Summary
Managing Instagram comments manually can take time, especially when your posts or reels receive many responses. With Wati’s automation rules, you can automatically respond to comments and send a direct message (DM) to users who comment on your posts or reels.
This guide explains how to create an automation rule that detects a specific keyword in Instagram comments and automatically sends a reply and a DM to the commenter.
Instructions
Create an automation rule for Instagram comments
Follow these steps to set up an automation that responds to Instagram comments.
Log into your Wati account.
Go to Automation.
Click Rules.
Select Create New Rule.
Under Instagram Triggers, choose New Instagram Comment is Received.
This trigger ensures the automation runs whenever a new comment is posted on your Instagram content.
Choose which Instagram post or reel should trigger the rule
After selecting the trigger, you will be taken to the rule builder.
Choose the Instagram post or reel where this automation should run.
Select one of the following options:
All posts/reels connected to your account.
A specific post or reel where you want the automation to trigger.
For example, you may choose a post related to a product or campaign.
Add a keyword condition
Next, define the condition that determines when the automation should run.
Select Keyword Match as the condition.
Enter the keyword that should trigger the rule.
For example:
If a user comments “Astra” on your post, the automation will run.
You can also:
Add multiple keywords depending on your campaign or use case.
Create additional rules to handle comments that contain other keywords.
Select the action for the automation
Once the condition is defined, choose what action Wati should perform.
Select Send Message as the action.
Choose a reply template from the Reply Material Library.
For example, you might select a template such as Astra Reply, which contains a message with a link or more information about the product.
If a template does not already exist, you can also create one directly from this section.
Reply to the comment and send a DM
You can configure the rule to perform two actions at the same time:
Send a direct message (DM) to the user who commented.
Reply publicly to the comment.
For example, the comment reply might say:
“Thanks! Please check your DM.”
This lets the user know that additional information has been sent privately.
Save and activate the rule
Once everything is configured:
Enter a name for the rule.
Click Save Changes.
Turn the rule ON.
Your automation will now run whenever a new comment matches the defined keyword.
Test the automation
After enabling the rule, you can test it to confirm that it works correctly.
Go to the Team Inbox.
Add a comment with the configured keyword on the selected Instagram post or reel.
When the comment is received:
Wati will automatically reply to the comment.
Wati will also send a direct message (DM) to the user.
You can verify both actions in the comment thread and the DM conversation inside the inbox.
Using Instagram comment automation helps you respond instantly to interested users, guide them to the right information, and engage with your audience more efficiently.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Instagram Comment Automation
1. What is Instagram comment automation in Wati?
Instagram comment automation lets you automatically respond to comments and send direct messages (DMs) to users who comment on your Instagram posts or reels. You can use automation rules to detect specific keywords in comments and trigger these actions.
2. Can I apply an Instagram comment automation rule to specific posts or reels?
Yes. You can configure an Instagram comment automation rule to run on all posts and reels connected to your account or select a specific post or reel.
3. Can I use multiple keywords to trigger Instagram comment automation?
Yes. You can add multiple keywords to an automation rule or create additional rules to handle comments containing different keywords.
4. What actions can an Instagram comment automation rule perform?
An Instagram comment automation rule can send a direct message (DM) to the user who commented and post a public reply to the comment. Both actions can be configured to run at the same time.
5. Can I create a reply template while setting up Instagram comment automation?
Yes. You can select an existing reply template from the Reply Material Library or create a new template directly from the rule setup section.
6. How can I test whether my Instagram comment automation rule works?
After saving and turning on the rule, add a comment containing the configured keyword to the selected Instagram post or reel. Wati should automatically reply to the comment and send a DM to the user. You can verify both actions in the comment thread and the DM conversation in the Team Inbox.