DMs Are the New Feed and You Should Be Using Them

In a social media landscape that is clogged with content, advertisements, and polarized messaging, many users have opted to retreat to the safety of DMs. And can you blame them? Navigating popular platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter has become increasingly difficult for many users to engage with, with some experiencing depression that may be linked to high usage. While it’s hard to say for sure where our angst is coming from, one thing is certain: more people are interested in keeping their internet usage private. 

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And this privacy extends to DMs. Direct messaging on social media has long been undervalued as a method of communication. Unlike a traditional social media feed, it can be hard to achieve and track engagement with DMs. Many marketers overlook this form of communication with potential clients because of the private nature of the messaging and the challenges that it presents on an engagement level. 

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However, ignoring the power of DMs is a mistake. This form of communication gives marketers an opportunity to connect with their clients, potential or otherwise, on a more personal level. Messages can be tailored to a specific user, or used to offer exclusive discounts or services that a customer might not otherwise find elsewhere. 

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With direct messaging, marketers can take a more human-based approach to their outreach and connect with more people effectively. Marketing via DM also affords your audience a measure of privacy that they might not be able to get elsewhere. In today’s highly digitized world, this privacy goes a long way. 

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As marketers, there are ways that you can connect with a more diverse audience, build connections with your clientele, and stay true to your business goals. And we can teach you how. Read on to learn how to implement DM-based marketing into your business strategy. 

Covering the basics

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Direct messaging has been around for a long time, but it’s becoming increasingly popular. Many social media platforms like Instagram, and its parent company Meta, have been slowly encouraging users to move into the DM space more heavily. 

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Meta recently introduced a feature that allows businesses to sell directly to consumers through direct messaging, and now businesses, especially small businesses, can target consumers on an individual basis. This is great news for marketers who have a good understanding of their audience demographics: this feature will help you zero in on your customers’ preferences and how you can best serve them. 

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While this marketing tactic is great, it’s important to remember that you can only directly reach your audience through DM if they have a public account. Otherwise, you will have to request to message them personally. This should not dissuade you from contacting your audience via DM – it is merely something to keep in mind when you are working to broaden your marketing network. 

So how should you market through DM?

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Like all marketing strategies, there are a whole host of ways that you can reach an audience through DMs. But there are a few awesome tactics that stand out above the rest. 

1. Create personalized messages

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Everyone loves to feel special, and as marketers, it’s essential to remember that. Consumers value personalization above almost all else, and your brand will be much better off if you take the time to personally connect with your audience. 

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One great way to do this is to address your customer by name. It may seem like a small thing, but addressing a person by their name makes them feel valued and seen. 

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If writing personalized messages to potential customers feels overwhelming, you can try AI Chatbots. It may seem counterintuitive, but using a chatbot service to help with personalization may actually help you in your marketing campaigns. 

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Just don’t forget that the best messages always have a human touch. 

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2. Suggest products to your audience

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Suggesting products or services that your business offers to your audience is simply taking personalized messages one step further. No one wants to feel like they’re being hunted down by a marketer to purchase a product. 

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On the other hand, customers want to know that their interests matter to businesses. Consumers are driven by their personal values and beliefs. As such, you should try to target those interests when using direct messages for marketing. 

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And recommending products and services that you think a customer might like based on their interests is a great way to do that. 

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You might want to take a look through your follower base and see what sticks out to you. Do your followers care about climate change, the best new fashion trends, or sports? 

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If you can find what your audience likes, you can suggest to them what they might like. This will go a long way in making your brand successful in connecting with its customers. 

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3. Connect with an influencer and have them share your message

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The rise of the influencer changed the way that many brands approached marketing. Sponsorships and partnerships between brands and influencers have been wildly successful in the past, and it doesn’t look like they will stop being successful anytime soon. 

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If you’re not using an influencer to market your brand, you should. Influencers are an incredible tool that you can leverage to sell your products and reach more consumers organically. 

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And when it comes to direct messaging for marketing, your campaign won’t be complete without an influencer’s help. 

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Influencers are people that your audience trusts. When they DM a potential customer, the message will come from a place of familiarity and trust. If you’re targeting the correct audience and using an influencer they will know and like, an influencer’s message might be received better than a standard message from a brand. 

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Again, it all goes back to personalization. Users will be more likely to engage with a brand if an influencer they trust promotes it. So while outsourcing your DM marketing to an influencer might be more of an upfront cost, it will help you in the long run to boost your consumer base and make, and keep, online clients. 

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Direct messaging for marketing may be a little complicated, but it’s an area that absolutely must be utilized in the social media advertising space. With this type of outreach, your brand has the opportunity to connect with more people, many of whom might have the potential to stick with your brand for a long time. 

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Building a loyal following relies on personalized connection, and marketing via DM can be one of the best places to do that. With direct messaging, you can help take your brand to the next level and be on the cusp of innovative outreach for months to come. 

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