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Setting Up Automations

Automations are the core engine of AutoDM. They allow you to turn public comments, story replies, story mentions, and private messages into instant direct messages and customer engagement.

1. Choosing Your Creation Method​

When you navigate to Automations (/automations) and click New Automation, you have two ways to build your workflow:

  1. Standard Form: A streamlined linear setup ideal for standard comment-to-DM, story replies, and keyword auto-replies.
  2. Visual Flow Canvas: A node-based visual drag-and-drop studio (/automations/flow/new) for creating multi-step decision trees with interactive Quick Reply options and branched product carousels.

2. Step-by-Step Automation Setup (Standard Form)​

Step 1: Basic Workflow Details​

  1. Automation Name: Enter a descriptive name (up to 80 characters), such as "Summer Reel Discount" or "Ebook Lead Magnet".
  2. Connected Account / Page: Confirm the connected Instagram account or Facebook Page that will execute the automation.

Step 2: Selecting the Trigger Event​

Choose what action triggers your automated workflow:

  • Post or Reel Comment (Instagram & Facebook): Triggers when a follower comments on your video reels, photos, or feed posts.
  • Direct Message (Inbox) (Instagram & Facebook): Triggers when a user sends a message to your direct inbox or Messenger.
  • Instagram Story Reply (Instagram only): Triggers when someone replies directly to your active 24-hour Instagram Stories.
  • Instagram Story Mention (Instagram only): Triggers when a follower tags or mentions your account handle in their own Instagram Story.

Step 3: Media Scoping (Which Posts or Stories?)​

For comment and story reply triggers, you can decide where the rule applies:

  • All Reels & Posts / All Stories: The automation monitors every piece of content published on your account.
  • Specific Reel, Post, or Story: The automation triggers exclusively on one specific piece of content.
    • To target a specific post or story, either paste the Post ID / URL directly, or click Browse Posts & Reels (or Browse Stories) to open the visual Media Picker modal and select your post with one click.

Step 4: Keyword Matching Conditions​

You can choose whether to reply to everything or restrict triggers to specific keywords:

Option A: Unconditional ("Every Comment" or "Every Message")​

Triggers automatically for every single comment or message received, without requiring a specific word. Recommended for general story replies or broad promotional posts.

Option B: Only Specific Keywords​

Triggers only when the user's comment or message contains your defined keywords.

  • Trigger Keywords: Enter your keywords in the bubble input box. Press Enter or type a comma to add a keyword (up to 50 keywords per automation). Example: price, link, guide, coupon, order.
  • Smart Word Stemming & Plurals: When toggled on, AutoDM automatically matches linguistic variations of your keyword. For example, setting the keyword price will also match prices and pricing.
  • Matching Rule:
    • Contains any keyword: Matches if your keyword appears anywhere in the sentence (e.g., "What is the price please?" will match price).
    • Exact Match only: Only triggers if the message or comment consists solely of the keyword alone without extra words.

3. Configuring the Response Channels​

For comment triggers, you can choose how your account responds:

  1. Both (DM + Comment Reply): AutoDM sends a private direct message to the user's inbox AND posts a public reply directly under their comment. This is the recommended choice for maximum engagement and algorithmic visibility.
  2. Only Direct Message: Sends a private message to their inbox quietly, without adding a public comment reply.
  3. Only Comment Reply: Replies publicly under their comment without sending a private message.

4. Selecting Message Formats and Templates​

Direct Message Format​

  • Standard Text Message: Sends personalized text variations with links, dynamic greetings, and interactive buttons.
  • Product Slider Carousel (Instagram only): Dispatches a horizontal swipeable carousel with product images, subtitles, prices, and direct "Shop Now" call-to-action buttons.

Template Selection​

Select your pre-configured templates from the dropdown or card selector:

  • Direct Message Template: Choose the template containing your DM copy or carousel cards.
  • Public Comment Reply Template: Choose the template containing rotating comment replies.

Tip: Click Refresh next to the template selector to load recently created templates without leaving the page, or click Create new template to build one in a new browser tab.

5. Follow Gate ("Follow to Unlock" - Instagram Only)​

Follow Gate is a growth utility that checks whether a user follows your account before delivering your link or resource.

How It Works​

  1. A follower comments on your post asking for your link.
  2. AutoDM detects whether the user currently follows your profile.
  3. If they already follow you: AutoDM instantly delivers the standard DM template with your link or carousel.
  4. If they do not follow you yet: AutoDM sends the Follow Gate Prompt accompanied by a native Instagram Quick Reply button: "Check Again ✅".
  5. Once the user taps the Follow button on your profile and taps "Check Again", AutoDM verifies the follow status and automatically unlocks the promised message and link.

Follow Gate Settings​

  • Prompt Message: Customize the message sent to non-followers.
  • Supported Variables:
    • {username}: Inserts the recipient's Instagram username.
    • {first_name}: Inserts their first name.
    • @{creator}: Inserts your account's handle.

6. Follow-Up Reminders (Smart Action Recovery)​

Within Meta's official 24-hour messaging window, you can schedule an automated follow-up reminder if the recipient has not engaged with your initial message.

Configuration Options​

  1. Follow-Up Delay: Choose when the reminder fires:
    • 6 Hours
    • 12 Hours
    • 24 Hours
    • Custom: Specify any delay between 0.1 and 24 hours (Meta compliance maximum).
  2. Cancel Reminder If Lead Completes: AutoDM automatically cancels the reminder if the lead completes any of the following goals:
    • Link Clicked (LINK_NOT_CLICKED): Cancels as soon as the user clicks your tracked campaign link.
    • Direct Message Reply (NO_REPLY_RECEIVED): Cancels as soon as the user sends a reply in chat.
    • Account Followed (NOT_FOLLOWED): Cancels if the lead follows your Instagram profile.
    • Any Engagement (NO_ENGAGEMENT): Cancels on either a link click or a chat reply.
  3. Follow-Up Message: Customize the reminder text with {username} and {first_name} variables.

7. Auto-Pause Campaign Safety​

Auto-Pause prevents campaign overruns and protects your budget during flash sales, limited-quantity promotions, or giveaways.

Auto-Pause Modes​

  • After N Replies (TRIGGERS): The automation automatically pauses after a specific number of replies (presets: 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000, or a custom count).
  • After Time / Duration (TIME): The automation automatically pauses after a specific time limit (presets: 6 Hours, 24 Hours, 3 Days, 7 Days, or a specific calendar date and time).
  • Whichever Comes First (BOTH): Pauses when the reply limit is hit OR when the duration expires, whichever happens earlier.

When an automation reaches its limit, its status switches to Paused, preventing any accidental excess message dispatches.

8. Live Interactive Preview Simulator​

While configuring your automation:

  • Desktop: The right-hand column features a sticky smartphone simulator that mirrors your selected post, comment reply, follow gate prompt, and DM template in real time.
  • Mobile: Use the Configure / Live Preview switch at the top to toggle between editing form fields and previewing the live phone experience.