Multi-step flows

A flow is an automatic private-message conversation on Instagram or Facebook: it starts with a keyword and goes on with messages, buttons, waits or a request for an email. Flows are included in the paid plans.

Create a flow

1. Open Inbox › Automations and press New flow.
2. Choose a template (Collect emails, A freebie for followers only…) or Start from scratch.
3. Under When, choose the account and, under Starts with, what sets it off.
4. Under Then, build the steps with Add a step.
5. Press Turn on.

What sets it off

• Comment: a comment on your posts. The first step must be a message, which goes as the private reply to the comment. See Comment-to-DM automations.
• Direct message: a new message that contains a keyword, or any message if you set none.
• Story reply: someone replies to one of your Stories or mentions you in one.

The steps

• Message: text, an image and a link button. With Add a reply button you add up to 3 buttons of 20 characters. Each button has its own steps, and a message with buttons is the last in its list: what follows goes under each button.
• Wait: a pause of up to 23 hours, because the networks close the conversation 24 hours after the person's last message.
• Ask for email: asks for their email. If they answer something else, they get the If the answer isn't an email text; after three tries, the flow stops.
• Followers only (Instagram only): people who follow you go straight on; everyone else gets a message and a button to tap once they follow.

A flow has up to 30 steps, and buttons can lead to buttons 2 levels deep at most. Change the order with the arrows and remove a step with the ×.

While it runs

The flow moves on by itself and stops when it needs something from the person: a button tap, their email, a follow or, after the private reply to a comment, an answer. If a week goes by with no answer, it closes. To avoid repeating the same person, use Same person again after.

Results

The list shows how many people started it, the messages sent, the emails, the link clicks and any failures. When you edit it, each step shows how many times it was sent and each button how many taps it got. The emails collected appear in the editor, with Download CSV.