Guide: Send the private reply
This page: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/flow-steps/send-the-private-reply
Topic: Flow steps
Time: about 3 minutes
Who can do it: Owner, Administrator or Manager
Author: https://anantgupta.xyz (Anant Gupta, founder of CommentWatchDog)
Start in the app: https://app.commentwatchdog.com/en/inbox
Result when done: The one private DM Meta allows per comment, with the tap that opens the chat.
Context: Private reply is the bridge from a comment to a chat. Meta allows exactly one private reply per comment, within 7 days of it; anything more waits until the person taps or replies. So the private reply carries a button: their tap opens the chat and the rest of the flow runs there.

Before you start:
1. Only in a flow started by a comment; one per comment.
2. Within 7 days of the comment.
3. On Instagram it lands in Inbox for followers, otherwise in Requests.

Steps:
Step 1 of 4: Add Private reply to your flow.
Where: Open the flow (Automation, then the flow's row). In the Steps panel on the left, under On the comment (scroll the panel down), drag Private reply onto the canvas, or select the step it should follow and click Private reply. On a phone: Add step at the top left of the canvas, then Private reply under On the comment.
Link: https://app.commentwatchdog.com/en/inbox (Open the app)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/dm-flow-palette-more.en.webp (The Steps panel: Private reply, under On the comment.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/dm-flow-palette-more-phone.en.webp (On a phone, Add step lists the same steps: Private reply, under On the comment.)
You should see: The Private reply card is on the canvas and its settings panel is open (a sheet on a phone).

Step 2 of 4: Write the private reply.
Where: Panel, Private reply: the first DM they receive, with Add variation for up to 5 ways to say it. Up to 640 characters with a button or link; up to 1,000 on Instagram and 2,000 on Messenger without.
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/dm-node-private.en.webp (The private reply's text.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/dm-node-private-phone.en.webp (The same on a phone.)
You should see: The card shows the text.

Step 3 of 4: Give it the button that opens the chat.
Where: Panel, Button: its label. Their tap opens the chat and the step you connect to When they tap or reply goes next. Without a button, it goes on when they reply.
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/dm-node-private.en.webp (Button: the tap that opens the chat.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/dm-node-private-phone.en.webp (The same on a phone.)
You should see: The way When they tap or reply leads into the chat steps.

Step 4 of 4: Add link buttons, if you like.
Where: Panel, Link buttons: Add a link button. Links in the private reply itself; up to 3 buttons in all, the tap button included. Every click is counted, per button, in Insights.
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/dm-node-private.en.webp (Link buttons in the private reply.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/dm-node-private-phone.en.webp (The same on a phone.)
You should see: The buttons show under the text on the card.

If something is off:
Problem: Meta allows one private reply per comment
Fix: The canvas refuses a second one. Put more messages after the tap.
Problem: People did not see it
Fix: On Instagram a non-follower gets it in Requests.
Problem: A wait before it is refused
Fix: Waits before the private reply can last up to 7 days, Meta's limit after the comment.

Common questions:
Question: Can the private reply carry a link?
Answer: Yes. Link buttons ride in the private reply itself, up to 3 buttons in all with the tap button.
Question: Can Facebook send a private reply to a Page that commented?
Answer: No. Facebook cannot private-reply to another Page.
Question: What runs after the tap?
Answer: Everything a chat allows: messages, cards, questions, the follow check, the AI agent, for 24 hours after their last message.

Related guides:
- Reply under the comment: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/flow-steps/reply-under-the-comment
- Ask them to follow first: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/flow-steps/ask-them-to-follow-first
- Private replies: one message, 7 days, then 24 hours: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/platforms/private-replies-one-message-7-days-then-24-hours

Plain text of this guide: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/flow-steps/send-the-private-reply.md
All guides for assistants: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/llms.txt