The short version
An Instagram welcome message is the first automatic reply a person gets when they write to you. There are two ways to send one: Meta Business Suite's free instant reply, one fixed text for everyone, and a keyword-based welcome in BixoChat that answers greetings and points people to the words that get them an instant answer. A good welcome is short, says when a person replies, and names the next word. This page shows both setups, six example messages and the mistakes that cost customers.
Why the welcome matters
Most people who write to a shop write once. If the first reply comes hours later, they have asked somewhere else. A welcome does not answer the question, but it tells the person two things that keep them waiting: the message arrived, and here is how to get the answer right now. It is the easiest automation to set up, and the one the most people see.
Option 1: Meta Business Suite's free instant reply
In Meta Business Suite, under inbox automations, the instant reply goes to everyone who messages your account for the first time, and the away message goes outside the hours you set. Both are free and quick to set up. Their limit is that they send one fixed text to everyone, whatever the person wrote. If all you need is "we got your message, we reply within the hour", this is enough; switch it off if you move the welcome to a keyword tool, or people get two greetings.
Option 2: a keyword-based welcome in BixoChat
In BixoChat a welcome is a Direct Automation bound to greeting words. Set the trigger kind to Exactly with the greetings themselves: hi, hello, hey, hiya. The welcome then answers only a message that is just a greeting; "Hi, how much is it?" skips the welcome and goes to the price automation, which is what you want. People type greetings in many ways ("Hi!", "hii", "hello 👋"), so add the spellings you actually see in your inbox.
Direct Automation → new automation
Open Instagram → Direct Automation, create a new automation and name it "Welcome".
Add the greetings as Exactly triggers
Type "hi", choose Exactly, add it; repeat for hello, hey, hiya, howdy. One word per trigger, no spaces. Up to 10 per automation.
Write a short reply
Add the automatic reply as Text: the message arrived, when a person replies, which word to type next. A reply can include up to 5 Quick replies ("Price", "Shipping", "Order") so people tap instead of typing.
Add a delay, no follow requirement
Under the advanced settings, set a Reply delay of 10–30 seconds so the welcome reads as typed by a person. Leave Require a follow before replying off: a welcome that demands a follow loses customers.
Set up the words you promised
A welcome that says "type Price" needs a price automation. Build the automations for price, shipping and orders next; example messages are in Instagram auto reply: three ways, with examples.
Messages that match nothing
A first message is often not a greeting: "Do you ship to Canada?" matches no welcome. For those, the setting for all other messages at the bottom of the automations list decides: switch on the AI replies option and the AI assistant answers from your business description, with text only. Details: Instagram chatbot with the AI assistant.
Six welcome message examples
Adapt the name, hours and words. Each is one Direct Automation on the greetings; the quick replies in brackets are optional.
A shop
Hi, welcome to Nora Studio! 👋 We got your message and reply between 9 am and 7 pm, usually within the hour. For an instant answer type "Price", "Shipping" or "Order". [Price] [Shipping] [Order]
A salon or clinic
Hi and welcome! 💇 We answer between 10 am and 8 pm, Tuesday to Sunday. To book, type "Appointment" and we'll ask you three quick questions; for prices type "Price". [Appointment] [Price]
A restaurant
Hi! 🍽️ Thanks for writing to Corner Table. Type "Menu" for today's menu, "Reservation" to book a table, "Delivery" for delivery areas and hours. [Menu] [Reservation] [Delivery]
A creator
Hey, thanks for writing! 😊 I read every message and reply myself within a day. If it's about something from a story, type "Link" and you'll get it right away; for collaborations, type "Collab". [Link] [Collab]
A bakery
Hi! 🥐 Thanks for writing to Corner Bakery. Type "Order" for custom cakes, "Hours" for opening times, or "Price" for our price list. [Order] [Hours] [Price]
A course or consultant
Hi, welcome! 🎓 Type "Enroll" to sign up for the next session, "Program" for the syllabus and dates, or ask anything and a person from the team replies within one business day. [Enroll] [Program]
Switching the welcome off or changing it
Switch the automation off from the list to pause it; it stays saved. Change the text any time. If you use Meta's instant reply as well, switch one of them off so nobody gets two greetings.
Mistakes that cost customers
- Answering the question in the welcome. The welcome is a signpost; a price in it goes stale.
- Requiring a follow first. Fine for a giveaway, wrong for a first message.
- Greeting words as Contains triggers. With Contains, "hi" also fires on "Hi, how much is it?" and sends a welcome instead of the price; use Exactly for greetings.
- Promising a reply time you do not keep. Write the real one.
- Sending the welcome to every message. Only greetings; everything else goes to its own automation or to the AI assistant. The full setup with the panel's labels: How to use BixoChat.