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Make your voice count on Instagram. Literally.
Sending voice messages on Instagram is nothing new, especially considering all the other social media apps that have already mastered the art of private messaging features. That said, voice messaging on Instagram is undoubtedly useful. It’s a handy feature that can help you save time and communicate more effectively with the wider social media world. After all, Instagram direct messages has over 375 million monthly users and even greater potential, with many more users on the app not yet using messaging. This represents a huge opportunity for influencers and brands to connect with their followers.
In addition to voice messaging, Instagram has made a series of modifications to its messaging features over the past few years. In 2022, Instagram pledged to focus more on its messaging features after recognizing how important private messaging was to its users. Instagram users can send multiple pictures and videos, can contact up to 250 people using a single message, engage in video chats, watch videos with friends, and quickly share content with friends in a message.
One of the most notable updates, however, is the ability to send voice messages on Instagram. Of course, Facebook Messenger has had a voice messaging feature for many years, but Instagram has only added it relatively recently. Meanwhile, Apps like WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Telegram are exploding in popularity, so it’s no surprise that Instagram is trying to compete.
With more and more Instagram users communicating via DMs, it only makes sense to try and make that process as seamless as possible. In this article, we will explore how you can send voice messages via mobile or PC effortlessly using Instagram DMs. Keep scrolling to find out more!
Why Sending Instagram Voice Messages Can Be Useful
First of all; what is an Instagram voice message? An Instagram voice message is, in essence, no different than a voice message you would send via your mobile. It’s an audio message sent through the direct messaging feature on Instagram. You simply talk into your phone and record a message to be sent to either one or multiple contacts via message.
But, unlike a voice message on your phone, Instagram voice messages are sent directly through the platform and could be sent to up to 250 users at once. Voice messaging can be particularly useful if you’re sending a longer message, are multitasking, or you’re simply sick of typing on your phone.
With Instagram users on the platform spending more and more time sending direct messages, this could be a very useful tool. For brands and influencers, it can also be quite helpful if you’re using the platform to send messages to your community or networking with other brands and influencers. It’s also helpful when you want to send a voice message but you’re not necessarily in the same time zone as your recipient. And, unlike a phone call, you won’t get charged international call rates, much like platforms like WhatsApp.
Sending voice messages can also make the platform much more accessible for those needing assistance to see or type, whether they’re just sending a quick voice note or a longer voice message.
Voice messages on Instagram can be sent in both private direct messages and larger group chats and each message can be up to one minute long.
If you’re already sending voice messages on Instagram, or you feel that they could be helpful, keep scrolling! We’ll cover how to send voice messages on Instagram via mobile and PC in the quickest way possible, and we’ll give you our top messaging tips so you can engage meaningfully with your followers and optimize your time in the best way possible.
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How to Send a Voice Message on Instagram via Mobile
Sending voice messages on the Instagram app is super easy and is very similar to the way most of us might send a voice message on our smartphones. Just open your Instagram profile and follow the steps below.
- in the mobile app, click on the chat symbol located on the top-right corner of the home screen. This will take you to your direct messages.
- by using the search icon at the bottom of the screen and typing in a name. Or, click the pencil and paper icon on the top-right corner of the screen and type in a name. Open up a new conversation with your chosen user.
- If you hold and release the microphone button, it will automatically record and send your voice note instantly. This is easy if you’re sending a quick voice message on the go and need a relatively hands-free option. Just be careful – this makes it very easy to accidentally send a message! Otherwise, simply tap the button, record your message, and hit the send button.
It’s that simple! The process works the same for a group chat on Instagram – just check the recipient list carefully to ensure you’re sending your voice message to the right users.
Voice messages on the Instagram app work in the same way whether you’re using an Apple iPhone or an Android.
You can interact with voice messages the same way you would a normal text message. Simply double tap the message to “like” it or respond via text or voice. Simple!
How to Send a Voice Message on Instagram via PC
Unfortunately, Instagram on your Mac or PC does not have the same voice messaging features as the mobile app. It won’t allow you to send a voice message over Instagram in the same way.
However, if you really want to send a voice message, you can do it using any recording software currently installed on your PC, such as software that you already use as a dictation method for Microsoft Office or for sending long emails.
Typically, all you should need to use dictation software on your laptop or desktop computer is a working microphone on your computer and the relevant updated software.
First up, you’ll need to open up your Instagram account on your desktop computer and navigate to your direct messages. If you haven’t used Instagram on your desktop computer before, you won’t need to download anything. Just head to the Instagram website, log in using your details, and head to your direct messages – the message icon on the top-right-hand corner of the screen.
Sending a voice message using a Mac is simple. Most Mac computers have an inbuilt dictation feature that works by using the recording microphone already built-in within the computer.
To turn this on, simply navigate to your computer’s System Preferences application, head to “Keyboard” and hit the “Dictation” tab on the far right-hand side of the menu. Turn Dictation on and decide which key command to use to activate it.
Then, when you’re using Instagram DMs on your Mac computer, you’ll be able to simply tap the key command and start talking to record your message. Once you’ve recorded your message correctly, simply hit send and you’re done.
PCs have a similar function that can be easily accessed. For Windows 10 and 11, simply tap the Windows logo key + H on your keyboard to activate dictation. To stop dictation you can say “Stop dictation” and the microphone will stop recording. Using this method you can record and send your messages using Instagram DMs.
How to Unsend a Voice Message
If you need to, you can also play back your messages and unsend them. This is particularly handy with voice messages, as you might have accidentally recorded some background noise, or recorded for too long without realizing it.
To unsend a message, simply tap and hold the message you want to unsend. You’ll see an option pop up that says “Unsend”. Just tap it and the message will be removed. Too easy!
Our Top Instagram Direct Messaging Tips
There are plenty of other ways you can optimize your experience sending direct messages on Instagram, which can accelerate your send and response times, especially if you’re using Instagram DMs a lot. This can be super helpful if you’re a business launching a new product or service or you’re running an active campaign.
Here are some of our top Instagram direct messaging tips:
1. Invest in an Instagram Chatbot or Use Quick Replies
Chatbots have been developed and refined a lot in the past few years. If you’re receiving a vast number of direct message queries on Instagram and your team simply cannot keep up, a chatbot might be a wise idea.
Alternatively, you can also use Instagram’s built-in frequently asked questions to respond to customers. This can help with an influx of similar questions. Here’s how:
Now, when anyone contacts you, this list of questions will pop up. When a user clicks one of them, the answer will show. You can only add four questions, but you can switch up the questions over time if needed.
2. Turn Your Notifications On
Having your notifications turned on is an easy way to ensure you don’t miss any direct messages. It also means that if a user tags your account in a Story, you won’t miss it!
To turn your notifications on, simply click the three lines at the top right corner of the screen again. Hit “Settings”, then “Notifications” and then toggle the buttons on to the “On” switch to select which events you’d like to be notified for. Simple!
3. Move Messages to DMs If Required
As your Instagram account grows and starts to become a key customer service channel, you’ll start to receive an increasing number of comments and queries on your profile. With some of these comments, you may not want to respond publicly. There might be a number of reasons for this. Often customers may have questions about products or orders. In other scenarios, customers might be sending feedback or complaints. Either way, these comments may be irrelevant to other users or damaging to your brand in some way.
In this case it’s probably not ideal to continue to respond to customers through comments. It’s much easier and faster to respond using direct messages, and you can keep track of your conversations more readily.
Wherever possible,try to move the conversation to your Instagram direct messages. Send a concise, polite response to the user query, and ask them to please contact your direct messages or call you for more information.
That said, you should never try to hide important information from other Instagram users, so, depending on the individual query, you could always offer a short but well-crafted explanation before moving the chat to a private forum.
Below, we can see how skincare brand Go To has responded to their Instagram users. For more technical questions, they have referred customers to their direct messages. Comments that require simpler responses or that may help other users get answered publicly.
4. Encourage Engagement
According to recent statistics, 80% of consumers are more likely to make a purchase when brands offer personalized experiences. Additionally, 76% of consumers get frustrated when this level of personalization is not provided, indicating high expectations for tailored interactions. Instagram direct messages can provide a clear path to purchase for potential customers who are “on the fence” about purchasing.
By encouraging engagement, you can start to bridge the gaps between your brand and the customer. You can then address any barriers to purchase and (hopefully) push more users to purchase.
Acknowledge user engagement by “liking” their comments or briefly responding to them. Encourage them to DM you for more information.
Try a Q & A session using the Question feature in an Instagram Story sequence, and encourage users to contact you for more information. You could also try Polls or other interactive content, too.
Manage Your Direct Messages Better With Sked Social
While Instagram isn’t strictly a messaging app, the refinements and added features on Instagram DMs that have been added will no doubt make it more popular. Instagram users will utilize the platform more for both content sharing and messaging.
Sked Social is an all-in-one social media management tool with powerful scheduling capabilities and advanced reporting functionality. Overall, it makes social media management much easier and helps you to focus on bigger and better ideas.
Having intuitive social media management tools like Sked Social will cut hours out of your social media management workload. Sked Social’s social media scheduler allows you to automatically schedule posts (no posting after notifications!) for every major social media platform from Instagram to TikTok, and pretty much every platform in between. This will save you (or your team) hours each week! Store images, schedule posts, and add hashtags, locations, product tags, or influencer tags all in one go, on all your chosen platforms. It’s also compatible with iOS operating systems as well as Chrome and most other internet browsers.
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