Build Button-Driven Chats with the Facebook and Instagram Interactive Messenger Actions

The Facebook Interactive Messenger and Instagram Interactive Messenger actions send direct messages with tappable options, so a conversation can branch based on what the person chooses.

Requirements

• A Facebook or Instagram trigger must start the workflow: a comment trigger, or a customer reply on that channel. Otherwise the action is unavailable.
• Messages must follow Meta's 24-hour messaging rule. Outbound messages are only delivered within 24 hours of the person's last interaction.

Settings

• Reply Type: Reply to Comment via DM for the first private message after a comment, or Reply to DM when answering a message.
• Templates from your snippets, plus Message Body with custom values and trigger links.
• Attachment by upload or file link.
• Buttons and Quick Replies.
• Wait Step: how long to wait before the default branch continues.

Buttons versus quick replies

• Buttons: up to 3. They stay visible after being tapped. Actions are Open Website, Call Number or Perform Action, which simply creates a branch.
• Quick replies: up to 13 one-tap answers that disappear after use.

Both create workflow branches. On Facebook you can combine buttons, quick replies and files. On Instagram, choose buttons or quick replies, and quick replies cannot be sent with an attachment.

Example

A comment says "guide". Send a DM with two buttons, "Send me the checklist" and "Book a call". The first branch delivers the checklist in another Interactive Messenger step.

Good to know: Keep the first message to one short hook and one clear choice, then deliver the details in the branch.