---
title: Reply automatically to DMs and story replies
sidebarTitle: DMs & story replies
description: >-
  Set up an AutoDM campaign that answers when someone sends you a keyword by
  direct message or replies to your story with it.
audience: luminary
feature: autodm
type: guide
availability: beta
last_verified: '2026-10-13'
keywords:
  - instagram story reply automation
  - dm keyword
  - auto reply dm
  - story keyword
  - dm me the word
  - instagram inbox automation
url: >-
  https://help.bringsoul.life/luminaries/audience/autodm/reply-to-dms-and-story-replies
---

# Reply automatically to DMs and story replies

> Set up an AutoDM campaign that answers when someone sends you a keyword by direct message or replies to your story with it.

Some offers work better in private. Ask people to _"DM me GUIDE"_ or reply to your story with a word, and AutoDM answers in their inbox with your link.

## When to use this

- You share an offer in a story, where there are no comments.
- You'd rather people ask privately, for example for a free consultation.
- You put _"DM me the word CALM"_ in your bio or a Reel.

**Step 1: Create the campaign**

On [Audience → AutoDM](https://portal.bringsoul.life/auto-dm), click New Campaign, name it and
add your keywords. Click Create campaign.

**Step 2: Listen to DMs**

In the Trigger, under Trigger source, choose Direct messages and story replies (*"Direct message
only."*). Click Save changes. The sequence drops Reply to comments and shows two steps.

**Step 3: Write the DM**

Click the pencil on Send DM, write your message, add variations and Attach Offering if you're
sending a link. Click Save changes. See [Write replies and attach
offerings](https://help.bringsoul.life/luminaries/audience/autodm/write-replies-and-attach-offerings).

**Step 4: Tell people the word**

Put it in your story, bio or caption, for example *"Reply CALM to this story for the free
meditation."*

## How it differs from a comment campaign

|                           | Comments on a post                    | Direct messages and story replies                  |
| ------------------------- | ------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| Public reply              | Optional                              | None. There's no comment to reply under.           |
| Direct message            | Yes                                   | Yes                                                |
| Applies to specific posts | Optional                              | No. DMs aren't tied to a post.                     |
| Keyword clashes           | Only with campaigns on the same posts | With any other active campaign that listens to DMs |

**Warning:** 
A DM keyword is account-wide. If another active campaign that listens to DMs already uses the
word, saving fails with *"Campaign "…" already uses …"*. Pick another word or pause that campaign.

Switching an existing comment campaign to DMs clears its post targeting and removes its public reply. Soul warns you before you save: _"Post targeting will be cleared, and the public reply removed."_

## Tips

- Keywords match anywhere in the message. In a DM, people write freely, so pick an unusual word or a code like `CALM24`.
- A campaign created in the dashboard listens to both comments and DMs until you choose in the Trigger. If you want both, it's simplest to run two campaigns with different keywords.
- Someone who sends the word again within 12 hours won't get a second reply.

## What people see

Your DM in their Instagram inbox, in the same conversation they started. Buttons show on the Instagram app; on desktop the message may look like plain text.

## Related

- [AutoDM for Instagram](https://help.bringsoul.life/luminaries/audience/autodm)
- [Send a freebie to everyone who comments a keyword](https://help.bringsoul.life/luminaries/audience/autodm-keyword-campaign)
- [Manage campaigns](https://help.bringsoul.life/luminaries/audience/autodm/manage-campaigns)