Hi Queens, welcome back to the School of Soul: The Social Series. I’m Adeline Atlas, and today we’re diving into one of the most powerful ways to scale your Instagram sales: How to Build a DM Automation Funnel.

If you’re ready to step up your sales game and create an automated system that works while you sleep, this video is for you. Let’s break down how you can set up a DM Automation Funnel that nurtures leads, guides them to your offer, and converts them into paying customers — all automatically.

What is a DM Automation Funnel?

A DM Automation Funnel is a series of automated messages sent to your followers via Instagram Direct Message (DM). This funnel is triggered when someone interacts with your content in a specific way, like commenting on a post, sending you a DM with a certain keyword, or clicking a link in your bio.

The goal of this funnel is simple:
To nurture new followers, build trust, and guide them toward making a purchase — automatically.

This is especially powerful because it gives you the ability to have personalized, one-on-one conversations at scale, without you needing to manually respond to every single DM.

Why Do You Need a DM Automation Funnel?

A DM automation funnel is a way to maximize your time and scale your business without sacrificing the personal touch. Here’s why you need it:

1. Time-saving: Once set up, it runs on autopilot. You can engage with hundreds of leads at once, while focusing on other aspects of your business.
   
   
2. Increased engagement: By automating responses to frequently asked questions or common interactions, you can respond instantly and keep people engaged.
   
   
3. Higher conversions: A well-built funnel guides people through your offers at their own pace, giving them the right information when they need it — without feeling salesy or pushy.
   
   
4. 24/7 sales: Your funnel works even when you’re not on Instagram, meaning you’re always nurturing leads and closing sales, even while you sleep.
   
   

How to Build Your DM Automation Funnel

Building a DM automation funnel is easier than you think. You don’t need to be a tech expert to set it up — you just need the right tools and the right strategy. Let’s break it down step-by-step.

Step 1: Choose Your Automation Tool

To create a DM funnel, you’ll need an automation tool that integrates with Instagram. One of the most popular tools for this is ManyChat, which allows you to set up flows, triggers, and automated messages that run through Instagram DMs.

• Go to ManyChat.com and create a free account.
  
  
• Connect your Instagram account (you’ll need a business or creator profile).
  
  

Once you’re connected, you’ll be ready to set up your automation funnel.

Step 2: Define Your Funnel Goals

Before you start building, it’s essential to know what you want your DM funnel to achieve. Here are some common goals for a DM automation funnel:

• Lead Generation: Capture email addresses by offering a freebie or lead magnet.
  
  
• Nurturing: Provide valuable information or resources to help your followers get to know you and trust your expertise.
  
  
• Sales: Move followers through a series of messages that guide them to your paid offer.
  
  

Make sure your goals are clear, so you can design your funnel accordingly.

Step 3: Create Your Funnel Triggers

A trigger is what activates your funnel. It’s the action your follower takes that tells the system, “It’s time to start the automation.”

There are several types of triggers you can use:

• Keyword Triggers: This is when you ask your followers to DM you a specific word or phrase, like “FREEBIE” or “INFO.” Once they DM you the keyword, it triggers an automatic response.
  
  
• Link Click Triggers: You can also set up a trigger that activates when someone clicks on a link in your bio or Story. For example, if they click on a link to your free guide, it can trigger an automation to send them the guide and offer additional resources.
  
  

Your keyword triggers are the easiest way to get started, but don’t be afraid to get creative with your automation triggers. Use whatever aligns with your business goals.

Step 4: Build the Funnel Flow

Now comes the fun part: building the flow — or the series of automated messages that will guide your follower through the funnel. Here’s how to build it:

1. Welcome Message: Once the trigger is activated, send an immediate response welcoming the follower and acknowledging their action.
   
   
• Example: “Hey Queen! Thanks for reaching out. Here’s the freebie you requested! 🌟”
  
  
2. Provide Value: After the welcome message, deliver your value. If it’s a freebie, send the download link. If it’s a course, give them the first lesson or overview. Offer valuable content that builds trust and solves their problem.
   
   
• Example: “You’re going to love this! Here’s your free guide to launching your first digital product. Click here to download: [link].”
  
  
3. Nurture and Build Connection: Share a personal story, testimonial, or case study to show how your product or service has worked for others. This nurtures the relationship and gets them comfortable with you.
   
   
• Example: “I created this guide because I was in your shoes a few years ago — struggling to launch my first product. Let me tell you, it changed everything for me!”
  
  
4. Make the Offer: After delivering value and building the connection, offer a paid product or service.
   
   
• Example: “If you loved this guide, you’ll want to check out my full course on creating and selling your first digital product. It’s packed with even more insights and step-by-step action plans. You can grab it at a special price today: [link].”
  
  
5. Call-to-Action (CTA): Always end with a clear CTA, directing them to take the next step. This could be booking a call, purchasing a product, or signing up for a program.
   
   
• Example: “Tap below to join the course and start your digital product journey today. 💎”
  
  

Step 5: Set Up Follow-Up Sequences

Not every person will buy after the first message. That’s why you need follow-up sequences to keep people engaged.

For example, you can send:

• Reminder messages: If someone clicked on your course link but didn’t buy, you can send a follow-up message with a reminder or a special offer.
  
  
• Urgency-based messages: Offer a time-sensitive discount to create urgency. (“Only 24 hours left to grab the course at 50% off!”)
  
  

By automating follow-ups, you ensure that no lead falls through the cracks.

Step 6: Test and Optimize

Once your funnel is set up, you need to test everything to make sure it works smoothly.

• Test each trigger to make sure it fires correctly.
  
  
• Test the flow of messages to ensure everything is clear and accurate.
  
  
• Check that the links are working and direct users to the correct pages.
  
  

Once it’s live, track the results and make adjustments based on what works. Testing is key to optimizing your funnel for better results.

Final Tip

Building a DM automation funnel isn’t just about automating your DMs.
It’s about building authentic connections that guide people through their buyer’s journey without overwhelming them.

Start small with simple flows, then scale as you get more comfortable. With the right funnel in place, you can turn your Instagram account into a sales powerhouse that works for you around the clock.

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