Every comment-to-DM automation answers one question before it does anything else: which posts should it listen to? You can point it at one reel, or at every post on your account. Both are useful, and the best setups use both.
Specific post: one reel, one offer
The automation only reacts to comments on the post you choose.
Use it when:
- Each reel promotes a different product or freebie
- The keyword means something different on different posts (
LINKis the recipe on one reel and the course on another) - You run a time-limited campaign on one post
Downside: you must remember to create a new automation for each new post.
Every post: one keyword everywhere
The automation reacts to its keyword on anything you have published or will publish.
Use it when:
- The answer is always the same, such as your full price list, your catalogue, or your WhatsApp order link
- Old posts keep getting comments from people who find them later
- You do not want to set up something new for every post
Downside: if the keyword is common, it can fire on posts where it does not fit.
Using both together
A typical setup for a fashion reseller:
| Automation | Scope | Keyword | Sends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalogue | Every post | price, rate, kitna | Full catalogue link |
| Blue Banarasi reel | That reel only | price, rate, kitna | That saree's page |
| Size help | Every post | size | Size chart |
Someone who comments "price" on the blue Banarasi reel should get that saree, not the whole catalogue. Someone who comments "price" on a three-year-old post gets the catalogue.
How priority works in DM Flow
When one comment matches more than one live automation, DM Flow picks the most specific one:
- An automation on this exact post with a keyword wins first.
- Then this exact post with any comment.
- Then every post with a keyword.
- Then every post with any comment.
So you can safely run a broad catch-all and add specific automations on top.
Old posts are an underrated source
Posts keep getting comments for months, especially ones that rank in Instagram search or appear on Explore. A catch-all automation means those late commenters still get an answer. Without one, a "price?" comment on a six-month-old post usually goes unanswered.
Remember Meta's rule: a private reply must go within 7 days of the comment. An automation switched on today answers today's comments on old posts, not comments from last month.
Plan limits
In DM Flow, "every post" is available on paid plans; the free plan runs one automation on one chosen post. Pick your highest-comment post for the free automation.
Frequently asked questions
Can one automation watch three specific posts?
Create one automation per post. That also lets you send each post its own link.
Will an every-post automation reply on my future posts?
Yes. It covers posts published after you create it.
What if I delete the post an automation watches?
The automation has nothing to listen to. Delete or switch it off to keep your list tidy.
Does "every post" include reels?
Yes, reels, photos and carousels.