Before I get to my secrets on how to get more user-generated content on Instagram, I want to introduce you to a brand new tool for Instagram and to fully understand why it works so well.
We’ve all heard that acquiring a new customer can be as much as 25x more expensive than keeping the customers you already have. Yet, most businesses spend the majority of their effort on finding new customers.
It’s time to flip that!
Knowing how to incentivize and reward your customers for engaging with or sharing your content on Instagram can turn a loyal follower base into your biggest revenue generator.
And with the right tools and information, you can:
- See who your best Instagram followers are.
- Test different incentives to share your content and mention your brand.
- And encourage followers to create UGC that highlights your products more often.
So, just as it’s important to keep your already paying customers happy, the same principle applies to how to get more user-generated content on Instagram.
Now, ask yourself, “What are you doing to capitalize on each and every share of your content or mention of your brand on Instagram?”
If you’re not doing anything, you’re definitely not alone. Most people don’t even know how to see who tagged your brand in a post on Instagram, let alone have campaigns in place to engage with the followers that do.
Today, I’m going to share with you a new tool that’s virtually guaranteed to skyrocket the amount of UGC you’re currently getting on Instagram. Not only that, but this tool also automatically engages with the people that mention you in Instagram Stories.
Let’s start by introducing you to that tool right now.
It just happens to be top marketer Neil Patel’s favorite Instagram tool, too!
Incentivize More User Generated Content with Automated Replies to Instagram Story Mentions
The “Instagram Story Mentions” tool, by Customers.ai, is an excellent new tool for brands, influencers, and creators on Instagram.
Here’s how it works: If someone mentions your Instagram handle (e.g. @kim_larry) post as an Instagram Story, or if someone tags you in their Instagram Story, this tool will automatically send that person a direct message.
Take the Instagram carousel post below for example. If you scroll through it, you’ll see that the topic is the same tool we’re currently discussing.
Then, on the final slide, there’s a call to action that none of you have probably ever seen on Instagram:
Test out the Instagram Story Mentions tool for yourself by tagging @kim_larry in your next Instagram Story. All you have to do is make sure to mention Larry’s Instagram handle. We have one set up on @Customers.ai as well if you’d like to try that instead.
Then, when you publish the Story, you’ll instantly receive a direct message notification. Make sure to do this from a mobile device as these tools are in beta and do not yet work on desktop.
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How to get more user generated content on Instagram with the Instagram Story Mentions tool
Exactly what to use the Story Mentions tool for is limited mostly by your imagination. However, the most obvious use case is to thank people that mention you in their Instagram stories.
The phrase that keeps coming to mind for me when thinking about this tool and the other new DM automation tools, for that matter, is “instant gratification.”
Within moments of posting a Story that mentions your brand, your most engaged followers and fans are satisfied and encouraged to engage with your content even more in the future.
All you need to do is create a message that you’d like to send to anyone who tags or mentions your Instagram handle in their Instagram story. Then, flip this tool on (also in Customers.ai) and you’re ready to surprise, as well as delight your most engaged followers!
The best opportunities I see here for marketing professionals, other than a ‘thank you for sharing’ note:
- Encourage more UGC from your biggest fans: Use it as an incentive to mention you or your brand. For example, make the CTA on your posts to create UGC in return for an instant reward. That’s guaranteed to result in more UCG than your average post, and your followers and fans are going to love whatever you surprise them with immediately after they hit the share button.
- Promotional offers: Reward people for sharing your brand by sending a link to your latest promotional offer(s). Whether that’s a discount, coupon, or other marketing campaign, it’s a great idea.
- Promote your most important campaigns: Have a big event or new product launch coming up? Make sure your most valuable followers on Instagram know about it.
Story Mentions can be a powerful tool both for admired individuals and companies, as well as small businesses on Instagram to build closer connections with their fans.
Don’t you think your posts would get more engagement if your CTA was, “Mention @kim_larry in your next Instagram Story to instantly receive a 10% discount” versus the completely played out, “Learn more by clicking the link in my bio”? I know I do.
Now, let’s get to work on improving your Instagram Story game with how to set up Instagram Story Mention auto-reply tools on Instagram step-by-step.
How to Set Up Auto-Replies to Instagram Story Mentions Step-By-Step
Automating replies to Instagram Story mentions efficiently increases your engagement and brand loyalty while simultaneously driving traffic to your marketing funnels with the ability to add a link to your auto-reply messages.
Step #1: Create your official Instagram Automation Tools account and sign in
If you’re not yet signed up for Instagram automated messages, the time to do so is now.
✅ Get early access to Instagram automated messages by Customers.ai.
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Step #2: Connect your Instagram account to Customers.ai
Once you’ve logged in to the Customers.ai dashboard, you will see an overview that includes metrics of all your messaging channels.
The account pictured here is already connected, but you would click the button under Instagram in the far right square.
Step 3: Use the chatbot builder to create your automated reply to Story mentions
Click on the “Chatbot” dropdown menu inside the Customers.ai platform.
Next, click “Chat Starters” and “Instagram Story Mentions Tool.”
And finally, click the “Create Instagram Story Mention” button to start the Instagram chatbot dialogue wizard.
Scroll down from the above screen until you reach the drag-and-drop widgets in the Instagram chatbot builder. Add new widgets by selecting the +Add widget button.
From here, you can expand the +Add widget menu for more customization options for your Instagram Story Mentions Auto-Reply dialogue, including lead capture forms, multiple-choice questions, integrations with Zapier, and more.
Tag @kim_larry in your own Instagram Story to see a live example of how the Instagram Story Mentions auto-responder works!
In review: What is the Instagram Auto-Reply feature? With new official Instagram automation tools, you can instantly send a custom automated DM reply or thank you to every Instagram mention of your business or brand.
The Instagram Story Mentions tool is by far the best tool on Instagram regarding how to get more UGC on Instagram. Get your hands on this new, 100% Instagram-approved engagement tool!
✅ Get early access to Instagram automated messages by Customers.ai.
Why Marketers Should Be Using Automatic Replies to Instagram Story Mentions
Beyond the instant gratification received by your fans for sharing, individual influencers and creators, as well as companies on Instagram, can now instantly send exclusive offers to their most engaged followers, drive traffic to landing pages, encourage additional sharing of their content, and more.
Instagram, the visual-forward platform wasn’t designed initially with direct messaging to scale in mind. Fortunately, the powers that be have taken notice.
“Private messaging, ephemeral stories, and small groups are by far the fastest-growing areas of online communication.”
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO Facebook
The increased demand and focus on messaging resulted in Instagram DM and Messenger merging during a significant Instagram API update in October 2020. Soon after, in February of 2021, the official Instagram automation tools were released in partnership with Customers.ai, the popular omni-channel messaging automation platform.
Instagram Stories continue to drive the most engagement for businesses and brands in 2021, and one-third of the most viewed IG Stories come directly from business accounts (Instagram).
New Instagram automation features inherently enable new avenues and tools for social media marketers. I’ll cover some of these hidden gems, such as new ways to share a link via Instagram Story.
How to Get More User Generated Content on Instagram: Important Next Steps
Instagram accounts that use MoibileMonkey’s Instagram marketing tools, will generate automated activity and interactions which are perceived as entirely organic. And because you’re able to generate organic engagement at scale, this translates into a huge increase in genuine followers.
Best of all, with Customers.ai, you’ll be working with 100% Instagram-approved engagement tools.
The proof is in the numbers. 75% of consumers also prefer to engage with brands using private messaging channels vs traditional channels.
✅ Get early access to Instagram messaging tools.
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