Introducing Instagram Marketing Messages

Instagram Messaging, with its younger following, is great for targeting Millennials and Gen Z. These generations favour Instagram and are known to build communities associated with retail and leisure brands that they're loyal to. In fact, 90% of Instagram users follow one or more business accounts, and two out of three people surveyed stated that Instagram enables them to interact with brands on a more meaningful level. Long story short: this means that your Instagram audience is open to engaging with your brand. This an excellent opportunity to connect with these customers and boost those conversion rates.

The image- and video-oriented platform of Instagram Messaging allows you to showcase products, services, and your brand personality with the added value that you can offer personal customer interaction via Direct Messages.

Previously, businesses were only allowed to respond to Direct Messages. When a customer sends a direct message to a business (opt-in), a 24-hour window opens in which the business is allowed to send non-promotional messages to that customer. Outside that 24-hour window, no proactive messaging was allowed. This changed with the introduction of Marketing Messages.

Now, there's a way to easily send customers regular updates on promotions, deals, and other topics they could be interested in, outside that 24-hour window.

Marketing Messages on Instagram Messaging

Marketing Messages are the newest feature addition to Instagram Messaging. This feature allows you to send regular messages or notifications (daily, weekly or monthly) to opted-in users, outside of the previously mentioned 24-hour window. Ideal for sending interested customers the latest deals and promotions to drive re-engagement.

Want to stay up to date about our new product launches? Get daily messages and never miss out on offers.

These ongoing messages can be initiated anywhere in the customer buying journey and can include a wide range of topics to aid in boosting conversion. So make sure that the messages you send are relevant to the customer you're targeting.

Unpersonalised or irrelevant messages will start to feel 'spammy' real quick, and customers will not hesitate to unsubscribe from them, effectively closing your window of opportunity.

The Benefits of Marketing Messages

There are many benefits of this new Instagram Messaging feature. Let's have a look at some advantages of Marketing Messages:

• You'll be able to meet your customers where they are: on their phones and on their favourite channel. This will boost conversion rates more effectively than standard channels.

• It's personal and instant: have one-on-one conversations that resonate with your customers to deepen customer relationships.

• It's mobile-friendly and privacy-friendly.

• It'll allow you to create additional touch points to speed up the customer buying journey. By initiating conversations with interested customers - at any point in the journey - you'll be able to accelerate sales, deepen engagement or even generate new leads.

How to Get Opt-ins for Marketing Messages

As mentioned before, you can only send Marketing Messages via Instagram Messaging if you have received an opt-in from your customers. In fact, these opt-ins can also expire after six months that your customer has opted in.

After six months, just before the Marketing Messages opt-in is about to expire, your customers will receive a re-opt-in request. They will then have the choice of whether or not to continue receiving the Marketing Messages.

But before worrying about expired opt-ins, you have to make sure to get that original opt-in from your customers. Don't worry, there are several ways to get opt-ins, and we'll highlight them below.

Ig.me Links

These shortened URLs will redirect your customers to Instagram Messages to start a conversation. ig.me Links can be included in websites, emails, and social media posts.

Instagram Advertisements

You can use Instagram Advertisements that redirect to Instagram Direct Messages to run campaigns. The opt-in request is sent to your customer once they click on the ad.

Instagram Story Replies

Use Story Replies to run campaigns. The opt-in request is sent to your customer once they comment or react to an Instagram Story.

Instagram Messaging via CM.com

Instagram Messaging is a perfect tool for a personalised customer experience while building meaningful relationships with your customers. Strengthen the bond with existing customers and connect with new ones by optimising engagement through a platform that your customers are already familiar with.

Make sure that you re-engage interested customers to drive conversion. Send them product- or back-in-stock-updates, discounts, and personal offers via personalised messages on Instagram Messaging to create those additional touch points in the customer journey.

Interested in using Instagram Messaging? We have all the tools available to set up your first campaign. Choose to use our marketing automation software Mobile Marketing Cloud, chatbot solution, or our Business Messaging API.