Require Follow

Require follow adds a follow step in front of any automation. Instead of the DM being sent the moment someone comments, they first receive a message asking them to follow you — and the DM is only sent once they have.

This works with any automation, whether it sends a DM or converts commenters into text subscribers.

How it works

1. Someone comments and triggers the automation.
2. They receive a prompt: "Make sure you're following before we can send it over. Then hit the button to continue" — with an I'm Following button.
3. They tap I'm Following.
4. Markit checks whether they actually follow you, and sends the DM only if they do.

The button is shown to everyone who comments, regardless of whether they already follow you. Someone who already follows you simply taps the button and gets the DM immediately.

A real follow check, not the honor system

When the commenter taps I'm Following, Markit verifies the follow through Instagram's official API — it genuinely checks the follow relationship rather than trusting the tap. If they tap the button without following, the DM is not sent.

Many other tools only display a "follow me" message and send the content as soon as the button is pressed, with no actual verification. Markit confirms the follow before delivering.

When to use it

Require follow works best when growing your audience is the primary goal of a post and the friction of an extra step won't cost you.

• Enable it on growth-focused posts — viral reels, giveaways, anything where the follow is the point.
• Leave it off on conversion-focused posts — product drops, event signups — where every extra step loses people and the follow matters less than the signup.