3 Automations to Grow Your Email List (ManyChat Summit Recap)

How do you turn Instagram engagement into subscribers who actually want to hear from you?

ManyChat is more powerful than most creators are using it for. If you’re only using ManyChat’s “comment X to get Y” automation, then you’re part of the 70% who are also missing out on the kind of connection that actually helps you grow your brand and grow your email list in a meaningful way.

After attending the Instagram Summit by ManyChat in Hollywood, I walked away with two main takeaways:

ONE. Automation should be used in a way to make space for real connection. 

TWO. Your email list is still your most valuable marketing asset—and you’re underutilizing the best tools to grow your email list.

So let’s talk about using ManyChat strategically—as the bridge between casual Instagram engagement and real, human relationships that actually convert. This will help you grow your email list intentionally.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• The #1 mistake creators make when using Instagram automation (and why it’s hurting your list growth).
• What ManyChat’s CEO revealed about why most DMs never get answered — and how to fix it.
• My three biggest takeaways from the Instagram Summit that will help you grow your email list.
• Practical ways to use ManyChat flows, tags, and segmenting to nurture subscribers with more intention.
  
  

If you’ve been relying on quick automations but not seeing real conversions, this episode will show you how to build a better bridge — from Instagram follower to loyal subscriber.

👉 Ready to make your funnel feel more like you? Grab my free messaging audit. You’ll see exactly where your message is missing the mark — and how to fix it so your content connects and helps you grow your email list.

➡️ SHOW NOTES: Grab all the links and resources mentioned in this episode on the blog here!https://www.megankachigan.com/grow-your-email-list-manychat

CONNECT WITH MEGAN:
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Transcript

How do you turn Instagram engagement into email list subscribers who actually want to hear from you? If you are a coach creator or service based business owner who is tired of doing the most on Instagram with the least amount of return, this episode is for you. Now, most people know many chat as the automation, where you comment, comment x to get y, or comment, you know, freebie to get x, y, z, and that's great, but to be honest, it is not a strategy by itself. It is just a shortcut. And while shortcuts might get you a few DMS, they rarely help you grow your email list in a way that really leads to long term sales, sustainable visibility and relationships that well, actually feel human. So after attending the Instagram summit by many chat last week in Hollywood, I walked away more convinced than ever about two things. One is that many chat is actually way more powerful than most creators are using it for. And I'm going to share with you some of the other features that you need to be using that are so simple to set up and so much more powerful. And then two, I was so convinced that your email list is still your most valuable marketing asset, and you're under utilizing the best tools to grow your email list. So let's talk about using many chat strategically as the bridge between these casual Instagram engagement in real human relationships that actually convert this will help you grow your email list way more intentionally and with the right people. So let's get into it. What do most creators and business owners get instagram get wrong about Instagram automation to grow their email list. So okay, so let's set the scene here the speaker lineup at the recent Instagram summit by many chat at the it was hosted at the beautiful one hotel in West Hollywood was absolutely stacked with YouTubers, creators, influencers. Instagram, like they all have hundreds of 1000s of followers, some, like, many millions of followers, so they clearly know what they are doing. But what really stood out to me were the unspoken assumptions in the room. Of course, everyone is obsessed with automation. That's why we were there, but few are talking about what happens after someone engages, you get a comment, maybe a reply, then what? So I get it because you're on Instagram, often on your phone, in between activities on the go, you're having conversations with people, but it often feels disjointed. You're not sitting down with them, having coffee or chatting with them while you're lying at the grocery store, while you go to target, while you pick up your kids from school, while you're doing this, that and the other thing, and it's hard to have that deeper conversation. And if these conversations that you're having don't lead to a deeper conversation or an email opt in, you're working hard for shallow interactions, just being honest here, right? Let's call it how it is when someone comments on your post or responds to your story, that is not the end of the journey. It is just the beginning, which I think everyone would agree with, theoretically. But then when you look at the actions most people are taking. We're acting as if it's the end of the journey, when actually, like I said, it is just the beginning. Because visibility is not the same as conversion. Automation is not the same thing as a funnel, and using a tool like many chat without a strategy diminishes its power and doesn't actually get you anywhere. Many chat is powerful, for sure, and it can definitely help make social media more sustainable, just like how we talked about with Michelle teams a couple weeks ago, that is linked in the show notes if you're interested in like, how to make it sustainable that whole piece. But this automation is only helpful if you're clear on what you are leading people toward. Otherwise, you're automating noise like just and not nurturing, like it's not actually going anywhere. So if you have ever wondered, why am I getting engagement but no sign ups, or why aren't more followers turning into leads. This is likely the reason why your funnel is stopping before the real relationship even starts, and selling should feel more like just a natural conversation, one where both you and your potential client feel at ease. And we have a whole episode on this with Nikki Roush, the sales Maven. She shares step by step how to do this, and that link is in the show notes as well. Okay, so what did the Instagram summit by many chat make absolutely clear about automating to grow your email list. So we know we have all experienced so much of Instagram marketing has turned into auto responses and mass DMS, but as a CEO, Mike eon pointed out, 70% of inbound interactions are not being responded to, and he's as a CEO of many chat he's got a lot of data to go off of, so I trust that, and that is 70% that is a lot of missed connection and missed opportunity, and many chats. New tools like smart inbox tags and AI assisted replies exist not to automate everything, but to make more room for those real conversations. And as a tech person, not me, but Mike, I really appreciated what he said during his talk is that, like actually, not all conversations need to be automated. He said that at least twice during his talk, which I really appreciated, as someone who sells automated conversation, basically, but he really gets what it takes and some conversations, yeah, totally start the conversation in an automated way, but then there needs to be a real person creating that actual relationship. So this shift from efficiency to intentionality is what's going to separate the creators and business owners and brands who scale sustainably from the ones who burn out trying to keep up with all of the trends, which, by definition, like we are just never gonna catch up. So if you are interested in a better way to market with less performance pressure, I again, have another whole episode on that. It's called step back from marketing without losing brand voice or audience trust, and once again, that is linked in the show notes for you as well. So many great reasons resources for you, but let's continue on. I need to talk about why growing your email list still matters, even in this social media dominant world. And I'm sure you've heard this before, but hear me out. You know that you do not own Instagram or tick tock or your follower account or whatever you name it, but you do own your email list, right? You don't even own your your LinkedIn newsletter. You You only own your email list. And yet, so many brands treat email like it's the backup plan, instead of a business cornerstone, which is wild because email open rates still outperform social reach by far. People check their inboxes with intention, not while half scrolling in the line at Target. And it's the one channel where you can speak directly to your audience without fighting an algorithm. And I don't know about you, but I just do not have the diamond energy for that, and that is why I believe the smartest way to use many chat isn't just to boost engagement, but it's to build a bridge from Instagram to your email list, and when you compare this with a strong email back end, It can fuel incredible results, just like how consistent emails, 5x my clients email revenue that is such a powerful case study, once again, linked in the show notes for you to check out. So when I polled my Instagram audience, they said, I want to hear your top three takeaways from the speakers at the Instagram Summit, and how they apply here. So I would say number one is the missing piece to get from content to conversion. We like say that a lot as copywriters or as marketers, but we don't talk about that middle step between creating the content to get to the conversion. What is that middle step in between to get you there? And that's conversation. Most brands stop at just creating content and then hope and pray that conversion happens, and some will, but maybe not. The majority, like you, are leaving a lot on the table. If conversation is not sparked, but if that conversation doesn't lead to conversion, then it's not sustainable. So ask yourself, here's your gut check. Is your DM automation moving people toward an opt in, or is it just offering a one and done download and once they opt in? Do you have your email automations set up to nurture them, to lead them toward the next step, to get them to an upsell. So this 3c formula, content to conversation to conversion, was the simplest and smartest breakdown of how automation should actually serve your business, and many chat can help you scale these conversations, but only if you're clear on where they are headed, and ideally that is to your email list. And our last episode on the smart way to build trust through email marketing is great if you're thinking like, Okay, this all sounds good. I agree. I need them on my email list, but then what? Then what do I do? So go check out that episode as well. Again, in the blog, in the show notes, I've got you covered. Okay, so that was takeaway number one. Number two is to create with your audience, not just for them. This came from Colin and Samir, who are YouTube creators with over 1.6 million subscribers, and they reminded us that people stay with you when they feel seen. So your content shouldn't be this, like one way monolog or what you feel like talking about. Use the DMS to listen, listen to the comments, listen to what people are saying, then invite them to something deeper. But again, you are not just creating from the muse or from inspiration. You really need to be creating from what your people are asking for. And not just like any Joe Schmoe, but like really, truly your ideal client. What are they saying that they want for you, that feels aligned for you to provide that is what you need to be talking about and creating. And then lastly, my last big takeaway is something that came up from a few of the different big names that were speaking there, and that's that your signature style is your superpower. So this came from Zach King, who has 43 million YouTube subscribers, which is insane, as well as Brock Johnson, who led a whole panel. And Brock Johnson, you've probably heard that name before. He's an Instagram growth coach with over 800,000 followers, and the theme was clear, the more you lean into what makes your content you the more trust you build, and trust is what gets people to opt in. So they made a great point of, like, you want to be known for something, for a certain style, and knowing that signature style. Like, if you think about famous like painters like Monet or Picasso, like, there are certain things or ways that those artists paint that is their signature style. If you look at that King like he is known for those magic vines, those six second videos, they are all known for something in a certain style to their types of videos. And so I know most of you, my listeners, are not necessarily YouTubers, but I think the same thing applies with your content and copywriting, through your unique brown brand voice having a signature style to the way that you speak, the way that you communicate, the way that you educate in a way that is different from the other people who do what you do. All right, so let's now get into three ways to use many chat to grow your email list. In I'm going to say in 2026 because some of the features that they shared with us at the summit aren't coming out till next month. And I'm just like, oh my gosh, it's already, it's already end of the year. So let's get tactical here. I want to share a few ways I'm seeing brands and clients that I help them use many chat for beyond just that basic automation and also without feeling robotic like automating the things that need to be automated so that it leaves room for that human conversation and connection where you actually like, remember and connect with that human you're talking to on the other side. So number one is DM workflows that lead to opt ins. We already kind of talked about this, but when someone shares your story or comments or it sends a thank you that maybe can also include a freebie. So that was really cool. And you can set a delay on it so it's not like instant. It feels a little bit more natural. But that is such a nice touch. And then when someone follows you, you can offer a relevant guide or ask a market research question to spark deeper dialog. Because I don't know about you, but I know most of my clients, when they first come to me, when someone follows them, they just follow them and hope that they are seeing their content, and they're playing the algorithm game, hoping that people will see their content. And as we all know, hope and pray is not necessarily a strategy we want to have increase our odds of success by starting the conversation with people, and just this one small thing can make such a huge difference. And some of the people that I'm personally connected with have said this, like the one thing they do that really separates them from other people, that no one else is doing is simply like saying hello to new followers, not being weird, but just saying hello, using their name, so glad that you found me. Like it can literally be so simple, but just to be acknowledged and to open up the lines of communication can really make such a difference, and whether they respond right then, which some of them do, which is great, because we really want to get them when they are most interested in what you have to offer, which is right when they follow you. So that is the prime time to engage them in conversation, and it's not weird. And also, if you are not sure what to say, this isn't exactly in the same context, but I think these examples could serve as inspiration, of like, what the heck do I even say? I did a whole episode on sending these five emails to increase sales with email marketing. So whether you use those as actual emails to your list once they're on your list, or adapt them as just like conversation pieces. I think either way, it could work, they could be adaptable. So again, link in the blog in the show notes for that. Okay, so DM workflows is one way to use many chat to grow your email list. The second way out of three that I'm going to share with you is smart tags and labeling. So many chat has an inbox to label people. I think the ones they have pre like preset are a hot lead, a super fan, and they even have a segment for like, family and friends, so that they aren't necessarily going to get your mini chat automations, which is nice, right? So you can change those labelings to be whatever you want. Maybe like I would change mine to be like podcast listener, if they, you know, comment podcast to listen to an episode that I'm sharing, something like that. So you can call them whatever you want. That is just an example of how you might use those smart tags to remember quickly and easily who you are talking to, and then tailor your automation paths to match the type of support or content that they are likely to need. So I would really encourage you to check out episode 53 email sequence tips that actually work for what to actually send to each of these segments, all right, and then tip number three of how to use many chat is to bridge to email with clarity. So always ask yourself, what is the next best step for this person? That step often should be email. But here's the caveat that email opt in has to include these three things. It has to be timely offered when the interest is highest. Another great thing about automation, it's not you're not gonna let DMS sit for, you know, a couple days or a week before you get back to them. It also has to be aligned so related to the conversation they just had with you. And one of many chats new AI features is that you can train it on your offers and your voice, so that you get the aligned offer for what that person is looking for. And then you also have to be clear, like, no vague, just join my list, kind of a button, like, what are they actually getting what is the benefit? And if you're like, hey, I feel like I'm doing all of these things, but I'm really not getting the opt ins that I want or that I feel like I honestly deserve. I have another episode for you on three fast fixes to underperforming landing pages that is honestly one of my highest downloaded solo episodes, and is a really good practical one to quickly and easily see what's happening there and how to start getting more ROI. All right, so what is the email marketing strategy behind Instagram automation? We can see that many chat is already a powerful tool, and it's becoming even more powerful with the new features that are coming out. There's an additional one that I did not mention because they asked us to put our videos, put our phones away and not say so I want to honor that, but it is coming out next month, to encourage you to check that out when it comes but automation alone will not grow your email list or your business. It could be a part of it, for sure. But it's not enough in itself. And the secret is in the strategy behind the automation. It means being intentional with your flows, using the conversation not to just like have a nice conversation, but to lead it to conversion in a way that is natural, flowy, authentic, and then to prioritize your email list as the asset that it truly is, because at the end of the day, like I said before, people want to feel seen, and the brands who are winning are the ones that are turning automation into invitation. So if you are ready to stop chasing the algorithm and start building a system that actually converts, start by tightening that bridge between your Instagram and your email list, because your followers are listening, even if you're getting crickets, I promise you have lurkers, so give them somewhere meaningful to go and if your DM strategy feels stale, your email is stalling, or your content just isn't converting, I would say always start with your message. That's always what it comes down to, and that's why I offer a free messaging audit. It's the first step toward creating content that not only connects, but also helps you grow your email list with the right people. So that link is in the show notes. You can also go to Megan, catch again.com/free-audit, or if you're like, hey, this is amazing. I don't have capacity, I would love for you to just do it for me. That is a service I offer, and you can just shoot me a message, and we can hop on a phone call and see if it is a mutual fit for both of us. Until then, thank you so much for listening, and I will see you next week. Bye.