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How to dm on web instagram


How to Send and Receive DMs on Instagram From a Computer

  • You can DM on Instagram from your computer using any internet browser.
  • To send direct messages from your computer, head to the Instagram website and click the paper plane icon in the top-right.
  • This story is part of Business Insider's Guide to Instagram.

In April 2020, Instagram added the ability to send direct messages to its desktop website. 

This means that Instagram users can now send direct messages, photos, gifs, and other kinds of media, as well as start group chats, unsend messages, and reply to chats using reactions, right from their desktop. 

However, some direct message features — like video chats — only remain available In the mobile app version. 

Here's how to use the direct message feature on Instagram using your desktop computer. 

How to send a direct message on Instagram from a computer 

1. Using your preferred internet browser, go to the Instagram desktop website and log in.

2. Once you've logged in, select the paper plane icon in the top-right corner to access Direct Messages. 

You can access your direct messages from any page. Meira Gebel/Business Insider

3. You'll be shown all of your active conversations. Click one to open it, or start a new one by clicking "Send Message" or the pencil-and-paper icon.

There are two ways to start a new conversation. Meira Gebel/Business Insider

4. When starting a new conversation, begin typing in the name or username of the person you want to message, or select an account from the list of "Suggested" users. 

5. Type your message into the text box at the bottom, and then select "Send."

You can also press Enter or Return to send it. Meira Gebel/Business Insider

Once you've sent a message, you can click the three dots next to it and then click "Unsend" to take the message back.  

Once you unsend a message, the message will be removed from the chat, no matter if the recipient has seen it or not. There's no time limit for unsending messages on Instagram. 

You can "Unsend" a message at any time. Meira Gebel/Business Insider

You can also delete an entire chat conversation by clicking the "i" icon in the top-right, and then selecting "Delete chat." Note, however, that this only deletes the chat on your end — the recipient will still be able to see it.

This will delete every message in the conversation — on your end. Meira Gebel/Business Insider

  • How to clear the Instagram cache on your iPhone to free up storage space


  • How to add Story Highlights on your Instagram profile in 7 simple steps

  • How to disable comments on Instagram on a post-by-post basis

  • How to add a location on your Instagram story to share it with your followers

  • How to add a GIF to your Instagram Story using GIPHY

William Antonelli and Kerry Wan contributed to a previous version of this article.

Meira Gebel

Meira Gebel is a freelance reporter based in Portland, Oregon. She writes about business, culture, and technology for Insider. Her work has been featured in Digital Trends, Willamette Week, USA Today, and more. She is a graduate of Columbia Journalism School and San Francisco State University.  Feel free to reach out to her on Twitter, where she can be found most of the time, @MeiraGebel.

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How To Get More Out of Instagram DMs: The Ultimate Guide

What does DM mean on Instagram?

How to send Instagram DMs

9 best practices for sending and responding to Instagram DMs

Frequently asked questions about Instagram DMs

Gone are the days of calling a customer service hotline or writing emails to inquire about a new product. The modern method of communication between a customer and a brand? Through Instagram DM.

Nearly 50% of people say that digital channels will be their primary way of contacting brands in the future. And considering 90% of people follow at least one business on Instagram, it’s safe to say that even more people will rely on Instagram DM for customer support in the years to come.

Direct messaging on Instagram is a personal way to interact with customers, influencers, brand partners, and everyone in between. When it’s used well, Instagram’s messaging feature can help your brand build a strong relationship with your audience by making sure people feel heard and supported.

Here are some tips on sending and responding to messages to help you get the most out of your Instagram DMs.

Bonus: Save time and download 20 free, customizable Instagram DM templates for your brand, including greetings, partnership requests, FAQ responses, replies to complaints, and more.

What does DM mean on Instagram?

Instagram DMs are direct messages between one Instagram user and another user or a group of users. Users can share all types of content through DMs, including:

  • Photos
  • Video
  • Audio
  • Stickers
  • GIFs

These messages are private and don’t show up in your brand’s feed, profile, or in search. And they won’t for your followers, either. Only you and those you are communicating with can see the direct messages.

For brands and creators, sending direct messages can be a good way to build personal relationships with followers, reach out to potential partners, or provide support to customers with questions or feedback.

How to send Instagram DMs

How to send DMs using the Instagram app

Sending and receiving DMs from the Instagram mobile app is easy. Follow these steps to start engaging with followers and customers alike:

1. First, open the Instagram app on your phone.

2. Click on the paper airplane or messenger icon in the top right corner of your feed. The messages icon that appears here depends on whether or not you’ve updated your Instagram account to connect with Facebook’s Messenger.

If you haven’t connected your Instagram account with Facebook messenger, you’ll see the paper airplane…

…but if you have connected your accounts, you’ll see the messenger icon.

3. In your Direct Messages tab, you’ll find all of your conversations. Unread direct messages will show up first in the list.

4. Tap on an unread message and write a response in the Message bar.

If you want to send content through a DM, you can also do this directly in the app.

5. Any time you see the paper airplane icon, click on it to send that content to another user in a private message. You can use direct messages to send posts, Reels, or Stories to another user or brand. The content that you forward to another account will appear in their Direct Messages tab.

How to send Instagram DMs from your computer (Mac or PC)

Anyone with an Instagram profile can create or reply to Instagram DMs from the browser version of the app using a desktop or laptop computer. This method makes it easier for your brand to respond to an influx or high volume of DMs.

Whether you’re replying to an Instagram message on a PC or creating a DM to send on a Mac, the process is the same. Here’s how to open a DM on Instagram (web version):

1. Head to instagram.com using whichever web browser you prefer, and log into your brand’s Instagram account. Note: You don’t need to use a specific browser to access Instagram DMs.

2. Once you’re logged into your account, click on Messages in the panel on the left. Just like in the app, the icon you see here — either a paper plane or the Messenger symbol — will depend on whether you’ve updated your account with Facebook Messenger.

If your Instagram account is connected to Facebook Messenger, you’ll see the familiar messenger icon…

…and if you haven’t connected your accounts, you’ll see the paper airplane.

3. In the Direct Messages tab, you’ll see your brand’s messages and interactions here. Unread DMs will appear first in the list.

4. You’ll also see the option to create a new DM. Click on the blue Send Message button to begin a new interaction.

But that’s just one way to message on Instagram on desktop. You can also use a social media management platform like Hootsuite to streamline your social customer care.

How to send Instagram DMs using Hootsuite

If you manage more than one Instagram account or your brand receives DMs on several social media platforms, a social media management tool like Hootsuite can save you a lot of time and hassle.

With Hootsuite, you can answer messages and comments from all of your Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn accounts in one social inbox. No more clicking through countless browser tabs to check for new DMs or accidentally forgetting to respond to eager customers.

If you want to know how to check messages on Instagram (and reply faster) using Hootsuite, follow these simple steps:

1. In your Hootsuite dashboard, navigate to the Inbox. Here, you can see interactions from your connected Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn accounts. Hootsuite Inbox is compatible with Instagram Business accounts.

The Inbox collects 4 types of Instagram messages:

  • Direct messages
  • Replies to your Instagram Stories
  • Quick reactions to your Stories
  • Mentions of your account in other users’ Stories

2. If you’re part of a team managing social media DMs, you can easily assign messages to other team members (who will be notified by email) and sort your inbox by assignment, social network, message type, and date.

9 best practices for sending and responding to Instagram DMs

Engaging with your customers and responding to DMs is just one way to use Instagram for business.

Before you start interacting over Insta DMs, here are some essential tips to keep in mind.

Set up notifications for Instagram DMs

Being responsive is key to engaging and maintaining strong relationships with your followers.

But you can’t be responsive if you’re not aware of the messages coming your way in the first place.

Checking your DMs regularly is a good place to start, but make sure you see all the new, incoming Instagram DMs that your brand receives by setting up notifications.

On both desktop and mobile, navigate to Settings. Choose Notifications (or Push Notifications if you’re on desktop).

Then under Messages (if you’re working on desktop) or Messages and Calls (if you’re working on mobile), ensure the From Primary and General option is selected.

This will ensure your brand is notified of all its new incoming DMs.

If your brand typically receives a lot of messages, we recommend using a tool (like Hootsuite) that helps streamline and manage your DMs.

Check your Instagram message requests

To ensure there aren’t any customer messages that slip through the cracks, you’ll also want to check your message requests, too.

Requests are direct messages from accounts you don’t follow. As a brand, this means most of the customer messages you receive will land in the Requests tab if you haven’t interacted with them before.

Under Messages and Calls, make sure Message Requests is turned on to start receiving all DM requests.

Use Instagram Saved Replies

Chances are, your brand will get many similar questions and comments over DM. Instead of typing out the same reply to each follower every time, save time and ensure consistency by making the most of the Instagram Saved Replies feature.

To use this feature, you’ll need to set up an Instagram Business Profile or Creator Account.

These professional accounts will also provide more options for organizing and managing your Instagram DMs, like the three-tab inbox, which organizes your inbox into three tabs: All, Primary, and General.

Find Saved Replies as an option under Settings.

From there, go to Business and you’ll see the option for Saved Reply.

Under Saved replies, you can see all of the responses you’ve created shortcuts for.

To create a Saved Reply:

  • Click on the + button in the top right-hand corner.
  • Type out a reply to a commonly asked question.
  • Choose a one-word keyboard shortcut for that message.

When replying to an Instagram DM, type the keyword shortcut into your message and the full response you’ve saved for that shortcut will autofill.

Psst: If you use Hootsuite, you can create and save message replies using Inbox.

Bonus: Save time and download 20 free, customizable Instagram DM templates for your brand, including greetings, partnership requests, FAQ responses, replies to complaints, and more.

Download now

Acknowledge when a new message has been received

If your brand receives a high volume of direct messages, it isn’t always realistic to send a carefully thought-out response the moment you receive it.

But at the very least, it’s a good idea to let the customer know you got their message. That way, even if your team isn’t able to respond immediately, your customer isn’t met with silence.

Here are a few responses you can use to acknowledge a new message:

  • Thank the customer for getting in touch
  • Let them know their message has been received
  • Set an expectation for how long it will take the team to get back to them
  • Share your appreciation for their support

This helps foster a relationship between the user and your brand. It also improves customer service, setting expectations for when that customer can expect a conversation with your brand.

Follow up promptly

Don’t leave your customers waiting! If you’ve already let them know you’ve read their message, follow through with a prompt response (even better if it’s sooner than the expected timeframe you initially shared).

The faster your brand can reply, the better — especially if the message is negative. In fact, 42% of customers who complain to a company over social media expect a response within 60 minutes.

Waiting too long to reply to a customer can result in them losing interest — or, worst, trust — in your brand. Always follow up with questions or inquiries in a timely manner to ensure customers feel supported and heard.

Write in your brand voice

Whatever your brand’s voice is, use that tone in your Instagram DMs.

Your followers associate your brand’s voice with everything you do and post on the platform, including your messages and replies. If your tone is usually upbeat and friendly in your captions or comments, then an abrupt or unhelpful direct message would be jarring and likely deter a customer from continuing the conversation.

When crafting your message replies, remember to:

  • Be authentic and personable. Show your customer they’re interacting with a real person who cares about their experience with your brand.
  • Don’t use jargon. Avoid using these words and phrases.
  • Make sure communication is easy to understand. Irony, sarcasm, and jokes might be misinterpreted by the reader or cause offense, especially if that tone isn’t the norm for your brand. Leave no room for misinterpretation.

Keep your writing short and sweet

If someone is reaching out to your brand directly, they want an answer quickly. So avoid the chit-chat. Get right to it.

Address your customers’ DM right away, whether through a quick reply or an acknowledgment. Write in a way that is easy to read. Use short sentences.

And don’t fear short paragraphs.

Doing all this makes it easier for customers to find the answer to their queries.

If you need more guidance on how to respond to DMs in a prompt yet helpful way, use one of our Instagram DM templates to get started.

Review before you send

With every DM, make sure your message reflects your brand in a professional way before you tap Send.

Check for typos, spelling mistakes, and grammar errors. Read over your DM for flow — even better if you can read it out loud to make sure it sounds natural.

And if your company manages multiple brands and has multiple Instagram accounts, make sure you’re working with the right account.

There’s nothing more anxiety-inducing than sending a response on behalf of the wrong brand — worse if you accidentally reply from your personal Instagram account. Not only will it leave your customer feeling confused, but you’ll have to quickly toggle to the right account to rectify the situation.

Save yourself unnecessary stress by always double (or triple!) checking that you’re replying from the right account.

Don’t forget to sign off

Finally, bring closure to the conversation by tying up any loose ends or sending a thoughtful note.

A few ways to sign off your Instagram DM conversation include:

  • Asking the customer if there’s anything else they need help with.
  • Thanking them for their business or loyalty to your company.
  • Wishing them a great day.
  • Sharing your appreciation for their feedback.

Closing off is not only a personable way to communicate but also ensures your customer doesn’t feel snubbed before the conversation is over and has clear next steps to follow (if any).

Frequently asked questions about Instagram DMs

Are DMs private on Instagram?

Yes, Instagram direct messages are private and don’t show up in your brand’s feed, profile, or in search. They won’t show up publicly for your followers, either. Only you and those you are communicating with directly can see the DMs.

Can you screenshot Instagram DMs?

Yes, you can screenshot Instagram DMs. Neither party will know if a DM has been screenshot unless the message was sent using vanish mode.

Can people see if you screenshot Instagram DMs?

No, people can’t see if you screenshot their DM on Instagram in most cases. The exception is if a message is sent using vanish mode. Vanish mode allows people to send messages that disappear once someone leaves the chat. If you screenshot a message, photo, or video that was sent in vanish mode, the sender will be notified.

Can you delete Instagram DMs?

Yes, you can delete Instagram DMs using both the desktop and mobile versions of the app. If you delete a DM, this will only delete the conversation for you. The direct message thread will still be visible for the others included in the conversation unless they also delete it.

What is a DM group?

An Instagram DM group is a group chat. Instagram allows up to 250 people to be part of a group chat.

Can you video chat on Instagram?

Yes, you can make video calls with up to 8 people at a time using Instagram DMs. Click into an existing conversation or start a new one, then click video chat in the top right. According to the platform, “anyone you’ve accepted a message from, except for verified accounts, can video chat with you. ” If you want to prevent someone from video calling you on Instagram, you can always block them.

Start building your Instagram presence using Hootsuite. Schedule and publish posts directly to Instagram, engage your audience, measure performance, and run all your other social media profiles — all from one simple dashboard. Try it free today.

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Improve your response times by managing Instagram direct messages with Hootsuite Inbox.

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What does DM mean on Instagram: hashtag meaning, usage

Author Ekaterina Murakaeva For reading 8 min. Posted by

There are a lot of abbreviations on Instagram, most of which are far from always clear to new users. Bloggers and shops often use the mysterious acronym DM in their posts. Let's figure out what dm is on Instagram and how and when this abbreviation should be used. nine0005

Content

  1. How the abbreviation DM on Instagram
  2. is deciphered when it is used
  3. How to send DM post on Instagram
  4. from the section "Direct"
  5. from the pages of the recipient of the message
  6. What can be sent in a message
  7. .
  8. DM ME sticker
  9. What
    10. is used for
  10. How to post it in stories
  11. Why DM ME sticker is not among available stickers
  12. Promoting your profile on Instagram using cheat services

How the abbreviation DM stands for on Instagram

Like in any other social network, abbreviations are very popular on Instagram. Previously, the photo network did not have its own service for exchanging personal messages, and the developers “sewn” the Direct messenger to Instagram. Then the abbreviation DM appeared, which stands for direct message, which can literally be translated from English as “direct message”. So DMs are essentially private messages on Instagram. nine0005

When it is used

Of course, any user can use the abbreviation in their posts and stories. However, most often the DM abbreviation can be seen very often in store accounts, so administrators convey that details about the product and its price can be found by writing a private message. Bloggers can also write DMs in stories (since there are no comments in stories) when they want to know the opinion of subscribers about something, or even in posts, if, for example, they conduct a survey on a rather delicate issue that many do not want to discuss in open comments . The abbreviation can be used as an abbreviation, a hashtag, and even a verb (DM me, which means "write me"). nine0005

How to send a DM message to Instagram

There are several ways to send a user a private message on Instagram.

From the ”Direct” section

One way to send a private message on Instagram is from the Direct section. To do this, do the following:

  1. Open the application on the main page (click on the image of the house at the bottom left).
  2. Click on the image of a speech bubble with a lightning bolt in the upper right corner (in some versions there is an image of a paper airplane in this place). nine0012
  3. Click on the picture of a sheet and a pencil in the upper right corner.
  4. Select the user to send a message to (you can send the same text to several people, then a group chat will be created). You can enter a nickname in the search bar to speed up the process.
  5. Click "Create a chat" in the upper right corner.
  6. Write a message in the corresponding line and click "Send".

From the message recipient page

You can send a private message to a user while on their profile page. For this you need:

  1. Click on the “Write” button below the photo and basic profile information.
  2. Enter the text in the appropriate field at the bottom of the page and click "Submit".

What can be sent in a message

In a personal message on Instagram, you can send not only plain text, but also a voice (audio) message. To do this, you need to hold down the microphone icon in the text input line. You can also send an image (for this, you need to click on the icon of a picture with a mountain in the message input field), a GIF sticker (a square emoticon in the message input field), conduct a video chat (indicated by the camera image in the upper right corner). Professional account holders can also create a template for quick replies (an ellipsis icon in the message input field) and flag important contacts (the flag icon in the upper right corner). nine0005

To whom you can send

A private message can be sent to any Instagram user, whether it is a former classmate, a well-known blogger or an online store. To send a message, you do not need to be subscribed to this account.

Important! Messages from people the user doesn't follow are not visible directly in the chat list. In this case, a request for correspondence will be indicated at the top, which can be rejected or accepted.

Sticker DM ME

Instagram has added a sticker "DM Me" or "Message me" to its collection of stickers in stories. It can be added to stories to attract the attention of subscribers.

What it's used for

The "Message me" sticker allows you to send private messages directly from Stories. If earlier you could often see the inscriptions “To make an appointment for a haircut, write to Direct”, “For details on sizes and availability, write to Direct”, now it’s enough to add a sticker. This significantly increases the response of the audience, since earlier a person could be too lazy to go to the user's account and look for direct, or he switched to other stories and simply forgot what he wanted to write. Now you can write a message without taking any extra steps, and then continue viewing your friends' stories. You can place a sticker not only to sign up for a service. With the help of such a sticker, you can increase the activity of the audience, show readiness for communication and discussion. nine0005

How to post in stories

Like other stickers, the "Message me" sticker is located in the sticker attachment menu. To add it to your stories, you need to do the following:

  1. Start creating a story by swiping the screen to the right, clicking on the icon, or clicking on the plus under your profile photo.
  2. Take a photo or video or select the desired file from the gallery.
  3. Click on the "Stickers" icon at the top of the page and select "Message me".

You can add text above the sticker, change its color (multi-colored circle at the top of the screen), size, place it in any part of the screen.

Why is the DM ME sticker missing from the available stickers

This feature is a relatively recent Instagram update and may not be available to all users. Another common problem is an outdated version of the application. You can try to log out of your account and log in again or update the version of the smartphone operating system and the Instagram application. If these actions did not help, all that remains is to wait: after a while, the new sticker will become available to all users. nine0005

Promoting an Instagram profile using promotion services

Stickers are a great help to increase the activity of an existing audience, but to effectively promote an account, you need to increase all indicators, including pure subscribers.

One of the most convenient promotion services is DoSMM. The service works around the clock and does not require installation on a smartphone or computer, but if the user has any difficulties or questions, the technical support of the service is always ready to help him. nine0005

DoSMM takes care of all the promotion work, which allows you to make your Instagram page more popular while its owner is doing what he really likes, for example, taking cool new photos.

Why write a DM on Instagram?

Sometimes subscribers have questions that they don't want to ask in the comments, or they are afraid that the user might not notice them. The DM inscription and sticker communicate openness to communication, moreover, they call for it even those who were not going to write, which helps to increase the activity of the audience. nine0133

Where is the direct on Instagram on the computer?

Private messaging on Instagram can only be done using the smartphone or tablet app. Sending dm from a computer without installing third-party software will not work.

Where to put the stress in the word "direct"?

The word direct, which is pronounced “direct” in the original language, has become so firmly established in life that it is increasingly written in Cyrillic, that is, “direct” and, accordingly, they try to pronounce it in the Russian manner. It is too early to talk about the normative fixing of stress, but in English this word is pronounced with an accent on the second syllable, and in Russian there is a related word "director", also with an accent on the second syllable. Based on this, experts in the field of the Russian language recommend pronouncing "direct". nine0133

Liza Tinkova

commercial Instagram expert. I answer questions and help readers.

Ask a question

What is it and how to send a DM to Instagram

Social networks

0 10.904 3 minutes to read

If you're new to this social network and still don't know what is and how to DM on Instagram , don't worry, we'll explain it to you today. For starters, know that DM stands for direct message, so besides posting photos, you can also send private messages like you would on any other social network. Not only can you send these messages from your mobile phone, but you can also send DM to Instagram from your PC. nine0005

With this option, you can send messages to one or more people, and include photos, videos, messages, profiles, and more. Even if you're not following a person, you can send a direct message (DM) to Windows 10 provided it accepts the message request.

What's more, in your messages, you can also invite people to send you private messages to get more information about what you've posted. You can also use it in a friend's message to indicate that you will send a DM for all your questions. nine0005

On the other hand, you can simply send a direct message to a person through their profile or by entering the message icon. Source utility DM , so if you want to know how they are shipped, read the information we show you below.

Steps to post a DM on Instagram

Now that you know what a DM is on Instagram, it's important to know how to post them so you can start putting it into practice. Its delivery is extremely simple. and best of all, you can have a private chat with anyone.

To achieve this, follow the instructions you will see below and you will find that it is easier than you think:

  • Log in to your Instagram account as before.
  • Once inside, tap on the "Airplane" icon you'll find in the top right corner of the screen.
  • You will see a list of people you can write to if that is the person you are talking to. nine0090 send DM appears, select it. If it's not there, write your name on the "magnifying glass" bar at the top of the screen, and when you find it, click on it.
  • This will take you to another window where you can write the message you want to send at the bottom of the screen. After you have written it, click "Submit" and that's it.

By following these instructions, you can send DM to whomever you choose, you can also send them by directly logging into the person's profile. In this case, you need to do the following:

  • Log in to your Instagram as usual.
  • Once you're inside, tap on the "magnifying glass" that appears at the bottom left of the screen.
  • A window will open for you, and at the top you will again see a magnifying glass with the words "Search", write the name of the person.
  • When you find him, select him and you will be taken to his profile.
  • At the top of your profile, click on the option that says "Send a message".
    • nine0011 Once inside, write the message you want to send, mark "Send" and that's it.

Steps to send direct messages

Now, as we mentioned at the beginning of the article, with Instagram direct messages (DM) you can also send posts . This is very important because as you look through the messages, you may find ones that you think one of your contacts might be interested in.

To do this, proceed as follows: