Comment-to-DM is the most popular automation type in CreatorFlow. Someone comments a keyword on your post, and they instantly receive a DM with your link, information, or offer. This guide covers every setting: trigger options, keyword matching, public replies, and common configurations.
How Comment-to-DM Works
The flow is simple:
- You create a post with a call-to-action (e.g., "Comment LINK to get the free guide")
- Someone comments the keyword on your post
- CreatorFlow detects the keyword within seconds
- CreatorFlow sends them a DM with your pre-written message
- Optionally, CreatorFlow posts a public reply to their comment
The entire process happens automatically. You don't need to be online, and there is no delay. Most DMs arrive within 5-10 seconds of the comment.
Trigger Options
When setting up a Comment-to-DM automation, you choose which posts trigger it:
| Option | What It Does | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| All posts | The automation fires on any post where the keyword appears | General-purpose automations like 'LINK' or 'INFO' |
| Specific posts | The automation only fires on posts you select | Campaign-specific keywords tied to one piece of content |
| Next post | The automation fires on the next post you publish | Planned content drops where you prepare the automation in advance |
For Affiliate Creators
If you promote affiliate products, use Specific posts with a unique keyword for each product. This keeps your DMs organized and lets you track which posts drive the most clicks.
For General Use
If you share the same link across many posts (like a course or newsletter signup), use All posts with a single keyword. This way, someone can comment the keyword on any of your posts and get the link.
Keyword Settings
Specific Keywords
Specific keywords trigger the automation only when the exact word or phrase appears in the comment. This is the default and recommended setting.
- Keywords are not case-sensitive ("LINK", "link", and "Link" all match)
- Partial matching is on by default ("Send me the LINK please" matches "LINK")
- You can add multiple keywords to one automation (e.g., "LINK" and "INFO" both trigger the same DM)
- Special characters are ignored ("link!" still matches "LINK")
Don't use keywords like "yes", "no", "please", or "thanks". These appear in normal conversations and will trigger unwanted DMs. Use specific, intentional keywords like LINK, GUIDE, PRICE, or BOOK.
Any Word Mode
Any Word mode triggers the automation on every comment, regardless of what the person writes. Use this sparingly.
- Best for giveaways where any comment counts as an entry
- Works well for engagement pods or community posts
- Not recommended for regular content posts (people don't expect a DM for every comment)
Any Word mode sends a DM to everyone who comments. If your post goes viral, this can burn through your monthly DM quota quickly. Monitor your usage on the CreatorFlow dashboard.
Public Reply (Optional)
A public reply is a comment CreatorFlow posts in response to the person's comment. It appears publicly under your post, visible to everyone.
Example Public Replies
- "Sent! Check your DMs "
- "Just DMed you the link!"
- "It's in your inbox! Let me know if you have questions."
Why Use Public Replies
- Social proof - Other people see that you respond, which encourages more comments
- Engagement boost - More comments and replies increase your post's reach in the algorithm
- Confirmation - The commenter knows their request was received (some people don't check DMs right away)
Reply Variations
You can add up to 10 variations of your public reply. CreatorFlow rotates through them randomly so your replies don't look automated. If you add 5 variations, each commenter gets a different reply, making the interaction feel personal.
To add variations, click Add Variation in the public reply section of the automation setup. Write each variation as a complete reply.
Common Configurations
Here are the most common setups creators use:
| Use Case | Keyword | Trigger Scope | Gates | Public Reply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free guide download | GUIDE | Specific post | Email Gate | Yes |
| Affiliate link sharing | LINK | Specific post | None | Yes |
| Newsletter signup | JOIN | All posts | Email Gate | Yes |
| Giveaway entry | Any Word | Specific post | Follow Gate | No |
| Pricing info | PRICE | All posts | None | Yes |
You can mix and match these settings. Start with a simple configuration and add gates or public replies as you learn what works for your audience.