How to set up Instagram DM auto-replies
If "What's the price?" and "When does it ship?" arrive every day, an automatic reply saves you time and keeps customers from waiting. This guide walks through setting up a keyword-based DM auto-reply in IGFlow.
Before you start
You need an IGFlow account and a connected Instagram account. For replies to go out instantly, the account's "Live connection" setting must be on; with it off, incoming messages aren't picked up in real time.
Step by step
- Select your account in the panel and open "Automations".
- Choose the "reply when a DM contains a keyword" recipe.
- Type the keyword (for example price). Case doesn't matter; the word just has to appear in the message.
- Write the reply. Use the {{ }} field in the template to include the sender's username.
- Set a daily limit. We recommend starting low.
- Save and enable the automation.
- Test it by sending a message with the keyword from another account, then check the reply in the inbox.
How to write a good auto-reply
Keep it short and useful: answer the question in the first sentence and point to the next step (a catalog link, or "send us your name to order"). Don't pretend to be human; say how to reach a person.
- One rule per topic: pricing, shipping, returns
- Personalise with the username
- A clear next step: a link, a form or "reply and we'll get back to you"
Common mistakes
Keywords that are too generic (like "hi") reply to every message and derail conversations. Two rules on the same keyword can send double replies. And skipping the test: if the live connection is off, nothing happens and nobody notices.
One step further: AI replies
As questions get more varied, fixed templates may fall short. In the flow builder, swap the reply action for the "AI reply" node and generate natural answers with your own model connection.
Frequently asked questions
Why wasn't my auto-reply sent?
The most common reason is that the account's live connection is off. Then check whether the daily limit is used up and whether the keyword actually appears in the message.
Is the keyword case-sensitive?
No. Matching ignores case, including Turkish letters such as İ/ı, and the keyword only needs to appear somewhere in the message.
Related pages
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