DM templates · Instagram
Recommend the right product in an Instagram DM
A good product recommendation DM asks one or two questions, then names a pick and says why it suits that person. When several products fit, send them as a carousel: swipeable cards, each with a photo, a price and a button. The 12 templates below cover the questions, the picks and the follow-up, and the set-up shows how a comment on a Reel can end in a carousel.
Updated 6 October 2026 · 12 templates
12 messages to copy
Tap a card to copy the message. Swap anything in braces, like {name}, for your own words before you send it.
Two questions before you suggest anything
Happy to help you choose! Two quick questions so I send you the right things: who's it for, and roughly what would you like to spend?
Who it's for and the budget narrow most ranges down to three or four products. Save size and colour for when they've picked one.
One pick, with the reason
From what you've told me, I'd go for the {product} at {price}, because you said you'll mostly use it for {their use}. Here it is: {link} Want a second option to compare it with?
Tie the reason to their own words. “Because you said it's for long walks” persuades more than “it's our bestseller”.
Three picks at three prices
Here are three that fit, cheapest first: the {product} at {price}, the {product} at {price} and the {product} at {price}. The middle one is what I'd buy myself. Which way are you leaning?
A low, middle and top option lets people choose by budget without having to name a figure. Only call one your favourite if it really is.
The line before the carousel
Here are five that fit what you told me, best match first. Swipe sideways to see them all, and tap any card for photos and sizes.
In DMFast this is the text that goes out just before the product cards. The word “swipe” matters: it tells people there's more than the first card.
A safe pick for a gift
For a gift when you're not sure of their taste, I'd steer towards the {product}: there's no size to get wrong, and it suits most homes. Shall I add a gift note? Just tell me what it should say.
Gift buyers worry about choosing wrong, so suggest things without sizes or loud colours. Offering the gift note gives them an easy next step.
Stuck between two
Both are good, they just suit different people. The {product} is {its strength}, and the {product} is {its strength}. If {their situation}, I'd go for the first. If not, the second does the job and costs {price} less.
They asked which one, so answer which one. Sending two spec sheets hands the decision straight back to them.
Matching something they already own
Thanks for the photo! To go with that, I'd suggest the {product} in {colour}. It picks up the {detail} in yours without matching it exactly. Want to see a couple of other options next to it?
Mention something you can see in their photo, so they know someone really looked. A picture of what they own tells you more than any description.
A first buy for a beginner
If you're just starting out, begin with the {product}. It's forgiving while you learn, and at {price} you're not spending much before you know you love it. You can always step up later.
Beginners are afraid of wasting money on the wrong thing. A low-risk first buy, with a clear step up for later, answers that worry.
Honest “we don't have the right thing”
Honestly, nothing we sell is right for that, and I'd rather tell you than sell you the nearest thing. What you need is a {type of product}, and a specialist shop will have far more choice.
It costs you one sale. Selling them the nearest thing instead risks a return and a customer who doesn't come back.
An add-on, after they've bought
Good choice! One thing people often ask about afterwards is {accessory}, because {reason}. Not essential, just mentioning it so you're not caught out. Enjoy your {product}.
Only suggest an add-on that solves a real problem, such as a refill, a case or the right cable, and send it while the chat is still open.
Checking in when they've gone quiet
Did any of those catch your eye? If none felt right, tell me what was missing (the colour, the price or the size) and I'll have another look.
Send it once, while their last message is under 24 hours old. Listing likely reasons makes a one-word answer easy.
Find your match by keyword
Not sure where to start? Tell me how you like your coffee: reply BOLD, SMOOTH or FRUITY and I'll send the beans that suit you.
Set each word up as its own DM keyword with its own carousel. Pick words people won't type by chance, since a keyword anywhere in a message sets it off.
Set it up in DMFast
Comment PICKS on a Reel, get its products in a carousel
Someone comments on your post
PICKSPublic reply under their comment
Sent you the picks 🛍️ Have a look in your DMsFirst DM (plain text)
Hi, thanks for commenting! This message is automatic. Everything I used in this Reel is in one swipeable list, with prices. Want it? Reply YES and I'll send it over.Yes pleaseCeramic pour-over setView productThe first DM after a comment can't carry cards or links, so it says what's coming and asks for a YES. Their answer opens 24 hours, and the carousel follows: up to 10 cards, each with a photo, a price and its own button. For one Reel, the four or five products in it are plenty.
Pick a post
Connect your Instagram account, then choose the post or Reel it runs on, or every post.
Set the word: PICKS
Anyone who comments PICKS gets a reply under their comment and a DM. Capitals don't matter.
Paste the message
Add the public reply and the first DM shown here. Once they answer, your link follows as a card.
Free plan, no card. Instagram professional accounts and Facebook Pages.
Rules to know
- The first message to someone who commented is a private reply: one per comment, sent within 7 days, as plain text. A carousel can only follow once they answer it.
- When someone sends you a DM or replies to your Story, automated replies, carousels and promotions included, can go out until 24 hours after their latest message.
- A carousel holds at most 10 cards. Instagram allows up to 80 characters for a card's title and 20 for the text on its button.
- Automated chats have to say they're automated, so picks sent by an auto-reply shouldn't be worded as a person's own taste.
- No official tool can send product suggestions to followers who haven't written to you. Picks go to people who commented, replied to a Story or sent a DM.
Sources
Ask first: what to find out in each kind of shop
A recommendation is only as good as the question before it. Ask for the one or two details that rule out most of your range, and leave the rest until they've chosen.
| Shop | Ask before recommending | Leave until later |
|---|---|---|
| Clothes | What it's for, and their size in a brand they already wear | Colour and length |
| Skincare | Their skin type, and anything that has irritated it before | Bundles and add-ons |
| Coffee and tea | How they brew it, and the flavours they enjoy | Grind size and subscriptions |
| Home and decor | A photo of the room and the size of the space | Delivery dates |
| Phone accessories | The exact model of their phone | Colours |
| Gifts | Who it's for, what they already love, and the budget | Wrapping and the gift note |
Tip: If someone has already told you a lot, skip the questions and recommend. Asking about things they've just explained makes a reply feel scripted.
Turning your picks into a carousel
A carousel is a row of cards the person swipes through, each with a photo, a name, a short line such as the price and a button. It suits moments when several products fit: the items from a Reel, gift ideas under a set price, three versions of one thing. When one product is clearly right, a single link reads better.
- Three to five cards are easier to compare than ten. Put the best match first.
- Use the name people will see in your shop, and put the price on the line under it.
- Choose photos on a plain background. Cards are small on a phone, and busy shots turn to clutter.
- Write a button that says what happens next, such as “See sizes” or “Shop now”. It has 20 characters to do it in.
In DMFast, every button is a tracked link, which shows you which cards get tapped. If a photo can't be loaded, the same products go out as a text list with links, so nobody is left with nothing.
Different picks for different people
One carousel for everyone works for a single Reel. For a whole range, give people a word to send. A coffee roaster might set up BOLD, SMOOTH and FRUITY as three DM keywords, each answering with its own carousel. Because the person messaged first, the cards go out at once, with no YES step.
Stories work the same way. Ask viewers to reply GIFTS for this week's gift ideas, and every reply gets your message and the carousel straight back. Open questions, such as “which one suits a small kitchen?”, can go to a person, or to DMFast's AI replies on the Growth and Business plans, which answer only from the business information you've written, at one credit per reply.
Tip: Keywords match whole words anywhere in a message, so SMOOTH would also answer “thanks, smooth delivery”. If that keeps happening, choose a word nobody types by accident.
Mistakes that make picks feel like a sales pitch
- Recommending what you have most of in stock instead of what fits what they told you.
- Sending ten cards when three would do, so they have to compare all ten.
- Leaving prices off the cards, so the first reply is “how much?”
- Promising results for acne, eczema or hair loss. Those are medical questions: suggest a pharmacist or doctor.
- Following up more than once. One check-in inside the 24 hours helps; a second is pressure.
- Keeping quiet about a commission. If you earn one on a product you recommend, say so in the message.
What to measure
Watch three numbers: how many people answer your questions, how many tap a card, and which cards get the taps. If the third card gets more taps than the first, move it to the front. If plenty of people tap but few buy, look at the product page and the price before you blame the DM.
Questions people ask
Can I send a product carousel in an Instagram DM?
Yes, through tools built on Meta's messaging API. A carousel holds up to 10 cards. It can't be the first reply to a comment, which has to be plain text, but it can follow as soon as the person answers, or go out straight away when they DM you or reply to your Story.
How many products should I recommend at once?
One when you're confident, three when budgets differ, and no more than five in a carousel unless they asked to see everything. The point is to help them decide, and every extra card is one more thing to weigh up.
Can an auto-reply recommend products on its own?
It can send a fixed set of picks for each keyword, which covers most “what do you recommend?” messages. For open questions, DMFast's AI replies (Growth and Business plans) answer from the business information you provide, so describe your products there. Anything about allergies, health or a tricky fit is better answered by a person.
Do I need to say when I earn a commission on a recommendation?
Yes. Advertising rules in many countries expect paid relationships to be made clear, and a short line such as “I earn a small commission if you buy through this link” keeps the recommendation honest. The same goes for products you were sent for free.
What happens to my carousel when a product sells out?
Nothing, until you change it: the cards show the name, price and photo you saved in the auto-reply, not live stock. Remove the card or swap in the closest alternative when something runs out, and check your carousels whenever your prices change.
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