The easiest market research you’ll ever do? Set up a ManyChat “new follower” DM that asks every new follower what they need help with, with multiple choice answers tied to your offers. you set it up once & it collects real audience data, grows your email list, & warms up new followers in the background!
Listen to ‘The easiest market research you’ll ever do on Instagram’ on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Your player of choice
In today’s episode, I’m breaking down one of the easiest ways to collect ongoing market research for your business without constantly polling your audience or overcomplicating the process. Whether you’re brand new in business or years in, your audience is always evolving, which means your messaging, content, and offers should evolve too.
I’m walking you through the exact ManyChat automation I use to collect real-time data from new Instagram followers so I can better understand what they actually need help with. This one simple automation helps me improve my content strategy, strengthen my messaging, grow my email list, promote my podcast, and naturally introduce my offers—all while collecting valuable audience insights in the background.
If you’ve been guessing what your audience wants to hear from you, this episode will help you stop guessing and start using actual data to guide your content and marketing decisions. And if you’re not already using ManyChat, I also share where you can grab a discount to get started.
What you’ll learn
- Why market research should be an ongoing process in every stage of business
- How to use ManyChat automations to collect audience data automatically
- The exact DM flow I use for new Instagram followers
- How to uncover what content your audience actually wants from you
- Ways to connect your automations to your offers, podcast, and email list
- How to use audience responses to create stronger content and messaging
The Instagram Automation That Does Your Market Research for You
It doesn’t matter what stage of business you are in—whether you are just starting or you’ve been in business for five years now—market research is something that you should be doing continually.
A lot of times when we think about market research, we think it’s something we do once, collect all the information, and then we’re good to go forever. But that’s so far from the truth.
Your audience is always evolving. You are always evolving. Buyer behavior is evolving.
Everything is constantly changing, which means you need to continually do market research so you can better understand your audience and their needs—especially if you want to create magnetic messaging on your sales pages, your Instagram content, or anytime you’re selling.
All that being said, market research is incredibly important. And today, I want to break down one extremely easy way to do it—something you literally set up once and never touch again while it continually collects data for you in the background.
Yes, it’s really that easy.
This setup is going to help you understand:
- Why people are following you
- What kind of content they want from you
- What offers they’re most interested in
- What problems they’re actively trying to solve
And the best part? It’s all happening automatically inside your Instagram DMs.
How to Use Instagram DM Automation for Market Research
Inside ManyChat, there’s a trigger called the “new follower to DM setup.”
When someone follows you for the very first time, you can automatically send them a direct message.
You may already have this setup.
But what I’ve noticed is that most people are not actually using it to collect useful information.
Instead, most welcome messages look something like this:
“Hey, thanks for following me! Here’s a link to my storefront/course/freebie.”
And while there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s not giving you any valuable audience insight.
It’s not telling you:
- Why someone followed you
- What they need help with
- What content they want more of
- What would actually convert them into a customer
That’s the opportunity most people are missing.
The Exact Welcome Message Strategy
Here’s the first message I send when someone follows me:
“Hi! I just saw that you followed me. Thank you. I’m so grateful that you’re here. Welcome to the Instagram family.”
Then I explain what they can expect from my content:
- Building a sustainable business
- Scaling income while maintaining freedom
- Growing a business without working nonstop
- Creating content that actually converts
Then I ask a simple question:
“Since you just joined me, I’d love to know what you specifically need help with so I can send you a 100% free resource to support you.”
That’s where the market research begins.
The Secret to Better Market Research Questions
Once someone says yes, I ask them:
“What is your current focus or what do you need the most help with?”
Then I give them multiple-choice answers.
For example:
- Instagram growth
- Scaling business income
- Selling on stories
- Setting up funnels for passive income
These options are not random.
Every single one ties back to an offer I sell.
That’s important.
Because now I’m learning:
- What my audience actually wants
- Which offers they’re naturally most interested in
This instantly tells me what people are coming to my account for.
And because ManyChat tracks clicks and responses, I can see exactly which options are getting the highest engagement.
For me, the highest-performing categories are:
- Instagram growth
- Passive income funnels
Which makes complete sense based on my audience.
How This Helps You Create Better Content
This is where it gets really powerful.
If someone selects “Instagram growth,” I ask another follow-up question:
“What do you struggle with most when it comes to Instagram growth?”
Then I give them more specific answers like:
- Turning viewers into followers
- Low views
- Content ideation
- Filming and editing taking too long
Now I’m getting deeper audience insights.
And this tells me exactly what content I should be creating.
For example:
- If most people struggle with turning viewers into followers, I should create more content around conversion-based reels.
- If people struggle with low views, I should create more visibility-focused content.
- If ideation is the issue, I should teach content planning.
Your audience is literally telling you what they want from you.
You no longer have to guess.
Turn Market Research Into a Sales Funnel
What makes this strategy even more powerful is that the automation doesn’t stop at data collection.
Based on their answers, I automatically send them:
- Freebies
- Podcast episodes
- Past Instagram content
- Email newsletters
- Resources related to their specific struggle
So while I’m collecting market research, I’m also:
- Building trust
- Introducing my podcast
- Growing my email list
- Warming people up to my offers
- Moving them deeper into my ecosystem
For example:
If someone says they want help with passive income funnels, I send them podcast episodes specifically about funnels.
Now they know:
- I have a podcast
- I teach this topic deeply
- I have additional resources
- I likely have offers that solve their problem
And all of this happens automatically.
Why This Works So Well
This strategy works because it’s personalized.
Instead of blasting the same generic welcome message to everyone, you’re creating a guided conversation that:
- Makes followers feel seen
- Gives immediate value
- Builds trust quickly
- Collects real audience data
And the best part?
You only have to set it up once.
I haven’t touched my automation since setting it up, and it continues collecting data every single day.
Every week, I quickly check the numbers.
The trends usually stay fairly consistent unless a specific piece of content goes viral and temporarily shifts audience behavior.
But over time, this gives me a very clear picture of:
- What content attracts people
- What problems they care about
- What offers they’re most aligned with
- What messaging resonates most
That information is invaluable.
The Biggest Mistake Most Business Owners Make
Most business owners create content based on what they think their audience wants.
But this strategy removes the guessing entirely.
Instead of brainstorming content blindly, your audience tells you:
- What they need
- What they’re struggling with
- What they want solutions for
And that allows you to create:
- Better content
- Better offers
- Better messaging
- Better sales pages
- Better marketing overall
The Easiest Market Research You’ll Ever Do
If you already have Instagram DM automation set up and you’re not using it for market research, you are missing a huge opportunity.
This is one of the easiest systems you can implement to better understand your audience while simultaneously:
- Growing your email list
- Promoting your podcast
- Nurturing new followers
- Increasing offer visibility
- Building stronger messaging
You set it up once.
And it works for you every single day afterward.
And if you’re not using ManyChat already, you can use the link down in the show notes to get 50% off your first two months. I use ManyChat for this and highly recommend it.
Truly, this is the easiest market research you will ever do.
Set it up once and you’ll thank yourself later.
Frequently asked questions
How do I do market research on Instagram for my business?
Easiest method? Automate it through your DMs. Set up a ManyChat “new follower” trigger that sends a welcome message asking new followers what they need help with — with multiple choice answers tied to your offers. Data collects passively & you get real audience insight without ever running a poll.
What is Instagram DM automation and how does it work?
Instagram DM automation lets you send pre-built messages & branching conversations in your DMs automatically — triggered by things like new follows, keyword comments, or story replies. Tools like ManyChat connect to your Instagram & respond to your audience 24/7 without you needing to be online.
What questions should I ask in my Instagram welcome DM?
One open-ended question: “what do you need help with most right now?” Then offer 3–5 multiple choice answers that map directly to your offers (Instagram growth, scaling income, building funnels, etc.). Multiple choice gets way higher response rates AND tells you which of your offers your audience is most drawn to.
Is ManyChat good for Instagram DM automation?
ManyChat is one of the most widely used Instagram DM automation tools because it integrates cleanly with Instagram, has a free starter plan, & offers a no-code visual builder. It’s the easiest option for beginners to set up without needing a tech person on retainer. You can get 1 month of ManyChat Pro free here.
How often should I do market research for my online business?
Continuously. Your audience evolves, buyer behavior shifts, & your offers change — so a one-time market research project quickly goes stale. DM automation runs nonstop in the background, so you’re always collecting fresh audience data without blocking time for surveys or polls.
Will Instagram DM automation feel impersonal to my followers?
Not if you write it like a real conversation. Open with a warm, personal first message (“hi! I just saw you followed me — welcome to the family”) & offer real value based on what each person says they need. Done right, it feels MORE personal than a generic welcome message.
Can I use Instagram DM automation to grow my email list?
Yes — it’s one of the highest-converting list-growth methods available. After someone answers your welcome question, the automation can deliver a freebie that requires their email to access. Because the freebie matches what they just said they need, opt-in rates are way higher than cold lead magnets.
Resources & Links:
- ManyChat: 1 month of ManyChat Pro free
- Join Stacked Inbox
- Join Scalability
- 30 free selling on stories prompts
- Scaling Unlocked Mastermind Application
- Kajabi: 3 months for $99 + free Lead to Buyer System
- ManyChat
- IG University
Some of the links mentioned are affiliate links, which help to support this podcast at no additional cost to you.
Connect with Mya:
- Follow on Instagram @myanichol
- Join my email list
- Check out my website
- Now on YouTube
More about the Radical Disruption podcast:
Are you wanting to make waves in your industry, push the envelope, and change the way things are done in a radical way? Are you looking for tangible, tactical, and actionable steps that will help you build a sustainable business that stands out? You’re in the right place!
Radical Disruption is home to the disrupters. Here, you’ll learn how to take your business to the next level, break the status quo, and build a disruptive business.
Nursing student turned business and social media expert and host Mya Nichol (hey, that’s me!) shares the real and raw of the crazy journey of entrepreneurship and building a multi-six-figure business.
Through solo episodes and special guest interviews, you can expect honest conversations about throwing out the traditional way of business, scaling in a sustainable way, and becoming the go-to expert in your industry. It’s time to build a disruptive business. See you on Tuesdays!
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