# Your first automation — Reachlee Docs

> Build a comment-to-DM automation that sends a link, from choosing the post to going live.

# Your first automation

Build a comment-to-DM automation that sends a link, from choosing the post to going live.

The most common automation: someone comments a keyword on your post, Reachlee replies publicly and sends them a DM with a button to your link.

### [Pick the post](#pick-the-post)Copy Anchor Link

In **Automations → New**, choose a post or reel. On Pro you can also choose **any post**, **your next post**, or several specific posts in one automation.

### [Choose the keyword](#choose-the-keyword)Copy Anchor Link

Add one or more words people should comment, for example `LINK` or `GUIDE`. Matching ignores case. Leave it empty to react to every comment.

### [Write the messages](#write-the-messages)Copy Anchor Link

The **public reply** goes under their comment. The **opening DM** has a button they tap. The **link DM** carries your link. Each has sensible defaults you can keep.

### [Go live](#go-live)Copy Anchor Link

Click **Publish**. The automation fires within seconds of a matching comment. Open the automation any time for insights: DMs sent, clicks, click-through rate and skipped triggers.

## [Testing it](#testing-it)Copy Anchor Link

Comment from a **different** Instagram account than the one that owns the post. Instagram does not send comment events for the owner's own comments, so testing from your own account looks like a failure when nothing is wrong.

## [Good to know](#good-to-know)Copy Anchor Link

* One private reply per comment is allowed by Instagram, so the link to a non-follower is sent as text first and the button follows once they tap or reply.
* Reachlee sends free-form DMs only inside Instagram's 24-hour window after the person's last message. Follow-ups are capped at 20 hours for that reason.
* Everyone who comments becomes a **contact**. Ask for an email or phone in the flow to turn contacts into leads.

[Connect your accountsConnect Instagram professional accounts and Facebook Pages to a Reachlee workspace.](/docs/getting-started/connect-accounts/)[PlansWhat each Reachlee plan includes, and which features are gated.](/docs/getting-started/plans/)

---
Source: https://www.reachlee.co/docs/getting-started/first-automation