Flow Editor Deep Dive
The visual, node-based canvas for building complex conversation flows with branching logic, AI replies, and data collection.
The Visual Canvas
Each element — triggers, messages, questions, AI replies, conditions — is a node (card on the canvas). Nodes are connected by edges (lines with arrows).
| Action | How To |
|---|---|
| Pan | Click and drag on empty canvas space |
| Zoom | Scroll or pinch on trackpad |
| Select node | Click on any node |
| Move node | Click and drag a node |
| Connect nodes | Drag from source handle (right) to target handle (left) |
| Delete edge | Click edge, then press Delete/Backspace |
Trigger Node (4 Trigger Types)
The Trigger Node is the entry point of every flow. You must have at least one trigger configured before publishing.
1. DM Reply Trigger
Activates when a user sends you a Direct Message. Configure trigger words, Automate All, and One-Time Only (each user triggers once).
2. Story Reply Trigger
Activates when someone replies to your Instagram Stories. Watch all stories or select specific ones.
3. Comment Reply Trigger
Activates when someone comments on your posts. Watch all posts or select specific ones.
4. Welcome Message Trigger
Creates a clickable CTA button in the DM thread. When the user taps the button, the flow starts.
💡 Tip: You can enable all four trigger types simultaneously on a single Trigger Node. The flow activates if any enabled trigger matches.
Node Types
Message Reply Node
Sends content to the user. Supports multiple message types within a single node:
- Text — Emoji, line breaks, URLs
- Image — HTTPS image URL (JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP)
- Audio / Voice Notes — OGG, WAV, MP3
- Video — MP4
- Button Templates — Card with title, description, and up to 3 buttons
- Smart Replies — Tappable suggestion chips that create branching paths
- Delays — Timed pauses (seconds, minutes, hours)
- Follow-Up Messages — Timeout-based paths if user doesn't respond
💡 Tip: Add a 2–5 second delay between messages to simulate natural typing speed. This feels more human and reduces the chance of Instagram flagging your account.
Question Node
Asks the user a question and captures their response with built-in validation.
| Type | Validation | Example |
|---|---|---|
name | Text format | "What's your full name?" |
email | Must contain @ | "What's your email address?" |
phone | Phone format | "What's your phone number?" |
address | Free text | "What's your delivery address?" |
text | No validation | "Tell me about your project" |
number | Numeric only | "What's your monthly budget?" |
date | Date format | "When would you like to meet?" |
bool | Yes/No only | "Would you like free shipping?" |
rating | 1–5 scale | "Rate your experience (1-5)" |
Responses are stored in custom variables (e.g., user_name, user_email) that you can reference later in messages like "Thanks {user_name}!"
Followers Only Gate
Checks if the user follows your account. Creates two output paths: follower path and non-follower path.
Tag Contact Node
Labels the user for segmentation (e.g., qualified-lead, pricing-inquiry). Tags can be used for filtering and conditional routing.
Trigger Flow Node
Chains to another flow. Useful for keeping flows focused and reusing common sub-flows.
AI Reply Node
Generates AI-powered responses using OpenAI or Claude. See AI Reply Configuration for full details.
Delay Node
Adds a timed pause between nodes. Configure in seconds, minutes, or hours.
Publishing Flows
Before going live, InstantDM validates:
- Flow name must be set (not "Un-named")
- At least one trigger must be configured and enabled
- AI API key must be present if using AI Reply nodes
- No orphaned edges
Undo/Redo
Undo: Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Cmd+Z (Mac). Redo: Ctrl+Shift+Z or Cmd+Shift+Z.
Sharing and Duplicating Flows
- Share — Click the Share icon on any published flow to generate a shareable URL.
- Duplicate — Click the Duplicate icon to create a copy with all nodes and configuration.
Per-Flow Webhook Toggle
Click Integrations in the Flow Editor toolbar to toggle webhooks ON/OFF for individual flows. When OFF, events from that flow are not sent to your webhook URL.
Troubleshooting
- "Trigger node required" — Add a Trigger Node and configure at least one trigger type.
- "AI node requires API key" — Go to Settings → AI Configuration and enter your API key.
- "Flow name required" — Click the flow name at the top and give it a name.
Next: AI Reply Configuration →