How to set up a social inbox auto-reply bot
Reply instantly to Facebook and Instagram messages with helpful info, then hand over to you.
Step by step
- Open Meta Business Suite, then Inbox, then Automations.
- Turn on an instant reply that says when you usually respond.
- Add 3-5 frequently asked questions with short answers (hours, location, booking link).
- Set an away message for outside business hours.
- Test it from a personal account.
- Reply personally within the time you promised.
Watch-outs
- Keep answers short and accurate.
- Update answers when your hours or prices change.
- Don't pretend the bot is a person.
Questions
Is this free?
Meta's built-in automations are free at the time of writing.
Can it take bookings?
It can share your booking link, which is usually enough.
Related guides
- How to set up a lead follow-up bot
- How to set up an FAQ chatbot on your website
- How to set up a social media posting bot
Need prompts for the AI steps? See 40 AI use cases with copyable prompts. Want a hand? Get in touch.