Trigger When Post is Shared to DM
Reward the people who share your content. When someone sends your post to a friend via DM, InstantDM can automatically message the sharer.
What Is the Shared to DM Trigger?
Instagram lets users share posts and Reels with friends through Direct Messages. When someone taps the paper-plane icon on your post and sends it to another user, that's a share. The Shared to DM trigger in InstantDM detects this action and automatically sends a message to the person who shared your content.
This is different from comment-based automation. With comment triggers, someone has to type a keyword. With the Shared to DM trigger, the simple act of sharing your post is enough to start the automation. No keywords needed — just the share itself.
Think of it as a way to acknowledge and reward the people who are actively spreading your content. Every share is a signal of interest, and now you can respond to that signal automatically.
Why Shares Matter
Shares are one of the strongest engagement signals on Instagram. When someone shares your post via DM, they're essentially recommending your content to someone they know. That's organic word-of-mouth — and it's incredibly valuable.
Here's why you should pay attention to shares:
- Higher intent — Someone who shares your post is more engaged than someone who just likes it.
- Viral potential — Each share puts your content in front of a new audience.
- Relationship building — Responding to a share creates a personal connection with an engaged follower.
- Lead capture — Sharers are warm leads. They already like your content enough to recommend it.
How to Set Up the Shared to DM Trigger
- Navigate to Instagram DM in the left sidebar.
- Select the post or Reel you want to automate from the list.
- Scroll down to the Post Shared to DM section.
- Toggle the trigger ON.
- Configure the message the sharer will receive (text, buttons, image, or audio).
- Save your changes.
That's it. From now on, anyone who shares that specific post via DM will automatically receive your configured message.
What the Sharer Receives
When someone shares your post, they'll receive a DM from your account. You have full control over what that message looks like. Here are some ideas:
| Message Type | Example Use Case |
|---|---|
| Thank-you text | "Thanks for sharing! Here's a 10% discount code as a thank you 🎉" |
| Bonus content | "You shared our guide — here's the extended version with bonus tips!" |
| Button card | A card with "Get Your Reward" and "Browse More" buttons |
| Conversation starter | "Hey! Noticed you shared our post. What caught your eye?" |
Connecting to a Flow
For more advanced automations, you can connect the Shared to DM trigger to a flow in the Flow Editor. This lets you:
- Ask the sharer questions and collect their responses.
- Send a multi-message sequence with delays.
- Use conditional logic to personalize the conversation.
- Tag the contact for segmentation.
- Trigger webhooks to send data to your other tools.
To connect a flow, click Open Flow Editor on the post automation page and build your flow starting from the Shared to DM trigger node.
Use Cases
Viral Content Engagement
When a post starts getting shared heavily, the Shared to DM trigger lets you capitalize on that momentum. Every sharer gets a personalized message, turning passive sharing into active conversations. This is especially powerful for Reels that go viral — you can capture hundreds of warm leads automatically.
Thank-You Messages
A simple "thanks for sharing" message goes a long way. It makes your followers feel seen and appreciated, which builds loyalty and encourages them to share more of your content in the future.
Referral Programs
Use the Shared to DM trigger as part of a referral program. When someone shares your post, send them a unique referral link or discount code. This turns every share into a trackable referral opportunity.
Content Upgrades
If your post is a teaser or summary, reward sharers with the full version. For example, if you post a "5 Tips" carousel, send sharers a DM with all 20 tips. This incentivizes sharing and delivers extra value.
Plan Requirements
| Feature | Required Plan |
|---|---|
| Post Shared to DM trigger | Trendsetter and above, all Multi plans |
| Text DM reply to sharer | Trendsetter and above, all Multi plans |
| Flow Editor with Shared to DM trigger | Trendsetter and above, all Multi plans |
| Button cards and media in reply | Trendsetter and above, all Multi plans |
This trigger is not available on the Starter plan. Upgrade to Trendsetter from Settings → Subscription to unlock it.
Tips and Best Practices
- Keep the message warm and personal. A share is a compliment — respond like you'd respond to a friend recommending your work.
- Offer something exclusive. Give sharers a bonus, discount, or early access to something. This rewards the behavior and encourages more sharing.
- Don't be salesy. The sharer already likes your content. Lead with gratitude, not a hard sell.
- Combine with comment triggers. Set up both comment-based automation and the Shared to DM trigger on the same post to capture engagement from both actions.
- Monitor your automation log. Check Dashboard → Recent Automation Log to see how many shares are triggering your automation and whether messages are being delivered successfully.
Testing the Trigger
- Make sure the Shared to DM trigger is toggled ON and saved.
- Open Instagram on a different account.
- Find the automated post and tap the paper-plane icon (share button).
- Send the post to any user via DM.
- Switch back to the account that shared the post — you should receive the automated DM within seconds.
- If nothing happens, check Dashboard → Recent Automation Log for errors.
Next: Custom Reply When Instagram Blocks DM to Private Account →