AutoDM

Send a freebie to everyone who comments a keyword

Set up an AutoDM campaign so everyone who comments your keyword on Instagram gets a public reply and a DM with your link.

Post on Instagram with "Comment GUIDE and I'll send it to you." Everyone who comments guide gets a friendly public reply and a direct message with a button to your freebie or offering.

When to use this

  • You're sharing a free guide, meditation or workshop replay on Instagram.
  • You're launching an offering and want to hand people the link without typing it each time.
  • You want comments on one post to turn into sign-ups.

Before you start

  • An Instagram Business or Creator account, connected. See Connect Instagram.
  • Something published to link to: a free Content Library item, a form or landing page, or any offering. Drafts and private items can't be attached. You can also link to a page on another site.

Create the campaign

Go to Audience → AutoDM and click New Campaign. Give it a Campaign name (for example "Free guide drop") and add your Keywords: type one and press Enter or a comma. Click Create campaign. The campaign opens on its Setup tab.

Choose the trigger

The Trigger is open for editing. Under Trigger source, choose Comments on a post. Under Applies to, leave All posts or click Select posts and pick the post you're promoting. Click Save changes.

Write the public reply

Click the pencil on Reply to comments. Switch it on and write a short reply such as "Sent you a DM!". Click Add variation for a second wording so repeat commenters don't see the same line. Click Save changes.

Write the DM and attach your link

Click the pencil on Send DM and write the message. Click Attach Link, search for your offering (at least two characters) or paste any link, pick it, and click Attach Button. A button with a suggested label, such as "Fill it in" or "Book a session", is added. Add a variation or two. If Soul says a variation doesn't carry the attached button, click Add to All Variations. Click Save changes.

Check it's active

Once a reply is saved, Setup needed disappears and the campaign starts replying. The header shows Active. If it shows Paused, switch Active on in the Settings tab and click Save changes.

Post and test

Publish your Instagram post, telling people the keyword. Ask a friend to comment the keyword from their own account and check both the reply and the DM arrive. Comments from your own account never trigger a campaign.

Tips

From the campaign's own playbook:

  • Tell people what to comment. "Say it in the caption or the video: 'comment guide'. People only use a keyword they have been given."
  • Pick a word you would not otherwise get. "guide" also catches "guidelines". Something like MORNING21 is safer.
  • Put the link in the DM, not the public reply.
  • Write two or three variations. Replies rotate between them.

If Soul says another campaign already targets your post or already uses your keyword ("Campaign "…" already uses guide"), pause that campaign or pick a different keyword or post. See Manage campaigns.

What people see

Under their comment, your public reply. In their Instagram inbox, your DM with a button (on the Instagram app; on desktop it may look like plain text). Tapping the button opens your offering or freebie page. Someone who comments again within 12 hours won't get a second DM.