Definition
An auto reply is a prepared answer sent to an Instagram DM, story reply or comment without you touching anything. Its simplest form is Meta's own instant reply (the same text for everyone); its advanced form is keyword-based automation, which answers differently depending on what the message says.
Three levels
| Level | What it does | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed text | The same sentence to everyone who writes; a fixed reply for up to 5 keywords | Meta Business Suite: instant reply, away message, custom keywords |
| By keyword | "price" gets the price, "shipping" gets shipping | BixoChat Direct Automation and Comment Automation |
| AI | A text answer, from your business description, for messages no rule caught | BixoChat AI assistant |
Reply types
In a Direct Automation the reply does not have to be text: Text (up to 1,000 characters), Image, Video, Audio or Card (up to 10 cards); a text reply can carry up to 3 buttons or up to 5 quick replies, not both in one reply. A Comment Automation's public reply is text. Replies go out from BixoChat's servers, so they work while your phone is off.
Related guides: Instagram auto reply: three ways, with examples and Instagram DM automation.