Are you looking for ways to make your automated outbound DMs more engaging? According to Forbes, “49% of customers bought items they did not intend to buy due to a personalized recommendation from the brand they were doing business with.” Using DMs allows your small business the opportunity to connect more personally with your customers, increase brand loyalty, and add an important level of humanity to your customer service.
In this article, we will discuss nine strategies that your small business can use to spice up your automated messages and boost your response rate. Many businesses find that using automated messages can be a great way to connect with their customers, but if the messages are not interesting or engaging, they’ll likely be ignored. So, let’s get started!
Offer a deal
One great way to make your automated outbound DMs more engaging is to offer a deal. This could be a discount, coupon, or free shipping on their next purchase. If you have an online store, you can include a link to the product in your message. More customers are apt to make a purchase when they feel like they’re getting a good deal, so this is an excellent way to increase sales through Instagram DMs.
Make It Personal
Another way to make your automated outbound DMs more engaging is to make them personal. You can do this by including the customer’s name or other information that you know about them. For example, if you’re a clothing store, you could include information about their previous purchases or what items they have on their wishlist.
It’s also beneficial to be aware of the general demographic of your customers. This way, you can target your automated outbound DMs to different groups of people based on their interests.
Ask a Question
Asking a question is a great way to get customers engaged in your automated outbound DMs. This could be something as simple as “How was your day?” or “What did you think of our new product?”. By asking a question, you’re giving the customer a chance to respond and start a conversation. You’ll also gain valuable information about your customers that you can use to improve your business.
Use Polls and Surveys
Another great way to engage customers in your automated outbound DMs is to use polls and surveys. This could be a short survey about their recent purchase or a poll about which product they prefer. Surveys and polls are a great way to get feedback from your customers and learn more about what they want.
A good poll question might be something like, “What type of products would you like to see us offer in the future?”. You can also use polls and surveys to find out which version or type of product to release next. This lets your customers feel like they’re part of the decision-making process and helps ensure that you’re releasing products that they actually want.
Include a Call-to-action
Make sure to include a call-to-action in your automated outbound DMs. This could be something like “Click here to learn more” or “reply to this message to speak to a customer service representative.” By including a call-to-action, you’re giving the customer a specific task to do, which can help to increase engagement.
Use Emojis
Emojis are a great way to add personality to your automated outbound DMs. They can help to convey the tone of your message and make it more friendly and engaging. However, don’t go overboard with the emojis – too many can be distracting, difficult to read, or worse, just plain annoying.
Include a GIF
Much like emojis, GIFs can add personality to your automated outbound DMs. GIFs are a great way to express emotions and add some fun to your messages. Just be sure to choose a GIF that is appropriate for your brand and message. And still, like emojis, use them sparingly lest they become annoying very quickly.
Use Images
Including images in your automated outbound DMs can help to make them more engaging. You could include images of your products, team members, or even customers. Just be sure to choose high-quality images that are relevant to your message. You don’t always need professional-quality photos for these types of messages. A simple photo taken with your smartphone will suffice, as long as it’s in focus and with good lighting.
Add a Video
Adding a video to your automated outbound DMs can be a great way to engage customers. You could include a video of your team, a product demonstration, or even a customer testimonial. Videos are a great way to show customers what your brand is all about.
On the topic of using video, a crucial aspect is including some music tracks, specifically copyright-free music from a stock music site. The best royalty-free music sites offer tens of thousands of worry-free downloads, and sites like Soundstripe, Premium Beat, and Epidemic sound are great places to start downloading some amazing music tracks and sound effects. Using royalty-free background music is a must when using video marketing.
Send Your Own DMs
This may go without saying, but you need to send out regular DMs yourself! This helps show that you’re a real person and not just a bot. You can use automated DMs to help you keep track of customers, but make sure to send out regular DMs as well.
Respond to DMs!
Finally, one of the best ways to make your automated outbound DMs more engaging is to actually respond to them. If a customer takes the time to reach out to you, take the time to respond back. It’s a great way to show that you’re listening and that you care about your customers. They will appreciate your effort!
The Bottom Line
By following these tips, you can make your automated outbound DMs more engaging and increase customer engagement. Just remember to keep it personal, include a call-to-action, and respond to your DMs, among other things. And don’t forget to throw in some copyright-free music from a royalty-free music site if you’re adding video to your DMs. There are a lot more strategies you can utilize, but these should get you on the right track from the start.