How can I leverage Instagram DMs to grow my art business with a following over 10k?

If you have over 10,000 Instagram followers, you should use a tool like ManyChat to automate Instagram direct messages. The Instagram DM box has a 60-80% open rate, which is dramatically higher than email. You can set up automated messages that go to new followers, allowing you to capture contact information and engage people while they’re still on Instagram. If you’re gaining 300-500 followers per week, that’s 300-500 high-engagement messages going out weekly on autopilot. Instagram loves when people stay on their platform, so this approach works with their algorithm rather than against it. The key is sending these messages directly in DMs rather than trying to drive people off-platform to fill out forms.

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Asked by artists with substantial Instagram followings · Answered by Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2025-11-21