How do I create a flow from a template?

A template is a ready-made flow with its steps already connected. You still need to put in your own words, links and prices.

Before you start

• You need Trendsetter and above.
• Use a laptop or computer.
• The AI Receptionist (Claude) template needs your own Anthropic API key. See add an AI key.

Steps

1. Click Flow Automation in the left sidebar, then New Flow Automation.
2. Click Instagram or Facebook. You’ll see “Create a new Instagram flow automation” (or Facebook).
3. Under Or start from a template, click a template in the left list. The right side shows a preview of its steps.
4. Click Use this template. You’ll see “Template "" loaded successfully!” and the steps on the canvas.
5. Click the Trigger card and check what starts the flow.
   • Comment templates are set to any post. To use one Reel only, choose IG Posts under Step 1 · Select the posts and pick it.
   • Check the trigger words. Change them to the word you’ll ask people to comment.
6. For a comment template, finish the two parts the template leaves empty:
   • Step 3 · Welcome message: click the sample sentence “Thanks for commenting — type {{ for variables” and replace it with your own title, for example “Tap below to get your free guide”. The sample sentence looks like real text, but it is only a placeholder.
   • Step 4 · Reply to comment: add at least one public reply, for example “Sent you a DM, check your inbox”.
7. Click every step and replace the sample content (see the table below). Change prices, links and wording to your own.
8. Click Preview at the top right to walk through the conversation.
9. Click Set Live. You’ll see “Changes Published.”

The 8 templates

Template	Starts when	What it does	Replace before Set Live
Lead Collection (Leads)	Comment with “interested”, “info” or “details”	Asks name, email and phone, then tags them lead	Welcome title, public reply
Link Delivery + Reminder (Engagement)	Comment with “link” or “guide”	Sends a button with your link, reminds after 30 min if no reply	The button URL https://example.com/replace-me, welcome title, public reply
Story Email Collector (Leads)	Story reply with “join”	Asks email (only if not known), tags email-subscriber	Message text. Instagram only
AI Receptionist (Claude) (AI)	Every DM	AI replies to every incoming DM	The business description “Describe your business here…”
Event / Webinar Registration (Leads)	Comment with “join” or “register”	Asks name and email, confirms, tags registered	Event details, welcome title, public reply
Price Inquiry (Sales)	Comment with “price” or “cost”	Sends a price list, asks for a WhatsApp number	The $XX prices, welcome title, public reply
Followers-Only Giveaway (Engagement)	Comment with “giveaway” or “win”	Followers get confirmed and tagged, others are asked to follow	Welcome title, public reply
Feedback & Rating (Engagement)	DM with “feedback”	Star rating, asks permission to share, tags reviewed	Message text

On the phone app

You can’t create flows in the InstantDM app. Use the web app at app.instantdm.com on a computer. The app can show your flows and the people in them under Flows.

What your followers see

• In comment templates, the first DM is your welcome title with one button. The rest only runs after they tap it.
• Their comment gets one of your public replies, picked at random.
• Anything you forgot to replace is sent as it is, for example $XX or the sample link.

The AI Receptionist (Claude) template answers every DM your account receives as soon as it’s live. To test it first, change its trigger to a word like “test” and DM that word from another Instagram account.

Good to know

• Phone questions accept digits only, with an optional + (for example +919876543210 or +14155550123). Spaces or dashes are rejected. Tell people that in the question text.
• If two live flows use the same trigger word, only the one published most recently runs.
• The flow saves as a draft while you edit. Followers get nothing until Set Live.

What you can’t do

• Save your own flows as templates or edit the template list.
• Filter templates by platform.

How to turn it off

In Flow Automation, switch off the flow’s row and click Yes, Unpublish. See turn a flow on or off.

If it doesn’t work

• “Comment Reply: A welcome message title is required.” → write a title in Step 3 · Welcome message. Make sure you replaced the sample sentence “Thanks for commenting — type {{ for variables”.
• “Comment Reply: At least one comment response word is required.” → add a public reply in Step 4 · Reply to comment.
• “AI API key missing” → save your key in Account Settings → AI Configuration. See add an AI key.
• Story Email Collector on Facebook has no trigger → Facebook has no story replies. Turn on DM Reply or Comment Reply in the Trigger card.
• Other errors: see what the Set Live errors mean.