Instagram DM Script for Selling a Course (Comment to Checkout)
The DM that sells a course is short: name the course, give the outcome and price, drop the checkout link, invite a question. No warm-up paragraph, because the viewer already raised their hand by commenting. With Viralyze, that message goes out about a second after the comment, and the checkout page is one your course already has inside the app.
Here is the script, why each line is there, and how to set it up.
The three-message course DM script
Message 1 (sent automatically on the keyword):
"Hey! You commented COURSE on my reel, so here is the Reels Editing Course. 12 short lessons, lifetime access, edit a reel in under 20 minutes by lesson 4. It is ₹1,499 and you can pay by UPI or card: [checkout link]. Reply with any question, I read every message."
Message 2 (manual, if they reply with a question):
"Good question. The course covers CapCut and Instagram's own editor, so no paid software needed. Most people finish it over one weekend."
Message 3 (manual, if they went quiet for a day):
"Just checking you saw the checkout link above. If the price is the issue, tell me and I will share the free lesson first."
Keep message 1 under 60 words. The job of messages 2 and 3 is to answer, not to pressure.
Why does the price belong in the first DM?
Because leaving it out creates a second question, and every extra round trip loses people. A viewer who sees ₹1,499 and the outcome in the same line can decide immediately. If the price is high for your audience, lead with the outcome and add the instalment or guarantee line, but still state the number.
Putting the price in also filters the Inbox. The replies you get are from people who already accepted the number.
How do I set this up so it sends itself?
1. Add the course in the Viralyze shop so it has its own checkout page (0% platform fee, UPI and cards accepted). 2. Create an Auto-DM automation on the launch reel with keywords COURSE, "course link" and "price". 3. Paste message 1 as the DM and attach the course checkout as the link. 4. Turn on the public reply ("Sent you a DM 💌") so other viewers see the thread is active. 5. Run the live tester with a sample comment, then set it live.
Payouts from course sales land in your bank weekly.
Should I use a follow-gate on a course reel?
Only if growing followers matters more than this sale. The follow-gate asks the commenter to follow before the link is sent, with up to three polite nudges. On a cold reel reaching new viewers it builds your audience; on a reel aimed at existing followers it adds a step for no gain, since followers get the link straight away anyway.
A reasonable split: follow-gate on educational reels that tease the course, no gate on the direct "buy" reel.
What do I say to people who reply but do not buy?
Answer the actual question in the Inbox, where the originating comment sits next to the reply so you have context. Keep answers to two sentences and end with the link again. Instagram's reply window is 24 hours from their last message, so reply the same day.
If someone says "will buy next month", ask if they want the free lesson now. Every conversation becomes a contact in Viralyze, so you can see them again when you run the next cohort.
Frequently asked questions
**Can the same keyword send different messages to followers and non-followers?** Not different text, but the follow-gate changes the path: non-followers get the nudge first, followers get the checkout link immediately.
**Does the DM look identical to everyone?** No. AI variations reword each DM slightly so no two people receive the exact same message, which keeps the thread from looking automated.
**What if my course description is long?** Long DMs become a downloadable PDF automatically, with open tracking, so you can send a full syllabus without cramming it into one message.
Start the 7-day free trial of Viralyze, no card needed, and have your course DM live before your next reel goes up.