Auto-DM on story replies
Anyone who replies to your story gets an automated DM back. Story replies are the warmest trigger there is, because replying already opened a conversation.
A story reply is the one trigger where the person has already messaged you. That matters more than it sounds: the conversation is open from the first second, so nothing in your flow has to work around Instagram's messaging rules.
Setting it up
- •Create a campaign and pick Reply to your story as the trigger. This one is on Pro.
- •Step 1 becomes Select a Story, listing your active stories. There is an Any active story switch which also covers every story you post later — for stories, that is usually the right choice.
- •Set a keyword, or leave Any keyword on so every reply triggers the automation.
- •Write the DM, set the campaign Active, and post a story that asks for a reply.
If the picker is empty it will say there are no active stories. Stories expire after 24 hours, so post one first and it appears.
What to put in the story
- •Ask for a specific word. Reply GUIDE and I will send it beats Reply if you want this.
- •Use a poll or a question sticker as the hook, then ask for the reply — people who tap are already engaged.
- •Remember the story dies in 24 hours. Pin the same offer to a post if you want it to keep working.
Story replies versus comments
| Story reply | Comment on a post | |
|---|---|---|
| Plan | Pro | Free |
| Conversation | Already open — they messaged you | Opened by your reply to their comment |
| Visible to others | No | Yes, which pulls in more people |
| Lifetime | 24 hours | As long as the post lives |
| Public reply step | Not applicable | Available |
Neither is better. Comments recruit strangers because everyone can see them working; story replies convert the people you already have. Most accounts should run both.
Common questions
How do I automatically reply to Instagram story replies?
Create a campaign with the Reply to your story trigger, choose a story or turn on Any active story, set a keyword or leave Any keyword on, write your DM and set the campaign Active. Story reply campaigns are a Pro feature.
Why is my story not showing in the picker?
The picker only lists active stories, and Instagram expires stories after 24 hours. Post a story and it appears. Turning on Any active story avoids the problem entirely, because the campaign then covers every story you post from then on.
Do story reply campaigns work on the free plan?
No. Story reply is a Pro trigger. Comment on a post or reel, User DMs you and Comment on a live stream all work on the free plan.
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