How does the open rate of Instagram DMs compare to email?

Instagram direct messages have a significantly higher open rate than email. While not 100% of users check their Instagram DM inbox—some are technically challenged and don’t even know it exists—the vast majority do check it regularly. This makes Instagram DMs a much more effective way to reach people compared to traditional email marketing, especially when combined with the automation that sends messages immediately when someone follows you.

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Asked by an artist comparing marketing channels · Answered by Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2025-11-14