Instagram DM Trigger Lead Magnet Funnel Designed for Creatives
Instagram Funnel Designed for Creatives Who Hate Hard Selling
Chance is a queer portrait and band photographer based in Edmonton, with ~1.3k Instagram followers. Like many creatives, she found most of her early clients through friends but wanted to grow beyond her immediate circle.
We built a simple Instagram flow: comment-triggered posts that auto-deliver photo shoot guides via DMs, and help the right people move from curious to ready.
My role
(Marketing Consultant, Logish.co)
Campaign Type
Core Deliverables
Business Impact
Challenge
The Problem
Chance is a talented Edmonton-based photographer with an indie, artsy visual style. She had shot multiple sessions for supportive friends, but was looking to attract new clients beyond her immediate circle, especially people who didn’t already know her personally.
Her Instagram presence showed creative promise, but the booking experience wasn’t clear or frictionless. There were signs of interest, but most casual viewers didn’t convert.
Key issues included:
- Her Instagram URL led directly to a raw Google Form, with no warm-up, explanation, or clear context, especially for mobile users
- Her profile didn’t make it clear that she was actively offering paid shoots; it looked more like acreative account
- There was no simple, visible overview of her services (e.g. types of shoots, pricing, or what to expect)
- She wasn’t addressing common questions upfront, so interested leads had to DM her to figure things out, which can feel awkward or high-effort for many
- There was no natural entry point that let potential clients express interest or explore more without jumping straight into a hard booking form
Without a soft, natural system to guide interest into action, she was missing out on organic leads who just needed a little clarity and comfort to say “yes.”
Strategic Approach
We didn’t want to turn Chance’s Instagram into a hard-sell funnel.
That kind of approach (constantly pushing for bookings) would’ve felt off-brand and pushy.
Instead, we built a low-pressure system that reflects how her real clients prefer to connect. Something that lets people explore her work, get their questions answered, and book when they’re ready.
Here’s what the strategy aimed to achieve:
- Help potential clients see clearly what Chance offers without needing to ask
- Make it easy and natural for people to express interest through Stories, comments, or profile visits
- Give people a non-awkward way to start the booking process, even if they’re shy or unsure
- Let Chance filter casual interest from serious inquiries without being pushy
- Make it obvious that photography isn’t “just a hobby”; it’s something people can book, today
Process & Deliverables
To turn Chance’s quiet Instagram into a clear, low-pressure path to bookings, we built a simple system with these key parts
Ideal Client Avatars
Identified two core audience groups that align with her photography style and energy, based on affinity and sentiment research. This gave us clarity on who her work naturally attracts, and who future offers should speak to.
Mini Brand & Bio Refresh
Recommended tweaks to her Instagram bio and highlights to clearly communicate that she’s open to client work. The tone still reflects her personality, but now signals approachability and professionalism, without sounding salesy.
Carousel for Trust & Clarity
Designed a short carousel that addresses photo shoot insecurities and gently invites people to DM for more. It doubles as a conversation starter.
Templated DM Conversation Starters
Added quick-reply options inside Instagram’s messaging system for first-time visitors.
These serve as soft entry points, making it easier for shy or hesitant potential clients to reach out without overthinking the first message.
Two Lead Magnets (Band & Portrait Guides)
We created two free guides tailored to her client types: one for bands preparing for shoots, and another for individuals exploring personal portraits.
These offer value up front and attract people genuinely interested in photo shoots.
DM Automation System
Set up keyword-triggered replies so that when someone comments or messages on a relevant post, they automatically receive the right guide.
Each guide also gently prompts next steps, like booking or asking a question, without pressure.
Mobile-First Booking Page
Built a simple landing page that includes her services, FAQ, and a clear way to book or inquire.
This gives potential clients everything they need in one place, while freeing her from repeating the same info in DMs.
“I loved the design of everything
Thank you so much!!”
Building the foundation for client clarity & photo shoot bookings
Results
With the right pieces in place, Chance now has a presence that reflects her energy and makes it easier for interested clients to say yes.
From booking flow to bio, her system now does the heavy lifting so she doesn’t have to overthink every DM or caption.
Boost in Instagram reach & engagement using comment-triggered DM workflows.
Made it easier for ideal clients to message & book using conversation starters.
Positioned Chance as “open for business” with a strategic profile
Built non-salesy lead magnets that quietly identified who was interested.
What This Could Mean for You
Want to Build One for Your Business?
This was a “no hard-sell” Instagram funnel designed to boost post reach, trigger DMs, and help potential clients take the first step.
Now, I help businesses build similar flows that trigger interest, invite engagement, and move the right people into your DMs.
If your audience is hesitant to reach out on Instagram, this setup meets them halfway, while nudging the algorithm to show your posts to more people like them.
Let’s Build Your Instagram Flow
I help brands and creatives build light-touch systems that drive the right kind of engagement, and turn it into leads, trust, and bookings.
