Your first automation takes about 5 minutes to set up. You pick a trigger type, set a keyword, write your DM message, and activate. Once live, CreatorFlow sends your message automatically whenever someone triggers it - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What You'll Build
By the end of this guide, you'll have a working automation that does the following:
- Someone comments a keyword on your Instagram post (e.g., "LINK")
- CreatorFlow detects the keyword instantly
- CreatorFlow sends them a DM with your message and link
- Optionally, CreatorFlow posts a public reply to their comment
- The person gets your link without you lifting a finger
This is the Comment-to-DM automation, the most popular type. You can also set up Story Reply and Keyword DM Reply automations using the same flow.
Step-by-Step Setup
Step 1: Click New Automation
Open CreatorFlow and click the New Automation button on the dashboard. You can also click the + icon in the sidebar under Automations.
Step 2: Pick a Trigger Type
Choose what triggers the automation. For your first automation, select Comment-to-DM.
| Trigger Type | When It Fires | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Comment-to-DM | Someone comments a keyword on your post | Link distribution, lead generation, giveaways |
| Story Reply | Someone reacts to or replies to your story | Flash sales, exclusive content, engagement spikes |
| Keyword DM Reply | Someone sends you a DM containing a keyword | FAQ automation, pricing requests, booking links |
Each trigger type is covered in detail in its own guide. For now, Comment-to-DM is the simplest way to start.
Step 3: Set Your Keyword
Enter the keyword people will comment to trigger the DM. For example: LINK, INFO, PRICE, or GUIDE.
Keywords are not case-sensitive. If you set "LINK" as the keyword, comments like "link", "Link", and "LINK" all trigger the automation.
One-word keywords work best. They're easy to remember and easy to type. Avoid long phrases or sentences.
Step 4: Add Gates (Optional)
Gates are optional steps that happen before the DM is sent. They let you qualify leads or grow your audience before delivering the content.
- Follow Gate - Requires the person to follow you before receiving the DM
- Email Gate - Asks for their email address before delivering the link
- Opening DM - Sends a warm-up message before the main content
You can skip gates for your first automation and add them later. Gates are covered in Section 3 of this course.
Step 5: Write Your DM
Write the message your followers will receive. Include any links, discount codes, or information you want to share.
Hey! Here's the link you asked for: https://example.com/your-link Let me know if you have any questions!
Keep your message short and direct. People expect a quick response, not a sales pitch. Include the link or information they asked for right at the top.
Step 6: Activate
Click Activate to turn the automation on. It starts working immediately. Every new comment with your keyword triggers a DM within seconds.
How to Test Your Automation
You cannot test the automation from your own Instagram account. Meta does not allow sending DMs to yourself. You need a second Instagram account to test.
To test your automation:
- Open Instagram on a different account (use a friend's account or a test account)
- Go to one of your posts
- Comment the keyword you set (e.g., "LINK")
- Check the DM inbox on the test account within a few seconds
- Verify the message content and links are correct
If the DM doesn't arrive, check that the automation is active in CreatorFlow and that the keyword matches exactly. Also confirm that your Instagram account is still connected (see Connect Your Instagram Account).
What Happens Next
Once activated, your automation runs 24/7. You don't need to keep CreatorFlow open or stay logged in. The automation works in the background, even when you're sleeping.
You can monitor performance on the CreatorFlow dashboard. Each automation shows the number of DMs sent, unique recipients, and link clicks. Use this data to optimize your keywords and messages over time.
Ready to go deeper? The next guide covers Comment-to-DM in full detail, including trigger options, keyword settings, and public reply variations.