Why ManyChat
ManyChat is purpose-built for this and has official Meta approval — meaning it can do things Zapier alone cannot.
Comment-to-DM
A user comments on a JustGym post with a trigger word — such as "info", "join", or "membership". ManyChat automatically sends them a DM. Claude writes the DM content.
Instagram DMs
Incoming DMs to the JustGym Instagram account are handled by ManyChat. Keyword flows route common questions automatically. Anything outside the flow goes to Claude for a drafted reply.
Facebook Messenger
ManyChat also manages Facebook Messenger for the JustGym Page. Same keyword flows, same Claude integration, same escalation rules — one platform handles both channels.
Automation Flow
ManyChat is the front door. It catches the interaction, applies keyword logic, and either handles it directly or passes it to Claude for a drafted reply.
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01
ManyChat detects the interaction
ManyChat monitors Instagram comments, Instagram DMs, and Facebook Messenger messages in real time. Keyword triggers are set up in ManyChat's flow builder — for example, any comment containing "info", "price", "join", or "membership" triggers an automatic DM.
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02
Check against the member database
Before responding, cross-reference the sender's username or linked account against the member list. Sleeper members and flagged accounts are routed straight to escalation without receiving a reply.
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03
Claude drafts the reply
ManyChat passes the comment or message text to Claude via Zapier. Claude writes a short, natural reply in JustGym's voice — direct for simple questions, warmer for DM conversations. The reply is sent back to ManyChat to be delivered.
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04
ManyChat sends the reply
ManyChat posts the reply back on Instagram or Facebook — as a comment reply, a DM, or a Messenger message depending on where the original interaction came from. No manual intervention needed for standard interactions.
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05
Log to Google Sheets
Zapier writes a row to the Social Responses sheet for every interaction — platform, username, message content, reply sent, and outcome. Useful for spotting common questions and reviewing what has been said.
Setting Up ManyChat Triggers
ManyChat uses keyword triggers to decide what happens when someone comments or messages. These are configured once in ManyChat's flow builder.
| Trigger Word(s) | Channel | Action |
|---|---|---|
| info, membership, join, sign up, pricing | Instagram comment | Auto-DM with a short intro and a link to enquire — drafted by Claude |
| Any inbound DM | Instagram DM | Claude drafts a contextual reply. Common questions answered directly; anything else nudges them to call or visit. |
| Any inbound message | Facebook Messenger | Claude drafts a reply. Same logic as Instagram DMs. |
| Complaint, refund, cancel, injury, hurt | All channels | Escalated to human agent via WhatsApp. No automated reply sent. |
How Claude Should Sound
Social replies need to feel like a real person wrote them, not a support ticket system.
Comments & Quick Replies
One or two sentences. Match the energy of the comment. Enthusiastic comments get an upbeat reply. Questions get a direct answer or a nudge to DM for more detail. No hashtags unless the original post used them.
DMs & Messenger
Slightly more conversational. Answer the question if the Knowledge Base covers it. If not, let them know someone will follow up — never leave them with a non-answer. No formal sign-off. Just the message.
- —Do not post pricing in public comment replies. Direct pricing questions to DMs.
- —Do not engage with spam, accounts with no posts, or obvious bots. Skip entirely.
- —Do not mention competitors by name.
- —Never confirm or deny someone's membership status in a public reply.
- —Emails from sleeper members should not be auto-replied to. Route to the human agent.
- —Any negative comment, complaint, or sensitive message goes to a human. Claude does not handle these.
When to Route to a Human
ManyChat checks for escalation conditions before passing anything to Claude.
Always Escalate
Complaints or negative sentiment
Refund or cancellation requests
Injury or health-related messages
Any mention of legal action
Sleeper member interactions
Anything Claude cannot answer confidently
How It Works
ManyChat skips the Claude step and triggers a Zapier webhook that sends a WhatsApp alert to the team. The alert includes the platform, username, and the full message. Logged as Escalated in Google Sheets.
What the Free Plan Covers
ManyChat's free plan is enough to get started. The Pro plan unlocks AI features and removes contact limits.
Free Plan
Up to 1,000 contacts
Instagram and Facebook Messenger automation
Keyword triggers and comment-to-DM flows
Basic flow builder
Zapier integration included
Pro Plan ($15/month)
Unlimited contacts
AI-powered reply features (can reduce Claude API usage)
Advanced flow conditions
Email and SMS channels
Priority support
What Gets Logged
All interactions are written to the Social Responses sheet in the shared Google Sheets log via Zapier.
| Column | Value |
|---|---|
| Date & Time | Auto-timestamp |
| Platform | Instagram / Facebook Messenger |
| Type | Comment / DM / Message |
| Username | Sender handle or name |
| Original Content | The comment or message text |
| Reply Sent | Claude's reply, or N/A if escalated |
| Status | Replied Automatically / Escalated / Skipped |