How to Enable Ask for Follow Before Sending a DM on Instagram

09 Mar

You post a reel. You set up a comment-to-DM automation. People comment. Messages go out. But at the end of it, your follower count barely moves.

That is one of the most frustrating gaps in Instagram automation. You are doing the work, getting the engagement, but none of it is converting into actual followers.

The Ask for Follow Before DM feature in Zorcha fixes that. It adds a simple gate before your DM goes out; users need to follow your account first, and then they get the resource. It is one extra step for them, and a meaningful growth lever for you.

This guide walks you through exactly how to enable it, across all three automation types in Zorcha: Comment to DM, Story to DM, and Respond to All DMs.

TL;DR

The Ask for Follow feature is available inside Comment to DM, Story to DM, and Respond to All DMs automations in Zorcha.
When enabled, users must visit your profile and follow you before they receive your DM or resource link.
You can fully customise the message text and the button labels, including the "Visit Profile" and "I'm Following" buttons.
This feature works alongside other steps like Collect Email and Follow-Up to Re-Engage, so you can stack them in a single automation.
It is one of the most effective ways to turn automation traffic into real, organic follower growth without any extra effort.

What Is the Ask for Follow Before DM Feature?

When someone comments on your post, replies to your story, or sends you a DM, Zorcha can automatically send them a message. Normally, that message goes out instantly. With the Ask for Follow feature enabled, the automation pauses and first sends the user a prompt asking them to follow your account.

The user sees two buttons: one to visit your profile, and one that says "I'm Following" for when they have completed the follow. Once they tap that confirmation button, the main DM, resource link, or lead magnet is delivered automatically.

It is a frictionless but effective exchange. The user gets the value they came for. You get a genuine follower who opted in, not just a passive viewer.

Why Should You Use This Feature?

Most creators think about automations purely in terms of leads or DMs sent. But automations also represent a significant untapped growth channel. Every person who interacts with your content is already interested enough to take action. That is your best window to ask for a follow.

Here is why enabling Ask for Follow Before DM is worth doing:

You grow your follower count from people who are already engaged with your content, not cold audiences.
It creates a fair value exchange: they get your resource, you get a follower.
Followers gained this way are more likely to be active and interested, which helps your overall reach.
It works passively once set up, requiring no manual effort from your side.
It can be combined with email collection, making it a dual-conversion automation.

How to Enable Ask for Follow Before Sending a DM

The feature is available inside three automation types. Here is how to enable it in each one.

In Comment to DM Automation

Step 1: Go to the Automations section from the left-hand sidebar and click New Automation.
Step 2: Choose DM from Comments and set your automation name, post or reel selection, and keywords as you normally would.
Step 3: Once you reach the message setup section, scroll down to find the Ask for Follow Before DM toggle. Enable it.
Step 4: Customise the follow-up prompt message to match your tone. You can also edit the button labels for Visit Profile and I'm Following to feel more natural for your audience.
Step 5: Confirm your main DM message is set below this step. That message will be delivered automatically once the user taps the I'm Following button.

In Story to DM Automation

Step 1: From the Automations page, click New Automation and select DM from Stories.
Step 2: Choose your story (or select Any Story to apply it broadly), and set up your keyword triggers.
Step 3: In the message flow section, you will see the Ask for Follow Before DM option. Toggle it on.
Step 4: Edit the following prompt and button labels as needed.
Step 5: Set your main DM, which will be sent after the user confirms they are following you.

In Respond to All DMs Automation

Step 1: Go to New Automation and select Respond to All DMs.
Step 2: Set your keywords, or leave them open so any incoming DM triggers the automation.
Step 3: In the message builder, toggle on Ask for Follow Before DM.
Step 4: Customise the message and button text, then set your main reply that users will receive after following.
Step 5: Save and go live.

How to Customise the Ask for Follow Message and Buttons

The default message and button labels in the Ask for Follow flow are functional, but personalising them will always perform better. Here is what you can customise:

The main follow-up prompt message: Write something specific to your offer. For example, "Hey! I share free resources like this one weekly. Follow me first, and I'll send it your way right now."
Visit Profile button label: You can change this to "Follow Me" or any CTA that feels more direct.
I'm following the button label: Consider something warmer like "Done! Send it to me" to keep the energy up.

Keeping the message conversational and specific to the resource you are sharing will always convert better than a generic prompt.

Stack It With Other Features for Better Results

Ask for Follow Before DM works even better when combined with other Zorcha features inside the same automation flow:

Collect Email: After the user follows you, ask them for their email before delivering the final link. One automation, two conversions, a follower, and a lead.
Follow-Up to Re-Engage: If users receive the DM but do not click through, Zorcha sends automated reminders within the first 24 hours. Combine with Ask for Follow, and you have a complete mini-funnel.
Opening Message: Use the opening message as a warm acknowledgment before the follow gate kicks in, so the interaction does not feel abrupt.

Together, these features let you build a structured engagement flow, not just a one-off reply.

Best Practices for the Ask for Follow Feature

Be specific about what they will receive: Vague prompts like "Follow to get access" perform worse than "Follow me and I'll send you the free checklist right now."

Use it on content where you are giving away something of value: Lead magnets, free templates, discount codes, resource links. If the offer is strong, the follow gate is low friction.
Keep the follow message short: One or two lines max. The user is already mid-action, do not slow them down with a paragraph.
Test button label variations: Small wording changes on the I'm Following button can noticeably shift your conversion rate.
Pair it with good content: The Ask for Follow feature amplifies an already-performing automation. If your content is resonating, this feature compounds the growth.

Conclusion

Most Instagram creators spend months trying to grow their follower count through posting consistency and hashtag strategy. The Ask for Follow Before DM feature in Zorcha turns every automation you already run into a follower acquisition engine, no extra content needed, no ad spend required.

You are already getting the engagement. This feature just makes sure it converts.

Ready to turn your automation traffic into real followers?

Zorcha is an Official Meta Partner that helps Instagram creators and businesses automate DMs from comments, stories, and direct messages, with smart features like Ask for Follow, Collect Email, and AI-powered FAQ responses, all in one place.

Start for free at Zorcha and set up your first automation today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Ask for Follow feature work on all automation types in Zorcha?

Yes. It is available inside Comment to DM, Story to DM, and Respond to All DMs automations.

Can I customise the follow prompt message?

Yes, the message text and both button labels (Visit Profile and I'm Following) can be fully edited.

What happens if the user does not follow me?

If they do not tap I'm Following, the main DM is not delivered. The automation simply waits and does not resend unless a follow-up is configured.

Can I use Ask for Follow together with Collect Email?

Yes. You can stack both features in a single automation: follow first, then email, then deliver the resource.

Does this feature work with any keyword or specific keywords only?

It works with both. You can trigger the automation for any keyword or a specific set of keywords, Ask for Follow applies regardless of your keyword settings.

Will this negatively affect my automation performance?

It adds one step to the flow, so not every user will complete it. But the followers you gain are genuinely interested, which improves your long-term engagement rate.