Instagram DM Script for a Waitlist
The point of a waitlist DM is to turn a vague "I'm interested" comment into a named contact with an expectation. Tell them they are in, what the thing is, roughly when it opens, and what being on the list gets them. Then ask for the email. With Viralyze, the comment triggers the DM, the lead magnet link collects the email, and the name appears in your contacts list with a "waitlist" source tag.
The waitlist DM script
Automatic DM on keyword WAITLIST:
"You are on the waitlist for the Sourdough From Scratch course. Doors open on 1 November for one week only. Waitlist members get the link 24 hours before everyone else and ₹300 off the ₹2,499 price. Leave your email here so the early link reaches you: [lead magnet link]. Questions? Just reply."
Launch-eve DM to the list (manual, from contacts):
"Early access is live for 24 hours. Your ₹300 off is applied at this link: [checkout link]. It opens to everyone tomorrow at full price."
The script promises two concrete perks, early access and a fixed discount, and names the price. Vague "exclusive benefits" do not move people.
Should the waitlist have a benefit attached?
Yes, and it should be something you can honour cheaply. Early access costs you nothing. A fixed discount is better than a percentage because it reads as a real number. A bonus (a Q&A call, a template) works when your margins are tight.
Do not promise a limited number of seats unless there is a real limit, such as a live cohort size.
How do you build the waitlist from comments?
1. In the Viralyze app, create a lead magnet named after the launch; the "delivery" is simply a confirmation note. 2. Create an Auto-DM automation with the "comments on any post" trigger, keywords WAITLIST, "list me" and "notify". 3. Paste the DM script and attach the lead magnet. 4. Schedule the automation to auto-pause on launch day so new comments get the checkout link instead. 5. Test a sample comment, then switch on.
Using "any post" means every reel you publish in the pre-launch month feeds the same list.
How many times should you message the waitlist?
Three times at most: when they join, the day before early access, and the last day. Each message in the Inbox shows the original comment beside it, so you can personalise the final nudge ("you asked about the starter recipe on my 12 October reel").
Remember Instagram's 24-hour reply window: a DM from you can only go out within 24 hours of their last message. For launch-day outreach beyond that window, use the emails you collected.
What do you do with the list after launch?
Keep it. Export to CSV, tag who bought and who did not, and use the non-buyers as the first audience for the next cohort. The home screen revenue figure for the launch week tells you whether the waitlist discount paid for itself.
Many creators find the second launch to the same list performs better than the first, because the people on it already saw the course exists.
Frequently asked questions
**Can I collect phone numbers instead of emails?** The lead magnet collects email. If you prefer WhatsApp, put a WhatsApp group invite as the link in the DM and skip the email step.
**What happens to late comments after launch?** Set auto-pause for launch day and run a second automation on the same keyword that sends the live checkout link.
**Will the waitlist DM look the same to everyone?** No, AI variations reword each one slightly, and the public reply under the comment rotates too, so the thread does not look automated.
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