Instagram rolls out new messaging feature for business profiles

Instagram, the popular social media platform, has launched a new set of features for business profiles on its platform. Starting from Wednesday, businesses will have a better way to manage their messages and will be able to view important new customer messages in the main direct inbox, instead of the pending folder.

With this new roll out, users can also star and filter their conversations to come back to messages they would want to follow up on. In the coming weeks, the company claims it will begin testing quick replies, so that users can easily respond to common questions.

In a blog post, the company announced that it is introducing a fresh set of action buttons for businesses. The statement added,

"More than 150 million have a conversation with businesses through Instagram Direct each month, with a third of those messages beginning with an Instagram Story. To make messaging easier and more efficient, we're introducing a new set of features for businesses using Instagram Direct."

"As more people continue to interact with businesses on Instagram, and take action when inspiration strikes, we are making it easier to turn that discovery into action. Through our action buttons, people can now book, get tickets, reserve or start an order through popular, third-party partners without having to leave Instagram."

Instagram is rolling out these buttons with a range of partners like Acuity, Atom Tickets, Booksy, ChowNow, Eatstreet, Eventbrite, Fandango, GrubHub, MyTime, OpenTable, Reserve, Restorando, Resy, SevenRooms, StyleSeat, Tock, and Yelp Reservations.

Florist and the founder of @flourshop, Amirah Kassem said,

"Instagram was Flour Shop's first home. My company might not have existed without the opportunity created through the platform. Instagram has been my CMO since day one."

Instagram has been in the territory for more than seven years now, where people can easily curate photos and videos. In 2016, it came up with the option of sharing stories that will automatically disappear after 24 hours, similar to that of Snapchat.

Last year, the company launched a new 'shopping experience' that allows businesses in the US to tag products in their organic posts. In March this year, it rolled out the same experience in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK.