{"versionId":"5acafa72-be01-4eef-18d3-08de0b6de118","articleId":"d87be68d-20ae-4878-da09-08dbdf2a8fe7","title":"Adding a chatbot to Instagram","tags":["integrations","All articles"],"content":"

You can deploy the same chatbot, with the same Q&A, on your website and other channels, including Instagram.

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This means you can automate the answering of frequently asked questions, wherever your customers are asking them. All your chat forms and escalations will work on Instagram too.

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To set up your bot in Instagram, you'll first need to create an Instagram app, and then connect it to your chatbot.

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This article describes the steps you need to take.

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In this article

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Prerequisites

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Before you get started, you will need:

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Bot features on Instagram

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There are some differences in how bot features work on Instagram, due to the limitations of that channel. 

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Create an app

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Users will access your bot by messaging an Instagram profile. To connect the bot, you'll first create an app and then connect the bot to the app.

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Create your app

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  1. Sign in to your Meta for Developers account.
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  2. Go to Create App
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  3. On the Create an app page, select Other and then Next

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  4. On the Select an app type page select Business and click Next
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  5. On the Details page, enter a name for your app and select Create app.\n\n
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  6. You'll see a set of products. Click Set up on Messenger
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  7. You'll then be prompted to select your Meta Business Account.
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Configure your app

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Configuration

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Under Messenger on the side menu, click Instagram settings, as shown above. Note this is under the Messenger menu item, not the Instagram menu item!

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  1. Connect your page - in the Access tokens section, click Add or remove Pages



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  2. In the Webhooks section, click Edit callback URL
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  3. Enter the callback URL. This is in the format https://bot.helpfruit.com/api/v1.0/webhook/{PAGE_ID}/{FAQ_SUBSCRIPTION_KEY}/messages\n
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    1. Find your {PAGE_ID} on this page - it's the number next to your page icon on the page token table
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    2. Find your {FAQ_SUBSCRIPTION_KEY} on the Widget setup tab in the Helpfruit Portal > Configuration > Main
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  4. Enter \"faq\" in Verify token
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  5. Click Verify and save
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  6. Click Edit subscriptions to edit Instagram Webhook subscriptions. Select messages and messaging_postbacks and click Save

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Connect your bot 

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In the Helpfruit portal, navigate to the Channel settings tab on Configuration > Main

In the Instagram section:

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1. Enter your Access token

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You can use a Page token as the simplest way to get started, but note that this token is tied to the user who created it, so you may run into issues if that user leaves your organisation.

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To avoid future token issues, you can later follow this guide to set up a system user access token, and assign the app you have created above as an asset.

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Some things to note on your system access token:

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2. Enter your App secret

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You'll find this in your Meta for Developers Account, under App settings > Basic

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Once the steps above are complete, you will be ready to test your bot on Instagram. 

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Testing your bot in Instagram

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Setting up your testers

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Testing

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To test your app once you have one of the above roles, simply message your Instagram account.

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App review & publication

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Until an app is published, it's in Development Mode. It will only work for admins, developers, and testers.

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Once you have tested your bot on Instagram, there are some review steps that need to be completed to move your app from Development to Live mode and publish your app. Note that this process can take some time.

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1. Toggle from Development to Live in your app dashboard. Any required steps will be highlighted, for example:

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This could be a link to your organisation's privacy policy, typically on your website. \n

 

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2. Go to App Review > Permissions and Features

3. Request Advanced access to Instagram_manage_messages and instagram_basic. Business Verification is required, as well as App Review.


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4. Complete the rest of the required information. You will need to:

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Contact us for guidance on wording and screencast content as the requirements are quite specific - we can provide example texts. There is also guidance here.

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\nThe App Review process can take 10 days or more, and may require revisions depending on the individual app reviewers.
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App verification details

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You may also need to provide credentials so app reviewers can test your app. This is where you may need a separate account for testing (see prerequisites above).
Complete App verification details as shown below: 

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Providing a link to launch your Instagram bot

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Once your Instagram app is approved and your bot works on Instagram, you may want to provide a link for your users to launch the bot in Instagram.
You can do this in the format:
https://ig.me/m/yourinstagramhandle

for example https://ig.me/m/faqbot

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Instagram documentation

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For Instagram documentation for developers, see https://developers.facebook.com/docs/messenger-platform/instagram/

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