> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.willosend.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Get Started with WilloSend: First Automation in Minutes

> Set up your first Instagram DM automation in minutes. Follow these steps to connect your account, create a campaign, and go live with keyword triggers.

WilloSend is designed to get you from zero to a live DM automation in the time it takes to write an Instagram caption. This guide walks you through every step — from creating your account to writing a caption CTA that tells your audience exactly what to comment.

## Before you start

You need an **Instagram Business or Creator account** to use WilloSend. Personal accounts don't have access to Meta's messaging API, which WilloSend relies on to send DMs safely and compliantly. Switching is free and takes about two minutes inside the Instagram app. See [account requirements](/help/account-requirements) for step-by-step instructions.

Your Instagram account also needs to be linked to a Facebook Page — this is a mandatory requirement from Meta. If you haven't linked one yet, do that before continuing.

<Warning>
  Always use **Test Mode** before setting a campaign live. It takes 30 seconds and ensures your DM sends correctly, your link works, and the message reads exactly how you want it. Don't skip this step.
</Warning>

## Set up your first automation

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create your WilloSend account">
    Go to [willosend.com](https://willosend.com) and start your **7-day free trial** — no credit card required. Enter your email, set a password, and you're in.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect Instagram">
    Inside your dashboard, click **Connect Instagram**. A secure Facebook login window opens. Log in with the Facebook account that's linked to your Instagram, select the correct Facebook Page, and grant WilloSend the two permissions it needs: reading comments and sending messages.

    <Note>
      WilloSend connects via an official, secure token — it never receives or stores your password.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create a campaign">
    Click **Create New Campaign** in your dashboard. When prompted to choose a trigger type, select **User comments on a post**. Give your campaign a name that makes it easy to identify later (for example, "Free Guide – May Reel").
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose your keyword">
    Set the word your followers will comment to trigger the DM. Pick something short, uppercase, and directly tied to what you're offering — **LINK**, **GUIDE**, **TEMPLATE**, and **SALE** all work well. Avoid multi-word phrases or anything your followers might type for other reasons.

    <Tip>
      The best keywords are obvious from your offer. If you're giving away a meal prep guide, use **RECIPE**. If you're sharing a discount, use **DEAL**. The easier it is to remember, the more comments you'll get.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Write your DM">
    Type the message every matching commenter will receive. Include your link and use the `[First Name]` variable at the start so each message feels personal. Add an emoji or two to keep the tone human and warm.

    **Example:**

    > Hey \[First Name]! 👋 Here's the free meal prep guide you asked for: \[your link]. Hope page 3 changes the way you think about prep days!

    Keep it concise — one clear sentence of context, the link, and a light personal touch is all you need.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add a comment reply (optional)">
    Toggle on **Enable Comment Reply** to have WilloSend post a public reply on the matching comment. This shows other viewers that the automation is working and boosts your post's engagement.

    Write two or three variations so the replies don't appear repetitive:

    * *"Just sent it to your DMs! 🚀"*
    * *"Check your inbox! ✨"*
    * *"Sent — enjoy the guide!"*

    WilloSend rotates through your variations automatically.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test before going live">
    Set your campaign status to **Test Mode**, then go to your Instagram post and comment your keyword from a second account (or ask a friend to do it). Check that the DM arrives within a few seconds, the link opens correctly, and the message reads exactly as you intended. Once everything looks good, switch the campaign to **Live**.

    <Warning>
      Don't skip testing. A broken link or a typo in a live campaign means every commenter gets a bad experience — and you won't know until someone tells you.
    </Warning>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Write a CTA in your post caption">
    Your automation is live, but it only fires when someone comments your keyword. Tell your audience exactly what to type. Put the call to action in the **first line of your caption**, before the "more" cutoff:

    > *"Want the full system? Comment **GUIDE** below and I'll DM you the link instantly."*

    <Tip>
      Double your trigger rate by adding the CTA in two places: on-screen text in the video itself (e.g., "Comment GUIDE for the link 👇") **and** in the first line of your caption. Viewers who watch without sound will still see the prompt.
    </Tip>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What happens next

Once your campaign goes live, WilloSend runs in the background automatically. Every time someone comments your keyword — on any device, at any hour — they receive your DM within seconds. You can monitor performance from the Analytics tab in your dashboard: DMs sent, link clicks, and open rates are all tracked in real time.

<Accordion title="Can I run multiple campaigns at the same time?">
  Yes. You can create unlimited campaigns and keywords across all your plans. Set up different keywords for different posts, offers, or lead magnets — each campaign runs independently with its own DM and settings.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="What if I exceed my monthly DM limit?">
  WilloSend includes one free overage per account per month. If a viral post pushes you over your limit, your automations keep running without interruption. If you regularly exceed your limit, upgrade to the next plan from your billing settings.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Can I edit a campaign after it's live?">
  Yes. Open the campaign from your dashboard, make your changes, and save. Updates take effect immediately on any new matching comments.
</Accordion>