Can I automate a collab post?

Before you start

• A collab post is one Instagram post shared by two accounts, for example a brand and a creator.
• The account that wants to run the automation needs an unlock for that post (a Collab Post Add-ons purchase).
• The account that owns the post must approve the access in InstantDM.

Steps

1. Open Quick Automation, click the Instagram tab and choose Collabs. Posts you are tagged in show Unlock to Automate.
2. Click the post. The Collab Post Automation window explains the steps.
3. Unlock the post:
   • If you have unlocks left, click Unlock & Automate This Post.
   • If not, click Unlock This Post and choose a pack in Collab Post Add-ons.
4. In the editor, if you see “Permission Error” (“Looks like @name has not given access to you.”), click Request Access (the owner uses InstantDM) or Invite to InstantDM (they don’t).
5. Click Copy Message and send the message and link to the post owner, for example in Instagram DMs or WhatsApp.
6. When the owner has approved, open the post again and set up trigger words, the public reply and the DM as usual.
7. Under Automation Credits, choose whose credits pay in Use credits from:.
8. Click Publish.

If you own the post (approving a request)

• Open the link you received. It shows the request and “Manage automation for a collab post”.
• Log in as the Instagram account that owns the post. If you are logged in as another account, click Logout & Switch Account.
• Click Review Request, choose what the other account may do, and accept. You’ll see Invitation Accepted, then Go to Dashboard.
• Later, open the post and use its Collaborators tab to change permissions: View Automation Configuration, Edit Automation and View Comments (Public Data).

On the phone app

The app has no Collabs list, so you can’t unlock or set up someone else’s collab post from your phone. Use the web app at app.instantdm.com.

If you own the post, you can answer requests in the app: open the post’s Manage Post → Collaborators tab, tap the request, choose View Automation or Edit Automation (View Contacts is always on), and tap Approve or Decline. The Automation Credits section lets you pick My Credits or the brand’s. Request links open in the browser, not in the app.

What your followers see

The same as any comment automation: people who comment your word on the collab post get the DM, and a public reply if you turned it on.

Good to know

• Each unlock is for one post.
• Until the owner approves, the editor shows the permission error and nothing is sent.
• Collab posts are not in New Automation. Start from Quick Automation → Instagram → Collabs.
• The unlock window may say “You’ve used your free unlock. Upgrade for more.” Plan on buying an unlock for each collab post.

What you can’t do

• Automate a collab post without the owner’s approval.
• Use your plan instead of an unlock for collab posts.
• Automate collab posts on Facebook.

How to turn it off

Open the post from Quick Automation → Instagram → Collabs and switch off its Send Link or PDF card. See turn off, edit or delete an automation.

If it doesn’t work

• “Permission Error”: the owner hasn’t approved yet. Send the request link again.
• The owner sees “Brand is out of collaboration credits. Please inform the brand to purchase more credits.” when approving: the account that asked for access needs another unlock before the approval can go through.
• “Please login as @owner to approve access.”: the owner is not logged in. Click Continue With Instagram and log in as the post’s owner.
• “Account Mismatch”: the owner is logged in with a different account. Use Logout & Switch Account.