Instagram Overview
Automate Instagram DMs, comments, story mentions and ig.me links, and route conversations into the Inbox.
RateUp connects to your Instagram professional account so DMs land in the Inbox alongside your other channels — and so the routine parts of Instagram can answer themselves. Instagram does not need WhatsApp: you can connect it on its own.
What You Can Set Up
Chatbots
Automated DM conversations, started from an example or a blank canvas.
Comments & Story Mentions
Answer comments privately and in public, sell from a comment, and thank story mentions.
Ice Breakers, Menu & Links
Ice breakers, the persistent menu, and ig.me links with open counts and QR codes.
The page has one tab per tool:
| Tab | What it holds |
|---|---|
| Chatbots | Your Instagram chatbots — see Instagram Chatbots |
| Comments | Rules with the Instagram Comment trigger, including comment-to-buy — see Comments & Story Mentions |
| Story Mentions | Rules with the Instagram Story Mention trigger |
| Persistent Menu | The menu that stays in the DM thread — see Ice Breakers, Menu & Links |
| Ice Breakers | Up to 4 starter questions |
| ig.me Links | Links that open a DM and start an automation |
Connect an Instagram Account
You need an Instagram professional account linked to a Facebook Page. Until one is connected, the page shows "No Instagram accounts connected" with a Go to Settings button.
Open Settings → Channels and click Connect on Instagram Messaging.
Click Continue with Facebook and log in. Meta asks only for Instagram permissions — no WhatsApp number is involved.
In Choose Instagram accounts, tick the accounts you want. "Each account becomes its own Instagram channel." An account already linked to another RateUp organisation is marked "Connected to another organization".
Click Connect. The accounts appear under Instagram connections.
You can connect as many accounts as you like. If none show up, Meta was not given access to them — "No Instagram professional accounts were shared. Log in again and choose the Facebook Page each account is linked to." See Channels for disconnecting and the other channels.
Work with Several Accounts
The account selector at the top right lists every connected account, with a count beside it. Everything on the page — comment rules, story rules, the menu, ice breakers and ig.me links — belongs to the account selected there. Switch accounts before you edit.
Chatbots are the exception: a chatbot is not tied to an account. The rule that starts it decides which account it runs on.
Syncing with Meta
The Persistent Menu and Ice Breakers live on Instagram's side. Editing them in RateUp does not change Instagram until you push them:
| Action | Effect |
|---|---|
| Save | Stores your changes in RateUp |
| Sync with Meta | Pushes the saved menu or ice breakers to Instagram |
| Clear from Meta | Removes them from Instagram |
Changes to the menu and ice breakers are not live for customers until you sync. Saving and forgetting to sync is the most common reason "nothing changed". Chatbots, comment rules and ig.me links need no sync — they take effect when you save them.
Where Conversations Go
Anything a customer sends by DM becomes a ticket in the Inbox, with an Instagram badge on the row. Agents reply exactly as they would on WhatsApp.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| "No Instagram accounts connected" | No Instagram channel yet | Connect one under Settings → Channels |
| An account is missing from Choose Instagram accounts | Its Facebook Page was not shared with RateUp during login | Log in again and pick that Page |
| A rule or link you made is not listed | Another account is selected | Switch the account selector |
Related Pages
- Channels — connecting and disconnecting accounts
- Messenger — chatbots, comments, m.me links and the menu for your Facebook Page
- Automation — the rules behind comments, stories and links
- Inbox — where the conversations arrive