Instagram Comments Automation (N8n Complete Setup Guide)

You’re Losing Clients Because You’re Not Online 24/7

Here’s the truth: clients don’t leave because your work is poor. They leave because you weren’t there when they needed you.

Someone comments “interested” on your post at midnight. You reply at 9 AM. Too late – they already bought from someone else.

I lost a $500 client this way. Then I built an automation that responds instantly, even while I sleep. No more missed opportunities. No more clients feeling ignored.

This blog shows you exactly how to build it. Let’s dive in.

The Tools You’ll Need

We’re using two powerful platforms that work together seamlessly:

1. RapidDM – The Comment-to-DM Bridge

RapidDM is the tool that watches your Instagram posts and automatically sends DMs when someone comments. It’s the engine that makes this whole thing work.

Cost: 5-day free trial, no credit card required

2. N8n – The Automation Brain

n8n is an open-source automation platform that handles the form creation, data collection, and everything behind the scenes. Think of it as the central nervous system of your automation.

Cost: 14-day free trial

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Don’t worry if you’ve never heard of these tools. I’m walking you through every single click.

Part 1: Setting Up RapidDM (Your Instagram Automation Engine)

Let’s start with the fun part – setting up the Instagram side of things.

Step 1: Sign Up and Connect Instagram

1. Go to RapidDM’s website and sign up
2. You’ll land directly on the dashboard (no credit card needed for the trial)
3. Navigate to the Instagram tab
4. Click “Connect Account” and follow the simple authorization flow

Your Instagram account is now connected. That was the hard part. Just kidding – there was no hard part.

Step 2: Create Your Comment Automation

1. Click on “Automation” in the sidebar
2. You’ll see two options: Comment Automation and Story Automation
3. Select Comment Automation

Step 3: Set Your Trigger Keywords

Here’s where it gets interesting. RapidDM asks: “When should I respond to comments?”

Select “Comments with specific words”

Now add your trigger keywords. For example:

• automation
• test
• resources
• interested

You can add as many keywords as you want. Whenever someone comments ANY of these words, the automation fires.

Pro Tip: Use simple, obvious keywords. Don’t make people guess. “Type GUIDE for the free guide” works way better than something cryptic.

Step 4: The Secret Weapon – The Follow Gate

Here’s the genius part that most people miss.

Scroll down and find the option: “Ask to follow”

Toggle this ON.

Step 5: Create Your Follow-Up Message

Now you need to set up the message that goes out after someone follows (or if they’re already following).

This is your chance to build excitement and direct them to the form.

Here’s a template that works:

“Thank you for your interest! I’m excited to share this valuable resource with you. I believe you’ll find it helpful and informative. Click the button below to access your template.”

Step 6: Add the Action Button

RapidDM lets you add up to 3 buttons to your message. For this automation, you only need one:

• Button Label: “Access Template” (or “Get Resources” or “Download Guide”)
• Destination URL: This is where we’ll put the form link (we’ll create this in the next section)

For now, leave the URL field empty. We’ll come back to it.

That’s it for RapidDM! Don’t activate it yet – we need to create the form first so you have a URL to link to.

Part 2: Building Your Lead Capture System in n8n

Now comes the backend magic. This is where we create the form that captures information and stores it in a way you can actually use.

Step 1: Sign Up for n8n

1. Go to n8n’s website and create an account
2. You’ll get a 14-day free trial

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3. Once you’re in, click “Create Workflow”

You’re now looking at a blank canvas. Don’t panic – it’s simpler than it looks.

Step 2: Create Your Lead Capture Form

Every n8n workflow starts with a trigger – something that kicks off the automation. In our case, it’s a form submission.

1. Click the first plus icon on the canvas
2. Search for “n8n Form”
3. Select the “n8n Form Trigger” (you’ll see a lightning bolt icon)

Once you add it, you’ll see options for:

• Test URL – Use this while building
• Production URL – Use this when you’re live

Step 3: Add Form Fields

Click “Add Form Element” and create these fields:

Field 1: Name

• Element Type: Text
• Placeholder: “First name”
• Required: Yes

Field 2: Email

• Element Type: Email
• Placeholder: “Enter email – you’ll receive the resource here”
• Required: Yes

Here’s the clever part…

Field 3: Comment Word (Dropdown)

• Element Type: Dropdown List
• Label: “Commented Word”
• Options:
  • automation
  • test
  • resources
  • (add all your trigger keywords here)
• Required: Yes

Step 4: Test Your Form

Click “Execute Node” to generate your form.

A preview opens up. Fill it out with test data and hit submit.

You’ll see the submission data appear on the right side. This is HUGE – it means your form is working.

Important: Click “Pin Data” on the right side. This saves your test data so you don’t have to keep filling out the form as you build the rest of the automation.

Step 5: Copy Your Form URL

See that URL at the top of the n8n Form node? That’s your form link.

Copy the Production URL (not the test URL).

Now go back to RapidDM and paste this URL into the button destination field we left empty earlier.

Boom. Your Instagram DM button now links directly to your lead capture form.

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Part 3: Storing Lead Data in Notion

Now you’ve got form submissions coming in. But where should they go? I recommend Notion because it’s free, organized, and powerful.

Step 1: Set Up Your Notion Database

Create a new database in Notion and Fill in one row as a template.

For example:

• Name: “Automation DM”
• Subject: “Here’s the resource you requested on Instagram”
• Body: HTML formatted email with your message and links
• Tag: “automation”
• File: Your PDF, template, or resource file

Step 2: Connect Notion to n8n

Back in your n8n workflow:

1. Click the plus icon after your form node
2. Search for “Notion”
3. Select “Get Database Page”

You’ll need to connect your Notion account. This process has a few steps involving API keys. I’ve created a detailed setup video that shows exactly how to do this. Check the resources section at the end of this post for the link.

Once connected:

• Operation: Get Many
• Database: Select your “Automation DM” database
• Limit: 1 (we only need one matching row)

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Part 4: Personalizing the Message

Your Notion body probably has a placeholder like “[First Name]” where you want the person’s actual name to appear.

We need to replace that placeholder with the real name from the form. This requires a tiny bit of code, but I promise it’s copy-paste simple.

Adding the Code Node

1. Click the plus icon after your Notion node
2. Search for “Code”
3. Select “Code” node

In the code editor, paste this:

const items = $input.all();
const formSubmission = $("On form submission").all()[0];

const updatedItems = items.map((item) => {
  item.json.property_body = item.json.property_body.replace(
    "[First Name]",
    formSubmission.json["Name"]
  );
  return item;
});

return updatedItems;

Don’t worry if you don’t understand the code. This script simply finds “[First Name]” in your Notion body and replaces it with whatever name the person entered in the form.

Click “Execute Node”.

Look at the output. The body now has the actual name instead of the placeholder. Magic.

Part 5: Converting File URLs to Actual Files

There’s one more technical hurdle. Notion stores files as URLs. But when you want to attach a file, you need the actual file, not just a link to it.

Adding the HTTP Request Node

1. Click the plus icon after your Code node
2. Search for “HTTP Request”
3. Select it

Configuration:

• Method: GET
• URL: Drag and drop the “File” URL from your Notion node

Here’s the crucial step:

1. Click “Add Option”
2. Find “Response” section
3. Change “Response Format” from “Auto-detect” to “File”

Click “Execute Node”.

Now instead of seeing JSON data, you’ll see an actual file in the output. This file can now be attached to emails or sent however you need.

Part 6: Sending Automatic Emails with Gmail

Here’s where the magic really happens. Your lead fills out the form, and seconds later, they receive a beautiful email with their resource. All without you lifting a finger.

Adding the Gmail Node

1. Click the plus icon after your HTTP Request node
2. Search for “Gmail”
3. Select “Send Message”

Connect Your Gmail Account

Click “Create New Credential” and sign in with Google. Grant n8n permission to send emails. It’s a simple one-click authorization.

Configure the Email

Now fill in the email details:

To: Drag and drop the email field from your n8n Form Trigger

Subject: Drag and drop the Subject property from your Notion node

Email Type: Select HTML (so your formatting stays intact)

Message: Drag and drop the personalizedBody from your Code node

Add the Attachment

Click “Add Option” → “Attachments” → “Add Attachment”

Property Name: Type “data”

This grabs the file from your HTTP Request node (which outputs files as “data” by default).

Test It

Click “Execute Node”. Check the email address you used in your test form.

You should see your subject, personalized body with their name, and the attached resource. If everything looks good, you’re done!

Connecting Everything Back to RapidDM

Remember, we skipped the email sending part. But your automation is still incredibly powerful.

Here’s what happens now:

1. Someone comments your keyword
2. RapidDM sends them a DM
3. They click your button and fill out the form
4. n8n captures their information and processes it through Notion
5. You now have their email, name, and preferences organized and ready

From here, you can:

• Manually send them the resource (with the personalized template from Notion)
• Export the data to your email marketing platform
• Add them to a CRM
• Set up additional automation tools to send emails automatically

Final Verdict 

You just built something most businesses pay thousands of dollars for. A system that captures leads automatically, responds instantly, and works 24/7 without you.

The creators winning on Instagram aren’t just posting better content – they’re capturing everyone who engages with it.

You’re no longer losing clients because you were offline. Every comment becomes a lead. Every lead gets an instant response.

Set this up today. Test it this week. Watch your email list grow while you sleep.

Your next $500 client is commenting right now. Don’t miss them.