Instagram DM automation glossary
The words you’ll meet when you automate Instagram DMs, in plain English, with how linkpls handles each where it matters.
Access token
A key Instagram gives an app after you log in and approve it. The app uses it to act for your account within the permissions you granted. It isn’t your password, and you can revoke it from Instagram’s settings.
AI copilot
The part of linkpls that writes for you: your DM, up to ten versions of it picked at random, public replies, keyword ideas and draft answers, in English, Hindi or Hinglish. It writes drafts; you approve what goes out. On Pro. How linkpls uses AI →
Any comment
An automation setting that answers every comment on a post, whatever it says, instead of only comments with a keyword. When to use Any comment →
Automation
In linkpls, one rule: what starts it (a comment, story reply, share or mention), on which posts, and what gets sent. Automations can be drafts, live or paused.
Business account
One of Instagram’s two professional account types, made for shops, brands, local businesses and organisations. It can connect to tools like linkpls. How to switch →
Call to action (CTA)
The line that tells people what to do next, such as “Comment GUIDE and I’ll send it to you.”
Catch-up
A linkpls option that goes back once through comments from the last 24 hours, 3 days or 7 days when an automation goes live, so earlier commenters get the DM too. About catch-up →
Creator account
One of Instagram’s two professional account types, made for creators, public figures, artists and influencers. It can connect to tools like linkpls.
DM (direct message)
A private message on Instagram, sent to someone’s Direct inbox.
Engagement rate
How much people interact with your posts relative to your audience. By followers: (likes + comments + saves + shares) ÷ posts ÷ followers × 100. Calculate yours →
Follow to unlock
Asking people to follow you before you send what they asked for. In linkpls, the link arrives once Instagram confirms the follow, or, if it can’t, as you’ve chosen. About follow to unlock →
ig.me link
Instagram’s short link for messages. ig.me/m/ followed by a username opens a new conversation with that account. Make one →
Instagram API with Instagram Login
Meta’s official way for apps to work with Instagram professional accounts: reading comments, replying and sending messages, after you approve the app through Instagram’s own login. No Facebook Page is needed.
Keyword
The word people comment, or reply to your story with, to get your DM: LINK, GUIDE, RECIPE. linkpls matches it whole, ignoring capitals. Choosing a keyword →
Lead
Someone who has shared contact details with you, such as an email or phone number. In linkpls, leads collected in DMs appear on the Leads page and export as a CSV.
Lead magnet
Something free you offer in exchange for contact details or a follow: a guide, a checklist, a discount or a recipe. Collect emails from comments →
Link in bio
The clickable links in your Instagram profile. People have to leave the post and visit your profile to find them, which is one reason creators send links by DM instead.
Messaging window
After someone messages a business account, the business can reply for 24 hours. The window reopens whenever they message again.
Opt-out (STOP)
Replying with just STOP, UNSUBSCRIBE or CANCEL to a linkpls DM. The person gets one confirmation and isn’t messaged again by any of that account’s automations.
Private reply
A DM sent in response to a public comment. Instagram allows one private reply per comment, within 7 days of the comment. Instagram’s DM limits →
Professional account
An Instagram Business or Creator account. Only professional accounts can connect to DM automation tools. Switching is free.
Public reply
A reply posted under a comment, visible to everyone. linkpls can post one alongside the DM, picked at random from up to ten you write.
Rate limit
The most calls an app may make in a period. Meta documents 750 private replies an hour per Instagram professional account; linkpls sends at most 200 DMs an hour.
Story mention
When someone tags your account in their Instagram story. Mentions arrive in your DMs, where linkpls can reply.
Story reply
A message someone sends by replying to your story. It lands in your DMs. Automate story replies →
Variants
Different versions of the same DM, rotated so messages don’t repeat word for word. In linkpls, the AI copilot on Pro writes up to ten, and each DM goes out as one of them, picked at random.
Webhook
A notice Instagram sends to an app the moment something happens, such as a new comment or message. It’s how automations answer in seconds.
Pick the word you’re tired of typing.
Connect Instagram, choose a keyword, and let your next post answer itself.
Official Instagram API · no card · cancel any time
Comment-to-DM
Automation that sends a direct message to people who comment on a post, usually when they use a particular keyword. How it works in linkpls →