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.
Trigger a chatbot from an Instagram comment
You can configure an Instagram comment-to-DM automation rule to trigger a chatbot when a new Instagram comment matches the rule’s conditions. The chatbot must start with an Instagram button template.
Step 1: Create an Instagram button template
Go to Automations > Reply Materials > Templates.
Select Instagram and click Add.
Enter a template name and message body.
Add one or both supported button types:
Quick replies
Visit website or URL
Save the template.
Step 2: Create the chatbot flow
Create a new chatbot.
Set the Instagram button template you created as the first node in the chatbot flow.
Configure the remaining nodes and save the chatbot.
Step 3: Select the chatbot in the automation rule
Open the Instagram comment-to-DM automation rule.
Configure the conditions that determine which comments trigger the rule.
Under Actions, select the chatbot you created and save the rule.
Important: Only chatbots that start with an Instagram button message are available for selection under Actions.
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)
Creating an Instagram comment automation rule
1. What does Instagram comment automation do in Wati?
Wati's Instagram comment automation automatically responds to comments on Instagram posts or reels and sends a direct message (DM) to the commenter when the comment matches the rule's conditions.
2. Can I apply an Instagram comment automation rule to all posts or a specific post?
Yes. You can configure an Instagram comment automation rule to run on all posts and reels connected to your account or on a specific Instagram post or reel.
3. How does keyword matching work in Instagram comment automation?
Keyword Match determines whether an Instagram comment triggers an automation rule. Enter the keyword that should trigger the rule. You can add multiple keywords or create separate rules to handle comments containing different keywords.
Configuring automated replies and chatbot actions
4. How do I configure an automatic reply and DM for an Instagram comment?
Select Send Message as the action and choose a reply template from the Reply Material Library. You can also create a template directly from this section. Configure the rule to send a DM to the commenter and reply publicly to the comment.
5. Can an Instagram comment automation rule trigger a chatbot?
Yes. You can configure an Instagram comment-to-DM automation rule to trigger a chatbot when a new comment matches the rule's conditions. The chatbot must start with an Instagram button template. Select the chatbot under Actions in the automation rule. Only chatbots that start with an Instagram button message are available for selection.
6. What button types can I add to an Instagram button template for a chatbot?
An Instagram button template supports two button types: Quick replies and Visit website or URL. You can add either one or both button types to the template.
Activating and testing Instagram comment automation
7. How do I test whether Instagram comment automation works correctly?
Enable the automation rule, then go to Team Inbox and add a comment containing the configured keyword to the selected Instagram post or reel. Verify that Wati replies publicly to the comment and sends a DM to the commenter. You can check both actions in the comment thread and the DM conversation inside the inbox.