Auto Replies in Inbox

ContentStudio’s Inbox Auto Replies feature helps you automatically respond to incoming messages, comments, and reviews using either AI or your own custom replies. Whether it’s billing questions, shipping inquiries, or general support, it keeps your audience engaged at all times 📥.

Setting up a rule only takes a few minutes, and once it’s live, it runs quietly in the background so your team can focus on what matters most.


In this Article:

How to Use Inbox Auto-Replies

1
Navigate to the Inbox section from your ContentStudio Home. Once you're inside the Inbox, look for the Settings icon click on it to open your Inbox settings.

2
Inside the Inbox settings, click on the Auto-Replies tab. This is where all of your auto-reply rules live. You'll also see a usage counter at the top right showing how many AI Inbox Replies you've used out of your monthly limit (e.g., 0 of 500 used this month).

4
Click the + Create Rule button in the top-right corner of the Auto-Replies page. This will open the Create Rule panel where you'll configure everything for your new auto-reply.
5
In the Rule Name field, give your rule a clear and descriptive name so you and your team can identify it easily. For example: Billing Inquiry Response or Refund Request Handler. This name is for internal use only and won't be shown to customers.

6
In the Trigger Keywords field, add words or phrases that should activate the rule. Press Enter after each keyword. For example: billing, payment, charged, invoice.

7
In the What should AI look for? field, add context to guide when the rule should trigger. For example: Only respond when a customer is requesting a refund, not just asking about the policy.

💡 Be specific with your "What should AI look for?" field. The more precise your AI detection instructions, the fewer false triggers you'll experience. Instead of broad instructions, describe the exact customer intent you want to catch — this keeps your auto-replies accurate and relevant.
8
Choose where this rule should be active by checking one or more of the following options:
  • Private Chat — applies to Facebook and Instagram Direct Messages.
  • Post Comments — applies to comments on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn posts.
  • Reviews — applies to reviews on Google Business Profile.
You can select multiple options if needed.
9
Select one or more accounts to monitor. Only messages from these accounts will trigger this rule.

AI Reply Vs. Manual Reply

10
Under How should we reply?, select one of the two reply modes:
  • AI Reply (Premium) — ContentStudio's AI generates a contextual, dynamic response automatically based on your instructions.
  • Manual Reply — You write a fixed reply message that will be sent every time the rule is triggered.

11
If you selected AI Reply, you'll see the following options:
  • AI Response Instructions (optional) — Tell the AI how to respond. For example: Thank the customer, provide their tracking link, and mention delivery takes 3–5 business days. Keep it friendly.
  • Brand Voice — Choose a pre-configured brand voice from the dropdown to keep your replies consistent with your brand's tone. Select None if you don't have one set up.
  • AI Send Mode — Choose between:
    • Send Automatically — The AI reply is sent to the customer immediately without any review.
    • Save as Draft — The reply is saved as a draft for your team to review before sending.
  • Use Help Docs — Toggle this on if you want the AI to reference your uploaded help documentation when crafting responses. Once enabled, use the Select Documents dropdown to choose which documents to include.

⚠️ Replies sent automatically cannot be undone. When AI Send Mode is set to Send Automatically, replies go out to customers immediately without any review. Make sure your AI Response Instructions are accurate and well-tested before enabling this mode to avoid sending incorrect or off-brand messages.
11
If you selected Manual Reply, you'll see a Reply Message text box. Write your fixed reply here. To personalize the message, use the Insert Variables dropdown on the right to insert dynamic fields such as:
  • Full Name
  • First Name
  • Last Name
  • Email Address
  • Contact Number

12
Once you've filled in all required fields, click the Save button in the bottom-right corner. Your new rule will now appear on the Auto-Replies page and will be active immediately. You can disable it at any time using the toggle switch on the rule card.

How to Purchase AI Auto-Reply Credits

AI Auto-Reply is a usage-based feature. If you've used up your monthly credits or need more, you can purchase additional AI Auto-Reply Credits directly from your billing settings. Here's how:

1
Click on your Profile icon in the top-right corner of ContentStudio and go to Profile Settings.
2
Navigate to the Billing & Plan section.
3
Click the Manage Add-ons button. A pop-up window will appear showing all available add-ons for your account.
4
Scroll down in the pop-up until you find AI Auto-Reply Credits. Select the credit package that works for you and complete the purchase from here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many auto-reply rules can I create? You can create multiple rules, but the number of AI-powered replies is capped monthly. You can track your usage at the top of the Auto-Replies page (e.g., 0 of 500 used this month).

Q: What's the difference between AI Reply and Manual Reply? AI Reply generates a unique, context-aware response each time using ContentStudio's AI — great for handling varied customer messages. Manual Reply sends the same pre-written message every time the rule is triggered — useful for consistent, templated responses like confirmation messages or out-of-office notices.

Q: Will the AI reply be sent without anyone reviewing it? Only if you set the AI Send Mode to Send Automatically. If you'd prefer to review replies before they go out, select Save as Draft instead.

Q: Can I apply one rule to multiple social media accounts? Yes. When selecting accounts in the Which accounts? dropdown, you can choose as many accounts as needed. The same rule will apply across all selected accounts.

Q: What happens if a message matches keywords in more than one rule? ContentStudio will evaluate the rules and apply the most relevant match. It's a good practice to keep your trigger keywords specific to avoid overlap between rules.

Q: Can I use the Manual Reply without any variables? Absolutely. Variables are entirely optional. You can write a plain, fixed message with no personalization if that suits your use case.

Did this answer your question? Thanks for the feedback There was a problem submitting your feedback. Please try again later.

Still need help? Contact Us Contact Us

Related Articles