"Follow to get the link" DM template

A follow gate DM asks people to follow you before you send the link they commented for. The wording matters more here than anywhere: below are the opening message, the follow prompt, the thank-you with the link, and what to do when someone does not follow.

Start for free

How does a follow gate work?

In SuperProfile, the follow step is an option on any comment automation: ask people to follow you before the DM with the link is sent. It runs as three short messages:

Opening message with a button. Tapping it lets SuperProfile check whether the person follows you.
Follow prompt, sent only if they don't follow yet, with a "Visit profile" button and an "I'm following" button.
Your DM with the link, once they follow.

If someone taps "I'm following" without following, the prompt can repeat a few times. After that you choose in settings: send them the DM anyway, or don't send it. The follow step is on paid plans.

Templates: the opening message

Variant 1

Hey! Glad you liked the Reel 😊
Tap below and I will send the [guide] in a second.

Variant 2, sets up the ask

Thanks for commenting! The [guide] is for my followers, tap below and I will check you are in 🙌

Variant 3, Hinglish

Hi! Comment karne ke liye thanks 😊
Neeche tap karo, [guide] abhi bhejti hoon.

Opening button text: "Send me the link" or "Get the guide". Follow-step buttons are capped at 20 characters in the editor, so keep these short.

Templates: the follow prompt

This is where tone decides whether people follow or leave. Give a reason to follow that is about them, not your numbers.

Variant 1: the reason

One step left! Follow me for [a new budget tip every Tuesday], then tap "I'm following" and the link is yours.

Variant 2: light

Almost there 👀 Hit follow on my profile, come back and tap "I'm following".

Variant 3: honest

I share these free because followers make it worth it 🙏 Follow, tap "I'm following", and the [guide] comes right away.

Variant 4: Hinglish

Bas ek step! Profile pe jaake follow karo, phir "I'm following" dabao, link turant milega ✨

Variant 5: Hinglish, with a reason

Follow kar lo, har [hafte naye recipes] aate hain 😋 Phir "I'm following" pe tap karo.

Button text for the two buttons: "Visit profile" and "I'm following ✅".

Template: the DM with the link

After they follow

You're in, thank you! 🙌
Here is the [guide] 👇 Reply if you have questions.

Public replies

Check your DMs 📩
Sent! Follow step is in your DMs 🙌
Link is waiting in your DMs ✨

When is a follow gate a bad idea?

When the freebie is small. Asking for a follow in exchange for a one-line tip feels like a toll booth.
On a Reel that is going viral with non-fans. A big share of commenters will drop at the follow step. Weigh followers gained against goodwill lost.
When the link is for a sale. Don't put a follow step between a buyer and your checkout.

A middle path: send the DM anyway to people who don't follow (the setting above), and let the prompt do the persuading.

What should you customise?

The reason to follow. Name what you post and how often. "Follow for more" gives no reason.
The fallback. Decide whether non-followers still get the link after the prompt repeats. For freebies, sending it anyway keeps goodwill.
Button labels. Follow-step buttons have a 20-character limit; "Visit profile" and "I'm following ✅" fit.
The final DM. Thank them for following before the link; it is the moment they are most receptive.

What mistakes should you avoid?

Guilt-tripping. "Unfollowers won't get it 😤" reads as hostile in a screenshot.
Hiding the gate. If your caption says "comment GUIDE", consider "follow + comment GUIDE" so the follow step is not a surprise.
Forgetting to test as a non-follower. Test from an account that does not follow you, then from one that does.

How do you set it up in SuperProfile?

In Auto-DM, create a comment automation on your Reel or post with your keyword.
Turn on the ask-to-follow step and paste your opening message and follow prompt.
Choose what happens when someone does not follow: send the DM anyway, or don't send it.
Write the final DM and add the button with your link.
Publish and test from a non-follower account.

Full walkthrough: Grow followers with Auto-DM. Auto-DM on Stories and Lives, ask-to-follow, email collection and follow-ups need a paid plan.

Frequently asked questions

Can SuperProfile check if someone really followed?

Yes. Tapping the opening message lets SuperProfile check whether the person follows you before it sends the link.

What happens if they never follow?

The follow prompt can repeat a few times, then the automation does what you chose: send the DM anyway, or not send it.

Is a follow gate allowed on Instagram?

The messages go through Meta's official API, and Meta's messaging windows and rules apply to all messages. Keep the ask friendly and give a reason; pressure tactics get reported.

Will a follow gate bring followers who stay?

Only if your next posts give them a reason to. People who follow for one freebie and see nothing useful after it tend to unfollow. Use the follow prompt to promise what you really post, like "a new recipe every Sunday", and keep that promise.

Can I use a follow gate on Stories?

Yes, on paid plans: Story replies can start an automation, and the ask-to-follow step works the same way. Use a Story sticker or text that tells viewers which word to reply with.

More Instagram DM templates

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Last updated 11 October 2026.