How to Auto-DM New Clients on Instagram Using Make.com + Manychat

Social media is a goldmine for leads, but only if you engage.

If someone follows you or comments "Info" on your post, they are interested right now. If you wait 24 hours to reply, they've already moved on to your competitor.

But you can't be on your phone 24/7.

This guide shows you how to build an Instagram Auto-DM Funnel that works while you sleep. It instantly greets potential clients, delivers value (like a lead magnet), and captures their email address—all automatically.

The Tech Stack

* Instagram Business Account

* Manychat: The industry standard for chat automation.

* Make.com: To connect Manychat to your other tools (Email, CRM, etc.).

Strategy: The "Comment Trigger"

The most effective strategy right now is the "Comment Keyword" trigger.

You Post: "I created a checklist for [Topic]. Comment 'CHECKLIST' below and I'll DM it to you."

User Comments: "Checklist!"

Automation: Instantly replies to the comment ("Sent it over! check your DMs 👀") AND sends a private DM with the link.

This boosts your post engagement (algorithm loves comments) AND starts a private conversation.

Step 1: Setting up Manychat

Create a new Flow in Manychat.

Trigger: "User comments on Your Post".

* Select "Specific Post" or "Any Post".

* Keyword: "Checklist" (and variations like "checklist", "Check list").

Action: "Send Message".

Message:* "Hey {{first_name}}! 👋 Here is the checklist you asked for: [Link]"

Seeing this in action makes a huge difference. Once configured, the interface provides a clear visual confirmation that your automation is running smoothly, giving you peace of mind that the system is working as intended.

Step 2: Capturing the Email (The Real Value)

Don't just give the link. Ask for their email.

Revised Flow:

Bot: "Hey! Glad you want the checklist. Where should I send the PDF?"

User Input: User types their email.

Action: Save email to a Custom Field in Manychat.

Step 3: Connecting to Make.com

Now that Manychat has the email, we need to send it to your email marketing platform (ConvertKit, Mailchimp, etc.).

In Manychat, add an Action after the user provides their email: Trigger Webhook.

In Make.com, create a scenario with a Custom Webhook trigger.

Copy the Webhook URL from Make and paste it into Manychat.

Test: Run the flow yourself. Make.com should receive the data (Name, Email, Instagram Handle).

Step 4: The Handoff

In Make.com:

Trigger: Webhook receives data.

Module: ConvertKit (or your tool) > Add Subscriber.

* Map Email and First Name.

* Tag them as "Instagram Lead".

Module: Slack > Send Message.

* "🎉 New Lead from Instagram: {{first_name}} (@{{handle}})"

Why This Beats "Link in Bio"

"Link in Bio" is passive. It requires the user to leave the feed, go to your profile, click a link, and fill out a form. Friction is high.

DM Automation is active.

* They stay in the feed (low friction).

* They get an instant reward.

* You start a 1-on-1 conversation channel.

Advanced: AI Conversation

You can integrate OpenAI into this.

Instead of a static script, send the user's message to ChatGPT via Make.com and have it generate a reply.

User:* "Do you also do coaching?" AI:* "Yes, I offer 1-on-1 coaching! You can read more about it here..." Warning: Be careful with fully AI-driven chats on Instagram. If the AI hallucinates, it can look bad. It's safer to use AI to classify the intent and notify you, rather than letting it reply directly.

In practice, this approach transforms the way you handle daily tasks. Instead of getting bogged down in details, you can focus on the high-level strategy while the system handles the execution. Many solopreneurs find that this shift alone saves them hours of mental energy every week.

Conclusion

Your Instagram DMs are not just a chat inbox; they are a sales pipeline. By automating the initial capture and delivery, you turn casual scrollers into owned email leads.

Next Step: Create one "Lead Magnet" (a PDF, a video, a template). Post about it on Instagram and tell people to comment a keyword. Set up a simple Manychat flow to deliver it.

* Start automating with Make.com

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Once you have the lead, you need to track them. Learn how to Auto-Detect Leads in Gmail to catch the ones who email you directly.