What is a follow-up sequence?
A follow-up sequence is a short series of timed messages sent after a first message, to people who haven't replied or taken the next step yet. It stops as soon as the person responds.
Also called: follow-up messages, drip sequence, automated follow-ups.
By Santhul Joseph, AI EngineerUpdated
How a sequence works
You send a first message, such as a link to your price list. If the person doesn't react, a second message goes out after a set delay, then a third, and so on. The moment they reply, the rest of the sequence is cancelled and the conversation continues normally.
A hair salon could send the booking link right after a comment, a reminder a few hours later, and a last nudge with a free slot that evening.
Doing it without being annoying
- Keep it short. Two or three follow-ups are usually enough.
- Make each message add something: an answer to a common question, a deadline, a discount.
- Space them out instead of sending them minutes apart.
- Always stop when the person replies. Nobody wants a reminder after they've answered.
- On Instagram, Meta limits when a business can message someone, so follow-ups normally fall within a day. Check Meta's current rules.
Follow-ups in SimplyBoost
Instagram comment-to-DM rules can send up to 6 follow-up DMs over up to 23 hours, and they stop as soon as the person replies. Once someone writes back, the AI agent answers them from your knowledge, so the follow-up turns into a real conversation.
Questions people ask
How many follow-up messages should I send?
Usually two or three. More than that rarely adds replies and starts to feel pushy, especially in DMs.
What stops a follow-up sequence?
A reply from the person. In SimplyBoost, any reply cancels the remaining follow-ups straight away.
Can follow-ups go out days later on Instagram?
Not as a rule. Meta restricts business messages outside a short window after the person last interacted, so plan your follow-ups within a day. SimplyBoost keeps them within 23 hours.