DALL-E 3 Instagram automation for any niche (with Midjourney-like quality images)
Learn how to automate your Instagram page with high-quality images using DALL-E 3, ChatGPT, and Zapier
by It’s AI Thomas
Mon 27 Nov 2023
What if you could automate the creation of images for your business account, or a theme page?
You can now easily do that and I’ll show you how.
In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to automate your Instagram page with AI-generated high-quality images.
In this walkthrough, I’ll demonstrate how to automate an Instagram theme page that focuses on architecture, sustainable living, and buildings, so you can imagine how this AI automation can be set up in real life.
We will be using three main tools: DALLE 3, ChatGPT, with everything being built inside Zapier.
For those who enjoy watching videos rather than reading, I have also made a short video explaining the whole process below.
Step 1: Setting Up the Trigger with Zapier
You will need to start with a Zapier trigger.
a) Search for “Schedule by Zapier”
- This will be your trigger for the automation.
b) Choose Frequency
- Select how often you want to post on Instagram — daily, hourly, monthly, or weekly.
c) Specify Details
- Decide if you want to post on weekends and the time of day for posting. Remember, the time zone in your Zapier account is crucial. You can set a specific time zone for each zap.
Step 2: Generating Prompts with ChatGPT
You will continue with your first action in the flow — the ChatGPT app.
a) Search for ChatGPT in Zapier
- Use the ‘Conversation’ event.
b) Connect ChatGPT to Zapier
- Generate an API key from OpenAI and paste it in Zapier.
c) Create a Prompt
- Input a prompt that ChatGPT will use to generate ideas for your Instagram content. This prompt can include various parameters like object types (e.g., house, skyscraper) and details about the desired image.
- Here is a prompt you can use to generate prompts for DALL-E 3 in Zapier:
Prompt: (Create an image of a modern, eco-friendly house at dusk, featuring large solar panels on the roof and surrounded by a lush garden. The house is made of sustainable materials and has large windows that reflect the orange and purple hues of the sunset, creating a serene, environmentally conscious vibe.)
Objects: (House, skyscraper, office building, supermarket)
Details: (Don't write any " " in the output. Don't write any text before or after the output. Always generate one prompt with the same structure.)
Based on the structure of the prompt, rotate between the objects, starting from the 1st object, and generate a new prompt.It’s a little different to write prompts inside Zapier, so if you want to know how to write them and leverage different parameters, get my totally FREE no-junk 3P framework here that will save you time and money.
d) Choose the GPT-4 Model
- For comprehensive prompts like these, select the GPT-4 model.
e) Set up the Memory Key
- This ensures ChatGPT remembers previous conversations for consistent output.
Step 3: Image Generation with DALL-E 3
Let's now actually create an image from the dynamic prompt the previous action (ChatGPT) will generate for you.
a) Search for OpenAI in Zapier
- Choose the ‘Generate Image with DALL-E 3’ event.
b) Connect OpenAI to Zapier
- Use your API key from OpenAI again.
c) Set Up Image Generation
- Link the conversation from ChatGPT to DALL-E 3, ensuring dynamic and varied image prompts.
- It's the output variable called “Repply” that you have created in the previous step.
d) Choose Image Quality and Style
- Select between standard or HD quality and choose a style (vivid or natural).
Step 4: Generating Descriptions with ChatGPT
You will need an engaging, human-like description with questions, hashtags, and call-to-actions to follow your profile for daily inspiration.
a) Use the ChatGPT App in Zapier Again
- Set up another ChatGPT action.
b) Generate Captions
- Create prompts for engaging captions, including hashtags and calls to action.
- Use the revised prompt from DALL-E 3 for accurate descriptions.
- Set parameters for tone and style.
- Here is one for inspiration that you can copy and paste and will generate engaging descriptions for Instagram posts:
Context: (You run architecture-related Instagram and post daily images with descriptions that are engaging.)
Prompt that generates the image: (HERE YOU INSERT THE DYNAMIC VARIABLE "Revised Prompt" from the DALL-E 3 ACTION)
Details: (The length of the output should be a maximum of 200 characters. Don't write any " ". Don't write any text before or after the text output. It must end with CTA to encourage the reader to leave a comment.)
Style: (Be informal and friendly.)
Generate a short caption that I can post with the image.
It’s a little different to write prompts inside Zapier, so if you want to know how to write them and leverage different parameters, get my totally FREE no-junk 3P framework here that will save you time and money.
Step 5: Posting to Instagram With DALL-E 3
Now, you'll put everything together, inlcuding your description and image, and post them on your Instagram together.
a) Make Your Instagram Page a Professional Account (if you haven't already)
- Go to your Instagram profile and click on the three lines in the upper right corner.
- In the menu, click on ‘Settings and privacy’.
- Scroll down and click on ‘Account type and tools’.
- Click on ‘Switch to professional account’.
- Click ‘Continue’ to start the process.
- Finish the setup by choosing your niche. Then, click ‘Done’.
b) Link Your Instagram Page to your Facebook Page
- Go to Facebook and create a new page if you don’t already have one.
- On your Facebook page, go to ‘Settings’.
- Find the ‘Linked Accounts’ or similar section.
- Select ‘Instagram’ and then the option to link your account. You’ll be prompted to log in to your Instagram account to confirm.
- You'll then get a confirmation that your Instagram was successfully linked to your Facebook page.
c) Search for ‘Instagram for Business’ in Zapier
- Choose the ‘Publish Photo’ event.
d) Set Up Post Details
- Link the image URL from DALL-E 3 and the description from ChatGPT. Add any static text or hashtags you want to include consistently.
- TIP: If you can't see your account in the “Instagram Account to Use (required)” field in Zapier, and you have turned your Instagram profile into a professional one, as well as linked it to a Facebook page, click the “Refresh fields” white button on the bottom.
Step 6: Testing and Activation
Lastly, ensure that everything works.
a) Test Your Last Action That Posts on Your Instagram
- Ensure that each part of the zap works correctly, from image generation to posting on Instagram.
- Check out whether your caption includes the main text with a question at the end, a call-to-action to follow you, your profile tagged, and your hashtags.
b) Name and Publish the Zap
- Once everything is set up and tested, name and publish your zap.
Additional Tips for This Instagram Automation DALLE 3 Zap
Here are some extra useful tips for you when you create your Instagram automation using DALLE-3, ChatGPT, and Zapier.
a) Be Aware of the Time Zone
- If your audience on IG is mostly located in a different part of the world, adjust the time zone of your zap to match your target audience’s location so the trigger is starting the automation at the right time.
b) Content Variation
- Use different objects and details in your prompts to ensure a variety of content.
c) Quality Settings
- Experiment with different quality and style settings in DALL-E 3 for the best results.
d) Engagement Strategies
- Use engaging descriptions and calls to action to encourage interaction on your posts.
e) Hashtags
- Choose hashtags that are relevant but not overly competitive.
f) Use the 3P Framework
- It’s a little different to write prompts inside Zapier, so if you want to know how to write them and leverage different parameters, get my totally FREE no-junk 3P framework that will save you time and money here.
Examples of DALL-E 3 Image Quality
To get you an idea about how the images look like, below are some examples crafted with DALL-E 3 and Zapier that I’ve created for my Instagram.
If you like the quality, get my AI automation database here.
