Build Conditional DM Flows on Instagram with a Visual Editor

ChattyFlow team · Updated

Send a different DM depending on the keyword someone comments, then branch again on the button they tap, from ChattyFlow's node builder on Meta's official Instagram API. The first DM is the private reply Meta allows once per comment, within 7 days of it. Free on every plan.

What conditional flows unlock

True branching logic

Send a different reply for each keyword, then for each button the person taps. Every branch has its own path.

Buttons, delays and typed answers

Messages with up to 3 buttons, delays of up to 20 hours per keyword branch, and a step that waits for the person to type an answer.

One trigger, many outcomes

Catch the intent with the keyword, qualify with a button, and send the right link on the next step.

Step-by-step: build your first conditional flow

  1. Open Conditional Logic in your dashboard and create a new automation.
  2. Choose where it listens: a post or Reel, where people comment a keyword, or a story, where they reply with one. You can also publish a new post from the same screen.
  3. Pick Simple or Advanced mode. Simple gives you 2 or 3 keyword branches, each sending one DM with up to 3 link buttons. Advanced gives each keyword branch its own node builder.
  4. In Advanced mode, add steps from the palette: a single-button message, a multi-button message whose buttons can each lead to their own next steps, a personalized message, a Delay, or Capture Response, which waits for the person to type an answer.
  5. Optionally add public replies (4 variants, one picked at random for each comment, not used on stories) and Require Follow, which asks people to follow you before the flow continues.
  6. Save and activate. ChattyFlow checks that every message, button label and link is filled in before it saves.

Tips for higher conversion on branching flows

  • Button labels are limited to 20 characters, so write them as short choices: "Prices", "Book", "Talk to us".
  • Use Capture Response when you need a free-text answer, such as a size or a city. The flow waits for the reply and sends nothing else until it arrives.
  • Send the link after a tap, so it arrives when the person has asked for it.
  • Keep each branch short: one question, one tap, one link.
  • Test the flow from a second Instagram account before you promote the post.

Frequently asked questions

What is a conditional DM flow on Instagram?

An automated conversation where the next message depends on what the person did last: the keyword they commented or the button they tapped. ChattyFlow lets you build these without code.

How many branches can I add to one flow?

2 or 3 keyword branches per automation. In Advanced mode, each branch can split again with multi-button messages of up to 3 buttons, and each button can lead to its own next steps.

Are conditional DM flows allowed by Instagram?

Yes. They run on Meta's official Instagram API. The first DM is a private reply to the person's comment, which Meta allows once per comment, within 7 days of it. After the person replies or taps a button, you can keep messaging them for 24 hours.

Can I add a delay between messages?

Yes, in Advanced mode, once the person has tapped a button or typed a reply: a Delay step holds the next message back, up to 20 hours in total per keyword branch. The builder never sends two messages in a row without an answer in between, in line with Meta's messaging rules.

What happens if a user goes off-script?

If they type instead of tapping, the flow continues only when the current step is Capture Response, which accepts any typed answer. Otherwise the message is checked against the keywords of your other automations, and on a Growth plan the AI Lead Engine can answer it.

Ready to build your first conditional flow?

Free on every plan. Add your steps, branch, and publish in minutes.

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