25 Instagram Welcome Messages and DM Templates for New Followers
The moment someone follows you is the best moment to reach out. Their interest is fresh, they just looked at your profile, and they haven’t scrolled on to fifty other things yet. A good welcome DM sent in that window starts conversations that would never happen otherwise. Below are 25 copy-paste welcome messages organized by niche, plus what makes each one work and how to send them automatically.
A good Instagram welcome message is two or three sentences long. It uses the follower’s name, says in one line what you post or do, and ends with one easy question. Send it a few minutes after the follow rather than instantly, and save links and offers for after they reply.
Before you start: every template uses {first_name} for the follower’s name. If you send with FollowToDM, that part is filled in automatically. You can also use {username}, or type the name yourself if you’re sending by hand. Anything in [square brackets] is for you to fill in once, like your topic, brand, or city. For the strategy behind these messages, see how Follow to DM works and why sending this DM is worth it.
What Makes an Instagram Welcome Message Work
Before you pick a template, it helps to know what separates the welcome messages that get replies from the ones that get ignored. The principles are simple, and they’re the same in every niche.
Timing matters
Send it within minutes, not hours, but not the very second they follow. A short delay feels like a real person noticed.
One message, one point
Keep it to a single short message. Several messages in a row feel overwhelming and pushy.
Give before you ask
Lead with a welcome or something useful. Save the pitch for later in the conversation.
End with an easy question
One question that takes five seconds to answer gives people a clear reason to write back.
Sound like yourself
Edit every template to match how you actually talk. Your own voice will always beat a generic one.
Use their name
Starting with the follower’s name makes the message feel intended for them, not sent to everyone.
25 Instagram Welcome Messages You Can Copy
Here are 25 Instagram follow message examples, grouped by niche. Start with your niche, but browse the others too, since many of them work anywhere.
Why it works: Short, friendly, and ends with an open question. It doesn’t pitch anything, and it feels like a real person wrote it.
Why it works: Positions you as a helpful resource right away. The question is easy to answer and invites a real reply.
Why it works: Frames you as a resource, not a seller. Offering to help before asking for anything builds goodwill fast.
Why it works: Very short and genuinely curious. The answer tells you how to continue the conversation and which of your content is bringing people in.
Why it works: “Community” language creates belonging, and promising to reply builds trust. The question is broad enough for anyone to answer.
Why it works: Gets them to your best content fast without overwhelming them. Offering the links instead of pasting them keeps the first message clean.
Why it works: People love being asked their opinion. You get replies and free content ideas at the same time.
Why it works: Shows personality immediately. Setting expectations up front attracts the right followers, which is good for engagement long term.
Why it works: Says who you help and what you help with, without pitching. The question qualifies them naturally, without sounding like a sales call.
Why it works: Naming the problem creates a “that’s me” moment. Either answer opens the door to a useful follow-up.
Why it works: No friction at all. They reply “yes” and you have a warm lead in your DMs. Don’t put the link in this first message: wait for the yes, then send it.
Why it works: Talking about goals feels positive rather than problem-focused, and the answer is the perfect setup for explaining how you help.
Coaching is a big niche on its own. For 20 more coach-specific scripts, see Instagram scripts for coaches.
Before you set any of these as your automated welcome message, replace every [bracket] with your real details and send yourself a test. A message that arrives with a literal “[topic]” in it undoes all the goodwill the template was supposed to create.
Why it works: “Journey” language builds community, and people are happy to talk about their fitness goals, so it’s one of the easiest niches to get replies in.
Why it works: Two easy options make replying simple. It also tells you whether they’re a potential client (accountability) or a content follower.
Why it works: Empathy first. A “yes, that’s exactly me” reply opens a natural conversation about how you can help.
Want more for this niche? See how to get clients on Instagram as a fitness coach.
Why it works: Establishes who and where you are in one line, and the question works for both existing customers and new ones.
Why it works: Small businesses win on being personal. For service businesses, a follow often signals buying intent, so an open invitation to ask works well.
Why it works: Good for a launch, event, or seasonal offer. A “yes” gives you permission to message them again with the details.
Send These Messages Automatically to Every New Follower
FollowToDM checks for new followers every few minutes and sends your welcome message after a natural 5 to 15 minute delay.
Start Free — 15 DMs/Month →Free plan • Upgrade from $29/month • No credit card required
Why it works: Communicates what the brand is about quickly, and the question reveals what they want so you can tailor your reply.
Why it works: Clear value and an instant reason to reply, and you send the code or link after they answer, not in the first message. Works best when the discount is genuinely good.
Why it works: Curious, not salesy. The answers give you the exact words your customers use to describe their problem, which is gold for your marketing.
Running a store? See our DM templates for ecommerce brands for more.
Why it works: Finds out their timeline without being pushy. People researching are worth nurturing, and people actively working on it are hot leads.
Why it works: Invites them to share a belief you can correct or confirm. Either way you look knowledgeable, and in industries where trust is the main barrier, that matters.
Why it works: Simple and professional, and it lets them introduce themselves. Once you know what they do, you can tailor every reply to their situation.
Why it works: Goes straight to the pain point. Business owners are busy, and if you can name their problem quickly, you earn their attention.
Agencies can find more in our welcome DM examples for agencies.
What to Do and What to Avoid
The templates above work much better if you follow a few ground rules. The “avoid” column is where most accounts go wrong.
- ✓Use their name in the first line
- ✓Keep it to two or three sentences
- ✓End with one easy question
- ✓Send within minutes, with a short natural delay
- ✓Reply quickly when they respond
- ✓Save links for after the first reply
- ✓Test a new version every few weeks
- ✗Pasting a link in the first message
- ✗Writing a wall of text
- ✗Pitching anything in the opener
- ✗Generic openers with no name
- ✗Leaving brackets unfilled
- ✗Waiting hours or days to send
- ✗Ending with nothing to reply to
How to Add a Welcome Message on Instagram Automatically
Instagram doesn’t have a built-in setting that messages new followers. Its native automations, like instant replies in Meta Business Suite and the FAQ prompts in the app, only respond to people who message you first. So to send a welcome message when someone follows you, you have three options:
Setting it up with FollowToDM
Sign up at followtodm.com. The free plan includes 15 DMs a month, with no credit card and no expiration.
Add it to Chrome and make sure you’re logged into Instagram in the same browser. No Facebook Page or Meta approval needed.
Pick one of the 25 messages above, fill in the brackets, and use {first_name}, {last_name}, or {username} for personalization.
Each new follower gets your DM after a random 5 to 15 minute delay, usually within about 10 to 20 minutes of following you. Replies land in your normal Instagram inbox.
For the full walkthrough, see how to auto DM new Instagram followers.
What to look for in any welcome DM tool
Speed
Your DM should arrive within minutes of the follow, not hours. The longer you wait, the more the moment fades.
A natural delay
Instant sends feel like a bot. A random delay of a few minutes makes the timing look like a person noticed.
Catches every follower
Tools that wait on Meta’s follow events can miss people when an event doesn’t arrive. Tools that check your follower list directly don’t.
Track your replies
Note how many people reply to each version of your message. If replies are low, change the question or the tone and test again.
Comparing options? See our list of the best tools to message new followers, or how to DM new followers without ManyChat.
Tips for Getting More Replies
Sending the message is only half the job. The other half is making it easy to reply to, and replying well when people do.
- Keep it readable in one glance. If it takes more than about ten seconds to read, it’s too long for a first message.
- Ask a question people can answer without thinking. “What brought you over?” beats “What are your goals for the next five years?”
- Get the timing right. A message a few minutes after the follow feels personal. One a day later feels random. More on this in when to send a DM after someone follows you.
- Reply like a human. Answer within the day, refer to what they said, and ask one more question before bringing up anything you sell.
- Have a plan for the next message. Know what your second message is for each type of reply, so a good conversation doesn’t stall. Our guide to turning followers into clients covers this step.
More Templates and Scripts
Frequently Asked Questions
QWhat should I say in a welcome message to a new follower?
Thank them by name, say in one line what you post or do, and end with one easy question, like what brought them to your page. Keep it to two or three sentences and leave out links and pitches. Any of the 25 templates above follows that structure.
QDoes Instagram have a built-in welcome message for new followers?
No. Instagram’s native options, like instant replies in Meta Business Suite and FAQ prompts, only respond to people who message you first. To message people when they follow you, you need to send it by hand or use a tool like FollowToDM.
QCan I automate these welcome messages?
Yes. FollowToDM is a Chrome extension that checks for new followers every few minutes and sends your welcome message after a random 5 to 15 minute delay. It works on personal, Business, and Creator accounts, with no Facebook Page or Meta approval needed. The free plan includes 15 DMs a month with no credit card.
QShould I change the templates or use them as-is?
Always adjust them to your voice. They’re starting points, not scripts to copy word for word. Swap in your niche and your natural tone. A message that sounds like you will always beat one that sounds like a template.
QHow long should an Instagram welcome message be?
Two to three sentences, four at most. That’s enough to introduce yourself and invite a reply without feeling like a sales email. If it takes more than about ten seconds to read, shorten it.
QShould I include a link in my welcome DM?
Usually not in the first message. Offer the resource (“Want me to send it over?”) and send the link once they reply. A link to a sales page in the very first message feels pushy and tends to get ignored.
QIs it okay to include my offer in the welcome DM?
A small welcome perk is fine, like the discount offer in template 20, as long as they have to reply to get it. A hard pitch for your product or program isn’t. The first message is about starting a conversation; bring in your offer once there’s a real exchange.
QDo welcome DMs actually get replies?
Yes, they generally do better than cold outreach, because the person already chose to follow you. Most people still won’t reply, and that’s normal. The point is to start the conversations that would never happen otherwise. Messages that feel human and end with an easy question get the most replies.
QCan I follow up if they don’t reply?
One short, low-pressure follow-up after a few days is generally fine, for example: “Hey, just making sure this didn’t get buried. Anything I can help with?” FollowToDM sends one welcome message per new follower, so any follow-up is up to you. More than one follow-up to someone who hasn’t replied starts to feel spammy.
QWhich of these welcome messages works best?
It depends on your niche, your tone, and what you want the conversation to lead to. Start with the one that sounds most like you, run it for a few weeks, and count the replies. Then try a different opener or closing question and compare. Small changes to the question at the end often make the biggest difference.
Pick a Message, Set It Up, Let It Run
FollowToDM sends your welcome message to every new follower automatically, a few minutes after they follow, so you never miss the moment. Works on any account, with no Facebook Page needed.
Start Free — 15 DMs/Month →Free plan • Upgrade from $29/month • No credit card required
