Festive season is when Indian Instagram sellers make a large share of the year's sales, and when they are least able to answer every comment. Navratri outfits, Diwali gifting, Dhanteras jewellery, wedding-season lehengas: comments arrive faster than any team can type. Here is how to prepare.
Six weeks before
- Plan your festive collection posts and reels
- Decide the offer: a code, free shipping, a gift with purchase
- Create the catalogue or collection page and test it on a phone
- Choose keywords:
DIWALI,GIFT,PRICE,NAVRATRI - Check your automation plan's limits against last year's busiest week
Three weeks before: teasers
- Reels with "Comment DIWALI for early access"
- DM points to a WhatsApp updates list or email signup, so you can tell them when the sale opens (Instagram only allows DMs within 24 hours of their last message)
Sale week: the main automations
Every-post catch-all
- Keywords:
price, rate, kitna, diwali, offer - DM: festive catalogue + code + WhatsApp order button
Happy Diwali, {name}! 🪔 The full festive collection is here, with 15% off using DIWALI15 till 2 November. Order on WhatsApp for same-day dispatch.
[See collection]
Per-reel automations for top products, sending the exact product.
Gifting
- Keyword
GIFTsending gift boxes, prices and corporate order contact - Mention delivery cut-off dates in the DM
Delivery cut-offs
Put the last order date for Diwali delivery in every DM during the final week. It answers the most common question and creates honest urgency.
After the festival
- Change DMs to "Sale ended, here's what's still available"
- Post thank-you and customer photos
- Review numbers: which reels and keywords brought orders
Prepare the team
- Someone owns WhatsApp orders
- Someone checks Instagram replies to DMs daily
- Stock is updated on the catalogue
Frequently asked questions
Can I schedule automations to start on a date?
Set them up in advance and switch them live when the sale opens.
Should I use a follow-gate during sales?
No. Buyers want prices, not extra steps.
What if I sell out?
Update the DM immediately to a waitlist or similar products.
Do festive keywords need Hindi variants?
Add what your audience types, such as diwali, deepavali, offer.