Instagram UGC rights requests: two messages, a consent page and the proof to keep

When to ask

Ask while the post is new and the creator is still reading its comments. A Story disappears after 24 hours, so a Story needs a same-day ask. How to catch Stories in time is in Instagram Stories UGC archiving.

Start with a comment. It lands in the creator's notifications. Instagram puts DMs from accounts they do not follow into message requests. The comment tells them a DM is on its way, so they know to look there.

Message 1: the public comment

Keep it to two lines. Say what you liked, name the use and flag the DM. Leave the details for the DM.

Love this, @[handle]. Could we show it on our [product] page, with credit to you?
I'll send the details by DM.

Message 2: the DM with the consent link

This is where the detail goes. Name every use. Say how you will credit them and for how long. Make saying no easy.

Hi [first name], it's [your name] from [brand]. Thanks again for posting your [product].

We'd like to show your post on our [product] page and in one email to customers.
We'll credit you as @[handle], for two years from today.
We won't use it anywhere else without asking again.

If that works for you, tap here to say yes: [consent link]

If not, no problem. Ignore this and we won't use it.

Want it in paid ads too? Ask for that by name in this DM. A yes to a product page does not cover ads.

What the consent page says

The link opens a page that repeats the DM in plain words. The creator sees exactly what they are agreeing to and taps once.

[Brand] would like to use your post.
[Preview of the post]

Where it will appear: the [product] page and one email to customers.
Credit: @[handle], shown with the post.
How long: two years, until [date].
Payment: none. (Or: a [amount] store credit.)

You can change your mind at any time.
Email [address] and we'll take it down within [5] working days.

[ Yes, you can use it ]   [ No thanks ]

• Show the post itself. The creator may have posted several times this month.
• List the uses one by one. No "any marketing purpose" catch-all.
• Give an end date. Two years is a common default. Pick yours and print it.
• Say how to withdraw. An email address and a takedown time you can meet.

What to store as proof

Someone may ask in a year who agreed to what. Save the record before the post goes live on your store.

When they say no, or say nothing

• A no: reply once to thank them. Mark the post declined so nobody on your team asks again.
• No reply to the DM: leave it. Treat silence as a no and do not use the post.
• Do not use it anywhere. That includes ads, emails and a quick repost to your Story.
• A later post is a new ask. If they post again, you can ask about that post.
• A yes withdrawn later: take it down from every place it runs, then log the date.

No problem at all, thanks for letting us know. We won't use it.
Enjoy the [product]!

Done. We've taken your post down from our [product] page and our emails.
Thanks for letting us use it.

Have the customer's order email? The email version of this ask is in a rights-request email sequence people reply to.