Instagram Messages: Tips a Growing Brand Needs To Know

Profile photo of Karen Lin, author

Karen Lin

Instagram 101 | Feb 16, 2024

Want More Real Instagram Followers?

As you start to grow, you need to learn to master Instagram messages. You simply can’t let message requests fall by the wayside forever. You wanted followers to engage. Now that they are engaging, you need to as well! 

IG wants your engagement rate to increase. That’s why it offers so many new features. You don’t just have to send a simple DM on Instagram. You can video chat or call. At Path Social, we want you to make the best of what the app has to offer. We’re happy to show you everything you need to know!

A woman sends an Instagram message to one of her followers.

How To Delete Instagram Messages Before You Get Into Some Trouble

Your DMs should be your safe space. You should be able to go there and interact with like-minded people from your community. If the conversation gets away from you, you may say something you regret. For the sake of the brand, you may need to delete it quickly.

On Instagram, you can delete direct messages you sent to someone else. The way to do this is to individually unsend them. On Instagram Direct, you have the option to retract a message. You can do it either before or after the other persons in the conversation have seen it. 

This is how to delete Instagram messages:

  1. Tap the paper airplane icon to the upper right of your Feed. This may also be the messenger icon for you.
  1. Choose the chat with the messages you regret. Look for the message you wish to take back and click on it.
  1. Press and hold the message.
  1. Press the “Unsend” button, and then press it once again to confirm.

We understand your concerns about maintaining your privacy. It’s good to know how to delete messages on Instagram. Nevertheless, there is one option that enables immediate deletion. If this intrigues you, consider the disappear mode available in Instagram direct messages. Do you know what happens when you enable vanish mode in a conversation? Every sent message disappears after the other participant views it. Then, the chat disappears. This takes things up a notch from just deleting messages you regret.

Fake Instagram Messages Can Be a Great Marketing Tool

We advise you to take your DMs very seriously. All it takes is one special private message to change the trajectory of your IG career! However, fake Instagram messages could be a fun and unique messaging tool for your brand.

You can use them to simulate a potential conversation with a customer. They could have instructional value. The messaging features on IG’s platform don’t allow you to create these messages. You’ll have to go to a website like Fakeinke.net or Fake Details.

These tools are typically obviously fake, but not everyone is that discerning. We always recommend that you use these tools responsibly. You don’t need to pretend. Your content and products speak for themselves!

A young woman holds her phone, surprised by how many unread messages she has on Instagram.

Why Can’t I Reply to Messages on Instagram? I Have Too Many Unread Messages!

You have a lot of options to respond to messages. If you aren’t using this feature, you’re missing out. Reacting to Instagram DMs is an excellent instrument for keeping up the engagement rate with followers. Simple emojis will make conversations so much nicer.

Maybe you want to use the feature but can’t. You wouldn’t be the only one.  The fact that users may be using an earlier version of IG is the most common explanation for the hiccups. Being stuck in the past will make you unable to respond to a message sent by another user on the app. Think back. When was the last time you updated the app? When you have not updated the application in a significant amount of time, the older version frequently results in bugs. No one likes an Instagram DM glitch. If you are certain that you have updated the app to the latest version, try our tips. You won’t have to ask, “Why can’t I respond to messages on Instagram?” We will have solutions.

Use These Tips if You Want To React to Messages on Instagram

You should be able to react to Instagram DMs. If you can’t, you are doing a disservice to your followers. We have some solutions if you are running into issues.

Delete the Data From the Cache. 

We strongly recommend that you clear out all of the stored cache data. You may be missing out because of the program’s cache data. It can affect its operations. In the Settings menu, you will see the option to remove all of the “cache data.” 

Restart You Phone Altogether

This is the oldest trick in the book, but it just may work! You may try to repair any technical issue this way. Restarting an application may often be enough to help a lot of users. However, restart the whole device just in case. Note that we didn’t say “reset.”

Bring Your Instagram App Up to Date

Your issues may stem from the fact that you’re using an outdated version of Instagram. Your phone may not update the app automatically. What you should do is immediately download the latest version of Instagram from the Play Store or the App Store. You may also try uninstalling and reinstalling the app to acquire the updated version.

Weak Internet Connection

This problem may be out of your hands. Literally, it’s not the phone. It’s your internet provider. The problem you’re having with Instagram may be due to the quality of your internet connection. Find a better internet connection, if possible. If you can’t leave your location, maybe you should restart the router.

A woman wearing a teal shirt smiles as she replies to messages on Instagram.

Learn How To React to Messages on Instagram so You Can Say Less

Sometimes, you don’t have the right words to say. When you’re talking to your friends, your expression is sometimes all you need to respond. They understand you perfectly. It makes sense not to have the best response to every online message. If you’ve gotten a message that rendered you speechless, we have a solution for that. We can show you how to react to messages on Instagram.

iOS

We have the details on how to respond when using an iPhone. Check that the software your phone utilizes is running the most recent version available. You may think this is unnecessary, but having an older version of the app could thwart your progress.

  1. Fire up Instagram on your iPhone and go to your Chats or Direct Messages.
  1. Find the conversation with the message you want to react to.
  1. You may react to Instagram DMs by selecting and holding the message you wish to see and pressing it.
  1. The screen will now list the available emoji reactions for you to choose from.
  1. Tap the emoji that most accurately represents how you feel to respond to the message. IG will show the emoji you select underneath the message you are typing.

Android

Android users also can respond with emojis to Direct Messages sent from Instagram. This is how they can do this:

  1. Open up the Instagram app on the Android smartphone you’re using and go to your direct messages.
  1. When you get there, browse the chats or the direct messages and select one from those sections. 
  1. You may answer a message by simply touching and holding it when it appears on your screen.
  1. Then, you will see a variety of emojis depicting different emojis and feelings.
  1. Simply tapping the relevant emoji when prompted to react to the message is all you need to do. It happens instantly, and the recipient gets a notification immediately. As soon as you react, the Emoji that you have chosen to use will show below the message.

A woman reacts to a DM quickly to save time.

This Is How To See Deleted Messages on Instagram

Have you ever erased an essential Instagram message and wished you didn’t? It’s not fun to be too quick with the delete button. The third-party apps can recover deleted data and messages from iOS and Android cache files. They are on the App Store or Google Play Store.  These programs are straightforward for retrieving lost data.

Still, you have to be careful about using these apps. These applications could allow hackers to steal personal data and social media accounts. Instagram recovery scams frequently include online tools. You have another option.

Luckily, we can show you how to safely see deleted messages on Instagram. IG has tools for recovering deleted messages. You can feel a little more safe using them. This is how you get those messages on Instagram.

  1. Launch Instagram on your device and go to your profile. You do this by clicking the profile symbol located in the lower-right corner of the screen.
  1. To access the menu, tap the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner of the screen.
  1. Choose “Your Activity” from the options listed.
  1. Select the “Download” button to save your information.
  1. Please enter your email address in the box. You’ll get a prompt to choose the format you would like your data downloaded in. (You have the option of using HTML or JSON. ) Select the “Download Request” option.
  1. You should get a message in your inbox entitled “Your Instagram Data.” Launch your email client, then click the “Download Information” button.
  1. This email will direct you to a new web page. Choose “Download information” once more.
  1. Log in to your account on Instagram. 
  1. Finally, a ZIP file containing all of your mail will be on your computer.

An aerial photo of a person sending an Instagram DM while sitting at a table in a cafe.

An Instagram Direct Message Template Could Save Your Brand 

Using an Instagram Direct Message template, which is a pre-designed message structure, may substantially simplify interacting with other users on IG. These templates provide a time-efficient option by enabling you to deliver messages to more people in your target audience. You can do it quickly. Your audience may consist of brands with whom you desire to work. Being consistent without copying and pasting the same content will allow you to maintain consistency in your interactions. These are instances where a template would come in handy.

Secure That Dream Collaboration

You hate spam, don’t you? Well, potential brands hate them, too. You don’t want them to delete your message because it wreaks of spam. They will pay you no attention and continue to swipe.  You are welcome to make use of this Instagram direct message template to initiate communication with your dream brands.

Respond to Customers

Templates are great if you sell items through Instagram. Ideally, you want feedback from customers. They may be praises, but they might also be complaints. Regardless, you should always be in a position to provide a speedy response that is also very professional.

A phone shows a text conversation between two people while a person sitting at a table types a reply.

Prepare for Your Instagram DMs To Skyrocket!

Growth is within reach if you use Path Social! Over the past ten years, we at Path Social have developed an in-house platform for Instagram influencers. We also have a proprietary AI targeting algorithm to make sure the new followers count.

While we achieve our results with artificial intelligence, your reach will be 100% organic. You’ll only attract people who want to engage with your content. 

You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who can repeat our results. This means that you will be able to develop a community on Instagram that is sustainable. Leave the technicalities to us! You just need to focus on managing those Instagram messages. Begin expanding your Instagram audience and collecting followers right now!