On social media platforms like Instagram, consistency regarding sharing posts and stories is not just about visibility. It is of critical importance for brands to drive engagement, build brand trust, enhance brand image, and boost sales. But manually posting content every day can drain resources and time.
However, with automated scheduling, businesses can streamline their social media workflows and stay ahead of content calendars without missing a beat.
In this guide, we will walk you through how you can do Instagram automation. Let’s begin!
Choosing the right Instagram scheduling tool
Automating Instagram posts and stories starts with finding the right Instagram scheduling tool.
Instagram’s built-in features
Instagram offers native scheduling tools through the Meta Business Suite, which allows businesses to directly access their posts and manage content seamlessly. Some of its key features and strengths include:
-Post and reel scheduling directly from mobile or desktop devices.
-Meta’s audience insights that help recognize optimal posting times.
-Cross-platform posting to share content simultaneously on Facebook and Instagram.
-As the Meta Business Suite is free to use, it is ideal for small businesses or creators that are looking for a basic, no-cost option.
Third-party tools
As Meta currently houses limited story scheduling features, third-party tools such as Interakt, Hootsuite, Buffer, and Later can be used to automate stories much more efficiently.
Interakt, for instance, is specifically designed for WhatsApp and Instagram automation and comes with a unified inbox, giveaway automation, automated responses to DMs, and more. Third-party tools are perfect for growing businesses that are looking for multi-platform management, automation capabilities, and seamless scalability.
Features to look for in a scheduling platform
Here are some of the key features that you cannot do without in an Instagram scheduling platform:
-Easy-to-use content calendar that can help businesses visualize and manage posts.
-Ability to schedule and publish automatically, eliminating the need for manual intervention.
-AI-powered suggestions on caption ideas, trending content, ideal posting times, etc.
-Team collaboration tools to help teams co-manage schedules.
-Integration with CRM systems to personalize interactions and automate DMs.
Step-by-step guide to scheduling Instagram content
Having discussed what you would need to schedule Instagram posts and stories, it is time to put your Instagram scheduling tool in action by following these steps.
Using Meta Business Suite for post scheduling
Here’s how you can use the official Meta Business Suite for scheduling posts on Instagram:
Step 1: Log into the Meta Business Suite and link your Instagram business account here.
Step 2: Create a new post by clicking on “Create Post”, upload your image or video, and write the caption you wish to add.
Step 3: Include relevant hashtags to improve reach and tag collaborators or partners on the post.
Step 4: Click on “Set date and time” and pick the date and time that you wish the post to go live. (You can identify high-engagement time slots using Meta’s insights tab.)
Step 5: After this, double-check the post preview and confirm your post schedule.
Automating Instagram Stories
To automate Instagram stories with third-party tools, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Start by opening a third-party platform, such as Interakt, Later, or Buffer, that supports Instagram story scheduling.
Step 2: Upload story assets, such as photos or videos that you want to post, and add interactive elements like links, polls, stickers, etc.
Step 3: Select the ideal publish data and time for the story. AI-powered suggestions can help in understanding customers’ active hours and scheduling the story for the best reach and outcomes.
Batch-creating content for efficiency
Creating content in batches will help in staying consistent and organized. Plan weeks ahead regarding themes or campaigns and finish creating the visuals or shooting in one go.
A good strategy would be to leverage AI-powered tools to generate engaging captions and identify relevant hashtags and optimal posting times. With this approach, you can save time while aligning your Instagram content with long-term business goals.
Best practices for Instagram scheduling
Simply automating posts and stories does not guarantee engagement for your brand’s Instagram page. Here are some of the best practices that you can follow to ensure the best results:
Maintaining flexibility
While scheduling content can help your business maintain consistency on Instagram, it is also important to leave room for flexibility.
Social media platforms thrive on trends, and the ability to quickly respond to viral moments, industry news, and real-time events is important to make sure that your brand stays relevant, relatable, and current. This means there should be some buffer in your calendar to let you pivot when it is needed.
Using analytics to determine optimal posting time
Engaging users on Instagram and gaining visibility hinges on perfect timing. To stick the landing in this regard, you can use Instagram insights or your scheduling tool’s analytics feature and identify when your audience is the most active.
By regularly reviewing this data, you can ensure that all your posts go live during the time they are most likely to be seen and interacted with.
Ensuring alignment with ongoing campaigns
All scheduled posts should serve a purpose and perfectly align with your larger marketing strategy. As a rule, ensure that your content supports your ongoing promotions, product launch posts, or other seasonal campaigns. This way, your Instagram presence can contribute towards your broader business goals and maintain a cohesive brand voice across all content.
Conclusion
Automated scheduling is a game-changer for brands that intend to build a strong presence on Instagram. Leveraging official Instagram tools like Meta Business Suite and automation platforms like Interakt, you can ensure compliant, reliable, and effective content strategies.
Looking to take Instagram automation up a notch? From post scheduling to automated DMs and stories, Interakt’s Instagram Automation can help you streamline engagement and scale your brand on autopilot!
