# Conversation Starters

Quick questions people see the first time they open your Instagram DM, each with an automatic reply.

Conversation starters are questions people see the first time they open your Instagram DM, for example *How do I order?* When someone taps a question, the reply is sent automatically.

{% dm-demo name="Kopi Senja" username="kopisenja.id" caption="Someone opening your DM for the first time taps a question and gets the reply right away" %}
time: rara.belajar opened your DM for the first time
user: What are your opening hours?
bot: Kopi Senja is open every day from 08.00 to 22.00 ☕
{% enddm-demo %}

{% hint style="info" %}
This guide is for the **new dibales.ai dashboard**. Still on the old layout? See [Set Up Conversation Starters](/instagram/setup-conversational-starters).
{% endhint %}

## Before you start

- **This page is for agents that already use conversation starters**. For other agents, conversation starters are managed in Flow Builder:
  - On the Pro plan, this page shows **Conversation starters moved to Flow Builder**. Click **Open Flow Builder**, then manage them in flow.dibales.ai, see [Flow Builder](/flow-builder/overview).
  - On the Plus plan, this page shows **Conversation starters are a Pro feature** with an **Upgrade plan** button.
- **An active subscription** and **a connected Instagram account**. If Instagram isn't connected, this page shows **Instagram is not connected**. Follow [Connect Your Accounts](/dashboard/mulai/hubungkan-akun).
- **Another Instagram account that has never messaged yours**, to test with. Conversation starters only show in new conversations.
- Instagram allows **4 conversation starters** per account, including the ones managed in Flow Builder.

#### 1. Open Conversation Starter

In the sidebar, open **Instagram** › **Conversation Starter**. On a phone, open the menu first with the ☰ icon at the top right.

![The Conversation starters page](/assets/dashboard/instagram/cs-01-daftar.png)

1. How many of the 4 slots are used.
2. **Preview**: an empty Instagram DM with your questions. On a phone, the preview is below the list.
3. **Save changes**: your changes only take effect after you click this button.

Each question shows its click count. Click a question to expand or collapse it, and use the arrows next to it to reorder.

***

#### 2. Add a question with a message reply

Click **Add conversation starter** below the list.

![A new question with a message reply](/assets/dashboard/instagram/cs-02-baru.png)

1. **Question**: the text your audience taps, up to 80 characters. For example: *What are your opening hours?*
2. **Response type**: choose **Send a message**.
3. **Message type**: **Text**, **Button template**, or **Carousel**.
4. **Message**: the reply. Click **First name** or another variable under **Insert** to include your audience's name.

For the **Text** type, you can add up to 3 **Quick replies**: options under the message that send their reply right away when tapped.

***

#### 3. Run an automation from a question

A question can also run an existing automation, for example one that asks for an email before sending a link.

![A question that runs an automation](/assets/dashboard/instagram/cs-03-automation.png)

1. **Response type**: choose **Run an automation**.
2. **Automation**: click **Choose an automation** (or **Change**), then pick one from the **Post**, **Story**, or **DM** tab. Only running automations can be selected.

Questions marked **Workflow** are managed in flow.dibales.ai. From here you can only change the question, reorder it, or delete it.

***

#### 4. Delete questions you don't use (optional)

Click the trash icon on the question's row, then click **Delete** in the **Delete this conversation starter?** confirmation. The question is only removed for real after you save your changes. If the question is marked **Workflow**, its workflow can no longer be triggered from the DM.

***

#### 5. Save

Click **Save changes**. You'll see *Conversation starters saved.* If a field is wrong, **Some fields need fixing** appears with the question's number.

***

#### 6. Try it

1. Check the **Preview** first: tap a question to see the reply that will be sent. Click **Reset preview** to start over.
2. From another Instagram account that has **never** messaged yours, open a DM to your account. The questions show up under the empty conversation.
3. Tap one of the questions. The reply is sent automatically, and that question's click count goes up on the Conversation Starters page.

**Tips**: use short sentences that sound like something your audience would type, for example *Show me the catalog 📦* or *Any promo today? 🔥*. Long sentences can get cut off on phones.

## Troubleshooting

| Problem | Fix |
| --- | --- |
| The questions don't show in the DM | Conversation starters only show in new conversations. Test from an account that has never messaged yours, and make sure you clicked **Save changes**. |
| **Conversation starters moved to Flow Builder** shows | Your agent manages conversation starters in Flow Builder. Click **Open Flow Builder**, then follow [Flow Builder](/flow-builder/overview). |
| The **Add conversation starter** button is missing | All four slots are used, including the ones managed in Flow Builder. Delete one first. |
| *The question can be up to 80 characters.* | Shorten the question. |
| *Choose an automation.* or **Automation not found (it was deleted)** | Click **Choose an automation** or **Change**, then pick a running automation. |
| *Enter a valid URL that starts with https://.* | Complete the button address, for example `https://kopisenja.id/menu`. |
| *Every slide needs the same number of buttons.* | In a Carousel, give every slide the same number of buttons. |
| Questions marked **Workflow** can't be edited | Their replies are managed in [Flow Builder](/flow-builder/overview) (flow.dibales.ai). From here you can only change the question, reorder it, or delete it. |