How to auto-DM people who reply to your Instagram Story
A reply to your story is already a DM. Give viewers a reason to reply, and Replier answers each one with the message and link you saved.
To auto-DM people who reply to your Instagram Story, connect an Instagram Business or Creator account to Replier and create an automation on your story. Pick an any-reply or keyword trigger, write the DM you want to send with a link button, then turn it on and reply to your story from another account to test it.
How to set it up
Connect an Instagram professional account
Story replies are Instagram-only, so set the account to Business or Creator. In Replier, open “Channels”, sign in through Meta, and grant the requested permissions.
Create an automation and choose your stories
Select “New automation”. On “Choose stories to automate”, pick a specific “Story” from your active stories, “Next story”, or “All stories”. Once a story expires (about 24 hours after posting), its target shows “Expired” and stops matching new replies; other targets keep running.
Set the reply trigger
Choose “Any reply” to answer every story reply, or add “Specific keywords” so it runs only “When a story reply includes” your word. On Instagram you can also turn on Follow Gate to ask for a follow first.
Write the DM and add buttons
Write “Send this DM”. Select “Add button” for up to three buttons, set “When tapped” to “Open a link”, and add your URL so Replier tracks the clicks. A story reply has no public reply.
Preview, turn it on, and test it
Check the “Preview”, then select “Turn on automation”. Reply to your story from another account to confirm the DM arrives, and see each link's clicks in “Results”.
How a story reply differs from a comment
A story reply arrives as a direct message, not a public comment, so there is no public reply to write — only the DM. Meta keeps a 24-hour messaging window open after each reply, so Replier answers inside that window instead of the 7-day comment window.
Which stories the automation covers
- Story: automate one of your active stories. Once a story expires (about 24 hours after posting), its target shows “Expired” and stops matching new replies; other targets keep running.
- Next story: the automation runs on the first story you publish after you turn it on.
- All stories: answer replies to every story you post — best for an offer you repeat.
Example: a reply-for-link story
Post a story with a sticker or text that says "Reply menu and I'll send it." Add the keyword "menu" (or use Any reply), then save a DM with your link. When someone replies, Replier sends it automatically.
Recover missed replies with Catch up
If a reply slips past a live send, Catch up can still deliver eligible story replies from the last 24 hours. Open Catch up, review the replies, and send. See why a DM didn't send if one does not arrive.
What Replier does and does not do
Replier sends your saved DM when someone replies to your story, on an any-reply or keyword trigger, and tracks clicks on the DM link or button. See the Instagram stories guide for setup details.
Replier is not a full chatbot, CRM, broadcast platform, social inbox, or AI support bot. Studio adds button-driven multi-step DMs; use a full automation platform if you need more than that.
Replier depends on platform permissions for eligible connected channels. Platform rules, account type, permission review, and API behavior may affect what can be sent. Use automations only for messages people reasonably asked for, and follow each platform's current policies.
FAQ
Both. Choose “Any reply” to answer every story reply, or add “Specific keywords” to answer only replies that contain your word.
No. A story reply is a private message, so there is no public reply. Only post and Reel comments get a public reply.
Yes. One automation can hold up to 24 targets across posts, stories, and incoming messages. Only post comments get the public reply.
No. Story targets are Instagram only. Facebook Pages still work for comment-to-DM and message automations.
Every plan, including Free. Story reply automations count toward your plan's monthly interaction allowance, and Free includes 100 interactions a month.