How to Set Up Your First Automation in Under 5 Minutes

The most common reason creators delay setting up Instagram DM automation is the assumption that it is technically complicated. It is not. With WhoseDM, your first automation can be live in under five minutes — no coding, no complicated integrations, no technical background required.

This guide walks through every step in precise detail: from connecting your Instagram account to activating your first comment-triggered DM. Follow it once and you will have a working automation running 24/7 before the end of this article.

✦  Before You Begin You will need: (1) An Instagram Business or Creator account — not a Personal account. Personal accounts cannot connect to the Instagram API. Switching is free and takes under 60 seconds in your Instagram settings. (2) A Facebook Page linked to your Instagram. Meta requires this for all third-party automation tools. If you have not done this yet, go to Instagram Settings → Account → Linked Accounts.

Step 1 — Create Your Free WhoseDM Account

Navigate to whosedm.com and click 'Start For Free'. No credit card is required. Enter your email address, create a password, and verify your email. The entire process takes approximately 60 seconds.

WhoseDM offers a genuinely free plan that includes unlimited automations, unlimited contacts, and unlimited DMs — not a 7-day trial. You can run a fully functional automation setup at zero cost and upgrade to Pro at ₹199/month when you are ready for advanced features.

Step 2 — Connect Your Instagram Account

After logging in, you will be prompted to connect your Instagram account. Click 'Connect Instagram'. This opens Meta's secure OAuth authentication flow — the same login process used by all major apps worldwide.

1. Log in with your Facebook account (the one connected to your Instagram Business page).
2. Select your Instagram Business account from the dropdown list.
3. Grant the required permissions. WhoseDM needs permission to read comments and send DMs on your behalf. These are the minimum permissions required by Meta's API.
4. Click 'Authorise'. You are returned to WhoseDM's dashboard. Your Instagram account is now connected.

✦  Security Note WhoseDM never sees, requests, or stores your Instagram password. The connection is made entirely through Meta's official OAuth system. If you ever wish to disconnect, simply revoke access from Instagram Settings → Apps and Websites.

Step 3 — Choose Your Trigger Type

WhoseDM supports multiple trigger types. For your first automation, the most impactful starting point is a Comment-to-DM trigger on a Post or Reel. Navigate to your dashboard and you will see your recent Instagram posts listed automatically.

• Post DM: Fires when someone comments on a standard feed post.
• Reel DM: Fires when someone comments on an Instagram Reel — the highest-volume trigger for most creators.
• Story DM: Fires when someone replies to one of your Instagram Stories.
• Live DM: Fires when someone comments during an Instagram Live session.

Select the post or Reel you want to activate the automation on. For your first automation, choose a post that already has engagement — this gives you an immediate opportunity to test the flow.

Step 4 — Set Your Keyword Trigger

Click 'Add Automation' on the selected post. You will be prompted to define your trigger. Choose 'Keyword Trigger' and type the word or phrase that will activate your DM. For example: LINK, FREE, GUIDE, INFO, START, PRICE.

You can add multiple keywords to the same automation — useful for capturing different spellings or phrasings of the same intent (e.g., 'LINK', 'link', 'Send link'). All keywords added to a single automation fire the same DM response.

Alternatively, select 'All Comments' if you want the automation to fire for every comment on that post, regardless of the word used. This works well for giveaways, announcements, or high-intent posts where all commenters are relevant.

Step 5 — Write Your Automated DM

This is the message your followers will receive the moment they trigger the automation. Write it the way you would write a genuine DM — warm, direct, and valuable.

• Personalise with {name}: WhoseDM automatically replaces {name} with the follower's first name, making every DM feel individual.
• Include the value immediately: Your link, freebie, discount code, or next step should appear in the first message — not after a series of questions.
• Keep it under 60 words: Shorter messages have higher open and reply rates. Avoid walls of text.
• Add a clear next step: 'Click the link below', 'Reply YES to get started', or 'Let me know if you have questions.'

✦  Sample DM Message Hi {name}! Thanks for commenting — here's the link you asked for: [your link]. Let me know if you have any questions! 😊  |  Or for a coaching flow: Hey {name}! Great that you're interested. Here's a quick overview of how I can help: [link]. Want to book a free 15-minute call?

Step 6 — Set the Automation Delay Timer (WhoseDM Exclusive)

This step is unique to WhoseDM and one of its most effective features. The Automation Delay Timer lets you set a short wait between the trigger and the DM — for example, 1 to 3 minutes. This serves two purposes:

• Natural feel: A DM that arrives a minute or two after the comment feels like a genuine response, rather than an instant bot message. This improves reply rates measurably.
• Algorithm benefit: Slightly delayed responses can reduce the likelihood of the interaction being flagged as automation by Instagram's pattern detection systems.

In the automation settings panel, scroll to 'Delay Timer'. Set your preferred delay. For most use cases, 1–3 minutes is optimal. Leave it at 0 for time-sensitive campaigns like flash sales where immediacy matters.

Step 7 — Activate and Test

Click 'Activate'. Your automation is now live. WhoseDM begins monitoring comments on that post immediately.

Before promoting your automation, test it from a secondary Instagram account or ask a colleague to comment the keyword. Verify that:

5. The DM arrives within the expected timeframe.
6. The {name} personalisation is working correctly.
7. Your link or content is intact and clickable.
8. The message reads naturally and reflects your brand voice.

✦  After Activation — Update Your Caption Add a single line to your post caption after activation: "Comment [KEYWORD] below and I'll DM you the link instantly." This signals to new viewers how to get the content, dramatically increasing the comment rate and therefore the number of DMs sent.

Setting Up Story DM and Live Automation

Once your first Post/Reel automation is working, it takes under two minutes to add Story and Live automation. From the WhoseDM dashboard, select 'Story DM Automation' or 'Live Automation' and repeat the same process: set a keyword, write your DM, and activate.

Story DM automation is particularly powerful for giveaways, product launches, and daily engagement CTAs like 'Reply YES if you want the details'. Because Story viewers are your most engaged audience, these triggers produce exceptionally high reply rates.

Using the Analytics Dashboard

Navigate to the Analytics section of your WhoseDM dashboard after your automation has been running for 24–48 hours. You will see DMs sent, link clicks, and reply rates per post. Use this data to identify which posts and keywords are driving the most engagement, and double down on what is working.

The Rewind Feature — Activate Old Posts

One of WhoseDM's most powerful and unique capabilities is Rewind — the ability to apply a fresh automation to older posts that already have engagement. To use it, go to Posts in your dashboard, select an older high-performing post, click 'Rewind', and set your new keyword and DM. Your older content immediately begins generating new leads.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I have a Personal Instagram account?

You must switch to a Business or Creator account before connecting WhoseDM. Personal accounts are not supported by Meta's messaging API. Go to Instagram Settings → Account → Switch to Professional Account. Choose 'Creator' if you are an individual creator or 'Business' if you represent a brand. This switch is free and reversible.

Can I have multiple automations running simultaneously?

Yes. WhoseDM supports unlimited simultaneous automations across different posts — there is no cap on the free plan. You can have a keyword trigger on your latest Reel, a Story reply flow running, and a Live automation all active at the same time, all managed from one dashboard.

What happens when my post goes viral?

WhoseDM automatically paces DMs within Meta's 200 per hour API limit. If your post attracts 1,000 comments in a single hour, WhoseDM queues the overflow and delivers all DMs in sequence over the following hours. No leads are dropped, and your account is not flagged.

How do I know if my automation is working?

Your WhoseDM Analytics Dashboard shows real-time data: DMs sent, open rates, click rates, and reply rates. You can also test any automation yourself by commenting the keyword from a second Instagram account.