Instagram DM automation for local businesses
In this lesson you will
- Build MENU, BOOK, HOURS and PRICE replies that send the right link
- Fill quiet days with a first-visit offer and an open-slot Story
- Know which chats you must answer yourself
To use Instagram DM automation in a local business, give each daily question a keyword, such as BOOK or MENU. Show the word in your bio, your Stories and on the counter. CreatorFlow sends the answer and the link at any hour. You answer complaints, health questions and custom quotes yourself.
What local businesses send by Instagram DM
A salon, a gym and a cafe get the same DMs every day. Each question gets a keyword.
| What they want | Keyword | Post idea |
|---|---|---|
| Today's menu | MENU | A dish from the pan to the plate |
| The booking page | BOOK | A before and after of one haircut or treatment |
| Opening hours | HOURS | A Story about your holiday hours |
| Prices | PRICE | A Story with new prices, and a Highlight called Prices |
| A first visit | TRIAL or FIRST | A first class, from the front door to the end |
| A free slot this week | OPEN | A Story that names the day, service and person |
| Parking and directions | PARKING | Your front door, filmed from the street |
Most are DM keywords, because people ask every day. The DM question funnel explains them.
Starter automations for a local business
Start with BOOK or MENU, the one your customers ask for most. Lesson 2 shows every screen. Each line to copy is the DM.
Play 1
BOOK reply with the live booking page
Sara cuts hair all day and cannot answer DMs. A DM that promises a time can promise it to two people. Your booking page shows only the free times.
- Press + New Automation, pick Auto-reply to DMs and add BOOK, BOOKING and APPOINTMENT.
- Link the booking page itself and name the button Book a time.
Here is our booking page with this week's open times. Tap Book a time to pick yours. For a group or a special request, write to us here.Play 2
MENU reply with a page you update
"What is on today?" arrives while the cafe is full. A link to a menu page you update means the DM never shows old dishes.
- Make a DM keyword reply with MENU and MENUS. Put the lunch hours in the text.
- Add a second button for booking a table.
Here is today's menu. Lunch is from 12:00 to 15:00. Tap Book a table to reserve.Play 3
First-visit offer on a Reel
A beginner fears the first gym visit. A Reel from the front door to the first exercise answers that fear.
- Pick one offer, such as a free first class, and keep it for a month. Build a comment automation on the Reel with TRIAL, and show the word on screen.
- Ask people to show the DM at the front desk, so staff can count it.
Your first class is free. Tap Timetable and book any beginner class. Show this message at the front desk.Play 4
Open-slot Story on a quiet day
An empty chair on Thursday earns nothing. Lower the price for that slot only, so clients do not learn to wait for discounts.
- Every Monday, find the two emptiest times of the week. The day before, post a Story such as "Thursday 15:00 with Mia. Reply OPEN."
- Set a Story reply automation that sends the booking page to everyone who replies OPEN.
Here is our live calendar for this week. Tap Book a time to pick any open slot.
More replies and lines to copy
DM keyword replies
Bio, Story and counter lines
Each word on the card or receipt needs its own DM keyword reply. Add OPENING and CLOSING to HOURS, because matching needs the whole word. A QR code of ig.me/m/yourname?text=MENU opens a chat with MENU typed. Test it on a phone. Never offer anything for a review.
A month for a local business
| Week | What you do | Keyword |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Build the daily replies. Add the bio line and the counter card | BOOK or MENU, HOURS, PRICE |
| 2 | Post a first-visit Reel | TRIAL or FIRST |
| 3 | Post an open-slot Story on each quiet day | OPEN |
| 4 | Promote one event or holiday date, and update the HOURS reply | The event name, HOURS |
Week 4 follows the event campaign. For gift vouchers, use the sale campaign. Each Friday, ask new customers how they found you.
Chats a person must answer
Read your DMs and Message Requests at a set time each day. These chats need a person.
- Complaints and refunds. Answer them in private
- Medical and health questions, for people and for pets
- Custom quotes, such as a private event
- Allergies and diets. Ask the kitchen, then answer
Mistakes local businesses make with DM automation
- A time promised in the DM
Send the live booking page. It shows only the free times.
- An old menu or old hours
Link to a page you update. Change the HOURS reply before every holiday.
- Keywords nobody sees
Put each word in your bio, your Stories and on the counter.
- Polite words as keywords
HI or THANKS sends a reply to people who did not ask. Use MENU, BOOK or HOURS.
- Waiting for reminders
CreatorFlow sends one DM when someone asks. Your booking page sends the reminders.
Campaigns and funnels for local businesses
- DM question funnel for MENU, BOOK, HOURS and PRICE
- Story funnel for open slots and today's dishes
- Event campaign for a tasting night or an open day
- Sale campaign for gift vouchers or a holiday offer
- Giveaway campaign with a business on your street
- Email list funnel for a members list
Practice
Your task
- 1
Read last week's DMs and list the three questions you answer most.
- 2
Build a DM keyword reply for each one, such as BOOK, MENU or HOURS.
- 3
Add one keyword to your bio and to a card on the counter.
- 4
Send each keyword from a second account.
You are done when the second account gets three replies and every button opens the right page.
Open CreatorFlowKey points
- Each daily question gets its own keyword and its own DM keyword reply.
- The DM links a live page, such as the booking page or the menu, and never promises a time.
- Complaints, health questions, allergies and custom quotes go to a person.
Questions
Does CreatorFlow connect to my booking system?
No. The DM sends a link to your booking page or menu. Your booking page sends its own reminders.
Can the replies run only when we are closed?
No. A DM keyword reply answers day and night, so write replies that are true at any hour.
Can we use it for two locations?
Yes. Give each location its own keyword and booking page. A second Instagram account needs a second workspace, on Pro or Growth.
Is it on the Free plan?
Yes. Comment, Story and DM keyword automations are on Free, with 500 DMs a month. Email Gate, link tracking and CSV export are on Pro and Growth.
Go deeper: Instagram DM automation for restaurants and local businesses, Instagram DM automation for salons, spas and clinics, Restaurant Instagram automation for table bookings, Instagram DM automation for pet groomers and vets.
Last updated November 4, 2026