How to reply to "hi", "info?" and one-word messages
A lot of first messages carry almost no information. "Hi." "Info?" "Interested." A thumbs-up on an advert. They are easy to ignore, and many businesses reply with an equally empty "Hi, how can I help?", which often gets no answer at all. Yet behind most of these messages is a real person who is curious about something you sell. This guide shows you how to reply so the conversation actually starts, gives wording for the common one-word openers, a worked example, the mistakes that make people drift away, and the notes an AI agent needs to answer them well.
The short answer
Reply quickly and do some of the work for them. Greet them, guess what they most likely want from where they messaged you, and offer two or three simple options or one useful fact. End with an easy question that can be answered in a word or two.
Replies you can adapt
Change the details to match your business. Names, prices and times are examples.
| When | Reply |
|---|---|
| "Hi" with no context | Hi, thanks for getting in touch! Are you looking to book a class, ask about prices, or something else? I am happy to help with any of them. |
| "Info?" on a product post | Hi! This is our handmade oak chopping board, £45, about 40 by 25 cm. Would you like to know about delivery, or see more photos? |
| "Interested" on an advert | Thanks for your interest! The beginner pottery course is six Tuesday evenings from 13 January, £180 including clay and firing. Would you like me to save you a place? |
| "Price?" on a post | Hi! That one is £32. We have it in small, medium and large. Which size would you like? |
| A thumbs-up or an emoji | Thanks! Was there something you wanted to ask about this post? I can send prices, sizes or delivery details. |
| "Available?" on a service | Hi! Yes, we have space this week. Is it a cut, a colour or something else you are after? Then I can give you times. |
| "Hello" in another language | Hello! Thank you for your message. Please tell me what you are looking for, and I will help. |
| A second nudge after no reply | Hi again, just checking you saw my message. If you tell me what you are looking for, I will send the details straight over. |
| They reply with a full question | Great, thank you. Yes, the course suits complete beginners. Shall I save you a place for 13 January? |
What to avoid
- Replying "Hi, how can I help?" and nothing else. It hands all the work back to the customer.
- Ignoring one-word messages because they look like spam. Many come from genuine customers on their phones.
- Sending your whole price list in reply to "hi".
- Asking several questions at once, such as their name, budget, date and needs.
- Chasing more than once. One gentle nudge is enough.
What to tell your AI agent
- Tell it to look at where the message came from, such as a post, an advert or a story, and answer about that first.
- Give it your two or three most common reasons people message, so it can offer them as options.
- Give it one key fact for each popular product or service, such as the price and what is included.
- Tell it to ask only one question at a time, and to keep the first reply to two or three sentences.
- Tell it to send at most one follow-up if there is no reply, and then leave the chat.
When a person should take over
- Messages that turn out to be about a complaint or a problem.
- Business or wholesale enquiries that start with a one-word message.
- Messages that look like spam or a scam, before anything is sent.
Why people send one-word messages
Most one-word messages are not rude or lazy. People are often on their phones, between other things, and want to see whether anyone answers before they type a full question. Some are testing whether the account is real. Others tapped a "send message" button on an advert that filled in a word for them.
Whatever the reason, the customer has made the first move. Your reply decides whether there is a second one. If you make it easy, by guessing what they want and offering simple choices, most will answer. If you send back an empty greeting, many will not.
Use the clues you have
Even a one-word message usually comes with a clue. Look at it before you reply.
| Clue | What to do |
|---|---|
| A reply to a post or story | Answer about that post: the price, the size or the date. |
| A message from an advert | Answer about the offer in the advert, with one next step. |
| A returning customer | Greet them by name and mention what they bought or booked last time. |
| A time of day | Late at night, say when you will be able to help properly. |
| No clue at all | Offer your two or three most common reasons people message. |
On Instagram, replies to stories and posts often show the post in the chat. Spaces passes these messages to your AI agent, so tell the agent in its notes to use that context when it is there.
A worked example
Here is an Instagram conversation for a pottery studio. The customer replied to a story about a new beginners' course. Names and details are examples.
| Who | Message |
|---|---|
| Customer | info? |
| Business | Hi! The beginners' wheel course is six Tuesday evenings from 13 January, 7pm to 9pm, £180 including clay and firing. Would you like me to save you a place? |
| Customer | Do I need any experience? |
| Business | None at all. It is made for complete beginners, and groups are kept to eight people. There are three places left. |
| Customer | Ok yes please, for me and my sister |
| Business | Lovely! I have saved two places. Could you send me both names and an email address for the booking confirmation? |
The agent used the story as the clue, gave the key facts in one reply and asked one easy question. "Info?" became a booking for two in five messages.
Notes to give your AI agent
One-word messages ("hi", "info", "price", "interested", emoji)
1. If the message replies to a post, story or advert, answer about that first.
2. Otherwise offer our three common reasons: booking a class, prices, gift vouchers.
3. Keep the first reply to two or three sentences, with one question at the end.
4. If there is no reply after 24 hours, send one nudge: "Hi again, just checking you saw my message." Then stop.
Key facts:
- Beginners' course: six Tuesdays, 7pm to 9pm, £180, clay and firing included.
- Taster session: Saturdays 10am, £35.
- Gift vouchers: any amount from £25.
If the message looks like spam or a scam, do not reply. Hand it to a person.Routines in Spaces can also send a set reply when a message contains certain words, such as "price" or "info". Routines send the reply you saved; they do not think for themselves. They work well for a fixed answer, while your AI agent handles anything that needs context.
Before and after
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| Hi, how can I help? | Hi, thanks for getting in touch! Are you looking to book, ask about prices, or something else? |
| Please see our website for details. | This one is £45, handmade in oak. Would you like delivery details or more photos? |
| [No reply] | Hi! Yes, we have space this week. Is it a cut or a colour you are after? |
Sum up and next step
Treat every "hi" as a real enquiry. Use the clue of where it came from, give one useful fact or a few simple options, and end with one easy question. Nudge once if there is no reply, then leave it.
With Spaces, your AI agent can answer one-word messages on your own Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger accounts within seconds, at a human pace. On Instagram, Spaces waits at least 15 seconds between messages and keeps an account to 150 messages a day.
Pricing
FAQ
Should I reply to messages that just say "hi"?
Yes. Most come from real people who want to see whether anyone answers before typing more. A quick, helpful reply is often the start of a sale.
What is wrong with "how can I help?"
Nothing is rude about it, but it hands all the work back to the customer. Offering two or three likely options, or a key fact, makes it much easier for them to reply.
How many times should I follow up?
Once is enough. A single gentle nudge after a day catches people who simply forgot. More than that starts to feel pushy.
Can a routine answer these messages?
A routine can send a set reply when a message contains certain words. It does not understand context, so it suits fixed answers. An AI agent is better when the reply depends on the post or advert the person saw.
What if the one-word message is spam?
If it looks like spam or a scam, do not reply or click any links. Tell your AI agent to hand these to a person rather than answer them.
How fast should I reply?
As quickly as you can. People sending one-word messages are often browsing and will move on if nobody answers soon. A reply within minutes keeps them interested.
Should I ask for their name straight away?
Not in the first reply. Answer their likely question first, then ask for a name and details once they show they want to book or buy.