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Question

does the first message in follow to DM flow always need to have a button?

  • February 23, 2026
  • 4 comments
  • 32 views
Magnumson

I feel that the button makes the first message looking like a bot sent message. So I preferably would like to send the very first message to a new follower without the button. However Manychat apparently forces me to set the first message block to “send as private reply” and that means that I can’t add any further blocks after that first text message and I can’t connect them to the first. Is there any way I could ask in a first follow to  DM message “how are you” (needs to be set to private message) and then when the user replies to add a second message “glad to hear”)? Any help would be so appreciated!

 

      4 replies

      SumGeniusAI
      • SumGeniusAI
      • Rising Conversationalist
      • February 23, 2026

      Unfortunately no, it’s required by Meta

      Manaia45t
      • Manaia45t
      • Up-and-Comer
      • February 23, 2026

      In ManyChat the first message in a “Follow to DM” flow must use a button or “private reply” because of Meta’s platform rules. You cannot have a simple text-only first message that automatically links to other blocks.

      Workaround: start with a private reply asking “How are you?” and then use a keyword or user reply trigger to connect it to the next message like “Glad to hear.” This way the conversation continues after the first reply.

      rodrigo_silvano
      Forum|alt.badge.img+4
      • rodrigo_silvano
      • Community Moderator
      • February 23, 2026

      Hey, ​@Magnumson 
      When tou set up this automation, you have two options:

      1º Send a message with a button
      2º Send a message without a button

      In the first option, when the user click the button, you can continue to send message because the 24-hour window was open by the user. In the second option, you can’t continue send automated messages with the user 😕

      This is a Meta rule and Manychat needs to comply with it to make sure our accounts are secure and not be blocked by Meta.

      rodrigosilvano.pt | Automate with intelligence - Surprise with experience
      Magnumson
      • Magnumson
      • Author
      • Up-and-Comer
      • February 23, 2026

      In ManyChat the first message in a “Follow to DM” flow must use a button or “private reply” because of Meta’s platform rules. You cannot have a simple text-only first message that automatically links to other blocks.

      Workaround: start with a private reply asking “How are you?” and then use a keyword or user reply trigger to connect it to the next message like “Glad to hear.” This way the conversation continues after the first reply.



      thank you so much for you reply! Could you kindly send a screenshot here for the workaround as I don’t understand how I could connect with a keyword or user reply trigger to the next message. This would help so many people here! Again thank you so much for your help!

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