Keyword-Triggered Automations
Keyword-triggered automations are the core of Lazyspond. They allow you to automatically reply to followers when they mention a specific word or phrase, capturing leads 24/7 without any manual work.
How It Works
When a follower replies to your Story or comments on your post with a keyword you've set up, Lazyspond instantly sends them a personalized message. This happens in seconds, before they even have time to close Instagram.
The Flow
- Follower triggers keyword → Replies to your Story with "GUIDE" or comments "GUIDE" on your post
- Lazyspond detects it → Instantly recognizes the keyword match
- Automated reply sent → Your custom message is delivered to their DMs
- Lead captured → Their info is recorded in your dashboard
All of this happens automatically, 24/7, even while you sleep.
Trigger Types
Lazyspond supports two types of keyword triggers:
Story Keywords
Activates when a user replies to your Stories with your keyword.
Best for:
- Time-sensitive offers ("LIMITED TIME OFFER")
- Quick engagement ("REACT")
- Immediate CTAs ("BOOK NOW")
How it works:
- You post a Story
- Followers reply to your Story with your keyword
- Lazyspond sends them an automated DM
Example:
- Story: "Just launched my new course! Reply COURSE for details"
- Follower replies: "COURSE"
- Automated reply: "Amazing! Here's your exclusive link: [link]"
Comment Keywords
Activates when a user comments your keyword on your Posts or Reels.
Best for:
- Evergreen content (always available)
- Ongoing offers (no time limit)
- Building momentum (more comments = more leads)
How it works:
- You post a photo, video, or Reel
- Followers comment your keyword
- Lazyspond sends them an automated DM
Example:
- Post: "Free guide inside! Comment GUIDE below"
- Follower comments: "GUIDE"
- Automated reply: "Thanks! Here's your guide: [link]"
Using Both Trigger Types
You can set up the same keyword to trigger on both Story replies AND comments. This maximizes your reach:
- Users who see your Story can reply with the keyword
- Users who see your post can comment with the keyword
- Both actions trigger the same (or different) automated replies
Recommendation: Use "Both" for maximum lead capture unless you have a specific reason to limit to one trigger type.
Keyword Matching Rules
Understanding how Lazyspond matches keywords is crucial for setting up effective automations.
Case Insensitivity
Keywords are case-insensitive, meaning uppercase and lowercase are treated the same.
| Keyword | Will Match | Won't Match |
|---|---|---|
| GUIDE | guide, Guide, GUIDE, gUiDe | GDE, GUID |
| Promo | PROMO, promo, Promo | Pro, Prom |
| Book | BOOK, book, Book | Boo, Bok |
Substring Matching
Keywords use substring matching, meaning the keyword just needs to appear somewhere in the message — users don't need to type it exactly.
| Keyword | User Input | Matches? |
|---|---|---|
| GUIDE | "GUIDE" | ✅ Yes |
| GUIDE | "Can I get the guide?" | ✅ Yes |
| GUIDE | "Send me your guide please" | ✅ Yes |
| GUIDE | "GDE" | ❌ No |
| GUIDE | "GUID" | ❌ No |
This flexibility is powerful because users can ask naturally without worrying about exact wording.
Minimum Length
Keywords must be at least 2 characters long. This prevents accidental triggers from common words like "a" or "I".
Special Characters
Keywords can include:
- Letters (A-Z, a-z)
- Numbers (0-9)
- Spaces (e.g., "FREE GUIDE")
- Hyphens (e.g., "GET-STARTED")
Keywords cannot include:
- Emojis
- Symbols (@, #, $, %, etc.)
- Punctuation (!, ?, .)
Setting Up Multiple Keywords
You can create different automations for different keywords, each with its own reply message.
Example Setup
| Keyword | Reply | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| GUIDE | "Here's your free guide: [link]" | Lead magnet |
| PROMO | "Use code SAVE20 for 20% off" | Discount |
| DEMO | "Book a demo here: [link]" | Sales |
| PRICING | "Our plans start at $9/month" | Info |
| BOOK | "Schedule a call: [link]" | Booking |
Benefits of Multiple Keywords
- Track what works — See which offers get the most interest
- Segment your audience — Different keywords attract different people
- Test messaging — Try different CTAs and see which resonates
- Organize your funnel — Guide people to different offers based on their interest
Best Practices
1. Choose Clear, Specific Keywords
✅ Good keywords:
- GUIDE (specific, memorable)
- PRICING (clear intent)
- DEMO (action-oriented)
- BOOK (direct CTA)
❌ Bad keywords:
- HI (too generic, will trigger accidentally)
- OK (too common)
- YES (ambiguous)
- A (too short)
2. Make Keywords Easy to Remember
- Keep them short (1-2 words)
- Use all caps for visibility
- Avoid complex spelling
- Make them relevant to your offer
3. Clearly Communicate Your Keywords
In your Stories and posts, explicitly tell people what to do:
- "Reply GUIDE for my free guide"
- "Comment PROMO for a discount code"
- "DM BOOK to schedule a call"
Don't assume people will guess your keywords.
4. Use Keywords That Match Your Offer
- GUIDE → for guides, resources, PDFs
- PROMO → for discounts, coupons, codes
- DEMO → for product demos, videos
- BOOK → for bookings, calls, consultations
- PRICING → for pricing info, plans
5. Test Different Keywords
Try different keywords and track which ones get the most engagement:
- Week 1: Test "GUIDE"
- Week 2: Test "FREE GUIDE"
- Week 3: Test "RESOURCE"
Check your analytics to see which keyword resonates most with your audience.
Keyword Limits
Different plans have different limits on how many automations (keywords) you can create:
| Plan | Max Automations | Monthly Replies |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 3 | 100 |
| Starter | 7 | 500 |
| Pro | Unlimited | 2,000 |
| Premium | Unlimited | 6,000 |
If you hit your automation limit, you can:
- Pause or delete old automations
- Upgrade to a higher plan
- Combine multiple keywords into one automation
The 24-Hour Messaging Window
Important: Meta enforces a 24-hour customer service window for API bots. Here's what that means:
- Once a user interacts with you (replies to your Story or comments), you have 24 hours to send them messages
- After 24 hours, the conversation closes unless they engage again
- This prevents spam and protects user privacy
Example:
- User replies to your Story at 2:00 PM on Monday
- You can send them messages until 2:00 PM on Tuesday
- After that, they need to engage again to reopen the window
See Understanding the 24-Hour Messaging Rule for more details.
Troubleshooting
Automations Not Triggering?
See Automations Not Triggering for detailed troubleshooting steps.
Users Not Receiving Replies?
This usually means:
- You've hit your monthly reply limit
- The 24-hour window has closed
- Your account is disconnected
See Troubleshooting for solutions.
Next Steps
- Add dynamic content: Learn about Dynamic Placeholders
- Test variations: Set up Reply Variations
- Guide new visitors: Add Icebreakers
- Track performance: Check Analytics & Metrics