# Your first automation (/docs/first-automation)



This is the first-win path. You will sign in, connect Instagram, attach a keyword to an existing post or Reel, save, then prove a comment received a Direct reply.

For a short visual version, use [How to setup](/how-to-setup). For every option after this, use the sidebar.

## What you need [#what-you-need]

* An email you can open, or a Google account.
* An Instagram **Business or Creator** profile you can log into.
* At least one public post or Reel on that profile. (You can also publish from the dashboard. See [Schedule posts](/docs/schedule-posts).)
* About 15 minutes. Free is enough. No card.

## 1. Create the login [#1-create-the-login]

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Open 

    [Log in](/login)

    . Title: Sign in or create account.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Choose Continue with Google, or enter Email address and Send code.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    If you used email, Enter the 6-digit code, then Verify.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    When Complete your profile appears, enter Name and Phone, then Save and continue.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Details: [Create your account](/docs/create-account).

## 2. Connect Instagram [#2-connect-instagram]

<Steps>
  <Step>
    On You're in. Connect Instagram to unlock it, choose Connect Instagram.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Sign in with Meta. Pick the Business or Creator profile.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Approve profile, comments, messages, and publish.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Confirm the account Home loads and the status is Connected.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Personal profiles cannot finish this step. Details: [Connect Instagram](/docs/connect-instagram).

## 3. Start a post or Reel rule [#3-start-a-post-or-reel-rule]

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Open Automations.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Choose New automation.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Choose Post or Reel comments. Description: Someone comments a keyword on your post or Reel. You DM the link automatically.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    On Choose a post, filter All or Reels. Choose Use on a Not automated card.
  </Step>
</Steps>

If you have no media, choose Post something new, add a file, keep Post now, and publish first. Then come back to New automation.

## 4. Name, keyword, and public reply [#4-name-keyword-and-public-reply]

<Steps>
  <Step>
    On New automation (step 3. Setup), set Name. Example: Summer drop comments. Max 120 characters.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Leave Active from and Active to blank so the rule is Always on.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    On Trigger, leave Send DM to all comments off.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    The form starts with 

    `link`

    , 

    `links`

    , 

    `dm`

    , 

    `send`

    , 

    `product`

    , 

    `price`

    . Remove extras with the X on a pill. Keep one word you will actually comment, for example 

    `link`

    . Add another with Add a keyword, then Add.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Keep at least one Public reply phrase. Defaults such as Sent to your DMs! 💬 are fine.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Matching is case insensitive. Nested replies are skipped. There is no contains picker. Details: [Keywords and triggers](/docs/keywords-and-triggers).

## 5. Design the Direct reply [#5-design-the-direct-reply]

<Steps>
  <Step>
    On DM content, stay on Inline message for this first rule.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Use Text + link (buttons) if you have a URL. Add up to 3 buttons. Or keep Text.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Write the offer they should receive after they confirm. Pick-a-post default: Here's your link:
  </Step>

  <Step>
    On Audience Reply in DM, leave Only DM people who follow you off for the first test so you can comment from another account without following.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Leave Name, Email, and Phone off. Those need Growth and add extra chat steps.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Leave the welcome text blank to use: Thanks for reaching out! Tap below and we will send your link in a DM.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Choose Create. Toast: Automation created. The list badge should read On.
  </Step>
</Steps>

What the commenter sees, in order: welcome, Yes, send it over, then your offer. Details: [DM funnel and audience](/docs/dm-and-audience).

## 6. Confirm it fired [#6-confirm-it-fired]

Use a **different** Instagram account to comment. Your own comments are skipped (`own_comment`).

<Steps>
  <Step>
    On Instagram, open that post or Reel.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Leave a 

    **top-level**

     comment with your keyword, for example 

    `link`

    . Do not reply under someone else's comment.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    In Send Link To Me, open the automation, then View events.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Turn on Show live events if you want new rows as they arrive.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Look for your tester under User, the comment text, Status Sent (or Awaiting follow if you left the gate on).
  </Step>

  <Step>
    On the tester account, open Instagram Direct. Tap Yes, send it over. Confirm the offer lands.
  </Step>
</Steps>

If nothing appears, read the Detail column. Common first-test skips: `own_comment`, `reply_comment`, `no_match`, `empty_text`. Full list: [Events and why a DM did not send](/docs/events-and-skips).

<Callout type="info">
  Meta allows about one private reply per comment, inside about 7 days, and about 750 messaging actions per hour per Instagram account. A busy test burst can queue. See [Meta rules](/docs/meta-rules).
</Callout>

## What to do next [#what-to-do-next]

* Story or live: [Story](/docs/story), [Live](/docs/live).
* Reuse copy: [Templates](/docs/templates).
* Pause without deleting: [Pause and delete](/docs/pause-delete).
* Need schedule or media DMs: [Plans and meters](/docs/plans-and-meters).

## Related [#related]

* [Create an automation](/docs/create-automation)
* [Post and Reel automations](/docs/post-reel)
* [Get help](/docs/get-help)