greeting done” immediately after sending (so it never repeats)

Automatically check if they follow you

1. If they follow:
   • Send the “surprise” (resource / discount / template) right away
2. If they don’t follow yet:
   • Prompt them to follow first in exchange for the surprise
   • Once they follow, deliver the resource and continue the flow

Why this is better than a follow-trigger welcome

• It works on every comment and reply you receive (reliable triggers)
• It avoids spamming repeat engagers thanks to the folder exclusion
• It feels personal because the greeting is tied to something they just did
• It gives you a clean way to turn engagement into a “welcome moment” — even when follow-to-DM isn’t dependable

Method 2: Instagram Menu (Icebreaker)

One of the most underused, but most reliable ways to welcome new followers is through Instagram DM icebreakers, sometimes called chat menus.

Instead of automatically messaging someone, you let Instagram do what it’s best at: prompting the user to start the conversation themselves.

How DM Icebreakers Work

When someone opens your Instagram DMs, they see pre-filled buttons at the bottom of the chat, such as:

• “Click here if you’re new 👋”
• “Get started”
• “Browse resources”
• “Ask a question”

These are native Instagram entry points. When a user taps one, it counts as a DM initiated by them, which makes automation both reliable and expected.

This is why icebreakers work so well for welcoming new followers.

Why This Works Better Than Follow-Based DMs

DM icebreakers solve several problems at once:

• The user explicitly starts the conversation
• Message delivery is reliable
• The interaction feels natural, not intrusive
• You immediately understand why they’re reaching out

For new followers, the moment they visit your profile or open your DMs is often when curiosity is highest. A simple “I’m new here” button removes all friction and gives them a clear next step. From there, you can apply the same welcome automation logic as before.

Step-by-Step Setup (Inrō)

Here’s a simple way to set it up:

1. Turn on DM icebreakers so visitors see buttons like “I’m new here” in your chat.
2. Create an automation that starts when someone taps that icebreaker button.
3. Check if they’ve already received the welcome
   • If the contact is already in a folder like “Greeting done” → stop the flow (no duplicate welcome).
4. If they’re not in the folder, continue and add them to “Greeting done” so they won’t trigger this again later.
5. Check whether the person already follows your account
   • If they do follow, send the welcome message and deliver the resource immediately.
   • If they don’t follow yet, ask them to follow first, then send the resource once they do.

This gives every new contact a smooth, structured onboarding flow—while automatically excluding anyone who’s already been greeted—without relying on unreliable follow-to-DM triggers.

Why This Is Ideal for New Followers

Icebreakers are especially powerful because:

• New followers don’t always know what to say
• Many hesitate to type the first message
• A button lowers the psychological barrier to engagement

Instead of hoping someone replies to a cold welcome DM, you’re giving them an obvious next step.

Best Practices for DM Icebreakers

• Keep the copy short and friendly
• Use first-person language (“I’m new”, “I need help”)
• Limit choices to avoid decision fatigue
• Make one option clearly beginner-focused

Avoid vague buttons like “Hello” or “Start chat.” The more specific the intent, the better the conversation quality.

Method 3: Welcome & Re-Engage Active Community Members with Campaigns

Instead of greeting people one by one at the moment they engage, you can also welcome (or re-welcome) people in bulk, using campaigns targeted at users who have already shown interest.

This approach is especially powerful because it doesn’t rely on someone being a brand-new follower. It works for anyone who has engaged recently, making it useful for growing relationships and increasing followers over time.

How it works (the campaign logic)

You create a campaign that targets a hot segment of your audience, such as:

• People who commented in the last 7–30 days
• People who replied to Stories
• People who opened or clicked previous DMs
• Active community members who aren’t followers yet

You then send them a short, friendly message that:

• Acknowledges their engagement
• Welcomes them into the community
• Invites them to follow (if they haven’t already)
• Offers something valuable to continue the conversation

Example campaign message

“Hey 👋 Thanks for being part of the community, love seeing you engage here.
If you’re not following yet, I’d love for you to join us. Want me to send you a useful resource or tip?”

This feels natural and appreciative, not like a cold outreach.

Why this works

• You’re messaging people who already know you
• The outreach feels earned, not random
• It works for followers and non-followers
• It helps convert active engagers into followers
• It keeps your community warm and engaged over time

This is especially effective when follower growth matters just as much as engagement.

Step-by-step setup in Inrō

Create a segment of recently engaged users

1. Filter contacts by recent comments, Story replies, DM activity, or clicks

Exclude people already welcomed

1. If the contact is in a folder like “Greeting done”, exclude them from the campaign

Send a friendly community-focused message

1. Thank them for engaging
2. Acknowledge the relationship
3. Invite them to follow or go deeper

Check follower status automatically

1. If they already follow → send the resource or next step
2. If they don’t → invite them to follow first, then deliver the value

Enable AI handover

1. Let AI handle replies, questions, or curiosity naturally in your brand voice

When to use this method

• You want to welcome people beyond just “new followers”
• You want to turn active engagers into followers
• You’re running campaigns, launches, or community initiatives
• You want a scalable way to nurture your most engaged audience

Why this is a strong alternative to follow-based welcome DMs

• Doesn’t rely on fragile follow-trigger permissions
• Works across your entire active community
• Helps grow followers and deepen relationships
• Feels like a conversation, not an automation

Used alongside the other methods, campaigns give you a second (and often more powerful) way to welcome people into your Instagram ecosystem—on your terms, at the right moment.

How to set a scheduled message on Instagram?

Instagram does not support scheduling unsolicited DMs. Bulk welcome messages sent without prior interaction often lead to poor engagement and inconsistent delivery.

Event-based messaging, triggered by comments, replies, or opt-ins, is the reliable path forward.

How Automation Helps (When Used Correctly)

Automation isn’t about sending more messages. It’s about sending better messages at the right moment.

Used correctly, automation:

• replies instantly
• keeps tone consistent
• handles high volume
• stops when the conversation naturally ends

This is the approach behind Inrō.

Instead of relying on unstable follow-based triggers, Inrō helps brands:

• welcome new followers through engagement
• offer menus instead of cold DMs
• segment people by interest
• continue conversations with AI when needed

Final Takeaway

If you’re trying to message new followers on Instagram, here’s the reality: Meta is still rolling out follow-to-DM in limited beta waves, and teams across the ecosystem are seeing inconsistent behavior as the feature develops.

So the best strategy right now is to stop relying on the follow event as your main trigger, and instead use an approach that works every day: message people when the audience is already hot.

That means building “welcome-style” greetings around engagement, not just follows.

Engagement is often a stronger intent signal than a follow. A comment, Story reply, or DM button click tells you someone is actively paying attention right now.

The result is better than a follow-based welcome DM: it helps you welcome new people, re-engage active community members, and increase followers over time, without waiting on a beta feature to become reliable.

Try Inrō to boost your Instagram growth and sales.

Attract more leads, target them with DM campaigns, and automate your interactions on Instagram!

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FAQs

How do I send a welcome message to new followers on Instagram?‍

Invite them to DM you or message them after they engage (comment, Story reply).

Can you send an automated message when someone follows you on Instagram?‍

Follow-only triggers are currently in beta test and limited, not reliable for general use.

How to auto DM new followers on Instagram?‍

Use DM invitations, menus, or engagement-triggered messages instead of follow-based DMs.

How do you welcome new followers?‍

Send a short, friendly message with a clear option or question.

How do I welcome someone through text or chat?‍

Reference why you’re messaging them and ask one simple question.

What is dry texting?‍

Short, generic messages that don’t invite a response.