Build Your First Instagram Automation
Respond when someone comments on a post/reel or sends a DM keyword: optional public reply, opening DM, optional link after a follow-gate, then hand the thread to your inbox.
This is Instagram automation — not WhatsApp Bot Flows and not Meta forms under Broadcasts → Flows.
Detail: Instagram Comment and DM Automations.
Before you start
| Need | Where |
|---|---|
| Plan includes Instagram | Account Dashboard billing if Connect is blocked — Plan Does Not Include Instagram |
| Instagram connected | Settings → Instagram → Connection — Connect Instagram |
| Admin or manager | Automations / Settings access |
| A live post or reel (comment path) | On the linked Instagram professional account |
Path at a glance
- Connect Instagram
- Open Automations → Instagram
- Start New automation
- Choose Comment Keyword or DM Keyword
- Fill the wizard
- Optional follow-gate
- Go Live
- Test and watch the inbox
1. Connect Instagram
- Open Settings → Instagram.
- On Connection, click Continue with Instagram, approve Meta access, return until status shows connected.
If the token expires later: Token Expired · Reconnect and Disconnect.
Without Connect, Automations prompts you to connect before creating automations.
2. Open Automations → Instagram
Preferred: sidebar Automations → Instagram.
You can also use Settings → Instagram → Automations.
Workspace options:
| Mode | Use when |
|---|---|
| Quick Automations | Faster template-style setup |
| Builder | Visual flow editor |
| List + New automation | Classic wizard (also from Settings) |
Drafts can autosave. Use Go Live when you are ready for the automation to fire.
3. Start New automation
- Click New automation (modal title New automation, or Edit automation when updating).
- Or pick a Quick Automations template, then refine.
4. Choose Comment Keyword or DM Keyword
| Trigger | When it runs |
|---|---|
| Comment Keyword | Someone comments on a post or reel (any post or a specific one) |
| DM Keyword | Someone sends a DM containing your keyword |
Pick one path for your first automation. You can add more later.
5. Fill the wizard
Comment Keyword path
Typical steps:
- Trigger — Comment Keyword
- Post — any post, or a specific post/reel
- Keywords — comma-separated keywords and match mode
- Reply on the Post (Optional) — public reply under their comment
- Up to five messages; each live comment picks one at random
- Preview shows the first message and 1 of N when more than one is saved
- Add message / Remove · clear blanks before saving
- Opening DM — first DM text plus button chip title
- Link — optional link message and https URL. Optionally enable Mint Web Chat Link (off by default) so the chip opens hosted Web Chat; button title defaults to Continue on web (max 20).
- Review — confirm and save
DM Keyword path
Fewer steps: Trigger → Keywords → Opening DM → Link → Review (no public reply step). Mint Web Chat Link is available on Link here too.
6. Optional follow-gate
On the Link step (or Quick Setup), enable Require Follow Before Link so the customer must follow your Instagram account before receiving the link.
Default-style prompt (editable as Follow Gate Prompt / Follow Prompt Message):
Please follow us on Instagram to get your link, then tap the button again.
After they follow, they tap the button again or send any message in the chat to continue.
List rows show Follow-gate required or No follow-gate.
7. Go Live
- Finish Review / save draft.
- Click Go Live (or activate from the list — toggle titles Go Live / Pause).
- Status filters: Live · Paused. Rows may show Live / Paused or Live / Off.
Paused automations do not fire. Edit anytime with Edit automation.
8. Test and watch the inbox
- From a personal Instagram account, comment the keyword on the configured post (or send the DM keyword).
- Confirm optional public reply, opening DM, and link / follow-gate behaviour.
- In the Unified Inbox, filter channel Instagram — Filter by Channel.
- Open the thread — agents send text only in this release — Instagram Is Text-Only.
- If the messaging window is closed, follow Instagram 24-Hour Window and Human Agent.
Take Over / assign works like WhatsApp when the bot owns the thread — Answer a WhatsApp Chat covers the same inbox pattern (channel badge will read Instagram).
Quick paths
| Path | Setup |
|---|---|
| A. Comment → DM only | Comment Keyword · keywords · Opening DM · no public reply · no link · Go Live |
| B. Comment → public reply + DM | Same as A + Reply on the Post (1–5 messages) |
| C. Comment → link after follow | Same as A + Link + Require Follow Before Link |
| D. DM keyword → DM (± link) | DM Keyword path · Go Live |
| E. Full comment funnel | Comment Keyword · Reply on the Post · Opening DM · Link · follow-gate · Go Live |
Common problems
| Symptom | What to try |
|---|---|
| Cannot create automation | Finish Connect Instagram |
| Nothing fires | Confirm status Live (not Paused) · keyword spelling · correct post selected |
| No public reply | Comment path only · fill Reply on the Post · remove blank rows |
| Link never arrives | Check follow-gate · customer must follow, then tap again or message |
| Agent cannot send media | Expected — Instagram is text-only today |
| Connect blocked | Plan Does Not Include Instagram |
Related
- Instagram Comment and DM Automations
- Sidebar Automations
- Connect Instagram
- Instagram Is Text-Only
- Instagram 24-Hour Window and Human Agent
- From Signup to Open Inbox — if the workspace is not ready yet
- Build Your First Bot Flow — WhatsApp automations (different product)