
Everything you need to know about Instagram AI | Manychat
Share
By now I am sure you have seen an Instagram call to action that read: “DM the word:___ to _____.” As a consumer you likely thought, “Wow, that’s cool. I love that I don’t have to search for links in someone’s bio.” As a small business owner you likely thought, “This is genius. How did they do that? Someone please tell me all the things about Instagram AI.” Don’t worry - we got your back. Let’s talk about Manychat.
I know the term ‘AI’ can feel big and scary. It has these high tech connotations that can make it feel unattainable for the average small business owner; not to mention you already have a lot on your plate. Yes it is new and the thought of learning something fresh can be daunting; however, I promise that it will make your life hell-a easier and your future self will thank you later. So here is everything you need to know about Manychat, the Instagram AI software and why you need to start using it, like yesterday.
What is Manychat?
Manychat is the approved Instagram AI software that allows you to engage with your audience 24/7 without having to be attached to your phone. The dream, right? Simply use Manychat to build chat flows that kick off as soon as someone engages with your call to action. Here are some examples:
- The person DMs the word: “VIP” to sign up for your email list. This triggers the chat flow to start.The chat flow asks the person for their permission to receive emails from you and gathers their email address.
- The person comments the phrase: “New Year” on your feed post. This triggers a chat flow to begin. The person automatically receives a DM from you with a link to sign up for a webinar about building healthy habits.
- The person replies to your Instagram story with the word: “Ten” and triggers the chat flow. The person then receives a link to a blog post in their DMs.
These are just a few of the dozens of ways you can use Manychat. The platform allows you to create chat flows from scratch or you can use one of their templates to help you get started (We suggest using one of the templates first to learn the ropes of chat flows).
Three reasons why we LOVE Manychat
- CTA Success: We have all used the, ‘check the link in my bio to learn more’, BUT let’s be realistic, it's not effective. It’s a lot of clicking to ask of someone so you’re bound to lose people along the way. To get people to take you up on your offer, you need to make it as easy as possible for them to access it. What better way to do that than with your Instagram DMs? They open their DMs and bam, there’s the link to their new favourite product or a blog post with tips they want to follow. They can 1. Find the link with one click, 2. Easily go back to the link in future.
- Work smarter not harder: We get it. You are wearing a million hats in a day so you need to get bang for your buck when it comes to your time. By using chat flows you can connect with your customers while you’re tending to other areas of your business, spending time with your family or even sleeping. Simply set it and forget it. Just remember it is important to still organically spend time on social media to engage with your audience.
- Boost your rankings with the Instagram algorithm: The dreaded algorithm has the power to make or break your content with a single swipe. Dramatic yes, but we have all felt personally victimized by the algorithm at one point or another. Now how does this have anything to do with chat flows? BECAUSE the Instagram algorithm ranks your content based on the engagement it receives. Engagement could be in the form of likes, saves, comments or DMs. The more people that comment on your post or connect with you in DMs (by using Manychat tools), the Instagram algorithm will rank your post higher and show it to more people. More people = more engagement = more success.
“Alright, you guys have convinced me - but how much is this going to cost?” Nothing… ya for real. Manychat has a free plan so you can get started without incurring any costs. Yes there are some limitations (ex. no email list building) but we are confident you can still see results using the free version. But hey, if it works really well for you and you outgrow the free version, then it’s definitely worth the $15/month for the pro version. Find out more about their pricing plans on their website.
Want to make the leap but still have questions? You can also check out Manychat’s library of how-to resources to learn the ins and outs of Instagram AI. Or find us on Instagram and send us a DM to chat more about how Manychat could be an asset to your business.