Hi Community
 

Welcome back to our 3-part beginner series on Instagram Automations in Manychat!

In Part I we covered the fundamentals: how to connect your Instagram account and build your first automation. Now, in Part 2, let’s explore the basic Instagram automations you can set up right away to engage followers, answer FAQs, and never miss a message.

These core features are the building blocks for more advanced automations (coming in Part 3 ).

Instagram Main Menu

The Instagram Main Menu gives your followers quick access to the most important actions — like visiting your website, contacting support, or checking out new products.

Think of it as your always-on navigation bar inside DMs. It helps streamline conversations, improves user experience, and makes sure people can quickly find what they need.

Learn more: Instagram Main Menu

Default Reply (Automated Replies)
 

The Default Reply ensures no message ever goes unanswered. If a follower’s DM doesn’t match any of your automations, this reply kicks in.

Example use cases:

• Grow followers → Send a friendly greeting to new DMs

• Drive engagement → Share links to your site, store, or merch directly in DMs (no “link in bio” needed)

• Boost conversions → Guide users to products or offers instantly

You control how often the Default Reply sends, and it can also include buttons or keywords to guide users further.

Setup guide: How to set up a Default Reply

Conversation Starters
 

Conversation Starters appear when someone opens a DM with your account for the very first time. They’re preset questions (up to 4) that users can tap to start chatting.

Perfect for FAQs like:

• “Do you offer free shipping?”

• “What are your business hours?”

• “How do I track my order?”

This feature makes it easier for new customers to engage right away and helps you handle common questions automatically.

Learn more: Conversation Starters for Instagram

Opt-in & Opt-out Automations
 

These automations help you stay compliant and give followers control over their subscriptions:

• Opt-in automation → Triggered when someone types “Start” or “Subscribe”

• Opt-out automation → Triggered when someone types “Stop” or “Unsubscribe”

These simple flows make sure your users can manage their preferences smoothly.

Learn more: Default Opt-in and Opt-out Automations

Your Turn

Set up one (or more!) of these basics this week:

• Add an Instagram Main Menu to guide your followers
• Create a Default Reply to make sure every DM gets answered
• Add Conversation Starters to handle FAQs instantly
• Set up Opt-in/Opt-out to give users more control

These are the foundations that will prepare you for Part 3: Leveling Up with Advanced Instagram Automations
 

Which automation will you try first? Share in the comments below!