An Instagram welcome message
for every new follower
Instagram's built-in welcome only appears when someone opens a chat with you. Setor writes first, to everyone who follows you, and when they reply, the AI setter takes over.
Does Instagram send an automatic message to new followers?
No. Setor does, and when someone replies, the AI setter takes over.
- 279,113welcomes across 77 accounts
- 30.3%reply, reminder included
- 2,573booked calls
- $140kin logged sales
As of Nov 2, 2026Read from the Setor dashboard, last 90 days
From the first message to the sale.
Which opening lines get a reply
We analyzed 292 welcome versions from 91 accounts and 723,857 sends. We only compare accounts that ran both versions, because otherwise the better account simply wins.
- 303replies
- 9booked calls
- $500in logged sales
| Opener trait | Accounts | Better with it | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 8 words | 32 | 81% | +6.2 pts |
| A question | 16 | 63% | +4.4 pts |
| 16 to 25 words | 30 | 33% | −3.9 pts |
| 26 to 40 words | 12 | 8% | −7.0 pts |
| A thank you | 37 | 24% | −2.7 pts |
| Mentions the follow | 39 | 26% | −2.4 pts |
| Emoji | 24 | 25% | −5.2 pts |
The takeaway: keep it short, ask a question, skip the thank you.
- Hey, training already or just starting out?
- Hey, what are you trying to figure out?
- Hi, looking for help or just browsing?
On half of active accounts at least 26.9% of people reply, 34.5% on the top quarter and 44.1% on the top tenth.
Reply rate without the reminder, accounts with at least 300 sends of each version. Measured mostly on Polish-speaking accounts.
Under the hood
The built-in welcome message only works when someone opens a chat with you, and Meta's API doesn't let you write first to someone who only followed you. So Setor sends the welcome from your computer, through its app or Chrome extension, on your signed-in Instagram. The AI setter handles the replies.
Who gets it
Every new follower
Setor detects new followers every few minutes and queues them, newest first.
Only the right ones, if you want
It can check the profile against your criteria before sending, gender included. In 90 days it checked 25,745 profiles this way and passed 93%.
No doubled conversations
It skips people you already have a thread with and, if you want, people you follow.
At what pace
Your limit
50 messages a day by default. You raise it when the account is ready.
Gaps
3 to 10 minutes between messages, a break after every 10 to 15, and no sending from 2:00 to 7:00.
A steady start
A new account grows over a week: 10, 20, 35, then 50 a day. If Instagram refuses sends twice, Setor pauses for 6 to 48 hours.
What happens next
The setter takes the reply
The lead replies and goes straight into a conversation with the AI. The median to a booking is 23 messages.
A reminder for the silent
One extra message. 12 in 100 people reply after it, and a reply to the welcome cancels it automatically.
Version tests
143 accounts have at least two welcome versions active. You see sends, replies, recoveries and conversions day by day.
Ad welcome messages
Click-to-DM ads
There's also a welcome for people who click an ad: up to 1,000 characters and up to 13 quick replies.
The tap leads on
Meta sends the welcome, and Setor acts on the chosen reply to start the right flow.
A separate track
It runs on Instagram and doesn't need your computer.
Your first welcome message in three steps
Install the app
The app or the Chrome extension, with Instagram signed in.
Write two openers
Short, with a question. Setor tests them for you.
Turn it on
Setor greets new followers within your daily limit, and the AI setter handles the replies.
Questions about welcome messages
Everything you need to know about Setor AI, onboarding, and how your AI Setter works day to day.
Yes, because the welcome goes out from your computer, through the app or Chrome extension with Instagram signed in. Replies work without it.
Conversation replies do. The first message to a follower doesn't, because the API doesn't let you write first to someone who only followed you.
50 by default, and a new account starts at 10 and grows over a week. You set the limit.
You can turn on one reminder. 12 in 100 people reply after it.
Up to 8 words, with a question, no thank you for following. On 81% of accounts the shorter opener beat the longer one.
Still have questions?
Our team is here to help.