TinkerFeed

How to set up "comment LINK and get a DM"

By TinkerFeed Editorial. Updated 16 October 2026.

You have seen it on every second reel: "Comment LINK and I'll send it to you." It works because commenting is easier than visiting your bio, and the DM arrives while the viewer still cares.

Here is the whole setup, start to finish, with the small details that decide whether it works on your first try.

Before you start

Step 1: connect a tool

Sign up for a comment-to-DM tool and connect your Instagram account. Tools that use Instagram Login connect directly, with no Facebook Page needed. Approve the permissions it asks for; it needs to read comments and send messages.

Step 2: pick the reel and keyword

Choose the reel. Set the keyword to LINK, and add the spellings people will actually type: link, Link, LINK, "link pls", "link do". Or trigger on any comment if every comment on that reel is a request.

Step 3: write the DM

  1. One friendly line: "Here you go!"
  2. The link, with a button if your tool supports it.
  3. One line on what to do next: "Save this, it's handy" or "Follow for part two".

Step 4: add a public reply

Add two or three short public replies that rotate, like "Sent!", "Check your DMs" and "Bhej diya". They show other viewers it works and nudge them to comment too.

Step 5: test it

From your second account, comment LINK on the reel. The DM should arrive within seconds. If it does not, check the keyword spelling, the message access setting and whether the second account's message landed in Requests.

Step 6: say it in the reel

Say the keyword out loud in the video and put it in the caption's first line. People skim captions, but they hear the voice.

Optional: add a follow gate

If you want followers as well as clicks, ask people to follow before the link. Use it for freebies, not for every reel; it adds a step.

A DM that gets clicked

Lead with the thing they asked for. "Here's the link to the lamp from my reel" beats "Hey! Thanks so much for watching!" followed by the link three lines down. One button, one link, one next step.

Adding it to older reels

You can switch the automation on for a reel you posted weeks ago. It works for new comments, but private replies only reach comments made within the last 7 days, so older requests need a personal reply.

After you post

Our pick: Tadlo AI

Tadlo AI

Our top pick

Best for: Your first comment-to-DM

Tadlo AI connects through Instagram Login with no Facebook Page, triggers on any comment or chosen keywords, and has unlimited DMs on every plan, so your first viral reel will not hit a limit. Tadlo says comment-to-DM replies typically go out within 2 to 5 seconds.

Price: Free forever plan with no card needed. Paid plans start at ₹249 a month in India or $5 a month elsewhere. Every plan, including Free, has unlimited automations and unlimited DMs (no monthly DM quota and no per-contact charge; sends are paced within Instagram's limits).

Strengths

  • Unlimited DMs and automations on every plan, including Free, so a viral reel never raises your bill
  • Verified follow gate: checks through Instagram's API whether the commenter really follows you before sending the link
  • Comment-to-DM on any comment or chosen keywords, story reply automation and DM keyword flows in a visual flow builder
  • Email capture, comment-to-product carousels and a link-in-bio page in the same tool
  • Connects with Instagram Business Login on the official API, so no Facebook Page is needed
  • AI reel analysis and analytics on paid plans

Limitations

  • Facebook comment-to-DM and Messenger keyword replies are still being added
  • Newer than ManyChat, so the template library and tutorial community are smaller
  • The Free plan covers one Instagram account
  • The Free plan adds a "via Tadlo" line to DMs and limits lead export to 100 leads

Visit Tadlo AI

Frequently asked questions

How do I make Instagram send a DM when someone comments?

Use a comment-to-DM tool connected to your professional account, set a keyword on the reel, and write the DM. The tool sends it automatically.

Is comment LINK and get a DM free?

Yes, on free plans. Tadlo AI's free plan has unlimited DMs for one account.

Why did my test comment not get a DM?

Usually a keyword mismatch, message access switched off, or the message sitting in the test account's Requests folder.

Do I need a Facebook Page for this?

Not with tools that use Instagram Login, such as Tadlo AI.

How fast does the DM arrive?

Usually within seconds. Tadlo says comment-to-DM replies typically go out within 2 to 5 seconds.

Can I use more than one keyword on a reel?

Yes, on tools that support several rules per post. Each keyword can send a different DM.

Sources

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