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How to create effective automations on Instagram

11 practical tips for setting up automations

David P. avatar
Written by David P.
Updated this week

Automations are a powerful tool to attract clients, deliver lead magnets, engage your audience, and drive sales. To make sure your automations work well and your audience doesn’t get lost along the way, we’ve prepared a checklist of essential tips.


💡 0. Quick start: How to create an automation without the builder

You can launch an automation directly from your smartphone! Just use the AI Script feature:


Or create an automation without the builder — it’s fast and easy, even from mobile:

This way, you can set up basic funnels in minutes. But for advanced, high-performing automations — be sure to follow the tips below.


1. Set up auto-replies to comments so nobody gets lost

Once a user leaves a comment, your bot can immediately send them a message in Direct. However, they may not notice it. Auto-replies help users check their inbox and see your reply.

Instruction: Auto-replies to Instagram comments

This is especially important so that the user does not get lost and completes the desired action.

📌 Tip: Create at least 10 different auto-replies. That way Instagram doesn’t think your comments are spam and won’t limit how many you can send.


2. Use delayed messages to remind users

Sometimes users forget to follow you, click a button, or open a link. Set up delayed messages that remind them after a few minutes or hours:

This kind of message uses tags and checks whether the action was completed after the delay.


3. Use tags — they’re a powerful tool

Tags let you:

  • Track what a client did

  • Check if they’ve completed a step

  • Add conditions (for example: if the tag says “Got bonus,” then don't give it again)

  • Find weak points and improve them

  • Segment clients for personalized messages, broadcasts, exports, etc.

Tags make analytics easier and help improve your funnel.


4. Turn on multiple button click

By default, buttons can only be clicked once. So, if the user clicks again, nothing will happen. In ready-made templates, this is already taken care of. But if you’re setting things up manually — be sure to turn on “Multiple button click” for buttons that need to work more than once:


5. Double check your automation triggers settings

Your bot won’t run if the trigger isn’t set up correctly. Make sure to:

  • Choose what activates the bot: a message in Direct, a comment

  • Write the keywords (uppercase or lowercase doesn’t matter — “bot,” “Bot,” “BOT” all work the same)

  • Set the trigger sensitivity:

    • Message is — only works if the message is exactly the same

    • Message contains — trigger will work if the word is found anywhere in the message

You can find these settings in the top right corner of the builder.

📌 More about Automation Triggers


6. Don’t add a Link in the first message triggered by a comment

If the automation starts from a comment, the bot can only send one message to Direct as a reply to this comment — that’s Instagram’s rule. Comments under posts, Reels, or Lives don’t open a chat window.

Also, if the message includes a link, Instagram might hide it from the user.

So, start like this:

  • First message: has a button (entry point block)

  • Only after the button is clicked — show the link, media, etc.


7. Turn on “Work without interruption” mode

If a user hits a delay block and then triggers another automation, the first one will stop. That’s because delays get interrupted. To avoid this:

  • Click the three dots on the automation

  • Go to Settings

  • Turn on “Work without interruption”


8. Make sure message requests are enabled

If a message goes to the “Requests” tab, the bot won’t be able to respond. Always accept message requests from real people. And if message requests are turned off — turn them on! Otherwise, people won’t even be able to message you.

📌 Check this in Instagram Settings:

  • Section: Messages & story replies

  • Setting: “Message controls”

  • Make sure both “Your followers” and “Other users” are set to Requests


9. Set delays properly

Instagram only allows bot messages within 24 hours of a user’s last action.

  • Never set delays longer than 23 hours

  • Add messages with a button in between so the user clicks — this resets the 24-hour window

If the user doesn’t click anything within 24 hours — the bot can’t message them anymore.

📌 More about Instagram’s 24-hour rule


10. Broadcasts: Move clients to Telegram

Instagram doesn’t let you send messages after 24 hours of no activity. So if you want to:

  • Send regular newsletters

  • Build a client base and keep working with them

The best option is to move them into a Telegram bot — there are no time limits there. You can keep sending messages unless they block the bot themselves.

📌 More about how to move users from Instagram to Telegram


📊 11. Analytics: see what’s working (and what’s not)

Any successful automation should have a goal: like a subscription, activation, or moving to Telegram.

  • Set up conversion tracking to see how many users complete that goal:

  • Use the stats on each block to figure out:

    • Where users drop off

    • Which messages get better results

👉 More about analytics

  • You can also track who launches your automations and when:

This helps you find weak spots and make your funnels more interesting and effective.


A good automation isn’t just a pretty flow — it’s a tool that moves users toward the action you want. Use these tips, test what works, and analyze your results — and your funnels will not only look great, but actually drive real results.

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