How to set up auto reply on your Facebook Page (Messenger)

Facebook gives your Page two automatic messages. An instant reply goes to someone who messages your Page for the first time. An away message goes out when your Page's messaging status is set to Away, and it can tell people when to expect an answer or where to find other information.

Both are fixed text, written once. Neither reads the customer's message. They confirm receipt well, and they do nothing beyond that.

• They can greet, thank, and tell people your hours or where to find your prices.
• They cannot answer "is this in stock?" or "what is the price of the red one?".
• They cannot negotiate a price, take an order or ask for a payment.
• They do not send a second message when the customer replies. After the first message, you or your team must answer.

1. 1Log in to Facebook with the account that has access to your Page and switch to the Page.
2. 2In the left menu, click Meta Business Suite.
3. 3In the left menu, click Inbox.
4. 4Click Automations at the top.
5. 5Click Instant reply.
6. 6Turn on the Instant reply toggle and choose Messenger as the channel.
7. 7Type your message in the text box.
8. 8Click Save changes.

Meta's help pages also describe a second route: from the Messenger icon at the top of your Page, open Automations, click Create automation, choose Greet people, then Instant reply. Either route ends at the same screen.

To switch it off later, go back to Inbox, then Automations, scroll to Your automations and use the toggle next to the instant reply.

An away message is sent when your Page's messaging status is Away. Meta lists it in the same Automations area of Inbox as the instant reply. Set the message to say when you will be back, for example "we reply from 10am".

Meta's Automations area has also offered other options, such as ready-made replies to common questions and keyword replies. Names, limits and device support change from time to time, so confirm on Meta's current help page.

On the phone, the Meta Business Suite app and the Pages app have their own layout. Set instant reply up once on a computer, where the steps above apply, then check on your phone that it is on.

Keep each message short. Say who you are, tell the customer what to do next, and promise only what you can always deliver.

Replace the opening hours with your own. If you do not reply at night, say so, so the customer is not left waiting.

• Writing a long message. Most customers read the first two lines. Lead with the one thing they must do.
• Promising a time you cannot keep. "We reply in 5 minutes" becomes a complaint at 2am. State hours, not minutes.
• Asking for a price enquiry to be repeated. If the customer already wrote the product name, asking again reads as a bot.
• Leaving an old message on. A past Eid or sale message looks careless. Review your automations after every offer.
• Leaving Away on by accident. While the Page is Away, the instant reply is not sent, and people only see the away message.
• Thinking auto reply handles comments. It covers messages only. Comments need a separate approach, see Facebook comment auto reply.

A fixed reply is enough when it only acknowledges the message and a person answers soon after. It falls short when customers ask about price, stock, size or delivery at night, bargain, or want to order. Fixed text handles none of these, so the customer waits and often buys elsewhere.

That is the point at which automation that understands the conversation becomes necessary. Read Messenger automation for what that involves. Read the Messenger 24 hour rule as well, because it decides how long after a customer's last message you can still reply.

LeadRevive is our product. Meta's built-in replies are free and well suited to a greeting. LeadRevive begins where the greeting ends. Once your Facebook Page is connected, the AI replies in Bangla, English or Banglish from your own products and Business Knowledge, answers price and stock questions, and negotiates down to a floor price you set. A Sales Agent handles the chat and a Payment & Collections Agent asks for the advance. You can take over any chat at any time. Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp share one inbox.