Reels are a great way for brands to boost traffic on their pages. In fact, according to Meta, they make up more than 20% of the content people see when spending time on the platform. This is what many creators have in mind when they schedule Instagram posts and decide on the type of content they will publish.
To improve the chances of your posts reaching your target audience, it’s important to know when to post on Instagram. However, constantly checking the clock to see if it’s already time to upload is both a waste of time and an inconvenience.
Luckily, the solution is there—this guide helps you discover how you can utilize Publer to streamline Instagram management and increase your engagement rates!
What Kind of Instagram Accounts Are Needed for Scheduling Posts?
You need a Business or Creator Instagram account to schedule posts in advance. These accounts have access to more features and capabilities on the platform and are meant for brands, businesses, and public figures. Aside from scheduling, these accounts can also access Instagram analytics, monitor relevant hashtags, and see the best time to post.
So, if you want to schedule Instagram posts on a Personal account, consider switching to a Business profile to maximize the platform’s various features. After that, you can start scheduling in one of the following three ways:
#1. Instagram Post Scheduling
Business profiles can schedule 25 Instagram posts a day up to 75 days in advance, so if you want to schedule more posts for a longer period of time, you may not be able to do it natively.
To schedule a post on Instagram, go to your profile and tap the plus icon.
Choose Post and select the image(s) you want to upload. After adding a caption and making the necessary edits, instead of clicking Share, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Advanced Settings.
There, you will see a “Schedule this post” option. When you switch it on, you can choose the time and date when your post will be published.
After that, all you should do is go back to the page and click Share.
#2. Meta Suite Posts Scheduling
You can also schedule Instagram posts on Meta Suite. Unlike Instagram, Meta allows you to schedule Stories along with Reels and posts.
To schedule a post, open the Meta Business Suite, click Create Post on the Home tab, and choose the account under Post to.
Add the image or video you want to post and include a caption, stickers, or other edits. That said, the editing options can be quite limited, which doesn’t allow for extensive changes.
Check the preview, then scroll down to Scheduling options and Set date and time to schedule your post.
When done, click on Schedule.
#3. Scheduling Posts with Publer
With Publer, you can enjoy the scheduling features of Instagram and Meta Suite, along with many more benefits.
For one, it allows you to schedule posts on a wider range of social media platforms, not just Facebook and Instagram. You can also schedule unlimited posts and drafts on the platform for a maximum of two years. This can greatly improve your efficiency and ensure that you always have fresh, quality content on your page.
Additionally, you can use Publer to schedule Instagram posts on both mobile and desktop, so you can manage your content easily. The best part is that you can actually schedule Instagram posts for free! So, start building momentum on social media today by taking advantage of all these amazing features with our free plan!
How To Schedule Instagram Posts With Publer: 5-Step Guide
Publer is a social media tool that allows you to manage different social media accounts, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, and more, on one platform. This is particularly helpful for posting on Instagram, where timing is crucial.
The software boasts a range of benefits and features that allow you to schedule Instagram posts from a desktop or a phone. Thanks to it, you can:
- Keep track of when and what you post with an Instagram feed planner. Each post features a small icon that represents its status: draft, manually scheduled, recycling, recurring, and already posted.
- See which posts are performing well through social media insights and the analytics dashboard feature. This way, you can adjust and refine your social media posts to achieve your goals.
- Recycle top-performing posts. Thanks to this feature, you won’t have to continuously create new ones. Publer can recycle and repost these for you at the ideal times to maximize engagement and reach.
- Save time by scheduling your posts in bulk. With Publer, you can schedule unlimited posts on your account and keep your social media feed active.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can use Publer scheduling for your Instagram posts:
#1. Create a Publer Account
There are several ways to create a Publer account. You can sign up with your preferred email address or connect an existing social media account to the platform.
After signing up, you need to provide some details, such as your role/position and how you intend to use the platform. Simply select the closest answer from the drop-down list or click Other if none apply.
Next, you’ll need to create a Workspace. Add the name for your workspace and select the industry that best represents your business or brand. From there, you can connect your different social media accounts, such as Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.
#2. Connect Your Instagram Account
You can choose to connect your Instagram account as soon as you sign up, or you can do it later.
Simply click the Instagram icon, then click Professional, and then click Continue.
After that, choose the account that you want to add to Publer and click Continue. A popup should appear in the upper right corner saying, “Account successfully connected.”
Then, click Continue, and you should be able to see your account on your Publer dashboard!
#3. Create a Post
To create a scheduled post, go to the Create tab, and you’ll see three options: Post, Reel, or Story.
If you choose Post or Reel, you will be able to see a preview of it on the right side. Be sure to preview your post before it goes live to catch any typos or grammatical errors. Previewing also allows you to see how your post looks to the audience, so you can make any changes to its format, images, or hashtags.
You have several options for attaching the image or video that you want to use. These include uploading it from an external URL, importing it from different sources, making it from scratch using the tools available on Publer, or uploading it from your device.
After choosing the file, you can edit it further on Publer by cropping, resizing, or adjusting its colors to reflect your brand’s aesthetic better. It’s also possible to add text, visual elements, and even some cute stickers.
#4. Optimize Your Post
The next step is to optimize your post by adding a caption, relevant emojis, and some trending Instagram hashtags to help boost the post’s visibility. Publer also has the AI Assist feature, which can help take your caption to the next level.
If you’re having trouble finding the best hashtags for your post, you can click on Hashtags, and Publer will automatically give you a list of relevant hashtags to use.
#5. Set Scheduling Parameters
You can set scheduling parameters by choosing one of Publer’s four scheduled posts: Manual, AutoSchedule, Recycle, and Recurring.
If you want to schedule your post manually, it’s possible to choose the exact date and time it goes live or create predefined time slots based on the best times to post.
Publer has an AutoSchedule feature where the system selects a timeslot from the currently available ones and schedules the post for that time. This is a great option when creating posts in bulk, as scheduling each one can be time-consuming.
Aside from scheduling posts, Publer can also recycle posts that performed really well. Content recycling not only saves you time and energy but also boosts your Instagram’s SEO, as it creates more posts that use your target hashtags.
Meanwhile, the Recurring post feature is ideal for posts that promote something, like a limited-time product, giveaway, or contest. Since these items have a limit on their availability, it’s important to ensure that they reach your audience, and recurring posts are one way to do that.
The Benefits of Scheduling Instagram Posts
There are several benefits of scheduling Instagram posts. This process:
- Helps save time. Creating and posting manually can take up a lot of time. And when you forget to post at the right times, your content may not reach its target audience. With an Instagram scheduler, you won’t have to worry about logging in every day, which allows you to focus on other aspects of your business.
- Engages the audience. Scheduling Instagram posts enables you to post during peak engagement times each and every time. It also gives you the opportunity to interact with new followers and reply to comments on your posts.
- Allows for proper content planning. Scheduled posts also help you plan your content better. The calendar shows all of them, giving you an overview of what your content for the month looks like. If you want, you can make the necessary changes before the posts are published to ensure a more cohesive feed.
- Ensures better content. You’ll have more time to think of the type of content that will engage your audience rather than uploading hastily made ones just for the sake of posting.
5 Best Practices for Scheduling Instagram Posts
Here are some of the best practices for scheduling Instagram posts you should keep in mind:
#1. Pick the Right Time for Posting
Always choose the right time to post your content. You can achieve this by observing the metrics of your previous posts and using that information to determine when your audience is most active.
According to the American Marketing Association, the best times to post on Instagram are during:
- Monday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
- Tuesday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- Wednesday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
- Thursday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
- Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Saturday between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
- Sunday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Use these times as a basis for creating timeslots so you can schedule your content to go live at the ideal times.
#2. Adjust Your Posting Schedule
Posting regularly is important for your business growth, but knowing when to stop posting is also crucial. Promoting your content on somber occasions or after a tragedy that went viral can come off as insensitive. Instead of posting about your brand, you can edit your post to address the situation or not post anything at all.
If you have any scheduled posts on Publer, you can easily edit them or switch them to Drafts so you can post them at a later time.
#3. Use Relevant Hashtags
Using relevant hashtags is important for every platform, especially Instagram. Using the top trending hashtags may seem like a good idea to make your post stand out, but if you don’t reach the right people, it won’t have any impact on your profile.
Hashtags allow you to get discovered by your target audience, increasing engagement and improving brand awareness. They also represent an easy way to add context to your posts, which is crucial for Instagram, as it limits the number of characters in your post. Publer’s hashtag generator can even help you choose the best hashtags to use for your post.
#4. Optimize Your Captions
Using SEO keywords to optimize your Instagram captions is another effective way to boost visibility and engagement.
When users search for words related to your business in the Instagram search box, you want your content to appear in the top results. Having an optimized and interesting caption will encourage users to interact with your post and visit your page for similar content.
To achieve this, you can take advantage of Publer’s caption generator to easily create intriguing captions that get the attention of readers.
#5. Don’t Forget to Respond to Comments
With the posting taken care of, use your time to respond to any comments that you get on your posts. Being proactive about responding and interacting with your audience can leave a positive impression on your followers.
With Publer, you won’t have to constantly check your social media profile to see if anyone has commented. You can reply to comments within the platform and even use our AI Assist feature to help generate your responses.
Use Publer to Schedule Instagram Posts Like a Pro
If you want to upgrade your Instagram profile and enhance its visibility, you should look into scheduling posts. Not only will it save you a lot of time, but it will also allow you to strategize when to drop a new photo, video, reel, or story. Instagram influencers are numerous, but if you choose the right scheduling tool, competing with them will no longer be a hassle.
Key Takeaways
From saving time to improving your profile’s visibility, scheduling Instagram posts can help you achieve your social media goals.
At Publer, we want to make Instagram scheduling a breeze. With our platform’s comprehensive scheduling features, you won’t have to worry about missing a post, comment, or opportunity to gain more followers and increase brand awareness.
Sign up to Publer today for free and experience how easy social media management can be!
Schedule Instagram Posts FAQ
Does Instagram allow scheduled posts?
Yes, Instagram allows scheduled posts. You can use the Instagram app, the Meta Suite, or a third-party social media management tool like Publer to create and schedule posts consistently.
Can you schedule Instagram posts in advance?
Yes, you can schedule Instagram posts in advance. Instagram allows you to schedule a maximum of 25 posts up to 75 days in advance. Meanwhile, with Publer, you can schedule an unlimited number of posts.
How to schedule Instagram posts from your phone?
To schedule Instagram posts from your phone, you can use the Instagram app or a third-party scheduling app like Publer. Create a post as usual, and instead of sharing it, set it to be published on your preferred date and time.
Why can’t I see the “schedule post” button?
You won’t see the “Schedule Post” button if you have a Personal Instagram account. If the option to schedule Instagram posts is not showing, you need to change your account type to Business or Creator to access the scheduling feature.
Ervin Kalemi
