Extra Steps

In the automation editor, you can turn on a few steps between the Opening message and the Main message:

Before you start

• A Comment to DM automation that's already made or that you're making. Don't have one yet? Follow Comment to DM first. The examples on this page continue the Coffee Saver Voucher automation.
• The Opening message turned on, for Ask for Follow and Follow-up only. While the Opening message is off, both show a lock with Locked, needs opening message.
• The Pro plan for Ask for Contact and Follow-up. These steps are marked PRO in the step list.
• Another Instagram account to test the result.

Open the editor

If the automation already exists, open Instagram › Comment to DM, click the ⋯ icon on the automation's row, then choose Edit. When you're done, click Save changes. If the automation is new, you can turn these steps on before clicking Create automation.

Ask for Follow

The main message is only sent once your audience follows you. People who already follow you get the main message as soon as they tap the button.

1. Turn on and fill in Ask for Follow

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1. Turn on the Ask for Follow switch in the step list, then click the step. On a phone, tap the step once its switch is on.
2. Message: your call to follow. Mention your username too, for example Follow @kopisenja.id first, so people know which account to follow. Name variables don't work in this message.
3. Button label: the button people tap after following, for example Already following 🙌.
4. If they still have not followed: sent when someone taps the button but hasn't followed you yet. Filling it in is recommended, so people know they need to follow first. Leave it empty if you don't need it.

The preview on the right shows the order of messages, including the one for people who haven't followed.

2. Save, then try it

1. Click Create automation or Save changes.
2. From another Instagram account that doesn't follow you yet, comment the keyword, then tap the Opening message button in the DM.
3. The Ask for Follow message arrives. Tap its button without following: the If they still have not followed message is sent.
4. Follow your account, then tap the button again. The main message arrives.

Ask for Contact (Pro plan)

The main message is only sent after your audience sends their email or WhatsApp number in the DM.

1. Turn it on and pick the details

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1. Turn on the Ask for Contact switch in the step list, then click the step.
2. Details to collect: tick Email, WhatsApp number, or both. At least one must be ticked.

The editor preview shows a sample question, such as May I have your email?. The DM your audience actually receives uses a fixed system question in Indonesian: Silakan masukkan alamat email kamu untuk melanjutkan (please enter your email address to continue) or Silakan masukkan nomor WhatsApp kamu untuk melanjutkan (please enter your WhatsApp number to continue), with a Batal (Cancel) quick reply.

2. Save, then try it

1. Click Create automation or Save changes.
2. From another Instagram account, comment the keyword, then follow the DM until you're asked for an email or WhatsApp number. Send your answer.
3. The main message arrives once the answer is accepted.
4. On the automation's detail page, open the Contacts tab. The answer is saved there and can be exported, see Manage Automations.

Good to know

• When it's asked: if the Opening message is on, the question is sent after the Opening message button is tapped (and after passing Ask for Follow, if it's on). If the Opening message is off, the question is sent right after someone comments.
• The format is checked automatically. Emails must be valid, for example name@email.com. WhatsApp numbers must have 10 to 15 digits. Spaces, +, and - are ignored, so +62 813 0000 2222 is saved as 6281300002222.
• 3 wrong answers cancel the process. The person needs to comment again to start over.
• People can cancel by tapping Batal (Cancel). After that they can chat as usual, and the main message isn't sent.
• Nobody is asked twice. People whose email or WhatsApp number is already saved, including from another automation, go straight to the next step and are still listed in the Contacts tab.
• The email and WhatsApp questions are set by the system and can't be changed in the dashboard.

Follow-up (Pro plan)

Send automatic reminders after a set delay, for example to people who haven't opened the message with the voucher.

1. Turn on and set up the follow-up

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1. Turn on the Follow-up switch in the step list, then click the step.
2. Send if: when the reminder is sent. See the table below.
3. Delay: enter a number, then choose Hours or Minutes. At most 24 hours.
4. Message: write the reminder, up to 1,000 characters. Click First name, Last name, Full name, or Username under Insert to include your audience's name.
5. Add follow-up: add another reminder with its own condition and delay.

2. Save, then try it

1. Click Create automation or Save changes.
2. To see it quickly, temporarily set the Delay to a few minutes with the Always condition. From another Instagram account, comment the keyword, then follow the DM until the main message arrives.
3. Wait for the delay to pass. The reminder shows up in that account's DMs. Once it works, set the delay and condition back to what you want.

Tips: one or two follow-ups are usually enough. Greet people by first name so the message feels personal.

Troubleshooting