Definition
A trigger is the rule that decides when an automation runs. In Instagram DM automation the rule is a word or a phrase: when an incoming message contains that word (or is exactly that phrase), the automation sends its reply. An automation bound to the trigger "price" sends the price reply to everyone who types "what's the price?".
The three kinds
When you add a word to a Direct Automation in BixoChat, you pick one of three kinds:
- Contains: fires when the word appears anywhere in the message. The most used kind, for topic words such as "price", "shipping", "return".
- Exactly: fires only when the whole message is that phrase. For campaign codes you announce in a story ("reply CODE") and for single-word commands.
- Pattern (regex): matches a regular expression; for developers.
One automation takes up to 10 triggers. A Comment Automation also offers Any message, which answers every comment on the chosen posts; DMs have no such trigger, and unmatched messages follow the setting for all other messages (no reply, or the AI assistant).
How to choose the right one
Contains also catches longer words and sentences that include the word: "order" fires on "where is my order?". So never pair Contains with words that appear in every message ("info", "thanks", "hi"); pick topic words and a few synonyms ("price", "how much", "cost"). The help center's rules: one word or one number, no emoji, spaces or punctuation; add each word separately; with Contains, "1" also fires on "10" and "21", so numbers want Exactly. Never give one word to two automations.
Related guide: Instagram DM automation. Trigger words with complete example messages: Instagram auto reply.