Opening Message

The opening message is the first DM someone receives, and the button underneath it. For comment-triggered flows it's the most important thing you'll write.

Why it exists

Instagram allows a business exactly one private reply per comment. That single message is the opening message. Everything after it — your links, images, lead form — can only be sent once the person replies or taps a button, because that's what opens the 24-hour messaging window.

So the opening message has one job: get the tap.

They comment  →  opening message + button  →  they tap  →  the rest of the flow
                 (your one free message)      (window opens)

Configuring it

In the Opening Message card:

1. Switch the toggle On.
2. Message — up to 1,000 characters. This is the DM body.
3. Button label — up to 20 characters. This is the tappable quick reply.

Message:      Hey! I've got the guide ready for you 🎁
              Tap below and I'll send it straight over 👇
Button label: Send me the link

If you leave the button label empty, InfluDM uses a sensible default (Send it to me for comment triggers, Continue for DM triggers).

When it's required

Trigger	Opening message
Comments on post/reel	Required if the flow has any response steps
Comments on live	Required if the flow has any response steps
Direct messages	Optional
Story replies	Optional

A comment flow with response steps and no opening message can't be activated — the builder lists it as an error.

A comment flow with no response steps is allowed: it just posts the public comment reply and stops.

Writing one that gets tapped

• Say what they get. "Tap below for the 20-minute meal plan" beats "Tap below".
• Keep it short. It's a DM preview, not a landing page.
• Make the button an action. Send me the link, Yes please, Get the guide — not OK.
• Match the comment. If they commented "PLAN", the message should mention the plan.

What counts as engagement

Any of these releases the rest of the flow:

• Tapping the button.
• Sending any free-text reply while the flow waits at the opener.

Once that happens, the response steps run in order.

If quick replies aren't supported

Some private-reply targets reject buttons. When that happens InfluDM automatically re-sends the opening message as plain text — a typed reply resumes the flow just the same, so nobody gets stuck.

On DM and story-reply flows

Here the messaging window is already open, so the opening message is optional. Switch it on when you want a confirmation-style first beat ("Got it! Want the full breakdown?") before the main sequence. Leave it off and the response steps start immediately.

What happens if nobody taps

The conversation sits and waits. It is not retried, and no further message is sent — the one private reply has been spent.

The one exception is the follow-up nudge, and it deliberately does not reach silent commenters: it only goes to people who did tap the opener and then stalled at a later gate.