Instagram DM automation
that ends on your calendar
An automation does what you set. When the lead writes something you didn't plan for, the AI setter picks it up in the same flow and takes it to a booked call.
What is Instagram DM automation?
A flow that reacts to what a lead does. Where your script ends, Setor's AI carries on.
- 77,863runs in the last 90 days
- 3.5 smedian to the first step
- 46.7%of commenters reply in DM
- 23,958conversations handed to the AI setter
As of Nov 2, 2026Read from the Setor dashboard
One comment, all the way to a booked call
commented PLANSetor is replyingBased on a real conversation, details changed- 1
hey, want the plan for your first 10 pounds? 🙂
YES PLEASE
here you go 🔥 read it when you have a minute
- 2
by the way, training already or just starting out?
starting out, I sit at a desk all day
got it. what usually gets in the way?
no time, and after two weeks I give up
- 3
that can be fixed. free 15 min call, no strings. does Monday 1:00 or 2:30 work?
1:00
booked 🙂 talk then!
What happens inside the flow
Starts from what the lead does
98 in 100 runs begin with a comment, on a post, Reel or ad. The rest of the triggers are there when you need them.
Reads words, not characters
Case and accents don't matter, and a whole-word match skips lookalikes. A word on the exclusion list has a veto.
Checks before it writes
Do they follow you, are you already talking, do they fit your offer. The AI's verdict from the profile holds for 30 days.
Writes, then waits
A public reply, a DM of up to 1,000 characters and up to 3 buttons. When the lead replies, queued steps are cancelled.
Hands off to the AI setter
The setter sees the message went out after the comment “PLAN” and doesn't mistake it for its own words.
Every step has its numbers
Sent, seen, clicked, clicks per button, takeovers and errors, so you see which step loses people.
Moving from another tool? The account scan rebuilds your automations from your conversation history and saves them as drafts. Publishing waits until you confirm the old ones are off.
What books calls, and what kills them
We took 73,374 comment automation runs from the last 90 days. 46.7% of people replied in DM, and every 1,000 runs gave 23 booked calls. Then we compared the first message.
A question in the first DM
With a question29.4
Without one14.0
A button in the first DM
Without a button42.3
With a button18.2
A link in the first DM
Without a link24.3
With a link0.8
The takeaway: ask a question first, and send the link later.
68 automation versions with at least 100 runs, 18 accounts. On accounts that ran both versions, a question won on 4 of 5 and removing the button won on 4 of 4. The link figure comes from 6 versions and 1,313 runs.
From the first message to the sale.
Your first automation in three steps
Pick the start
A comment on a post, a story reply or a DM. A keyword or every comment.
Add the steps
Setor checks keyword collisions and won't publish a placeholder link.
Turn it on
It runs on Instagram and Messenger, and the setter takes every reply.
Questions about DM automation
Everything you need to know about Setor AI, onboarding, and how your AI Setter works day to day.
An automation does exactly what you set. The AI setter runs conversations you can't script in advance. In Setor, one hands off to the other.
Instagram and Messenger. Story replies, new tags and ad welcome messages run on Instagram.
Pre-written follow-ups fit within 23 hours 55 minutes of the lead's last message, and anything beyond that gets trimmed.
Yes. The setup scan rebuilds them as drafts from your conversation history. You review them and publish once the old ones are off.
Queued messages are cancelled and the AI setter takes over.
Still have questions?
Our team is here to help.