For a product waitlist, should users who comment 'waitlist' follow first before receiving the invite link?

Requiring a follow before sending a waitlist link is a strategic choice that boosts follower growth but may slightly lower the number of signups due to the extra step. Deciding whether to “gate” your waitlist link behind a follow comes down to a simple trade-off: are you prioritizing immediate follower growth or maximizing the number of signups with the least amount of friction? Both are valid goals, and the right choice depends entirely on your current business objective.

The Case for Requiring a Follow

Using a follow gate is an excellent strategy for audience building. When someone comments “waitlist” on your post, your automation first checks if they follow you. If they don’t, it sends a message asking them to follow before the link can be sent. Once they follow, the system confirms and delivers the link.

• Pro: It guarantees that every person who receives your waitlist link also becomes a follower. This is powerful for building a long-term, engaged community that will see your future content about the product launch.

• Con: It adds an extra step (friction) to the process. A small percentage of users might drop off, deciding the extra click isn’t worth it. This could slightly reduce your total number of waitlist signups. This approach is best if your primary goal is to rapidly grow an engaged follower base alongside your waitlist.

The Case for Sending the Link Directly

Alternatively, you can remove the follow requirement entirely. When a user comments “waitlist,” the automation immediately sends them the link in their DMs, no strings attached.

• Pro: This is the lowest-friction method and will likely maximize the total number of signups. It’s quick, easy, and gives users exactly what they asked for right away.

• Con: You miss a valuable opportunity to convert an interested user into a follower. They might sign up for the waitlist but never see your future posts again. This approach is best if your single most important metric is the raw number of people on your waitlist, such as when you are validating a product idea or need to hit a specific signup target.

How to Set Up Your Waitlist Automation

Setting this up is straightforward with the right tools. The process generally involves these steps:

1. Create your trigger: Choose a specific keyword, like “waitlist,” that users will comment on your Reel or post.

2. Decide on your gating strategy: In a tool like StarLovin, you can easily configure your automation. Here, you would decide whether to enable the Follow Gate for Links and Freebies, which automatically checks the follower status of each commenter before sending your final message.

3. Write your messages: Craft the DM that users will receive. If you’re using a follow gate, you’ll need two messages: one asking them to follow, and a second one that delivers the link after they have. Ultimately, there is no single right answer. If you value building a lasting audience, a follow gate is a powerful tool. If you need maximum signups above all else, send the link directly. A platform like StarLovin gives you the flexibility to choose the strategy that best fits your launch goals.