Staring at your telephone'south tiny screen and typing on its tiny keys to reply to each Instagram DM you receive is not the nearly efficient mode to interact with your customers.

But those days are over.

Equally of 2020, any Instagram user in the world tin send an Instagram DM online, from their PC or Mac, likewise as from their phone.

Now, your brand now has more options when replying to Instagram DMs. And considering more than 200 meg users visit at least one business contour each day, at that place'south a adept chance some Instagram users volition reach out to your make directly via DM.

Bonus: Salvage time and download 20 free, customizable Instagram DM templates for your brand , including greetings, partnership requests, FAQ responses, replies to complaints, and more.

What does "DM" mean on Instagram?

DM means direct messaging.

On Instagram, DMs are private messages between 1 Instagram user and another user, or grouping of users.

Instagram DMs don't testify upwards in your brand'south feed, profile or in search. And they won't for your followers, either. Merely you and those you are communicating with can see the direct messages.

On Instagram, DMs are sent by Instagram Direct. Recall of this as an email inbox where individual messages are collected.

On both desktop and mobile, access Instagram Direct to see your Instagram DMs by clicking on the paper airplane icon.

Instagram Direct paper plane icon

When you see a red numbered notification over the paper airplane icon, you lot'll know there's an unread DM to be read.

Unread Instagram DM red icon

How to ship Instagram DMs on your computer (PC or Mac)

Anyone with an Instagram account tin can create or respond to Instagram DMs from the browser version of the app, from a desktop computer, without any special downloads or features. This makes it easier for your make to respond to an influx or high volume of DMs.

(If that high volume of DMs is coming from more than one Instagram business relationship or several profiles across different social media platforms, you're better off using a social media management tool similar Hootsuite to handle DMs — more on that in the next section!)

Whether you're replying to an Instagram DM on a PC or creating an Instagram DM on a Mac, the process is the same:

1. Log into your make's Instagram business relationship

Log in to instagram.com using whichever web browser you prefer. There is no specific Instagram DM browser to use.

ii. Click on the paper airplane icon

To navigate to Instagram Direct, click on the paper aeroplane icon in the spider web page's top right hand corner.

Instagram Direct paper plane icon top right hand corner

3. See all your Instagram DMs

All your brand'southward straight messages and interactions show here. Unread direct messages will show first in the list.

Yous'll besides run into the selection to create a new DM. Click on the blue Ship Bulletin button to begin a new interaction.

Your Messages folder

Type in a user'due south handle to begin a new ane-on-one interaction. You lot tin can message any brand or user that you lot follow.

Or create a group for an Instagram DM. On Instagram Direct, y'all can transport DMs to up to 32 people.

From your desktop, yous can as well like, re-create or report a DM by clicking on the three buttons next to the Instagram DM.

Like Copy Report Instagram DM

4. Send other users' content

Too as written letters, Instagram DMs can include photos, polls, GIFs, Instagram Stories and IGTV clips. Your brand might want to interact with users past sharing other users' content in a DM.

Navigate to the photo, video or IGTV you want to share privately. Click on the paper airplane icon nether that post.

Share other users' content in a DM

So, select how you want to share that content.

Share content options

By clicking on Share to Direct, you can type in the Instagram user you desire to send the content to direct via Instagram DM.

How to send Instagram DMs from the Instagram app

Sending Instagram DMs from the Instagram app is just as easy:

ane. Open the app on your phone

Download the Instagram app from the App Store or Google Play.

ii. Click on the paper aeroplane icon

This will open up all your Instagram DMs.

Instagram DMs mobile app

3. Engage with your users

Reply to customers' queries by borer on the unread message and writing a response in the Bulletin bar.

Engage with users by responding to DMs

And but like on desktop, you can choose 1-on-one DMs or send to a group of up to 32.

4. Share others' content

Any time yous meet the paper airplane icon, click on it to send that content privately.

Bonus: Salve fourth dimension and download 20 free, customizable Instagram DM templates for your brand , including greetings, partnership requests, FAQ responses, replies to complaints, and more.

Download now

Share content privately

How to send Instagram DMs using Hootsuite (on desktop and mobile)

If yous manage more than one Instagram account or your make receives DMs on more than one social media platform, a social media management tool similar Hootsuite can save you a lot of time.

With Hootsuite, you lot can answer messages and comments from all of your Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts in one social inbox. No more clicking through countless browser tabs to check for new DMs, or accidentally forgetting to respond until customers get fed up.

To outset answering Instagram DMs using Hootsuite, follow these simple steps:

one. Connect (or re-connect) your Instagram profiles

If you're new to Hootsuite, follow this guide to add an Instagram business relationship to your dashboard .

If you lot've previously used Hootsuite for Instagram analytics or scheduling, merely you lot oasis't connected Instagram with the Hootsuite Inbox even so, follow these steps to re-connect your account .

In both cases, you volition be prompted to follow a few unproblematic steps to authenticate your account.

One time you're done, make certain that your Instagram profile settings let sharing letters with your Hootsuite account:

  1. Go to Settings and tap Privacy.
  2. Tap Messages.
  3. In Connected Tools , utilise the Permit Access to Messages switch to enable sharing.

Instagram settings - enagbling access to messages

Note: Hootsuite Inbox is compatible with Instagram Business accounts.

two. Go to your Hootsuite Inbox

In your Hootsuite dashboard, navigate to the Inbox.

Here, yous can see interactions from your connected Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts.

Hootsuite Inbox dashboard with Instagram messages

The Inbox collects 4 types of Instagram letters:

  • Direct letters
  • Replies to your Instagram Stories
  • Quick reactions to your Stories
  • Mentions of your account in other users' Stories

Hootsuite Inbox in Hootsuite mobile app

iii. Reply to Instagram DMs

All that's left is to engage with your followers.

Follow these social media customer service best practices to make sure your bulletin responses are e'er on fleek. (Does anyone say on fleek anymore? Asking for a Millennial friend.)

If you're office of a team managing social media DMs, y'all can easily assign letters to other squad members (who will be notified by email) and sort your inbox by assignment, social network, message type and date.

How to delete Instagram DMs

Depending on your brand's social media policy, you may want to delete Instagram DMs.

To delete Instagram DMs from your PC or Mac:

1. Navigate to Instagram Direct

Click on the paper aeroplane icon in the top navigation bar.

2. Click on the communication you want to delete

And so click on the information icon by the user's profile pic.

3. Click Delete Conversation

That will bring up this screen:

Delete Chat screen

And then, you lot can choose to Delete Chat. This volition only delete the chat for yous. It volition still be visible for the others included in the conversation.

Also under the "Details" section, there is too the selection to Block, Report or Mute Messages. Muting simply means you won't get notifications for new incoming DMs for this conversation.

To delete Instagram DMs using the mobile app:

ane. Navigate to Instagram Direct

Click on the newspaper airplane icon in the navigation bar.

2. Swipe or concur the communication thread you want to delete

If you're using iOS, swipe left on the message y'all want to delete. If you're using Android, press and agree the thread y'all want to delete.

This brings up two options. Mute the bulletin to finish seeing new notifications for this thread. Or delete the message.

Mute or delete Instagram message from mobile app

3. Click Delete

This activity will just delete the conversation for you.

8 best practices for sending and responding to Instagram DMs

Engaging with your customers and responding to Instagram DMs is only one mode to effectively use Instagram for business and gain more Instagram followers.

Here are some essential tips to keep in mind.

Set up notifications for Instagram DMs

Make sure your brand sees all the new, incoming Instagram DMs that information technology receives.

On both desktop and mobile, navigate to Settings. Cull Notifications (or Button Notifications if you're on desktop).

Then under Straight Messages, make certain the From Anybody (if yous're working on desktop) options are selected.

Set up notifications for Instagram DMs

And make sure all the On (if you're working on mobile) options are selected. This will ensure your brand sees all its new incoming DMs.

Set up notifications for Instagram DMs mobile

Use Instagram Quick Replies

Chances are, your brand is going to become a lot of like questions over Instagram Direct. Instead of typing out the same reply, save time by making the nigh of the Instagram Quick Replies feature.

Set a Creator Account with Instagram. Not just volition this enable the Quick Replies characteristic, information technology will provide more options for organizing and managing your Instagram DMs, similar the ii-tab inbox.

Find Quick Replies as an option under Settings. To create a Quick Reply:

  • Click on the "+" button in the top right hand corner.
  • Type out a answer to a commonly asked question.
  • Choose a one-word keyboard shortcut for that message.

When replying to an Instagram DM, type the one word into Instagram Direct. Click the bluish "Insert a quick respond" button" and the full response you've saved will autofill.

Acknowledge when a new message has been received

That way, fifty-fifty if your team isn't able to answer to the direct message immediately, your customer isn't met with silence.

Yous might:

  • Thank the customer for getting in touch.
  • Let them know their message has been received.
  • Set an expectation for how long it volition have the squad to get to their query.

This helps foster a relationship between the user and your brand. It also boosts customer service, setting expectations for when that customer can expect a conversation with your make.

Then follow up promptly

Don't exit your customers hanging!

And the faster your brand can reply, the ameliorate. Co-ordinate to the analysis and advisory firm Convince & Convert, 42% of customers who mutter to a visitor over social media await a response within 60 minutes.

Waiting too long to reply to a customer could effect in them losing trust in your brand.

Write in your make voice

Whatever your brand's tone, be certain to utilise that same voice in your Instagram DMs.

Remember to:

  • Exist authentic and personable. Show your customer they're interacting with a existent person who cares nearly their feel with your brand.
  • Don't apply jargon. Avoid using these words and phrases.
  • Make sure communication is easy to understand. Irony, sarcasm and jokes might exist misinterpreted past the reader or cause offence. Leave no room for misinterpretation.

Brand sure in that location are no spelling mistakes

Make certain your writing reflects your brand in a professional way.

Check for typos, spelling mistakes and grammar errors. Read over your DM for flow. And if your visitor manages multiple brands and has multiple Instagram accounts, make sure you lot're working with the correct account.

Keep your writing short and sweet

If someone is reaching out to your brand directly, they want an respond quickly. So avoid the chit-chat. Get right to it.

Accost your customers' DM right away. Write in a way that is easy to read. Write curt sentences.

And don't fearfulness short paragraphs.

Doing all this makes it easier for customers to find the reply to their query.

Don't forget to sign off

Finally, bring closure to the chat past:

  • Asking the customer if at that place'south anything else they demand help with.
  • Thanking them for their business organization or loyalty to your company.
  • Wishing them a great day.

Endmost off is a personable way to communicate, just besides ensures your customer doesn't feel snubbed or shut down earlier the conversation is over.

Meliorate your response time and efficiently engage with followers by responding to Instagram direct messages alongside all your other social messages in Hootsuite Inbox. Endeavor it complimentary today.

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