Instagram Keywords Trigger

The Instagram keywords trigger is a feature that allows you to automate responses and actions based on specific keywords or phrases sent in direct messages. When a user sends you a direct message containing the keyword you've set up, Manychat can automatically respond, send them a message, or even trigger a more complex sequence of actions like offering a discount code or asking for their email, as well as sending a complete custom flow.

This tool is particularly useful for engaging with your audience, running promotions, or gathering information, all while saving time on manual responses.

How to set up the Instagram keywords trigger

There are two options for setting up keywords: (1) you can create them in the Automation > Keywords section of your Manychat account, or (2) you can add the Instagram keywords trigger directly into your flow inside the flow builder.

Let’s explore each option in detail.

1. For the first option, navigate to Automation > Keywords and click on the + New keyword button in the upper right corner to get started:

A new block will be created where you can enter the keywords you want to use and configure all the related settings:

After you've entered the keywords, you should now select the channel where they will be used. For this setup, we'll choose Instagram as the channel for our keywords:

Next, you'll need to choose the rule that will determine how they function:

Keyword rules

There are currently five keyword rules available for Instagram, and we'll explore each in detail:

• Message is: A strict rule.

This rule is very precise—any additional words, letters, or symbols will prevent the automated message from being triggered. However, Manychat will recognize variations like "Hello," "HELLO," and "hello" as the same since keywords are not case-sensitive.

• Message contains: A more flexible option.

This rule allows the system to identify the keyword within a sentence. For example, if the keyword is set to "Hello" and someone messages, "Hello, please send me further info," the automated message will still be triggered.

Be cautious with short keywords like "hi," "no," or "you," as they can unintentionally trigger the automation in many situations with this rule.

If a message contains two keywords, the system will trigger the automated response for the keyword that appears higher on the list, ignoring the second one.

• Message contains a whole word: Stay relevant to the context.

Consider a rule where "Message contains like" triggers a message like "Glad you like it!" However, if someone messages "dislike," the same "Glad you like it!" message would be sent. This rule allows Manychat to distinguish between words like "hi" and "within," ensuring the correct automated reply is sent.

• Message begins with: A smart way to automate common questions.

This rule requires the keyword to be at the beginning of the contact's message for the system to trigger an automated response. For example, you could create a rule where typing "can you" at the start of a sentence prompts Manychat to display a menu with options.

• Message doesn't contain: Exclude messages with specific keywords.

The automated message will not be triggered if the message contains any of the specified keywords.

Once you've selected the most suitable rule for your keywords, you can also add multiple message conditions if needed.

Start by adding the necessary keyword, then set up the message conditions by clicking the "+ Message condition" button. This allows you to specify additional keywords that should work together with the main one to trigger the flow.

For example, you might want the trigger to activate when a message contains all three of the following: "Instagram," "keywords," and "trigger," as shown in the screenshot below:

When everything is set up, click Create to finalize the keyword creation:

Then, you can either choose to create a new automation for your keywords trigger or select an existing one:

If you choose to create a new automation, you’ll be redirected to the flow builder, where you can build a custom automation specifically for this trigger:

If you choose to use an existing automation, a pop-up window will appear where you can select the desired automation for your Instagram keywords trigger. You’ll also have the option to preview the automation in the same window before making your selection:

2. For the second option, navigate to the Automation section and first select the automation you want to set triggers for or create a new one.

Open the flow in the flow builder for editing, and click on the “+ New trigger” button, as shown in the screenshot below:

Choose the trigger from the list to add it to your automation:

When you click on the added trigger, a panel will open on the left where you can configure everything. Here, you have two options: you can either manually set up specific keywords to trigger the flow by defining exact words or phrases, or you can choose to recognize the intention of the message. 

With the intention-based option, you need to provide a brief description of the user's intent, and Manychat AI will analyze and compare the user's message to the description you provided.

Once everything is set up successfully, you’ll need to either set the automation live or update it to publish all the changes and activate it.

Limitations and troubleshooting

⚠️ Free accounts are limited to three custom keyword triggers per account. Default system keywords, such as start/stop and subscribe/unsubscribe, are not counted within this limit.

If this limit is exceeded, you will not be able to message your contacts through configured automations, live chat, or broadcasts. To remain within the limits of the Free plan or to activate other keywords, you'll need to deactivate an existing custom keyword.

💡 If you don’t see a Keywords tab, navigate to Settings → Display and activate it by clicking here:

If you encounter any issues with the Instagram keywords trigger, please contact our Support Team.