Send Private DMs on Instagram Without an Initial Client Message

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Send Private DMs on Instagram Without an Initial Client Message

Hi everyone,

If you want to automatically reply to users who comment on your Instagram Professional posts using Make, you can use the Instagram Private Replies API :fire:. This method allows you to bypass the validation of the first message from the client, enabling you to initiate a direct message (DM) without waiting for the user to message you first. You can also customize the payload to continue the interaction seamlessly.

How Private Replies Work
Private Replies allow you to send a single direct message to a person who has commented on your Instagram content (post, ad, reel, or live story).

Important:

  • The reply must be sent within 7 days of the comment.
  • You can only send one reply per comment.
  • After the private reply, the conversation can continue if the user responds (24-hour messaging window).
-Endpoint: POST https://graph.facebook.com/v22.0/{PAGE_ID}/messages
-Headers:
Content-Type: application/json
-Body:
{
  "recipient": {
    "comment_id": "COMMENT_ID"
  },
  "message": {
    "text": "Thank you for your comment!"
  },
  "access_token": "PAGE_ACCESS_TOKEN"
}

In my case, I used a message with buttons to customize the payload and enable continuity with other automations.

{
    "text": "¿Do you want info of {{8.`2`}}?",
    "quick_replies": [
      {
        "content_type": "text",
        "title": "Yes, please",
        "payload":"{{8.`2`}}"
      },
      {
        "content_type": "text",
        "title": "No, thanks",
        "payload": "NO_THANKS"
      }
    ]
  }

I hope it helps you

1 Like
2

Hey Fidel! This is super helpful, we were able to get this to work. However there is one nuance we are struggling with

Whenever we send the first message from someone not following us when they comment on a post, it asks for permission to the user to accept the request. After they accept the request, it does not seem to show the initial message.
Any ideas why this is the case and how to fix this? This seems to work when commenting from a non following business account but not from when commenting from a non following user account

3

I did test some cases… in my case .. .when a user doesn’t follow us, he receives a request DM via… and once he accept us, he can see the complete message. I don’t know why you get that error