Follow-gate: ask for the follow before the link

Follow-gate (Pro) turns your link into a small trade: follow first, then the link arrives. Creators use it to convert comment spikes into follower growth at the same time.

What the commenter sees

1. They comment your keyword.
2. Instead of the link, they get a card: your gate message plus two buttons — Follow @you (opens your profile in the Instagram app) and I'm following ✅.
3. They follow, tap "I'm following ✅", and the link DM arrives.

How verification works

Instagram only lets us check someone's follow status after they've interacted with your DMs — that's exactly what the "I'm following ✅" tap provides. When they tap it, we verify with Instagram and deliver instantly if they follow. If they tap without following, they get a gentle nudge instead of the link.

Honest notes

• The gate adds one step, so gated automations convert slightly fewer clicks but add followers. Test both on similar reels and compare in Analytics — the funnel shows Gated → Followed → Delivered.
• People who already follow you pass straight through when verification allows; worst case they tap one button.
• The gate message is scanned by ban protection like any other message.