Instagram has tons of features that make it one of the most popular social media networks available for both individuals and businesses. One of those features is the direct message.
Instagram direct messages, more commonly known as Instagram DMs, help to facilitate deeper communication with users on the platform. Now, you can not only share your visual content with your Instagram followers and viewers but actually reach out to them and speak with them directly.
This means that brands and businesses looking to harness the platform for efforts towards lead generation, client satisfaction, and building loyalty have another tool in the box that they can take advantage of.
With all the potential, though, does come some inconvenience once in a while. When you are having trouble with your Instagram DMs and you really need to send a message, it can be incredibly frustrating and disheartening.
In this article, we’re going to discuss a number of the different issues you may encounter with Instagram DMs and some possible solutions that can help you get things working again.
We’ll also include a bonus section that gives you some insight on how to use Instagram DMs for business. Let’s get started!
Instagram Direct Messages (DMs) Not Working
Instagram direct messages can have a variety of perplexing issues. You might find any of the following:
- You can’t start a new message thread
- You can’t send a message to certain users
- Your messages are displayed incorrectly or mixed up
- Your message threads might disappear, reappear, and disappear again
- Some messages may be missing or you can’t locate them
- You can’t open a message that someone sent you
These are just a few of the common issues with Instagram DMs that users experience. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons these things may be happening to you.
Possible Causes of Instagram DM Issues
One of the most common causes of Instagram DM problems is a new update of the Instagram app. This could happen either by Instagram itself or by your phone provider, preventing the information from being sent correctly, stopping it, or messing with the display.
There could also be a glitch with your Instagram app on your phone, or some technical problem on the side of Instagram that’s only temporary.
Users may have an effect on what your DMs do as well, because if a user blocks you, you may not be able to send or receive messages from that user, which could cause problems if you can no longer find their messages or send them one.
These issues can be experienced by any user, regardless of verification status on Instagram or device type (iOS or Android), so knowing some solutions can help you if your Instagram DMs aren’t working.
Solutions for Instagram DM Problems
If you feel that you have a problem that is being caused by your device or a bug on the app, you can try a couple different things to help get things working again:
- If your Instagram DMs aren’t working and they just started having issues, you should first try turning your device off and then turn it back on about 30 seconds later. This is typically sufficient to get the app back to its proper functioning and will perhaps resolve any issues with DMs in the process.
- Ensure you have the latest version of the Instagram app and update if you don’t.
- If you have the latest version and restarting your device didn’t work, uninstall the app and then reinstall it.
- Clear the cache on your device that is stored for Instagram and get rid of any temporary files or stored data that might take up memory or cause glitches.
- Double check the amount of memory on your device and confirm that you have enough for Instagram DMs. If you’re close to your limit, clearing up some memory can help you to get things working the right way again.
If none of the above options worked for you, it’s time to send Instagram a message through the help and support center to get troubleshooting information and find out what the Instagram DM problem is.
How to Use Instagram DMs for Business
Instagram DMs isn’t a feature that people typically associate with marketing and connecting with their target audience, but it can actually be one of the most beneficial ways to do exactly that.
There are five things that you can do with Instagram DMs that will enhance your Instagram strategy, and we’ll discuss five of those below in this bonus section.
Connect with Leads and Customers
Using DMs on Instagram can help you to make a deeper connection with your audience and boost your opportunity for two-way communication. You need to do more than just observe what people are saying— you need to react and respond in a direct way. Enter: DMs!
There are tons of reasons why people send DMs to brands on Instagram, and it’s very useful to be able to respond to users when they message you. Even if they don’t message you, though, you can reach out to them first.
You may want to discuss different offers you have going on, let them know that you saw them like/comment on your post and offer more information, or even ask them about a previous purchase or experience with your brand.
You can show that your brand listens and responds when you interact with your followers and users via Instagram DMs.
Generate Leads and Sales
Instagram DM marketing can help you to generate more leads and sales for your brand, business, or other endeavor via Instagram. You can actively respond to users who reach out to you with questions or doubts, or you can reach out to users with anticipation.
You can also take advantage of Instagram influencer marketing to help you make waves through your direct messaging strategy. It’s been shown that social media posts from influencers are very influential in what users decide to buy for 53% of people on Instagram, so this can have a big impact.
When you find the right influencer that aligns with your brand and budget, many can be contracted to send direct messages and help to build a relationship through Instagram direct messages.
Customer Relations and Support
Customer service is increasingly important on social media as many people want to get immediate answers and connect with a brand representative via the channels they are most active on, and that includes Instagram.
Instagram DMs are vital if you want to have a comprehensive offering for your target audience, so you should take advantage of that and provide effective customer service and a point of contact.
67% of consumers find that customer service is the number one element of having a positive experience with a brand on social media, which means that you absolutely have to invest your time and energy in being available to your clients, leads, and audience for CSR.
Build Brand Loyalty and Client Retention
If you’re using Instagram DMs to connect with your clients, you also want to make sure that your response time is quick. You should respond within the first hour, as 40% of consumers have this expectation and expect a response.
When you respond promptly and don’t keep your followers or clients waiting, they will see you as a reliable entity on Instagram and brand loyalty will increase. It shows clients and leads that their needs have a high place on your agenda.
You can also send your followers exclusive offers, sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes content, and more. This will also make them feel special and enjoy the extra attention, furthering retention and loyalty efforts.
Boost Instagram Story Strategy
You should always have an active Instagram story so that your account appears active and engaging. That’s not the only benefit, though— when you have an active Instagram story, you give your followers and viewers the chance to react to it.
Those reactions go directly to the inbox of your business account, which opens the door to communication and you can even build upon your previous interactions if you’ve had any with that particular user.
You can also use these interactions to see how successful your content is, which subjects drive more engagement, and then make changes to make your content strategy based on your findings.
Instagram DM Problems and Solutions
If you are using your Instagram DMs for business and marketing purposes, you’ll need them to be working properly in order to keep your response time up, so it can be frustrating when things don’t work right.
Follow the solution options above to troubleshoot various problems if your Instagram DMs aren’t working, and get working on our five tips above to help take your DM strategy to the next level!
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