Instagram DM Automation
Turn comments on client posts into automatic DMs
RecurPost Instagram DM Automation sends a direct message the moment someone comments on your client’s Instagram post or Reel. You choose a keyword such as PRICING or LINK, write one message, and RecurPost replies to every matching comment. Your agency captures leads across 10 client accounts straight from the comments section, without replying to each DM by hand.
No credit card required.
Triggers
How RecurPost triggers a DM from a comment
RecurPost triggers a direct message from a comment in two ways: specific keywords, or any comment at all. Keyword matching is not case sensitive, so PRICE and price fire the same DM. You enter trigger words separated by a comma. Common keywords include info, link, guide, and pricing.
The any-comment option messages everyone who comments, whatever they write. It suits giveaway Reels where every participant deserves a reply. Keyword triggers suit product posts where only people who comment PRICE should receive pricing.
RecurPost can also post a public reply under the comment at the same moment the DM goes out. The commenter sees “Check your DMs” in public while the private message lands in their inbox.
An agency runs one always-on automation across a retail client’s whole feed for the keyword SHOP, and a second automation on a single launch Reel for separate reporting.
Pick the trigger
Specific keywords, or any comment on the post.
Write one message
Up to 1,000 characters, with links and emojis.
Add a button
Optional CTA with a title and destination URL.
Start the automation
Public reply and DM go out together.
RecurPost only sends a DM after someone comments. It does not send unsolicited first messages. An agency that needs unprompted outbound DMs needs a different tool.
Message contents
What you can put in the automated DM
RecurPost gives each automated DM up to 1,000 characters. You can include emojis, links, discount codes, and copy that matches your client’s brand voice.
RecurPost also adds an optional call-to-action button to the DM. You set a button title, such as Download Now or Book a Call, and link it to a destination URL. The button turns a keyword reply into a clear next step.
A freelancer promoting a webinar Reel for a coaching client adds a Book a Call button linked to the client’s Calendly page. When someone comments JOIN, RecurPost sends the booking link within seconds.
RecurPost sends one preconfigured DM per matching comment; it does not run branching, two-way conversations. Clients who need a branching chatbot need a dedicated chatbot tool.
RecurPost does not report DM opens or button clicks, so use a tracked link when campaign attribution matters. You can confirm delivery through the Instagram inbox.
1,000
characters per DM
1 button
custom title and URL
Emojis and links
discount codes included
1 DM
per matching comment
No branching
one message, not a chatbot
Tracked links
for attribution
Delivery modes
Who receives the DM
RecurPost sends the DM in one of two delivery modes, chosen per automation to match the campaign goal.
Reply and DM
Sends instantly to every commenter, follower or not.
Require Follow First
Holds the DM until the commenter follows the account.
24-hour window
RecurPost checks follow status for up to 24 hours.
One DM per comment
Even when several automations match.
No resend
After the 24-hour window ends, the automation stops.
An agency uses Require Follow First on a fitness client’s giveaway, so every participant follows the account before the entry-confirmation DM arrives. The same Reel grows followers and captures leads at once.
Require Follow First fits follower-growth campaigns. Reply and DM fits lead capture, where an immediate response matters more than the follow.
Post scope
Which posts the automation runs on
RecurPost applies an automation to one specific post or Reel, or to all posts and Reels on the account. You choose the scope when you create it. Triggers fire on feed posts, photos, videos, Reels, and carousels. Stories are not supported yet.
One rule matters at scale: if several all-posts automations run on the same account, only the first one you created sends DMs. The others still publish their public comment replies, so plan automation scopes carefully. Creating a second all-posts automation does not increase DM volume.
RecurPost also attaches a DM automation while you create a new post, so a launch Reel goes live with its automation already active.
Account safety
Keeping client accounts safe
RecurPost DM Automation works with Instagram Business and Creator accounts. Instagram monitors DM activity for spam, so pacing and permissions keep a client’s account in good standing.
50 to 100 DMs/day
Safe pace for a new Business account.
100 to 150 DMs/day
Pace for an established account.
Message access on
Enable it in Instagram settings before the first DM.
Requests from Everyone
So non-follower comments can trigger the automation.
Pause 24 to 48 hours
If Instagram flags the account, wait before resuming.
Before the first automated DM, reconnect the client’s Instagram profile in RecurPost and enable message access: Settings and activity, then Messages and story replies, then Message requests, then Allow access to messages.
An agency onboarding a brand-new account starts at 50 DMs per day, watches engagement for a week, then ramps toward 150 once activity is stable. Identical bulk messages in a short burst are the most common reason an account gets flagged.
At scale
Managing automations across client accounts
RecurPost gives each automation a unique name, so Untitled becomes Summer Sale Reel or Free Guide Post before launch. The DM Automations page shows every automation with a status of Active, Inactive, or Scheduled, and you toggle any of them from the Status column without rebuilding.
RecurPost lets you search automations by name and filter by status, DM type, post type, or trigger. An agency pulls up every Require Follow First automation, or every carousel automation, before a client reporting call.
When you edit a live automation, RecurPost applies changes only to future comments. DMs already sent keep the original message.
A freelancer names automations by client and campaign, filters by Active every Monday, and reviews all live client campaigns in under a minute.
Troubleshooting
Why a DM might not send
RecurPost requires the Instagram profile to be reconnected with message access granted before an automation can send. The recipient’s privacy settings also matter: messages to non-followers can land in their Message Requests folder instead of the main inbox. The account must stay within Instagram’s daily sending limits and must not be temporarily blocked from DMs.
A delivered DM stays in the recipient’s inbox even if the commenter later deletes the comment. Deleting a comment does not reverse a sent DM.
If DMs stop for one client account: reconnect the profile, verify message permissions, then check sending limits and restrictions. RecurPost cannot override a restriction Instagram applies; a limited account must sit out the restriction rather than send more.
In your workflow
Where DM automation fits your RecurPost workflow
RecurPost Instagram DM Automation handles repetitive comment-to-DM replies. The shared social inbox in the same collaboration and engagement workspace handles the conversations that need a personal answer. Together they sit inside RecurPost, social media management software for agencies and freelancers running publishing, collaboration, and engagement across client accounts.
Try RecurPost
RecurPost’s Agency plan supports 20 social accounts for $79 per month with no per-user seat charge, so DM automation runs across every client account under one monthly price. Extra accounts are $4 per month each.
No credit card required.
— FREQUENTLY ASKED —
Frequently asked questions
How do I set up Instagram DM automation in RecurPost?
You set up RecurPost Instagram DM Automation in five steps. Select the client profile and choose a specific post, Reel, or all posts. Name the automation and choose the trigger, either specific keywords or any comment. Write the message, select the delivery mode, preview, and click Start Automation.
Does Instagram DM Automation work on Stories?
No. RecurPost Instagram DM Automation does not trigger from Stories at this time. It works with feed posts, photos, videos, Reels, and carousels.
Can one automation cover all my posts and Reels?
Yes. RecurPost lets one automation cover all posts and Reels on an account. If multiple all-posts automations run on the same account, only the first one you created sends DMs. The rest still publish their public comment replies.
How long can the DM be, and can it include a button?
A RecurPost DM can contain up to 1,000 characters, with emojis, links, and discount codes. You can add one clickable button with a custom title and a destination URL.
What happens if the same person comments more than once?
RecurPost sends one DM per comment. If the same person comments three times, they receive three DMs, one for each comment.
Can I make people follow before they get the DM?
Yes. RecurPost’s Require Follow First mode holds the DM until the commenter follows the account. RecurPost checks follow status for up to 24 hours and sends the full DM as soon as the user follows. If they never follow, the automation stops.
How many DMs a day are safe for a client account?
RecurPost recommends 50 to 100 DMs per day for a new Business account and 100 to 150 per day for an established one. The real ceiling depends on the account’s age, trust level, and engagement history.
Why are my automated DMs not sending?
RecurPost DMs may not send if the Instagram profile needs reconnecting or message access is off. They can also land in the recipient’s Message Requests folder, or stop when the account hits Instagram’s daily limits or a temporary restriction.
Does RecurPost report DM analytics?
No. RecurPost does not report DM opens or clicks at this time. You can confirm delivery through the Instagram inbox, and use a tracked link in the button when a client needs attribution.
Can I set up DM automation while creating a new post?
Yes. RecurPost attaches a DM automation while you create a one-off post, so the post goes live with its automation already active.
