Custom comments mean you write each line and it's posted exactly as typed — wording, emoji, punctuation, all of it. This is the mechanics: how to get the text in, what the rules are, and three sets you can adapt.
Three ways to supply the text
Paste
Type or paste your lines into the box, one comment per line. Best for up to ~50.
Upload a file
A .txt or .csv, one comment per line (or the first column of a CSV). Best for larger sets or lists prepared elsewhere.
Link a sheet or doc
Paste a public Google Sheet or Doc link; the lines are pulled from it. Handy when a team is drafting together.
The rules
- One comment per line. A blank line is skipped, not posted as an empty comment.
- Line count vs quantity. If you order 50 and paste 50 lines, each is used once. Paste fewer than your quantity and the remainder is filled with auto-written comments (or the order is held until the counts match, depending on how you set it). Paste more and the extras are ignored.
- Emoji, mentions, hashtags post exactly as written. A line can be a single emoji, a full sentence, or a question with a mention.
- Length. Keep lines to normal comment length — a sentence or two. Instagram truncates very long comments and they read as unnatural anyway.
- No line breaks inside one comment. Each line is one comment; you can't span a comment across two lines.
Numbering your lines (the "1." gets posted) · a trailing blank line that throws the count off · the same emoji on every line · pasting from a doc that adds smart quotes you didn't intend · @-mentioning your own account on more than a couple of lines.
A QA pass before you submit
Read the set as a stranger
If more than a couple of lines could be swapped onto any of your other posts unchanged, it's too generic.
Strip numbering and bullets
"1.", "-", "•" at the start of a line all get posted literally.
Flatten smart quotes
Curly quotes and em-dashes pasted from a word processor can look off in a comment. Retype or paste as plain text.
Vary the emoji
No single emoji on more than two or three lines; several lines with none at all.
Count your @-mentions
One or two of your own handle is natural; every line is a tell.
Match the line count to the quantity
Or decide deliberately to let auto-written fill the rest.
Match the set to the post's job
| Post type | What the custom set should do |
|---|---|
| Product launch | Raise the top three or four buying objections so the brand can answer them publicly |
| Ad creative | Objection-handlers plus a couple of peer-style "second order, still good" lines — kept a minority |
| Reel / creator post | Technique questions and specific reactions that invite more real replies |
| Local business post | Logistics questions — hours, booking, parking, group options |
| Routine grid post | Usually no custom set needed — auto-written is fine |
Three ready sets to adapt
SaaS launch post (12 lines)
- ok the onboarding flow in the demo looks genuinely simple
- Does this integrate with HubSpot?
- been waiting for someone to build this properly
- What's the pricing for a team of 5?
- Is there a free tier or just a trial
- switched from [competitor] last month, no regrets
- Does it do SSO on the lower plans
- the API docs are actually readable, rare
- How long is the trial
- Can I import my existing data or is it a fresh start
- signed up. setup took maybe ten minutes
- Any plans for a mobile app?
Local restaurant Reel (10 lines)
- the sear on that is perfect
- Are you open Mondays?
- Do you take walk-ins or is it bookings only
- been three times this month, send help
- Is the patio dog friendly?
- what time does the kitchen close on weekends
- Do you do a set menu for groups
- the bread alone is worth the trip
- Parking nearby or should I get a cab
- Is this the new location or the original
Fitness coach carousel (10 lines)
- slide 3 finally explained this in a way that clicked
- How many sets would you start with for a beginner
- Is the program suitable if I train at home with dumbbells only
- saving this, thank you
- Do you have a version for people coming back from injury
- what's the cue for keeping the back neutral here
- How often should this be in a weekly split
- tried this today, form felt so much better
- Is there a cutoff age where this changes
- Do you coach 1:1 or is it just the programs
Notice the pattern in all three: mostly questions a real prospect asks, a few short reactions, varied length, sparing emoji, and the brand account has an obvious job replying to them. The copywriting guide covers the formulas behind this.
Adapting a set across posts
You will reuse the same underlying objections — sizing, shipping, integrations — on many posts. Change the wording every time: "true to size?" becomes "should I size up?" becomes "how does the fit run?". Swap the reactions to match the new image. The substance of the questions can repeat; the exact text cannot, because verbatim repetition across posts is one of the content signatures filters look for. Keep a master list of objections and rewrite from it rather than copying the last set.
FAQ
Q What if my line count doesn't match my quantity?
Fewer lines than quantity: the rest is auto-filled, or the order waits, depending on your setting. More lines: the extras are dropped.
Q Can I mix custom and auto-written in one order?
Yes — supply the lines that carry meaning and let auto-written comments make up the number.
Q Do hashtags in my comments help?
A hashtag or two where a real commenter would use one is fine. Stuffing tags reads as spam and doesn't help reach from a comment.
Q Can I reuse a set on another post?
Reword it. The same lines verbatim across posts is a content signature the filters pick up.
Q Can I control the order the comments post in?
Roughly — lines are generally used in the order supplied, but delivery is paced and interleaved with any auto-written fill, so treat the sequence as approximate.
Q Should custom comments name my product or brand?
One or two naturally ("been using [brand] for a year") is fine. Every line naming the brand is not how real people comment.
Q Can I include a link in a custom comment?
You can, but links in comments are low-trust and can look promotional. A pinned comment from your own account is the better place for a link.