How do I set up an automation before I post? (caption code)

Before you start

• You need Legend Pro or a higher plan.
• A caption code is a short word you put in your caption so InstantDM knows which new post the automation belongs to. Rules: 3 to 30 characters, only letters, numbers, _ or -.
• Each waiting automation needs its own code.

Steps

1. On Home, click New Automation → Comment to DM.
2. Under “Which posts?”, click Next post (“A post you haven’t uploaded yet”).
3. Tick Instagram, Facebook or both, then click Next.
4. Click Send Link & PDF (the only option for a next post).
5. On “Configure your Next Post automation”, look at Caption code. It is filled with a suggestion such as IDM1. Type your own if you like, for example SUMMERDROP.
   • With both platforms ticked, you get one code box per platform. The codes must be different.
6. Set your trigger words, public reply and DM as for any post.
7. Click Publish. You’ll see “Next post automation saved” with your code and a Copy button.
8. When you upload the post, paste the code anywhere in the caption.

Other way in: Quick Automation → Instagram (or Facebook) → Next Post Automation → Create next post (“Get a caption code for your upcoming post”). Waiting automations are listed there with “Code: …” and “Paste this code in your post caption”. Click one to edit it.

On the phone app

Tap Instagram on Home, open Posts and tap Next Post Automation. Tap + Create New Next Post Automation, build it and tap Publish. You’ll see “Next Post Automation setup done”.

The app has no caption code. An automation made in the app attaches to your next new post whose caption has none of your caption codes. If you mix app and web next-post automations, use codes for all the web ones.

What your followers see

Nothing special. They comment on your new post and get the DM, as on any automated post. The caption code is just a word in your caption, so pick one that looks natural, like #SUMMERDROP.

Good to know

• The automation attaches when the first comment arrives on the new post. InstantDM reads the caption at that moment and answers that first comment a few seconds later.
• The code must appear as a whole word. Extra letters glued to it, like SUMMERDROPsale, won’t match.
• If a caption contains two of your codes, the longer code wins.
• After it attaches, the automation becomes that post’s own automation. You’ll find it under Quick Automation → Instagram → Posts.
• With both platforms, the second code is filled with your code plus FB or IG. You can change it.

What you can’t do

• Use Lead Gen or Flow Automation on a next post from New Automation.
• Attach by anything other than the caption code (for example by date or by post type).
• Reuse a code that another waiting automation already has.

How to turn it off

Open the waiting automation from Quick Automation → Next Post Automation and change it, or leave the code out of your caption so it never attaches. Once attached, turn it off like any post: see turn off, edit or delete an automation.

If it doesn’t work

• “Caption code must be 3-30 characters: letters, numbers, _ or - only.”: shorten the code or remove spaces and symbols.
• “Use a different caption code for each platform.”: give Instagram and Facebook different codes.
• “Caption code … is already used by another next-post automation. Pick a different code.”: choose a new code.
• Next stays grey after choosing Next post: you may have used all next-post automations on your plan (“See plans”).
• The automation didn’t start on the new post: see Why didn’t my next-post automation start on my new post?