---
title: "Your customer just replied to your Instagram Story. Now you decide what happens next."
slug: "instagram-story-reply-shopify-flow-trigger"
url: "https://joy.so/updates/instagram-story-reply-shopify-flow-trigger/"
kind: "update"
author: "Thomas Nguyen"
author_url: "https://joy.so/author/thomas/"
published_at: "2026-04-01T10:47:48.000+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-08T08:58:09.000+00:00"
description: "A new Shopify Flow trigger fires every time a customer replies to your Instagram Story — connect it to Klaviyo, tag them in Shopify, DM them, or any other Flow action. Joy detects the reply. You write the playbook."
category: "Product Updates"
tags: ["Product Updates", "Shopify apps"]
reading_time: 2
feature_image: "https://images.pexels.com/photos/8886104/pexels-photo-8886104.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofHx8aW5zdGFncmFtfHx8fHx8Mg&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=2000"
---

# Your customer just replied to your Instagram Story. Now you decide what happens next.

## Why this matters

Joy now fires a Shopify Flow trigger each time a customer sends a qualifying [reply to your Instagram Story](https://help.joy.so/reward-programs/earning-programs/social-activity/instagram-story-reply). The points reward still applies, and the trigger lets you connect that reply to Klaviyo, Shopify tags, or Slack.

### Send an email when a customer replies

Start a Klaviyo sequence the moment a reply is detected, so the customer hears back about the Story they answered.

### Tag story-engaged customers in Shopify

Add a customer tag from the trigger to build a segment of customers who reply to your Stories. Use that segment for early access or a VIP-only offer in your next campaign.

### Alert your team to high-value replies

Send a Slack notification when a high-value customer engages. Your social or CX team is notified as it happens, so those replies are not missed.

> **Try this**
> Build a workflow that starts with "Customer replied to Instagram story" and sends a Klaviyo email. Add a customer tag in the same workflow, then use it for a VIP outreach campaign.

---

## How to access and use

### Step 1: Connect Instagram

In Joy, open **Integrations → Instagram** and follow the connection flow.

### Step 2: Create the Story Reply program

Go to **Reward programs → Earning programs → Add program → Social activity**, then select **Reply to Instagram Story** from the event dropdown.

### Step 3: Start a Shopify Flow workflow

In Shopify Flow, create a new workflow with the trigger **Customer replied to Instagram story**.

### Step 4: Add your actions

Chain any Flow action after the trigger, such as a Klaviyo event, a customer tag, or a Slack notification.

## Setup guides

[Instagram story reply](https://help.joy.so/reward-programs/earning-programs/social-activity/instagram-story-reply)

[Integrate with Shopify flow](https://help.joy.so/integrations/integrate-with-shopify-flow/README)

## Good to know

Instagram Story Reply with Shopify Flow is available on Joy's **Advanced** and **Ultimate** plans. Joy credits points only when the customer's Instagram username is linked to their loyalty account.

## Frequently asked questions

### Do emoji reactions to my Story earn points?

No. Joy filters out emoji-only reactions automatically, so only text replies earn points.

### Can a customer earn from replies to several Stories?

Yes. Each qualifying reply can earn points, within the earning limit you set for the program.

### Do I need to reconnect Instagram for this program?

Not if Instagram is already connected for Comment or Story Mention rewards. Joy shares one Instagram integration across all Instagram programs, and it needs a Business or Creator account.