Do poll votes count as story replies?

No. A poll vote or a question-box answer does not land in your inbox as a message, so it starts no automation. Ask viewers to type a word instead; that reply is a DM and triggers.

Can the reply to a story reply be an image?

Yes. A Direct Automation's reply type can be Image, Video, Audio or Card; choose Image to show the product from the story.

BixoChatGuides

GlossaryPublished October 16, 2026· Updated October 17, 2026· BixoChat Team

What is a story reply? How it differs from a story mention

A story reply is the message a viewer types under your story. It lands in your inbox as a DM, so a Direct Automation answers it; a mention triggers nothing.

Definition

A story reply is what a viewer types in the message box under your story. Instagram drops it into your inbox like any other DM and shows which story it answers. For automation, one thing matters: a story reply is a DM, so the triggers of your Direct Automations answer it the same way.

Story reply versus story mention

Story reply: the viewer writes under your story. It arrives as a DM and gets an automatic answer.
Story mention: the viewer tags you in their story. In BixoChat this triggers nothing.

You cannot pick one story or answer every story reply; the automation needs a word.

How to use it

Tell viewers what to type in the story ("Reply LINK for the link") and bind a Direct Automation to that word. For campaign codes, pick the Exactly trigger kind; update the automation when the story expires. Details: Instagram story reply automation.

Frequently asked questions

Do poll votes count as story replies?: No. A poll vote or a question-box answer does not land in your inbox as a message, so it starts no automation. Ask viewers to type a word instead; that reply is a DM and triggers.
Can the reply to a story reply be an image?: Yes. A Direct Automation's reply type can be Image, Video, Audio or Card; choose Image to show the product from the story.

Try it in your own account

Get started See the plans

Guide

Instagram story reply automation: setup and examples

Story replies arrive as DMs, so a Direct Automation answers them: the "reply link" setup, a story-only discount code, polls, and why mentions are not covered.

Guide

Instagram DM automation: what it is and how to set it up

Instagram DM automation answers incoming messages by keyword. How it works, a five-step setup in BixoChat, the limits to know, and where the AI assistant fits.

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