Get to know your audience with one question

What to change before you turn it on

The trigger comes set up: comments that contain STARTHERE, on your next post, top-level comments only, and the flow runs once per person.

Check six things before you go live:

1. The trigger date. Open the comment trigger. Under "Select the posts", "Next post only" reads "Automation will only trigger on the first post after" a date. Press Reset date, then Save scenario, just before you publish your STARTHERE post.
2. The keyword. Keep STARTHERE, or pick a word that fits your account. It counts as one word, so "start here" in two words does not start the flow.
3. The question and its answers. Fit them to what you offer, and keep each answer short: 20 characters or fewer reads in full on the button. The three here are 13 to 17 characters.
4. The two link cards. "Free starter guide" and "See the offer" point to example addresses. Paste the address of your own guide and of your offer page.
5. The welcome message. Rewrite the "Just browsing" message so it says what you post.
6. The folder names. Copying the template creates the three folders in your account, or reuses folders with the same names. Rename them to your topic.

You can also change the waits: 6 hours for the button, 20 hours for the answer.

Let AI read their answer

The AI version starts the same way: the STARTHERE comment, the public reply and the "Sure, ask me" button. Then it asks an open question instead of offering three buttons: "What brings you here? Tell me in a few words." It waits 20 hours for a reply, in any words.

Inrō's AI then sorts the reply with up to two checks. First: do they want to buy or book, or ask about the price, availability or how to order? If yes, they go into "Audience: ready to buy" and get "See the offer". If not, the second check: do they want to learn, or get tips, ideas or free resources? If yes, "Audience: wants tips" and the "Free starter guide"; if not, "Audience: browsing" and the welcome message. A reply that asks for tips and prices goes to "ready to buy", because that check comes first.

The AI version uses AI credits each time the AI checks a reply, and a reply gets one or two checks. It uses STARTHERE on the next post too, so run either the base or the AI version, or give one of them another keyword.

Best tips for your scenario

• Keep it to one question with short answers. One question after the "Sure, ask me" tap is quick to answer, and answers of two or three words read at a glance.
• Write the keyword as one word in your caption. Show STARTHERE as it is set in the trigger, or add "start here" as a second keyword.
• Post right after you reset the date. The flow follows the first post published after the date in its trigger. Reset date and Save scenario as your last step before you share the STARTHERE post, and no other post can slip in first.
• Bring back people who tapped and went quiet. The question step has a "Send follow-up if no reply" option: switch it on and choose a wait under 20 hours, so the three answers come up again while the question is still open.
• Add a follow-up after the link cards if you want one. Each card waits 2 hours with nothing after it. Add a short message on its branch for people who have not opened the link; the link keeps working.
• Put the folders to work afterwards. Use a folder as a contact filter in a saved segment, or pick it as the audience of a DM campaign, so your next offer goes to "Audience: ready to buy". All three folders sit with your contacts in the Inrō inbox and CRM.

FAQ

How do I get to know my audience on Instagram?

Ask them. This template asks everyone who comments STARTHERE one question in your DMs and files each person in a folder by their answer. For the method behind it, read the guide to Instagram audience segmentation.

How do I ask my followers a question in DMs?

Ask them to comment a keyword on your post. Each one gets a DM with one button, and a tap brings your question with three answers.

Is a folder the same as a segment?

Not quite. This template adds each person to a folder by their answer. A folder can then be used as a filter in a saved audience segment, or as the audience of a DM campaign.

What if they type instead of tapping?

Typing works when the message holds the exact words of one answer. If it matches none, Inrō asks once more with the three buttons. The AI version reads answers in people's own words.