How do I make people follow me before they get the link?

Before you start

• The follow gate is on Legend Pro and above.
• Set up a comment or story automation with Send Link or PDF first: send a DM when someone comments.
• It works on Instagram posts, Reels and stories. It is not available on Facebook.

Steps

1. Go to Quick Automation → Instagram → Posts (or Stories) and click the post. Click the Send Link or PDF card.
   • For a new automation: New Automation → Comment to DM → Existing posts → pick the post → Next → Send Link & PDF.
2. Turn on Ask audience to follow you before sending link!.
   • You’ll see the tag “Will send this only to non-followers.” on the follow card, and “Will send this only to followers.” on your DM.
3. Edit the follow card if you like. Click its text to change it. The default is:
   • Title: ”🔓 Follow to Unlock Exclusive Content”
   • Description: ”👋 Looks like you haven’t followed me yet! 🤔 Follow to unlock exclusive content! 🔓”
   • Buttons: Open Profile and Started following you! 👍
4. Check your link under Send a DM!.
5. Click Publish.

On the phone app

1. Open Instagram → Posts (or Stories) and tap the post.
2. Tap the Send Link or Images card.
3. Turn on Follow For Link (“Ask audience to follow you before sending links.”).
4. Edit Title, Description and the two button texts, then tap Publish.

What your followers see

1. They comment your keyword.
2. If they already follow you, they get your link.
3. If not, they get the follow card. Open Profile opens your Instagram profile.
4. After following, they tap Started following you! 👍. InstantDM checks again and sends the link.
5. If they still don’t follow, the same card comes back.

Good to know

• The follow gate can also be a step in other editors:
  • In a Lead Gen or DM automation, add a Followers Only step. It has an option Move to next step if not followed.
  • In Flow Automation (Trendsetter and above), add a Followers only step and connect Follows you and Doesn’t follow you to different messages.
• If Instagram refuses a DM because the person doesn’t follow you, InstantDM posts a public reply under their comment instead, using your Comment Reply for Non-Followers text. See DMs to non-followers.

What you can’t do

• Limit how many times someone can tap Started following you! 👍.
• Send a different message on the second try.
• Use the follow gate on Facebook posts.
• Guarantee that only followers get the link.

How to turn it off

Open the post’s Send Link or PDF card, turn off Ask audience to follow you before sending link! and click Publish.

If it doesn’t work

• The switch has a crown: your plan doesn’t include it.
• The follow card keeps coming: see why does the follow message keep coming?.
• Nobody gets anything: see why didn’t my automation send a DM?.