Every template below is a ready-made automation in VivaDialog’s gallery. It lists the words that start it, the reply text it sends, and anything extra it does, such as adding a tag. The texts here are copied from the template files as of 3 November 2026. Parts in [square brackets] are yours to fill in before you save. The gallery has 70 templates in total, 47 single automations and 23 multi-step flows, and this article covers the single automations a small business is most likely to start with.
If you are choosing a setup rather than a template, start with the Instagram comment automation guide.
How to use a template
- Open Automations in the dashboard and click New rule. The public template gallery shows the same templates before you sign up.
- Click Use this on the template you want.
- Replace everything in [square brackets] and check the Words to look for.
- Use Test it first with a message written the way a customer would write it, then click Save rule.
You need a connected Instagram account and an owner or admin role. A template runs on every connected channel until you narrow it with Only on in Advanced settings. How automations work covers the rest, and Instagram auto reply: what you can automate and the limits lists what Meta allows on each surface.
Check the trigger words before you save
Words to look for are matched as plain text inside the message, ignoring capital letters, and one matching word is enough. So a short word also matches inside longer ones. The shop template’s word fit matches “benefit”, and the travel template’s word dates matches “updates”. Delete the words that would catch messages you do not want to answer, and add the ones your customers really use.
Templates by business type
| Business | Template | Starts when | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clothing and other shops | Which size? Send your size guide | A comment or DM asks about size | Replies with your size guide |
| Cafes and restaurants | Menu and opening hours on request | A comment or DM asks for the menu or hours | Replies with menu and hours |
| Salons, studios, food places | Reply BOOK to your Story, get the booking link | A Story reply says book | Replies with your link, tags booking-request |
| Gyms and classes | Class schedule on request | A comment or DM asks when classes are | Replies with your schedule link |
| Creators and course sellers | Comment WAITLIST before a launch | A comment says waitlist | Public reply, DM, tag waitlist |
| Property agents | Listing comment, full details by DM | A comment asks about a listing | Public reply, DM, tag listing-lead |
| Local services | Do you cover my area? | A comment or DM asks about your area | Replies with the areas you cover |
| Tour operators | When is the next trip? | A comment or DM asks about dates | Replies with your departures |
Shops: size guide
Which size? Send your size guide starts on a comment or DM that contains size, sizes, size chart, which size, or fit. It sends:
Here’s our size guide: [paste your size guide link]. Tell us your usual size and we’ll help you pick.
Replace fit if your customers also write about “fitting rooms” or “profit”.
Cafes and restaurants: menu and hours
Menu and opening hours on request starts on a comment or DM that contains menu, open today, opening hours, what time, or closed. It sends:
Here’s our menu: [paste your menu link]. We’re open [write your opening hours].
Beauty, fitness, and food: BOOK in a Story reply
Reply BOOK to your Story, get the booking link starts on a DM that replies to your Story and contains book, booking, or appointment. It sends:
Here’s where to book: [paste your booking link]. Reply here if you’d rather we find a time with you.
It also tags the conversation booking-request, so you can filter the inbox by that tag. One caution: Story reply triggers pass our automated tests, but we have not yet run them against a real Story reply from Meta. Run one real test before you rely on it, as described in Instagram Story reply automation.
Gyms and classes: class schedule
Class schedule on request starts on a comment or DM that contains schedule, class times, timetable, or what time. It sends:
Here’s our class schedule: [paste your schedule link]. Ask here if you’re not sure which class to pick.
Creators: waitlist before a launch
Comment WAITLIST before a launch, get on the list starts on a comment that contains waitlist, wait list, me too, or interested. It posts a public reply:
You’re on the list! Check your DMs.
and sends a private DM:
You’re on the waitlist for [what you are launching]. We’ll announce it [where you’ll announce it, e.g. in a post on our page].
It also tags the comment waitlist and moves the contact to the Interested stage. Meta allows one private DM per comment, within 7 days. The word interested is broad, so remove it if people use it under posts that have nothing to do with the launch.
Property agents: listing comments
Listing comment, full details by DM starts on a comment that contains available, price, info, details, or viewing. It posts:
Sent you the details by DM!
and sends:
Hi! Here are the details for this one: [paste the listing link or details]. Want to see it? Tell us which days suit you.
It tags the comment listing-lead and moves the contact to Interested.
Local services: service area
Do you cover my area? starts on a comment or DM that contains my area, do you cover, do you come to, service area, or nearby. It sends:
We work in [write the areas you cover]. Somewhere else? Tell us where and we’ll check.
Tour operators: next trip dates
When is the next trip? starts on a comment or DM that contains next trip, departure, dates, schedule, or when do you go. It sends:
Our next departures: [write your dates or paste a link]. Tell us which one you’re interested in.
Two templates that fit any business
Comment INFO, get the link answers a comment with your link in public. Comment INFO, get the details by DM answers in public and sends the details by DM. Both are the starting point in how to send an automatic DM when someone comments on Instagram.
What a template does not do
- It does not know your prices, hours, or links. That is why every template has parts in [square brackets].
- It does not answer comments older than 24 hours. That limit is the same for every automation.
- It does not write a reply for a case you did not plan for. For open questions, the Answer with AI option writes a reply only from the facts you give it.
Every template reply counts toward your plan’s monthly conversation quota once per conversation. Replies you write by hand are never counted. See what counts as a conversation.
Frequently asked questions
Can I edit a template after I use it?
Yes. After you click Use this, the form opens with the words, the reply text, and the channels all editable, and nothing runs until you click Save rule.
Do the templates work on Facebook and Threads too?
They run on every connected channel unless you limit them with Only on. Threads has no DMs, so a template that sends a DM does not send it there. See how to auto-reply to comments on Threads.
Can I use my own wording?
Yes. Replace the whole text, as long as it stands on its own. A private DM to a commenter has to make sense as the first message, because you cannot send a second one until the person answers.
Are there templates in other languages?
The dashboard gallery has the templates in more than one language. This article quotes the English text.
What if my business is not on the list?
Start from the closest template, or choose Start from scratch in Automations. The full template gallery has more, including flows that ask several questions in a row. Flows come with the Growth plan.
VivaDialog is in early access right now, and participants get the Growth plan free for 30 days. The pricing page has the details.