What a Messenger greeting is in 2026
For years Facebook Pages had a separate “Messenger greeting”: a short text shown before anyone typed, with a tag for the person’s first name. Meta has folded it into Inbox automations. The Help Center article is still called “Create an automated Messenger greeting for your Facebook Page”, but as of 15 October 2026 its steps create an Instant reply in Meta Business Suite.
What Meta’s help pages say about it:
- An instant reply is the automatic first response to people who message your Page for the first time.
- It is not sent while your Page’s messaging status is set to Away, and it doesn’t count toward your response rate or response time.
- The same Inbox automations cover Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp Business accounts connected to Meta Business Suite, though not every template is available on every channel.
- Turning on Meta Business Agent pauses existing automations such as instant replies and away messages.
- Some organic messaging features for businesses are unavailable in Europe and Japan, so a template you read about may be missing there.
How to set up a Messenger greeting
- Open Meta Business Suite and select the Page.
- Click Inbox, then Automations.
- Click Create automation, and under Greet people choose Instant reply. Some screens name the same template Auto reply.
- Turn it on and select Messenger as the channel (add Instagram if you want the same greeting there).
- Write the message and click Save changes.
- Test it: message the Page from a friend’s account or a second profile and read it on a phone.
From the Page itself on Facebook, the path is the Messenger icon, then Automations, then Create automation, Greet people, Instant reply.
The three-part greeting formula
- Thanks or hello, with your business name so people know they reached the right place.
- When a human answers. “Within 2 hours on weekdays” is more useful than “as soon as possible”.
- One question that gets you the detail you need: the order number, the date, the size, the postcode.
Keep it to two or three short lines. People read greetings on a phone, in a chat bubble, often while doing something else.
40 Messenger greeting examples by business type
Replace the brackets. Each one fits comfortably in a chat bubble.
Shops and e-commerce
- Hi, thanks for messaging [Store]! Is this about an order? Send the order number and we’ll check it within 2 hours.
- Hello! Looking for something specific? Tell us the product and size and we’ll check stock for you.
- Thanks for reaching out to [Store]. For returns, send your order number and a photo of the item.
- Hi! We ship within [country] in 2 to 4 days. What can we help you find today?
- Welcome to [Store]! Reply with SIZE for our size guide or ORDER to track a parcel.
Restaurants, cafés and bakeries
- Hi, thanks for messaging [Restaurant]! Booking a table? Send the day, time and number of people.
- Hello! Our menu is pinned on the Page. Ordering for pickup? Tell us what you’d like and when.
- Thanks for writing to [Bakery]! Custom cakes need 5 days’ notice. What date is your event?
- Hi there! We’re open [hours]. For large groups, tell us the date and we’ll suggest a set menu.
- Thanks for your message! Allergies or dietary needs? Tell us now and the kitchen will plan for it.
Local and home services
- Hi, thanks for contacting [Company]! What needs doing, and what’s the address or postcode?
- Hello! Send a photo of the problem and we’ll give you a rough price before we visit.
- Thanks for reaching out. Emergency? Call [number]. Otherwise we reply to messages within the day.
- Hi! We cover [areas]. Which day suits you for a free quote?
- Thanks for messaging [Salon]! Which service would you like, and which days work for you?
Coaches, consultants and freelancers
- Hi, I’m [Name], thanks for getting in touch! What would you like to work on? I reply personally within 24 hours.
- Thanks for your message! Are you asking about [service A] or [service B]?
- Hello! To see if we’re a good fit, tell me a bit about your business and your main goal this quarter.
- Thanks for reaching out. My calendar is at [link] if you’d like to book a free 15-minute call.
- Hi! I read every message myself. What’s the biggest thing you’re stuck on right now?
Real estate, cars and big purchases
- Thanks for your interest! Which property are you asking about? Send the address or the listing link.
- Hi! Would you like to book a viewing, or do you have questions first?
- Hello and thanks for messaging [Dealer]. Which car are you interested in, and do you have one to trade in?
- Thanks for writing! To give you an accurate answer, what’s your budget range and preferred area?
- Hi! Our team replies within 1 hour during office hours. Which day works for a call?
Schools, courses and online products
- Hi, thanks for your interest in [Course]! Are you asking about dates, price or the content?
- Hello! Already a student? Include the email on your account so we can help in one reply.
- Thanks for messaging [School]! Which age group or level are you asking about?
- Hi! The next intake starts [date]. Would you like the course outline?
- Thanks for writing! Login problem? Send the email you signed up with and a screenshot.
Nonprofits, clubs and community Pages
- Thank you for contacting [Organisation]! Would you like to volunteer, donate or ask for support?
- Hi! Our next event is [date]. Want the details or a reminder closer to the day?
- Thanks for messaging [Club]! New members are welcome at [day and time]. Any questions before your first visit?
- Hello! If you need urgent help, please call [hotline]. Otherwise tell us how we can help and we’ll reply soon.
- Thanks for reaching out! Which of our programmes are you asking about?
Creators, artists and media Pages
- Hey, thanks for the message! I read everything; for collaborations, email [address].
- Hi! Commissions are open until [date]. Tell me the size, style and deadline you have in mind.
- Thanks for writing to [Show]! Story tip or guest idea? Send it here with a link if you have one.
- Hello! I can’t reply to every message, but I read them all. Thank you for being here.
- Hi! Looking for prints? The shop link is pinned on the Page. Questions about sizes? Ask here.
Away message examples
Away messages answer while you’re unavailable, the hours when the instant reply is paused. Say when you’re back and what to do if it’s urgent.
- Thanks for your message! We’re closed right now and back at [time] tomorrow. We’ll reply first thing.
- Hi! We’re away for the weekend. Messages are answered from Monday 9 am.
- Thanks for writing. We’re on holiday until [date]; orders placed now ship on [date].
- Hello! Our team is offline. For urgent issues call [number]; everything else gets an answer tomorrow.
- Thanks! I’m with clients today and will reply this evening.
- Hi, we’ve received your message. It’s outside opening hours, but it’s in the queue and we’ll answer by [time].
FAQ and keyword replies: keep the greeting short
Most Pages get the same five questions: price, hours, location, delivery, availability. Rather than squeezing answers into the greeting, use the other Inbox automation templates:
- Frequently asked questions suggests questions people can tap, with your answer to each.
- Location, Contact information and Hours answer those requests automatically.
- Custom keywords reply when a message contains words you choose. Per Meta’s help, a keyword automation can match up to 5 keywords or phrases, the match is exact and case-sensitive, it is sent after 15 minutes unless you reply first, and it is only available on Meta Business Suite desktop. When a template automation such as the away message also applies, Facebook sends the template one instead.
Good FAQ answers are short too:
- Price: Prices start at [amount]. Send a photo or the product name for an exact quote.
- Delivery: We deliver to [areas] in 2 to 4 days. Free over [amount].
- Hours: Open [days] from [time] to [time]. Closed on public holidays.
- Location: We’re at [address], next to [landmark]. Parking at the back.
Comment to message
Comment to message (desktop only) sends a private reply when someone comments on your post with keywords or hashtags you set. It’s useful for “comment INFO and we’ll send the details” posts. Keep the message as polite as a greeting, because the person asked for it: Hi! Thanks for commenting on our post. Here are the details you asked for: [link or info]. Any questions, reply here.
Mistakes that cost replies
- “We’ll get back to you ASAP.” It promises nothing. Give a real time.
- A wall of text. Three lines maximum in the greeting; details go in FAQ answers.
- A sales pitch first. Someone asking about an order doesn’t want your newsletter.
- No question. A greeting without a question leaves the person guessing what to send.
- A greeting that never changes. Update it for holidays, sales and closures, or it will promise hours you aren’t keeping.
- Forgetting the human. Automation answers the first message. A person still has to answer the second.
Running a Facebook group instead?
Messenger greetings belong to Pages. A group has no Messenger greeting, and messaging everyone who joins isn’t possible or allowed. Groups welcome new members inside the group, with a welcome post, a new member intro and good membership questions. For that, see Facebook group welcome message examples and membership question examples.
If your Page also posts in groups, that’s a separate job from Messenger; how to post in a Facebook group as a Page covers it.
FAQ
What is a good Messenger greeting for a Facebook Page?
One or two sentences that thank the person, say when a human will answer, and ask for the one detail you need. For example: Hi, thanks for writing to [Business]! What can we help with? Add your order number if it’s about an order and we’ll reply within 2 hours.
How do I set up a Messenger greeting for my Facebook Page?
In Meta Business Suite, open Inbox, click Automations, then Instant reply (some screens call it Auto reply). Turn it on, choose Messenger as the channel, write the message and click Save changes. It goes out to people who message the Page for the first time.
What is the difference between an instant reply and an away message?
An instant reply is the first automatic response to someone new. An away message answers when you’re not available. Instant replies are not sent while the Page’s messaging status is set to Away, so set both if you want every message answered.
Can I use the customer’s first name in a Messenger greeting?
Sometimes. Meta’s help says Inbox automations can include personalizations, but which options show up depends on the template and your account. If there is no first-name option, write the greeting without one: a warm, specific line beats a name dropped into a generic one.
Can a Facebook Page send a welcome message to people who didn’t write first?
No. Messenger automations answer people who messaged you or commented on your post. A Page can’t open a conversation with an automated message, and Facebook groups have no Messenger welcome at all; new group members are welcomed with a post inside the group.
How long should a Messenger welcome message be?
Under about 300 characters, which is two or three short lines on a phone. Meta doesn’t publish a strict limit for instant replies, but long greetings get skimmed. Put details in FAQ automations instead, where people tap the question they care about.