Follow-ups and DM sequences

A sequence in ChatPeak is a flow with several message steps, spaced out with delay steps or held until the person answers with a wait for reply step.

The limit: 24 hours after their last message

Instagram accepts automated messages only within 24 hours of the person's last message. That is why a delay or a reply timeout can be at most 23 hours. A message whose time comes after the window closed is not sent, and the run ends with a note in the automation's activity. Every new message from the person opens the window again.

Patterns that work

• A check-in after a delay

  Send a link, wait an hour with a delay step, then ask whether they have questions. The Webinar sign-up template works this way.

• A nudge when nobody answers

  Ask a question, add a wait for reply step with a timeout, and connect a reminder to its No reply branch. See the Quote request with nudge template.

• Continue after a comment

  After the private reply to a comment, the flow waits for the person's DM on its own. Their answer opens the window for the rest of the sequence. See comment to DM automations.

Try the timing in the test panel: delays and timeouts move its clock forward, so you can see which messages would still go out. Background on the rules is in staying inside Instagram's messaging limits.