How to Set Up Keyword Triggers

TL;DR:Keywords tell your automation when to fire. Add up to 20 text-only keywords per automation, or use "Any word" to trigger on every comment or DM. Keywords are case-insensitive. Stick to simple text — special characters and non-Latin tone marks can cause issues.

What Are Keyword Triggers?

Keywords are the words your audience types to activate your automation. When someone comments or DMs one of your keywords, CreatorFlow sends them your pre-set message and link.

You set keywords in Step 2 of the automation builder.

How Many Keywords Can I Add?

Each automation supports up to 20 keywords. You can use single words or short phrases.

Suggested keywords that work well: link, shop, order, buy, price, discount, info, details.

Pick words that match what your audience naturally types.

Are Keywords Case-Sensitive?

No. Keywords are fully case-insensitive.

If your keyword is "link," all of these trigger your automation: "link," "Link," "LINK," "LiNk." You only need to add the keyword once.

What Is the "Any Word" Option?

The "Any word" option triggers your automation on every comment or DM — regardless of what the person writes.

When to use "Any word"

Use this when you want every commenter on a specific post to receive your DM, you're running a giveaway where any comment counts, or you don't want to tell people a specific word to type. Skip it when you only want to respond to people asking for something specific.

Which Characters Work as Keywords?

Stick to plain text keywords. Letters and numbers work reliably.

If you need a keyword with a special character — like "5€" — use a text-only version instead, such as "5euros" or "precio."

What works

English letters, numbers, common words in Latin-alphabet languages.

What may not work

Special characters like €, £, %, or #. Emojis. Non-Latin characters with tone marks (Greek accented characters, Arabic diacritics).

Common Keyword Issues

Still need help? Contact us at hello@creatorflow.so or use the chat widget inside the app (bottom-right corner).

Keyword not triggering

Likely cause: Testing from the same account. Fix: Use a different Instagram account to test.

Special character keyword fails

Likely cause: €, emojis, or accented characters. Fix: Switch to a text-only keyword.

Multiple automations conflict

Likely cause: Same keyword on overlapping triggers. Fix: Use unique keywords per automation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does keyword matching work with multi-word phrases?+

Yes. You can use single words or short phrases as keywords. If your keyword is "free guide," the automation triggers when someone types exactly "free guide" in their comment or DM.

What happens if two automations share the same keyword on different posts?+

Each automation is tied to a specific post or story. If the same keyword exists on two automations linked to different posts, each fires independently on its own post. Conflicts only happen when two automations with the same keyword target the same post.

Can I change keywords on a live automation without pausing it?+

Yes. You can edit keywords on a live automation at any time. Changes take effect immediately. New comments with updated keywords will trigger the automation; old keywords that were removed will stop triggering.

Does the "Any word" option work with story reply automations?+

Yes. "Any word" works on both comment-triggered and story reply automations. Every reaction or text reply to your story will trigger the DM, regardless of what the person writes.

Last updated: April 2026