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Each automation has one trigger (chosen when you click Create Automation) and is configured through the four-step builder. This page is the full reference for every option you’ll see.

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Triggers

When you create an automation you first answer “What should trigger this automation?” and pick one of three:

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Step 1 — Choose the content (Post / Story)

This step decides which posts or stories the automation watches. Comments trigger:
  • Specific posts or reels — pick exactly which ones (select at least one from the grid).
  • Any post or reel — applies to all your posts.
  • Upcoming posts — applies to everything you publish from now on.
Story trigger: the same three choices for stories — Specific stories, Any story, Upcoming stories. DM trigger: has no content to choose, so this step is skipped (it just prompts you to continue).

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Step 2 — Targeting & keywords

Decide which comments or messages qualify:
  • Comments / Messages containing specific keywords — only fires when the text contains one of your keywords.
  • Any comment / Any message — fires on everything, regardless of content.
When matching on keywords:

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Auto-reply publicly to comments

Available only with the Comments trigger, this toggle lives in the Keywords step. When on, SocialSyncs posts a public reply under the comment.
  • Add up to 5 reply variants — one is picked at random each time so replies don’t look repetitive.
  • Each variant can be up to 500 characters.

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Step 3 — The DM flow (Actions)

The Actions step is titled “Set up your DM flow.” It has three toggles, run in order:

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Send a welcome message

An opening DM with a button the person taps to opt in (Instagram requires this opt-in before you can fully message someone).
  • Message — the main text, up to 640 characters, with personalization variables.
  • Subtitle — optional, up to 80 characters.
  • A fixed “Let’s Chat! 💬” button (label editable; the button itself can’t be removed).

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Ask to follow first

Invites the person to follow you before continuing. Locked until “Send a welcome message” is enabled.
  • Message and Subtitle, same limits as above.
  • Two fixed buttons: “Visit profile” and ”✅ I am following.”
  • SocialSyncs verifies the follow before moving on, and skips this step if the person already follows you.

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Send the primary DM

The main payoff message. Pick a DM format: Each message/card supports up to 3 buttons, which can be a link (URL) or a quick reply (postback).
None of the three DM actions are mandatory. You can build a comment automation that only posts a public reply, or one that sends a single primary DM with no welcome step.

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Personalize with variables

In any message field, use Insert to drop in a variable that’s filled per person:
The available variables match the trigger — for the Story and DM triggers, the message text variable reads Story reply text / DM text instead of Comment text.
A high-converting comment flow: enable Auto-reply publicly to comments (Step 2) → Send a welcome message → Send the primary DM (Step 3). Add Ask to follow first in between if you want people to follow you before they get the link.