How to Create a DM Keyword Flow
May 02, 2025Hi Queens, welcome back to the School of Soul: The Social Series. I’m Adeline Atlas, and today, I’m showing you how to create a DM Keyword Flow — one of the easiest ways to automate your Instagram DMs and start building a smarter sales system that works while you sleep.
If you’ve ever wanted to nurture your audience, answer their questions instantly, and guide them to your offers — all with minimal effort on your part — this video is for you.
Let’s dive into how you can set up your own DM Keyword Flow and turn your Instagram DMs into a powerful tool for engagement and sales.
What is a DM Keyword Flow?
A DM Keyword Flow is a series of automated messages that are triggered when a follower sends a specific keyword to your Instagram DM. This means, when someone types a word or phrase into your DMs (like “INFO” or “FREE”), Instagram responds automatically with the relevant content or offer.
The beauty of this is that it allows you to have personalized, 1:1 conversations with multiple followers at scale, without you having to manually respond to each one.
For example, if someone DMs you the word “FREE,” your DM automation could trigger an automatic response with a link to a free resource or guide. Or if someone DMs you “COURSE,” you could send them information about your paid product, complete with a link to buy.
This is the magic of a DM keyword flow — it guides people through their customer journey automatically while keeping the experience personal.
Why DM Keyword Flows Are So Powerful
So why should you use DM keyword flows? Here are the key reasons:
- Automation with a Personal Touch: Unlike other types of automation that feel robotic, DM keyword flows can feel like a natural conversation, and they help you stay connected with your audience.
- Instant Response: Your followers don’t have to wait for you to reply. The second they send the right keyword, they get an immediate, helpful response.
- Segment Your Audience: DM keyword flows allow you to automatically sort people based on their interests, making it easy to send them more targeted offers.
- Nurture Leads Automatically: You can set up multiple flows for different stages of the customer journey, so your audience gets the right message at the right time.
- Increase Conversions: Because the process is automated, you’ll be able to convert more leads into paying customers, even while you sleep.
How to Set Up a DM Keyword Flow
Now let’s dive into the step-by-step process of setting up your own DM keyword flow. I’m going to walk you through how to use a tool like ManyChat to automate these flows, but the same principles apply no matter what platform you use.
Step 1: Choose Your Keyword
First, you need to decide what keywords you want to use. These are the words or phrases that your followers will send you to trigger the automation.
Here are some examples of effective keywords:
- “FREE” (for free resources)
- “INFO” (for product or service details)
- “COURSE” (for course-related info)
- “BOOK” (for booking a consultation or strategy session)
- “JOIN” (for joining a membership or community)
The keyword you choose should align with what your audience is looking for and be simple to remember.
Step 2: Set Up Your Automation Tool
Once you’ve chosen your keywords, the next step is to set up your automation tool. I recommend using ManyChat, as it integrates seamlessly with Instagram and offers an easy interface to set up automated flows.
Here’s how to get started:
- Go to ManyChat.com and create a free account.
- Connect your Instagram business account to ManyChat.
- From the ManyChat dashboard, select the “Automation” section.
Now you’re ready to start building your DM keyword flow!
Step 3: Create Your DM Keyword Flow
- Go to the “Automations” Section in ManyChat and click on “New Flow”.
- Set the Trigger: Choose the “Keyword” trigger and add the keyword you want to use (for example, “FREE”).
- Create Your Message: This is the message your followers will receive when they DM you the chosen keyword. Be clear, concise, and provide value. For example:
- “Hey Queen! Thanks for reaching out. Here’s your free guide to [topic] — click below to download it: [link]. Enjoy! ✨”
- Add Actions: You can add further actions, such as links to additional resources, booking a call, or sending a follow-up message after a certain amount of time.
- Test the Flow: Always make sure to test the flow before you go live. Send the keyword to your account and see if the right message triggers automatically.
Step 4: Segment Your Audience Based on Keywords
As your audience interacts with your DM flows, you can segment them into different categories based on their interests. For example:
- If someone DM’s “FREE,” they’re likely just looking for free content.
- If someone DM’s “COURSE,” they’re more likely ready to buy or learn about your paid offers.
This segmentation allows you to deliver tailored content and offers, leading to higher conversion rates.
For instance, if someone triggers a flow with the keyword “FREE,” you might nurture them with free content first. But if they DM you “COURSE,” you can guide them directly to a sales page with a special offer.
Step 5: Nurture Leads Through Follow-Up Sequences
One of the biggest benefits of DM keyword flows is the ability to set up follow-up messages to nurture your leads. Once someone receives their first message, you can continue the conversation by offering them additional resources, discounts, or invitations to join your paid programs.
For example:
- If someone asks for a freebie, follow up with a thank you message and invite them to check out your paid course.
- If someone engages with a sales-related keyword, send them a limited-time discount offer in your follow-up sequence.
You can build these follow-ups into your flow, ensuring you don’t miss out on nurturing leads into sales.
Step 6: Monitor, Optimize, and Scale
Once your flow is set up, don’t just leave it and forget about it. You need to monitor the results and optimize for better performance.
Track metrics like:
- Open rates
- Click-through rates
- Conversion rates
Test different messages and CTAs to see what resonates with your audience. Optimize your DM flows for better engagement and higher conversions.
As you grow, you can scale your automation by adding more keywords, refining your messaging, and expanding your offer funnel.
Final Tip
DM Keyword flows are a game-changer for turning Instagram into a 24/7 sales machine.
By automating your conversations, you can engage with hundreds or even thousands of leads without the pressure of responding manually to each DM.
Remember, your automation should feel personal and add value. Don’t let it become robotic. Always focus on nurturing your audience, guiding them naturally toward your paid offers, and making the whole process feel authentic.
With the right DM keyword flow in place, you can automate your sales and scale your business, all while building real relationships with your followers.
🎥 What is Micro-Content?
Hi Queens, welcome back to the School of Soul: The Social Series. I’m Adeline Atlas, and today we’re going to talk about one of the most powerful types of content you can create to boost engagement, attract followers, and sell your offers — micro-content.
If you’ve ever felt like you don’t have the time or resources to create content every day, this video is for you. We’re going to break down exactly what micro-content is, why it works, and how you can start using it to grow your business with minimal effort.
What is Micro-Content?
Micro-content is short-form, bite-sized pieces of content that deliver value quickly and efficiently. It’s content that is easily consumable, often in the form of a quick tip, insight, or idea, and it’s designed to capture your audience's attention and keep them engaged.
Micro-content can be:
- Short videos (Reels, TikToks)
- Quotes or stats
- Quick tips or hacks
- Infographics
- Stories and polls
- Carousels
The key is that micro-content is easy to digest. It’s designed to be quick, impactful, and shareable. In a world where attention spans are shorter than ever, micro-content allows you to capture attention fast and leave an impression without asking too much time from your audience.
Why is Micro-Content So Powerful?
Micro-content is a game-changer for a few reasons:
- It’s Easy to Create: Micro-content is quick and simple to create. It doesn’t require a professional production team, fancy equipment, or hours of editing. You can make it using your phone and some basic apps.
- It’s Easy to Consume: Your audience is scrolling through Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook at lightning speed. Micro-content fits perfectly into their fast-paced consumption habits. They can watch a 15-second video or read a quick tip without breaking their flow.
- It’s Highly Shareable: The bite-sized nature of micro-content makes it easy for people to share with their friends, family, or followers. The more shareable your content, the more exposure you get.
- It Drives Engagement: Since micro-content is designed to be quick and punchy, it’s more likely to grab your audience's attention and get them to engage — whether that’s liking, commenting, or sharing.
- It Builds Consistency: Creating micro-content helps you stay consistent with your posting. It’s easier to create and publish frequently when you’re making smaller pieces of content. And consistency is key when it comes to building a loyal audience.
How to Use Micro-Content for Your Business
Now that we know what micro-content is and why it’s so powerful, let’s talk about how you can use it to grow your business.
1. Use Micro-Content to Highlight Your Offers
One of the best ways to use micro-content is to create short, engaging posts that highlight your products or services. Here are a few ideas:
- Tease a product launch with a quick video or Story.
- Share a testimonial in a simple graphic or quick video.
- Showcase a behind-the-scenes look at your product creation process.
Micro-content is the perfect way to introduce your audience to your offers in a way that feels natural and non-pushy.
2. Share Quick Tips, Hacks, or Insights
Position yourself as an expert in your field by sharing quick tips, hacks, or insights. For example:
- A 15-second video giving a tip related to your niche.
- A carousel post with 3 quick hacks your audience can use immediately.
- A story where you share a valuable lesson that can help your audience solve a problem.
The key here is simplicity. You’re not trying to overwhelm them with a 10-minute tutorial. You’re giving them a quick win that leaves them wanting more.
3. Use Micro-Content to Build Brand Awareness
Micro-content is an excellent way to build brand awareness. Since it’s so easy to create and share, you can post multiple times a day without feeling overwhelmed. Use micro-content to:
- Introduce yourself and your brand in a short video.
- Share your brand’s values through inspirational quotes or stories.
- Highlight your personality by posting relatable, authentic content.
When people are constantly seeing your micro-content pop up in their feed, they begin to recognize your brand and associate it with value. Over time, this builds trust and loyalty.
4. Engage Your Audience
Engagement is everything. Use micro-content to create interaction with your audience:
- Polls or quizzes on Instagram Stories.
- Questions in your captions to encourage comments.
- Quick challenges or call-to-actions like “Comment below with your favorite tip for XYZ.”
The goal is to spark conversation and get your followers involved. Micro-content makes it easy to engage with your audience without requiring a huge commitment from them.
5. Repurpose Content into Micro-Content
One of the best ways to create micro-content without burning out is by repurposing existing content. Here’s how:
- Take a long blog post or YouTube video and break it into bite-sized pieces.
- Use quotes or stats from a webinar or podcast to create shareable images.
- Turn key lessons or highlights from your latest course into quick tips for Instagram.
Repurposing content saves you time and ensures that you’re consistently showing up with fresh, engaging material.
Quick Tips for Creating Effective Micro-Content
- Keep It Short and Sweet: The beauty of micro-content is that it’s concise. Focus on one idea or message per post.
- Make It Visual: Use high-quality visuals, whether it’s photos, graphics, or videos. Micro-content is much more engaging when it’s visually appealing.
- Have a Clear Call to Action (CTA): Even micro-content needs a CTA. Whether it’s asking people to share your post, comment, or click the link in your bio, always tell your audience what action you want them to take.
- Be Authentic: People connect with real, relatable content. Share your personality and speak in your own voice.
- Stay Consistent: The more frequently you post micro-content, the more likely you are to stay in your audience’s mind. Consistency is key!
Final Tip
Micro-content is a powerful tool in your content strategy arsenal. It allows you to connect with your audience, build your brand, and promote your offers in a digestible, easy-to-consume way.
By consistently creating and sharing micro-content, you’ll not only grow your brand but also increase engagement and sales without feeling overwhelmed.
So, start creating your micro-content today. Keep it simple, stay consistent, and watch how this small content format can make a big impact on your business.
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