What is a story mention auto reply?
When someone posts a story and tags you, Instagram tells you. Most accounts see those notifications hours later, if at all, and the moment has passed. A story mention auto reply answers right away with a DM: thanks, plus something worth having, like a code for their next order or a link to the thing they were showing off.
Mentions are some of the best moments you get on Instagram. The person already likes you enough to show you to their followers. Thanking them quickly makes them more likely to do it again, and a code in the thank-you gives them a reason to come back.
It also saves you a job. Without automation, someone on your team has to watch mention notifications and answer each one by hand, often hours late. With it, every tag is answered the same day, in the same warm words, whether you get three mentions a week or three hundred after a big launch.
How does story mention auto reply work?
- 1
Someone tags you in their story
A customer unboxing an order, a guest at your event, a client after a session.
- 2
ReplyRep sees the mention
It arrives through Meta's official Instagram API, the same way the notification reaches you.
- 3
Your DM goes out
A thank-you, a code or a link back, sent automatically while their story is still up.
- 4
The conversation is open
If they reply, you pick it up, or AI inbox replies can answer common questions in your voice.
What does a story mention auto reply look like?
DM
You're the best {first_name} 🙌 Thanks for sharing us. Here's 15% off your next order: THANKYOU15 yourbrand.com/shop Tag us again when it arrives, we love seeing these.
No keyword is needed, because the trigger is the tag itself. There is no public reply either: mentions happen in their story, so the DM is the only reply. Use a code that is easy to read on a phone and works on your store, and make sure the offer is one you are happy to give everyone who tags you. For code ideas, see discount codes.
When is story mention auto reply worth it?
- Ecommerce brands. Customers post their unboxing. They get a thank-you and a repeat-order code. See ecommerce brands.
- Restaurants and cafes. Diners tag you with their plate. They get a link to book their next table or a code for dessert next time. See restaurants.
- Salons and beauty. A client tags you with their new nails. They get your rebooking link. See salons and beauty.
- Events. Attendees tag the event. They get the photo gallery link or early access to next year's tickets.
- Creators. Fans share your post to their story. They get a thank-you and your latest free resource.
Thank the next person who tags you
Set it up once and every mention gets answered while the story is still live.
How do you set up story mention auto reply in ReplyRep?
- 1
Connect Instagram
Sign in through Meta with a Business or Creator account. No password is shared with ReplyRep.
- 2
Choose story mentions as the trigger
Mentions are their own trigger, separate from story replies.
- 3
Write the thank-you
Thanks first, then the code or link, then an invitation to tag you again.
- 4
Test it
Ask a friend to tag you in a story and check the DM arrives.
Most people finish in about four minutes.
What makes a good story mention reply?
- Thanks first, offer second. Lead with gratitude. The code or link is the bonus, not the point.
- Make it feel personal. Use their first name and write it the way you'd write to a regular customer.
- Give them a reason to come back. A code for the next order, a rebooking link or early access works better than a generic link to your homepage.
- Ask for the next tag. "Tag us again when it arrives" turns one mention into a habit.
- Keep it short. They're in the middle of posting their own story. Two or three lines is plenty.
A good test: would you be happy if they screenshotted your reply and posted it? People sometimes do. A warm, specific thank-you is content for you as much as it is a message for them.
Which plan includes story mention auto reply?
Story automation sits in the "Post, Reel & Story automation" row of the pricing table, which is on every plan, including Free. The table does not list story mentions as a row of their own, so check pricing for the current details or ask support@replyrep.io. Every mention reply uses one DM from your monthly allowance: 2,000 on Free, 10,000 on Lite, 40,000 on Boost and 400,000 on MAX.
What should you know about mention replies?
- Every tag gets the same offer. Pick a reward you are happy to give anyone who mentions you, including people who tag you without buying.
- Mentions are not story replies. If you want to answer people replying to your own story, that is story reply automation.
- Branding. Messages on Free and Lite carry ReplyRep branding. Boost and up send without it, which matters when a customer is the one reading.
- Instagram only. ReplyRep answers Instagram story mentions. It does not handle Facebook or other networks.
If you want the bigger picture of how mentions, replies and comments fit together, start with the Instagram auto reply guide or the glossary entry for story mention.