InstantDM Complete How-To Guide - Part 1: Getting Started

Welcome to the InstantDM Complete How-To Guide. This three-part series covers every feature of the platform, from your first login to advanced API integrations. Part 1 walks you through what InstantDM is, account setup, connecting Instagram, managing multiple accounts, the mobile app, navigating the dashboard, and your first automations with Inbox Automation, Quick DM, and how to choose the right tool.

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1. What Is InstantDM?

InstantDM is an Instagram and Facebook DM automation platform built on top of the Meta Graph API. It is an Official Meta Business Partner, which means it uses Meta's approved APIs to send messages, read comments, and manage conversations on your behalf - all within Meta's terms of service.

What InstantDM Does

• Automates DM replies - When someone comments a keyword on your post or sends you a DM, InstantDM can instantly reply with a message, a link, an image, buttons, or even an AI-generated response.
• Comment-to-DM flows - Turn post engagement into private conversations. Someone comments "info" on your Reel, and they get a DM with your pricing, a lead capture form, or a product carousel.
• Visual flow builder - Build multi-step conversation flows with branching logic, conditional gates, AI nodes, and data collection - all on a drag-and-drop canvas.
• Multi-account management - Agencies and creators with multiple Instagram accounts can manage them all from one dashboard.
• Facebook & Messenger automation - Automate Facebook post comments and Messenger DMs alongside your Instagram automations.
• API & Webhook integrations - Connect InstantDM to your CRM, email tool, or any external system via outbound webhooks and an inbound REST API.

Who Is InstantDM For?

Audience	How They Use InstantDM
Content creators	Automate DM replies to followers who comment on posts and Reels. Deliver lead magnets, links, and resources instantly.
Small businesses	Turn Instagram engagement into sales conversations. Send product catalogs, answer FAQs, and capture leads automatically.
E-commerce brands	Connect Shopify to send product carousels in DMs, recover abandoned carts, and confirm orders.
Agencies	Manage multiple client Instagram accounts from one dashboard with team roles and permissions.
Coaches & consultants	Qualify leads with AI-powered conversations and collect contact information through automated question flows.

How It Works Under the Hood

InstantDM connects to your Instagram account through Facebook's OAuth system. When you grant permissions, InstantDM receives a token that allows it to:

1. Read incoming DMs and comments on your behalf
2. Send messages through the Instagram Messaging API
3. Manage comment replies on your posts
4. Publish content (if you grant that permission)

All communication flows through Meta's official servers. InstantDM never stores your Instagram password.

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2. Account Setup & Connection

Before you can automate anything, you need to connect at least one Instagram account to InstantDM.

Prerequisites

Before connecting, make sure you have:

Requirement	Details
Instagram account type	Must be a Business or Creator account. Personal accounts do not have API access.
Facebook account	You need a Facebook account to complete the OAuth flow (Instagram's API routes through Facebook).
Facebook Page (optional)	Only required if you want to automate Facebook posts or Messenger. Not needed for Instagram-only DM automation.

How to switch to a Business or Creator account: Open Instagram → Settings → Account → Switch to Professional Account → Choose Business or Creator. This is free and takes 30 seconds.

Step-by-Step: Connecting Instagram via Facebook OAuth

1. Sign up or log in at app.instantdm.com. You can create an account with your email or sign in if you already have one.

2. Navigate to the Instagram Connect page. After logging in, go to the sidebar and click Settings, then Instagram Connect (or go directly to /ig-connect).

3. Click "Connect Instagram." This opens Facebook's OAuth authorization screen in a new window.

4. Log in to Facebook (if not already logged in). Use the Facebook account that is linked to your Instagram Business or Creator account.

5. Grant permissions. Facebook will ask you to approve the following permissions for InstantDM:

   Permission	What It Does
   business_basic	Reads your account info (username, profile picture, follower count) and manages page roles
   business_content_publish	Allows InstantDM to send messages on your behalf
   business_manage_comments	Lets InstantDM read and respond to comments on your posts
   business_manage_messages	Lets InstantDM read and manage your DM conversations

   Important: Grant all four permissions. If you skip any, certain features will not work. For example, skipping business_manage_comments means comment-to-DM automation will fail.

6. Select your Instagram account. If your Facebook account is linked to multiple Instagram accounts, you'll see a list. Select the one you want to connect.

7. Redirect back to InstantDM. After authorization, you'll be redirected to https://app.instantdm.com/fb-rdr. InstantDM will display your connected Instagram account with your profile picture and username.

Auto-Select Behavior

If your Facebook account has only one Page with a connected Instagram account, InstantDM will auto-select that account for you. You'll skip the selection step and land directly on the dashboard. If you have multiple Pages, you'll see all of them listed and can pick the one you want.

Troubleshooting Connection Issues

"My Instagram account is not listed"

1. Confirm your Instagram account is a Business or Creator account (not Personal).
2. Make sure the Instagram account is linked to a Facebook Page. Go to Facebook → Your Page → Settings → Instagram → Connect Account.
3. If you have many Facebook Pages, check each one - only Pages with a linked Instagram will appear.
4. Try logging out of Facebook completely, then re-doing the OAuth flow.

"Connection mismatch" error

This happens when the connected account's token no longer matches your active Instagram session. To fix:

1. Go to Settings → Instagram Connect in InstantDM.
2. Click Disconnect on the current account.
3. Go to Facebook → Settings → Instagram and verify the correct account is linked.
4. Return to InstantDM and click Connect Instagram again.

"Permissions not granted" error

If you accidentally skipped a permission during OAuth:

1. Go to Facebook → Settings → Business Integrations (or Apps and Websites).
2. Find InstantDM in the list and click View and Edit.
3. Make sure all four permissions are toggled ON.
4. Return to InstantDM and reconnect.

"Token expired" error

Meta tokens can expire if you change your Facebook password, revoke app access, or if the token hasn't been refreshed. Simply disconnect and reconnect your account in InstantDM to get a fresh token.

How to Disconnect and Reconnect

If you need to disconnect your Instagram account (for example, to switch to a different account):

1. Go to Settings → Instagram Connect in InstantDM.
2. Click the Disconnect button next to your connected account.
3. Your automations will pause immediately - no messages will be sent until you reconnect.
4. To reconnect, click Connect Instagram and follow the OAuth flow again from step 3 above.
5. After reconnecting, your existing automations will resume automatically.

Connecting a Facebook Page (Optional, for Facebook Post Automation)

A Facebook Page connection is only required if you want to automate Facebook posts or Messenger. For Instagram-only DM automation, you can skip this.

Use Case	Facebook Page Required?
Instagram DM automation (keyword replies, flows)	No
Instagram comment-to-DM automation	No
Instagram Story reply automation	No
Facebook post comment automation	Yes
Facebook Messenger automation	Yes

To link your Instagram to a Facebook Page (if not already done):

1. Open Facebook in your browser and go to your Pages section.
2. Click Settings in the left sidebar.
3. Navigate to Linked Accounts or Instagram in the settings menu.
4. Click Connect Account and log in with your Instagram credentials.
5. Confirm the connection.

Note: The Facebook Page doesn't need to be actively managed or have any posts. It just needs to exist and be linked to your Instagram account. Think of it as a bridge that gives InstantDM the API token it needs for Facebook-side automation.

To connect the Facebook Page in InstantDM:

1. In InstantDM, navigate to the Facebook DM section in the sidebar.
2. If your Page is already linked to your Instagram account, it will appear automatically.
3. Click Connect or Activate to enable Facebook automation for that Page.

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3. Connecting Multiple Instagram Accounts

InstantDM supports connecting multiple Instagram accounts from a single dashboard. This is essential for agencies, social media managers, and creators who run more than one brand.

How Multi-Account Works

Each connected Instagram account operates as its own workspace. Automations, analytics, settings, and team members are all scoped to a single workspace. When you switch between accounts, the entire dashboard updates to show that account's data.

Billing is shared across all accounts under your plan - you don't pay separately per account.

How Many Accounts Can You Connect?

The number of accounts depends on your plan:

Plan	Max Accounts	Automation Model
Free / Legend Pro / Trendsetter / Trendsetter Pro	1 account	Hourly rate limit
Multi Starter	3 accounts	30,000 automations / account / month (credit-based)
Multi Pro	10 accounts	3,00,000 automations / account / month (credit-based)
Multi Ultra	20 accounts	5,00,000 automations / account / month (credit-based)

Credit-based vs. hourly-limit plans: Single-account plans (Legend Pro, Trendsetter, Trendsetter Pro) use an hourly rate limit (e.g., 800/hour or 2,000/hour). Multi-account plans use a monthly credit system where each account gets a set number of automations per month. You can also purchase credit top-up packs if you run out.

Step-by-Step: Adding a Second or Third Account

1. Open the sidebar and look for the workspace picker at the top of the navigation.
2. Click the "+" button or "Add Account" option.
3. InstantDM will create a new linked account slot and generate a new workspace.
4. You'll be prompted to Connect Instagram for this new slot - follow the same OAuth flow described in Section 2.
5. Each account needs its own Facebook Page connection. If Account A is linked to Page A, Account B must be linked to a different Page B (or the same Page if it has multiple Instagram accounts connected).
6. Once connected, the new account appears in your workspace picker dropdown.

Switching Between Accounts Using the Workspace Picker

1. Click the workspace picker dropdown in the sidebar or top navigation bar.
2. A dropdown shows all your connected accounts/workspaces.
3. Select the account you want to manage.
4. The entire dashboard - automations, analytics, settings - updates to reflect the selected account.

Your selected workspace is stored locally, so when you close and reopen InstantDM, you'll return to the last account you were working on.

Important Notes on Multi-Account Setup

• Each account operates independently. Automations on Account A do not affect Account B.
• Team members can be invited to specific workspaces (see Part 3 for team collaboration details).
• If you hit your account limit, you'll need to upgrade to a higher Multi plan to add more.

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4. Open in App / Mobile App

InstantDM is available on mobile devices so you can monitor and manage your automations on the go.

How to Download and Install

InstantDM is a Progressive Web App (PWA), which means it works like a native app when added to your home screen - full-screen mode, no browser chrome, and fast loading.

Platform	How to Install
iOS (iPhone / iPad)	1. Open Safari and go to app.instantdm.com. 2. Tap the Share button (square with arrow) at the bottom of the screen. 3. Scroll down and tap "Add to Home Screen." 4. Tap Add in the top-right corner. The InstantDM icon now appears on your home screen.
Android	1. Open Chrome and go to app.instantdm.com. 2. Chrome may show a banner at the bottom saying "Add InstantDM to Home Screen" - tap it. 3. If no banner appears, tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner → "Add to Home Screen." 4. Tap Add. The InstantDM icon now appears on your home screen.

Logging In on Mobile

1. Open the InstantDM app from your home screen (or navigate to app.instantdm.com in your mobile browser).
2. Enter your email and password and tap Log In.
3. The mobile-optimized interface loads automatically. The sidebar becomes a hamburger menu - tap the menu icon (☰) in the top-left corner to access navigation.

What Features Are Available on Mobile vs. Desktop

Feature	Mobile	Desktop
Dashboard & analytics	✅ Full access	✅ Full access
Inbox Automation (create/edit)	✅ Full access	✅ Full access
Quick DM (create/edit)	✅ Full access	✅ Full access
Flow Editor (visual canvas)	⚠️ Limited - small screens make node editing difficult	✅ Best experience
Post Automation setup	✅ Full access	✅ Full access
Settings & account management	✅ Full access	✅ Full access
API & Integrations page	✅ Viewable, but code blocks are easier to read on desktop	✅ Full access
Team management	✅ Full access	✅ Full access

Recommendation: Use mobile for monitoring, quick edits, and toggling automations on/off. Use desktop for building complex flows in the Flow Editor.

Push Notifications for Automation Events

When you add InstantDM to your home screen as a PWA, you may receive browser-level push notifications for key automation events (such as a flow failing or a rate limit being hit). Make sure notifications are enabled in your device's browser settings for the best experience.

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5. Navigation & Dashboard

The InstantDM interface is organized around a persistent left sidebar. Here's what every menu item does and where it takes you.

Complete Sidebar Menu Walkthrough

Menu Item	Path	What It Does
Home	/ig or /	Your main landing page after login. Shows your connected account, quick-start options, and recent activity.
Instagram DM	/ig	The Instagram automation hub. Access post automations, inbox automation, flow editor, and Quick DM from here.
Facebook DM	/fb-home	Facebook-specific automation. Manage Facebook Page comment replies and Messenger automations.
Later	/later	Schedule Instagram posts for future publishing. Upload images, write captions, and set publish times.
Dashboard	/dashboard	Analytics and performance metrics. See DMs sent, links opened, CTR, heatmaps, city-level audience data, and recent automation logs.
My Plan	(opens modal)	View your current subscription, upgrade/downgrade, see credit usage, and manage billing.
API	/make-integration	API & Webhook integrations page. Configure outbound webhooks, manage API keys, and test inbound API calls.
Team	/team-settings	Team collaboration. Invite members, assign roles, manage workspaces.
Settings	(opens drawer)	Account settings including Safety & Limits, Automation Controls, AI Configuration, Integrations, and Account details.
Referrals	/referrals	Referral program dashboard. Generate referral codes, track signups, view commissions, and request withdrawals.

Dashboard Overview

The Dashboard (/dashboard) gives you a real-time view of your automation performance.

DM Stats (24h and 7d):

The top of the dashboard shows two summary cards:

Timeframe	Metrics Shown
Last 24 Hours	DMs Sent, Links Opened, CTR (Click-Through Rate)
Last 7 Days	DMs Sent, Links Opened, CTR

Charts and Heatmaps:

Chart	What It Shows
DM Hourly Trend (24h)	Bar chart of DMs sent per hour over the last 24 hours. Identifies peak engagement times.
Link Open Trend (24h)	Bar chart of link opens per hour. Compare with DMs sent to see when your audience is most responsive.
DM Sent Heatmap (7 days)	Color-coded grid showing DM volume by day and hour. Darker cells = more DMs. Use this to find your best posting times.
Last 7 Days DM Trend	Daily bar chart showing DM volume over the past week.
Link Sent vs. Opened (24h)	Side-by-side comparison of links sent and links opened per hour.
Top Audience by City (7 days)	Horizontal bar chart showing which cities your DM recipients are in.

Understanding Automation Status Indicators

On the automation list and post automation pages, you'll see status indicators:

Indicator	Meaning
Green / Active	Automation is live and responding to triggers
Gray / Paused	Automation exists but is toggled off - not responding
Draft	Flow has been saved but not published - not live
Failed	Automation encountered an error (check the recent automation log for details)

Access Control by Plan

Some features are gated behind specific plans:

Feature	Available On
Inbox Automation, Quick DM	All plans (including Free)
Flow Editor	Trendsetter and above, all Multi plans
Post Shared to DM trigger	Trendsetter and above
Boosted Reels Automation	Trendsetter and above, Multi Starter and above
API & Webhook Integrations	Trendsetter and above, all Multi plans
Smart Slowdown Mode	Trendsetter Pro and above
Advanced Dashboard	Trendsetter and above
Link Open Analytics	Trendsetter and above
Multi-account support	Multi Starter, Multi Pro, Multi Ultra only

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6. Inbox Automation (Simple Keyword Auto-Reply)

Inbox Automation is the fastest way to set up a keyword-based auto-reply. It lives at /inbox-automation in the sidebar.

What It Is and When to Use It

Inbox Automation is a simple keyword → reply lookup table. You define trigger keywords and a single reply. When someone DMs you a matching word, they get your pre-written response. No branching, no multi-step sequences, no visual editor.

Use it when: Your automation is "when someone says X, reply with Y."

Creating a New Automation Step-by-Step

1. Navigate to Inbox Automation in the sidebar (or go to /inbox-automation).
2. Click the Create Automation button at the top of the page.
3. A configuration drawer slides in from the right side of the screen.
4. Configure your trigger words and reply (see below).
5. Toggle the switches for your desired behavior.
6. Click Save to create the automation.

Configuring Triggers (Keywords, Automate All)

In the drawer, you'll see a "Message Includes" field. This is where you define the keywords that activate this automation.

• Enter one or more keywords separated by commas. Example: pricing, cost, how much, price
• Matching is case-insensitive - "Price", "PRICE", and "price" all match.
• The automation fires when the incoming message contains any of your trigger words. It doesn't need to be an exact match. If someone writes "What's the price for your service?", the word "price" triggers the automation.
• Toggle Automate All to ON if you want the automation to fire on every incoming DM, regardless of keywords.

Configuring Replies (Text, Welcome Message)

Text Reply: Enter the message text you want sent when a keyword matches. You can use emoji, line breaks, and links.

Example:

Thanks for your interest! 🎉

Our pricing starts at $29/month. Here's the full breakdown:
https://yoursite.com/pricing

Button Reply: Attach buttons to your reply. Each button has:

• A title (the text shown on the button)
• A type (web_url to open a link, or postback to trigger a flow action)
• A URL (for web_url buttons)

Image Reply: Attach an image URL to send a photo along with your text message.

Audio / Voice Note Reply: Attach an audio URL to send a voice note. The file must be publicly accessible (.ogg, .wav, or .mp3).

Welcome Message: You can optionally set a Welcome Message that fires before the main reply:

• Welcome Text - A greeting message sent first (e.g., "Hey! Thanks for reaching out 👋")
• Button Text - A CTA button shown with the welcome message (e.g., "Get Started", "Send me the link")

When enabled, the flow is: Welcome Message → User clicks button → Main reply sends.

Toggles: Followers Only, Enable DM Reply, Enable Comment Reply

Toggle	What It Does
Automate All	When ON, the automation fires on every incoming DM, regardless of keywords.
Followers Only	When ON, only users who follow your account receive the auto-reply. Non-followers are ignored. Reduces spam reports.
Enable DM Reply	Activates the DM auto-reply for this rule. Turn OFF to pause DM responses without deleting the automation.
Enable Comment Reply	When ON, the automation also auto-replies to comments on your posts that contain the trigger keywords.

Managing Existing Automations (Edit, Delete, Toggle)

The Inbox Automation page shows all your rules in a table:

Column	Description
Message Includes	The trigger keyword(s) for this rule
Reply Type	The type of reply (text, button, image, etc.)
Actions	Edit (pencil icon) and Delete (trash icon) controls

• Edit - Click the pencil icon to reopen the configuration drawer with your current settings pre-loaded. Make changes and click Save.
• Delete - Click the trash icon to permanently remove the automation. There is no confirmation dialog, so be careful.
• Toggle ON/OFF - Each automation has a status switch. Turn it OFF to pause without deleting.

Limitations vs. Flow Editor

Inbox Automation is intentionally simple. It cannot:

• Send multi-step sequences
• Branch based on user responses
• Collect data (name, email, phone)
• Use AI to generate replies
• Apply conditional logic (followers-only gates, tag contacts)

For any of these, you need the Flow Editor (covered in Part 2).

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7. Quick DM

Quick DM is a linear flow builder that sits between Inbox Automation and the full Flow Editor. It's perfect for multi-step sequences that don't need branching.

What It Is and When to Use It

Quick DM lets you build a sequence of messages that fire one after another: message 1 → delay → message 2 → image → message 3. No branching logic, but you can build multi-step drip sequences with delays, images, and voice notes.

Use it when: You want a simple sequence - trigger → message 1 → delay → message 2 → done - without branching or conditional logic.

Creating a Quick DM Automation

1. Navigate to Quick DM in the sidebar.
2. Click Create New or New Quick DM.
3. You'll see a step-by-step form interface (not a visual canvas).

Trigger Configuration

Choose how this Quick DM activates:

• DM Keyword - Fires when someone sends a DM containing your trigger word(s).
• Comment Keyword - Fires when someone comments a trigger word on your post.
• Automate All - Fires on every incoming DM regardless of keywords.

Enter your trigger words in the input field, separated by commas.

Message Configuration

Quick DM lets you add multiple messages in a linear sequence. Each step can be:

Step Type	Description
Text Message	Type your message text. Supports emoji, links, and line breaks.
Image Message	Upload or paste a URL to an image. Sent as a photo bubble in the DM.
Voice Note / Audio	Upload or paste a URL to an audio file. Sent as a playable voice note.
Delay	Add a pause between messages. Configure duration in seconds (s), minutes (m), or hours (h).

Example: 3-Step Drip Sequence

Step 1: Text  -  "Hey! Thanks for reaching out. Here's what we offer 👇"
Step 2: Image  -  [product catalog image URL]
Step 3: Delay  -  5 minutes
Step 4: Text  -  "Did you get a chance to look? Let me know if you have questions!"

Publishing and Testing

1. After building your sequence, click Save Draft. The draft is saved to Firestore under your account.
2. Click Publish to make the automation live.
3. To test, send yourself a DM from another account containing your trigger word. The sequence should fire in order.

When to Use Quick DM vs. Flow Editor

Use Quick DM When...	Use Flow Editor When...
You want a simple linear sequence	You need branching (different paths based on user responses)
No branching or conditional logic needed	You want to collect data (email, phone, name)
Faster setup than the Flow Editor	You need AI-powered replies
Drip messages with delays	You want conditional gates (followers-only, tag contacts)

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8. Choosing the Right Automation Tool

InstantDM offers three distinct automation tools. Each serves a different level of complexity.

Comparison Table: Inbox Automation vs. Quick DM vs. Flow Editor

Feature	Inbox Automation	Quick DM	Flow Editor
Interface	Table-based list	Linear step-by-step form	Visual drag-and-drop canvas
Setup time	< 1 minute	2 - 5 minutes	10+ minutes
Trigger options	DM keywords only	DM keywords, comment keywords	DM reply, comment reply, story reply, welcome message
Multi-step sequences	No (single reply)	Yes (linear)	Yes (unlimited, with branching)
Branching logic	No	No	Yes (if/else, smart replies, bool questions)
AI-powered replies	No	No	Yes (OpenAI, Claude)
Data collection	No	No	Yes (name, email, phone, address, date, rating, etc.)
Conditional gates	No	No	Yes (Followers Only, Tag Contact, Trigger Flow)
Images, audio, buttons	Limited	Yes	Yes (full rich media support)
Delay nodes	No	Yes	Yes
Analytics	Basic	Basic	Detailed per-flow insights
Draft auto-save	No	Yes	Yes
Undo/Redo	No	No	Yes
Plan required	All plans	All plans	Trendsetter+, all Multi plans
Best for	Simple FAQ auto-replies	Sequential onboarding, drip messages	Complex campaigns, AI bots, lead qualification

Decision Guide Based on Use Case

Your Use Case	Recommended Tool
"When someone says X, reply with Y"	Inbox Automation
"Send a welcome sequence with 3 messages and delays"	Quick DM
"Ask for their email, then send different content based on their answer"	Flow Editor
"Use AI to have a conversation with leads"	Flow Editor
"Auto-reply to comments on a specific post with a DM"	Post Automation (see Part 2) or Flow Editor
"Gate content behind a follow requirement"	Flow Editor
"Tag leads and send data to my CRM via webhook"	Flow Editor

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Summary: Key Takeaways from Part 1

• InstantDM is an Official Meta Business Partner that uses the Meta Graph API - your account stays safe and within Meta's terms of service.
• You need a Business or Creator Instagram account to connect. Personal accounts don't have API access.
• Facebook OAuth is the connection method. You grant four permissions and InstantDM handles the rest.
• A Facebook Page is optional - only needed for Facebook post/Messenger automation, not for Instagram DMs.
• Multi-account support lets agencies manage 3 to 20 Instagram accounts from one dashboard, depending on the plan (Multi Starter, Multi Pro, Multi Ultra).
• The mobile PWA gives you full access to monitoring and basic editing on the go. Use desktop for the Flow Editor.
• The sidebar is your navigation hub - Home, Instagram DM, Facebook DM, Later, Dashboard, My Plan, API, Team, Settings, and Referrals.
• Three automation tools serve different complexity levels: Inbox Automation (simple keyword replies), Quick DM (linear sequences), and Flow Editor (full visual builder with branching and AI).

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Continue to Part 2 for Post Automation, the Flow Editor deep dive, all node types, AI Reply configuration, and publishing flows.