Keyword-triggered chatbot automation
Give every keyword its own AI conversation. When a comment, Story reply, ad message, or link carries a word you set, Chatfuel answers with that rule’s offer on Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and TikTok.
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One reply for every post and ad falls flat
Your promo post, your new ad, and your giveaway each need a different answer. A generic bot gives them all the same one, and leads drop off.
- Same answer everywhereA lead from the peeling ad gets the facial offer, because the bot can’t tell them apart.
- Keywords answered by handPeople comment “price” under every post, and your team pastes the same reply all day.
- Campaigns mixed upLeads from different ads land in one inbox, with no sign of the offer that brought them.
- Unmatched messages ignoredSimple keyword bots stay silent when a customer words it a little differently.
What is keyword automation?
Keyword automation starts a specific chatbot reply when a message or comment contains a word you choose, like “price”, “GUIDE”, or the code from your ad. In Chatfuel, each keyword lives in a custom automation with its own AI instructions and replies.
Keywords work on comments, Story replies, ig.me and m.me links, and ads that open a chat on WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, or TikTok. Messages with no matching keyword go to your base automation, so nobody is left without an answer.
How keyword triggers work in Chatfuel
- Pick a sourceOpen AI Agent → Automations and choose comments, Stories, ads, or links.
- Add keywordsCreate a custom automation and set words to match exactly or to contain.
- Write the replyGive the rule its own instructions, plus a public reply and a DM on comments.
- Turn it onMatching messages get that rule, the rest go to your base automation.
What keyword triggers do for you
Keyword trigger use cases
- Price requestsAnswer “price” and “how much” comments with your price list in DM.
- Giveaways and lead magnetsSend the guide or code to everyone who comments your keyword.
- Ad campaignsGive each Click-to-Chat ad its own offer and questions.
- BookingsWords like “book” or “appointment” start the booking chat.
- Support routingSend “refund” or “complaint” chats straight to your team.
Manual replies vs keyword automation
Typing the same answer under every post doesn’t scale. Chatfuel answers each keyword with its own AI rule, around the clock.
| Factor | Manual replies | Chatfuel keywords |
|---|---|---|
| First reply | When someone checks the comments | In seconds, 24/7 |
| Different campaigns | One copy‑paste answer for all | Its own instructions for each keyword |
| Comment to DM | Ask people to message you first | A public reply plus a private DM |
| Unmatched messages | Missed or answered late | The base automation answers |
| Channels | One app at a time | Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Click‑to‑Chat ads |
| Setup | Train every teammate | Set rules in Automations or ask the AI Co‑Worker |
Learn more about keyword triggers
- Create a custom automation
Give a keyword, post, ad, or link its own AI instructions.
Read more - Route ad leads with keywords
Use the ad’s pre-filled message to start the right chat.
Read more - Which rule replies first
How Chatfuel picks one automation when several match.
Read more - Instagram comment automation
Reply to comments publicly and in DMs on autopilot.
Read more
Keyword triggers FAQ
A keyword trigger is a rule that starts a specific reply when a message or comment contains a word you set. In Chatfuel, keywords live in custom automations in AI Agent → Automations, and each rule has its own AI instructions and replies.
On sources where a conversation starts from specific content: Instagram and Facebook post and ad comments, Instagram Story replies, ig.me and m.me links, TikTok comments, and ads that click to WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, or TikTok. Direct-message sources use their own settings instead of keyword rules.
Yes, with ads that click to WhatsApp. Set the ad’s pre-filled message, like “Whitening”, as the keyword of a custom automation, and every lead from that ad gets its own conversation on the same number.
An exact rule fires when the text matches the keyword exactly. A contains rule fires when the keyword appears anywhere in the message. If both match, the exact rule wins. A rule can also react to any comment.
The message goes to the source’s base automation, which answers with your general instructions and Knowledge Base. Keep the base on, so every lead still gets a reply.
Chatfuel picks exactly one: rules targeted at that post, ad, or story first, then general custom rules, then the base automation. Within each step, exact beats contains, and if two rules still tie, the older one wins.
Up to 30 custom automations per source and up to 50 keywords in each rule. A rule can also be limited to up to 50 chosen posts, ads, or stories.
Keyword triggers are part of every Chatfuel plan, with no add-ons. AI replies are paid from your plan’s credits. You can try the full product with a 7-day trial.
Give every keyword the right answer
Set up keyword triggers once, and the AI replies 24/7.
alex_runs1 min
Hey, what’s the price?
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CardioVidaNow
@alex_runs Hi! Plans start at $120 per month. I just sent the full price list to your DMs 📩
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