Instagram DM Templates and Comment Keywords by Creator Type

Setting up "comment for link" takes a few minutes. Deciding what people should comment, and what your DM should say, is the part that takes thought. Below are Instagram DM templates and comment keywords grouped by creator type, plus public replies, story mention thank-yous and replies for DM keywords like PRICE and MENU. Copy any of them into your automation and change the details to fit your offer.

Every DM template uses {{sender_name}} for the person's name, and every link is a placeholder, so swap https://yourlink.com/... for your own. If you're planning a whole setup rather than one post, start with Instagram automation for creators.

How to choose comment keywords for Instagram

The keyword is the word people type to get your DM. A good one is easy to type, hard to type by accident, and clearly tied to what you're offering.

• One short word. People comment with one thumb, often while the Reel is still playing. RECIPE, PLAN or SHADE is easy; "SEND ITINERARY" is not.
• Unique to the offer. If you run several automations, give each its own keyword, such as KURTA for the haul and DIWALI for the sale code, so the right DM goes out.
• Not a word people use anyway. NICE, WOW or SUPER turn up in ordinary comments, and your DM would go to people who were only being friendly.
• Hinglish-friendly. If your audience comments in Hinglish, pick words they already type, like LINK, PRICE or RECIPE, and add the spellings they really use as extra keywords: chahiye, chaiye and chahie are all out there.
• No hidden matches. With a "Contains" match, a keyword also matches inside longer words. LINK sits inside LinkedIn and RATE sits inside great, so "great video" would match RATE.
• The same word everywhere. Use the exact spelling in the caption, on screen and in any pinned comment.

Match modes in plain words

• Contains any keyword: the comment needs at least one of your keywords anywhere in it, so "link pls" and "LINK chahiye" both match LINK. A sensible default for most posts.
• Contains all keywords: the comment needs every keyword you added. You'll rarely need it.
• Exact match: the whole comment must be one of your keywords, so "LINK 🙏" won't match. Use it when your keyword also turns up in normal comments.
• Reply to every comment: no keyword at all. Every new comment gets the DM, which suits a post where any comment means "send it to me".

In Comment Kro, capital letters don't matter, so LINK, Link and link all count.

How to write the DM

People read these DMs on a phone, often from Message requests, often mid-scroll. If you're short on DM ideas for Instagram, start with the question people keep asking in your comments, then follow these steps:

1. Thank them by name. "Hi {{sender_name}}, thanks for commenting!" is enough.
2. Deliver what you promised. The link or code is the point of the message, so don't bury it under a paragraph.
3. Give one next step. Save the chat, book a slot or reply with a question. One, not three.
4. Keep it under about 300 characters. You can write up to 2,000, but a short DM gets read on a small screen.
5. Put the link last or on its own line, so it's easy to tap and no full stop sticks to the end of it.
6. Disclose affiliate links. If you earn a commission, say so in plain words. It's honest, and ASCI's influencer advertising guidelines in India expect material connections with brands to be disclosed.

Comment for link templates by creator type

Each template shows the keyword, the DM and an optional public reply that goes under the comment. Change the product, place and link, and keep the shape.

Affiliate and deal creators

Deal pages often post several Reels a day. Give each Reel its own automation with "Specific posts" selected, and LINK on today's Reel and LINK on yesterday's will each send the right product. More in Instagram automation for affiliate creators.

Fashion and beauty creators

Followers want the exact shade, size or product, so name the keyword after it. More in Instagram automation for fashion and beauty creators.

Fitness coaches and creators

Fitness audiences comment for plans and meal ideas. Deliver the plan, then point to one action. More in Instagram automation for fitness coaches.

Food creators

Recipe Reels skip the details, so put them in the DM: measurements, timings and swaps. More in Instagram automation for food creators.

Coaches and course creators

For coaches, the comment is often the first step towards a call or a course, so make that step easy. More in Instagram automation for coaches and course creators.

Online stores

For shops, a comment usually means "price?" or "available?", so answer that and link straight to the product page. More in Instagram automation for online stores.

Travel creators

Travel followers comment to save a trip for later, so make the DM worth keeping. Destination names make good keywords: short, unique and easy to remember.

Real estate

Property enquiries need details, not a pitch. Send the brochure first, and if the project is RERA-registered, include its registration number just as you would in an ad.

Salons, gyms and cafes

Local businesses mostly need people to book or walk in. Keep the DM practical: what it costs, when you're open and how to book.

Musicians and artists

Fans comment for tickets, chords and commissions. Keep the DM short and let the link do the work.

Public reply templates

The public reply goes under the person's comment. It tells them to check their inbox and shows everyone else scrolling the comments that the keyword works. In Comment Kro, "Reply publicly after sending the DM" is on by default with "I just sent you a DM. Please check your inbox." You can swap in your own line, up to 500 characters:

• "Sent! Check your DMs 📩"
• "DM bhej diya, check karo 🙂"
• "Thanks! Sent you in DM."
• "Done! If you don't follow me, it's in your message requests."
• "Link is in your inbox. Happy shopping!"
• "Recipe bhej di, enjoy cooking!"

Mentioning Requests saves you a round of "didn't get it" comments from people who don't follow you yet. Leave {{sender_name}} out of public replies; the reply already sits right under their comment.

Story mention thank-you templates

When someone mentions you in their story, a story mention automation can send them a DM. Keywords don't apply and there's no public reply, just the DM, so keep it warm and short:

• "Thank you for the shoutout, {{sender_name}}! It really made my day."
• "Thanks for sharing us in your story, {{sender_name}}! Here's 10% off your next order as a thank-you, code STORY10: https://yourlink.com/shop"
• "So glad you enjoyed your visit, {{sender_name}}! Show this chat at the counter next time and your cold coffee is on us."
• "Thanks for the mention, {{sender_name}}! If you haven't grabbed it yet, the free guide from my last Reel is here: https://yourlink.com/guide"

DM keyword templates for PRICE, MENU and SIZE

A "Direct message" trigger replies when someone DMs you a keyword, which suits the questions you answer again and again. That's what an Instagram DM auto reply is for. Tell people about it in your bio or stories, for example "DM us MENU". The person messaged you first, so there's no public reply, just the DM.

Add the words people really type, such as PRICE, RATE and "kitna" for prices, but remember the hidden-match catch: RATE also matches "great", so a DM saying "great work!" would get your price list. And think twice before turning on "Reply to every message" for DMs: every brand, friend and customer who messages you would get the same reply.

Before you post

1. Copy a template into the Message step and change the product, place and link.
2. Use the same keyword in the caption, on screen and in any pinned comment.
3. Test from a second Instagram account, since comments from your own account won't trigger it: comment the keyword, check Requests and tap the link.
4. Once it's live, read the real comments and add any spellings people use that you missed.