This is the complete guide — no assumptions, no skipped steps. If you have an Instagram business account and you want AI to start answering your messages automatically, by the end of this article you will have it fully set up and running. The whole process takes about 30 minutes, and the software is completely free.
We are going to use TamoWork, an AI employee tool that runs entirely on your own computer. No subscription, no OpenAI API, no cloud service. Your customer conversations stay private on your machine, and the AI runs with no ongoing cost.
Gather these things before opening TamoWork for the first time — having them ready makes setup much faster:
If any of these are not written down yet, take 15 minutes to write them before starting. The quality of your AI employee is directly proportional to the quality of the information you give it.
Go to tamowork.com on your computer's browser. Click the Download button and select your operating system. Save the installer to your desktop or Downloads folder. The file size is around 400MB because it includes the local AI model.
Run the downloaded installer file. On Windows: double-click the .exe and follow the wizard. On Mac: open the .dmg and drag TamoWork to your Applications folder. On Linux: run the provided installation script. The first launch takes a minute or two as the AI model initializes. This is normal.
In TamoWork's sidebar, click Accounts — Add Account — Instagram. A browser window will open asking you to log in to Instagram and grant TamoWork permission to manage messages and comments. Log in, grant the permissions, and return to TamoWork. You should see your account name appear with a green "Connected" status.
Click AI Settings — Business Profile. In the large text field, paste or type your business description. Use natural language. Include: business name, what you sell, your typical customer, your location or service area, your unique selling points, and any important policies customers should know.
Still in AI Settings, go to Products. Add each product with its name, description, price, and any variants. If you have many products, group them by category. This data allows the AI to answer pricing and availability questions accurately.
Go to AI Settings — FAQ. Add at minimum 15 question-and-answer pairs covering your most common inquiries. Format each entry with the exact question as a customer might phrase it, followed by your ideal complete answer. Good FAQ entries eliminate follow-up questions and move customers toward purchasing.
In AI Settings — Style, choose your preferred communication tone. Write two or three example sentences in the exact style you want — these are style samples the AI uses as a reference. Also add any phrases you want to avoid and any phrases you always use.
Go to Instagram Settings — Automation. Enable DM Auto-Reply and/or Comment Auto-Reply. Set your response delay (1-3 minutes is recommended). Configure escalation rules — which types of messages should be flagged for your personal review instead of handled automatically.
Use TamoWork's Test Mode to simulate incoming messages. Send yourself test DMs from another account and watch TamoWork generate (but not send) responses. Review each one carefully. Is the information accurate? Is the tone right? Adjust your settings until you are fully satisfied. Only then switch to Live Mode.
After going live, check the reply log every day for the first week. Note any answers that were off and update your FAQ or business profile to address them. Most users find that after 5-7 days of refinement, their TamoWork setup runs with minimal intervention needed. By week two, you are genuinely hands-off for routine messages.
After the initial refinement period, TamoWork needs very little maintenance:
That is it. Your AI employee handles the rest — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at zero ongoing cost.
TamoWork is free, runs on your computer and starts replying to customers in minutes. No subscription, no credit card.
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