diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bec76fe..cf17950 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ Inspired by Reddit's modmail system.
 3. Create a Discord server to be used as the modmail inbox
 4. Copy `config.example.json` to `config.json` and fill in the values
 5. Install dependencies: `npm install`
-6. Run the bot: `node src/index.js`
+6. Add bot to servers, and make sure to give it proper permissions on the mail server.
+7. Run the bot: `node src/index.js`
 
 ## Commands
 
@@ -22,8 +23,10 @@ Inspired by Reddit's modmail system.
 
 ##### Inside a modmail thread
 `!reply <text>` Sends a reply to the user in the format "(Role) User: text" (alias `!r`)  
-`!anonreply <text>` Sends an anonymous reply to the user in the format "Role: text"  
+`!anonreply <text>` Sends an anonymous reply to the user in the format "Role: text" (alias !ar) 
 `!close` Closes the modmail thread and saves a log of it  
 `!logs` Lists previous modmail logs with this user  
 `!block` Blocks the user from using modmail  
 `!unblock` Unblocks the user from using modmail
+
+To automatically reply without using !reply or !r, enable `alwaysReply` in the config. `alwaysReplyAnon` sets whether to reply anonymously. If you do not wish to reply, it will ignore any message starting in the prefix (which defaults to !), such as !note
diff --git a/config.example.json b/config.example.json
index 57d3d92..cab318a 100644
--- a/config.example.json
+++ b/config.example.json
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 {
   "token": "your bot token",
   "mailGuildId": "id of the modmail inbox guild",
-  "mainGuildId": "id of the main server where users will DM the bot"
+  "mainGuildId": "id of the main server where users will DM the bot",
+
+  "prefix": "!",
+  "status": "Message me for help!",
+  "responseMessage": "Thank you for your message! Our mod team will reply to you here as soon as possible.",
+  "alwaysReply": false,
+  "alwaysReplyAnon": false
 }
diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index 2966bf9..9ad0756 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -57,15 +57,18 @@ function formatUserDM(msg) {
   });
 }
 
-bot.on('messageCreate', msg => {
-  if (! msg.channel.guild) return;
-  if (msg.channel.guild.id !== utils.getModmailGuild(bot).id) return;
-  if (! msg.member.permission.has('manageRoles')) return;
-  if (msg.author.bot) return;
-  if (msg.content[0] == bot.commandOptions.prefix) return;
+// "Forward all messages not starting in prefix"
+if (config.alwaysReply) {
+  bot.on('messageCreate', msg => {
+    if (! msg.channel.guild) return;
+    if (msg.channel.guild.id !== utils.getModmailGuild(bot).id) return;
+    if (! msg.member.permission.has('manageRoles')) return;
+    if (msg.author.bot) return;
+    if (msg.content[0] == bot.commandOptions.prefix) return;
 
-  reply(msg, msg.content.trim(), false);
-});
+    reply(msg, msg.content.trim(), config.alwaysReplyAnon || false);
+  });
+}
 
 // "Bot was mentioned in #general-discussion"
 bot.on('messageCreate', msg => {
@@ -161,7 +164,7 @@ Here's what their message contained:
             });
 
             // Send an automatic reply to the user informing them of the successfully created modmail thread
-            msg.channel.createMessage("Thank you for your message! Our mod team will reply to you here as soon as possible.").then(null, (err) => {
+            msg.channel.createMessage(config.responseMessage || "Thank you for your message! Our mod team will reply to you here as soon as possible.").then(null, (err) => {
               bot.createMessage(utils.getModmailGuild(bot).id, {
                 content: `There is an issue sending messages to ${msg.author.username}#${msg.author.discriminator} (id ${msg.author.id}); consider messaging manually`
               });