Automation just got a major upgrade on Instagram.
At the recent Instagram Summit, Meta business partner Manychat announced a new feature that automatically sends direct messages to new followers the moment they hit “follow.”
The update, called “Say Hi to New Followers,” makes it easier than ever to start real conversations (and real conversions) without spending hours glued to your DMs.
For agents and creators who already use Manychat to automate post replies or story interactions, this is a big leap forward. It turns that first “hello” into a moment that feels personal, helpful, and human.
And it has big potential for real estate agents looking to convert social engagement into actual leads.
Yet another reason why Lauren Lucas named Manychat among her favorite AI tools for real estate agents at the Further Together x BAM event.
Get the breakdown here.
Tom Youngs Tests the Feature
Business coach Tom Youngs was one of the first to test the feature and share his results.
In just 21 hours, his automated welcome message funneled 10% of new followers straight to his email list, all without manual outreach or virtual assistants monitoring DMs around the clock.
Here’s how his setup works:
- When someone follows, Manychat sends a message that thanks them and teases a free offer.
- Once the follower clicks through, a follow-up message invites them to share their email for access to a short (and free) 7-day course.
From there, Manychat automatically syncs with his email service provider, adds the contact to a nurture sequence, and tracks engagement.
- 91% open rate on the first message
- 39% click-through rate to watch his video
- 22% click-through rate to his landing page
“Manychat just dropped a feature that probably should’ve been released 2–3 years ago,” he said in his reel. “It’s absolutely changed everything.”
Youngs even shared his full automation template for others to duplicate by commenting “Manychat” on his post, a move that’s both generous and smart marketing.
Natasha Willis: “Be Helpful, Not Pushy”
Marketing strategist Natasha Willis took a more tactical approach. She’s analyzed more than 400 million messages and $90 million in sales across client accounts, and her advice is clear: don’t use this tool to blast links. Use it to start meaningful conversations.
Her step-by-step strategy:
- Start with a genuine thank-you message instead of pitching right away.
- Ask new followers which of three topics they’re most interested in.
- Automatically send them a Reel related to that topic—something educational or transformational.
- Include a call to action on that Reel (such as “comment to learn more”).
- When they comment, they naturally enter another DM automation that deepens the relationship.
As Willis put it,
“In just minutes, you can turn followers into buyers by being helpful instead of pushy.”
The result is a self-sustaining flywheel, an automated loop that attracts, educates, and converts new followers without constant maintenance.
How You Can Use This
This feature could quietly become one of the most powerful ways to scale your online relationships. Imagine:
- Welcoming every new follower with a short DM that says hi, thanks them for following, and links to a free guide (or something else you know they’d love)
- Offering three clickable options (“Buying,” “Selling,” or “Market Updates”) that lead to short Reels answering common questions.
- Using those Reels to spark comments and trigger other DM automations, like a link to book a consultation or join your email list.
The key is authenticity. The goal isn’t to spam new followers; it’s to meet them where they are and make it easy to connect.
That’s the philosophy behind this new Manychat feature: automation that still feels human.
The “Say Hi to New Followers” feature is still rolling out in beta, but it’s already proving its value for anyone building a brand on Instagram.
This Simple Instagram Post Generated 97 Comments (and a Month of Content Ideas)