How to Schedule Instagram Posts: Boosting Your Influence

Are you struggling to keep up with posting consistently on Instagram? Learning how to schedule Instagram posts can be a game-changer for boosting your influence on the platform.

Planning ahead and using Instagram scheduling tools helps you ensure your social media content goes live at the best times to reach your audience. Whether you use Instagram's built-in scheduler or a third-party app, automating your posting can save you time and help you maintain a regular presence. 

Let’s dive into using Instagram schedulers so you can get that much closer to being a social media influencer - or at least using it to grow your audience.

Understanding the Importance of Instagram Post Scheduling

Consistent posting is crucial for creating higher visibility on Instagram. When you post regularly, you increase your chances of appearing in your followers' feeds and being discovered by new users. 

An Instagram scheduler helps you maintain this consistency, ensuring you don't miss important posting opportunities. Learning how to schedule Instagram posts means you can plan your content in advance and maintain a steady flow of posts without having to be online at specific times. 

Timed posts can engage different parts of your audience effectively. Your followers may be active at various times throughout the day, depending on their location and personal schedules. 

Scheduling posts for different times could help you reach a broader segment of your audience. This strategy is particularly useful if you have followers in different time zones or if your target audience has diverse daily routines. 

Scheduling posts during optimal activity hours can significantly boost your engagement rates. Research shows that posting when your audience is most active increases the likelihood of likes, comments, and shares. Scheduling tools automate Instagram posting to ensure your content goes live during these peak times, even if you're not available to post manually. 

How do you know when the best time to post is? Check your Instagram Insights and see when people are engaging with your content the most. Then, with the help of your Instagram scheduler, start adding more content to your Instagram profile at those days and times.

Pro Tip: If you don’t already have an Instagram business account, make sure to transition your personal account to a business one.

Without an Instagram business account, you lose access to a lot of the selling features you may want if you hope to monetize your Instagram followers.

Exploring Instagram Post Scheduling Tools

Instagram's in-app post scheduler is a built-in feature that allows users to schedule posts directly within the app. This tool is convenient for those who prefer to manage everything natively without relying on third-party services. 

To see scheduled posts on Instagram, you can access the "Scheduled Content" section in your profile settings. The in-app scheduler is user-friendly and integrates seamlessly with the platform, but it may have limitations in terms of advanced features and cross-platform management. 

That said, if you have connected your Facebook and Instagram business accounts in the Meta Business Suite, you have more advanced features for scheduling available to you. In fact, you can schedule content to both apps simultaneously so that more people have access to your content. 

For example, if you have a sponsored Instagram reel that you would like to get a lot more eyeballs on, you can go into the Meta Business Suite and upload that reel to both Facebook and Instagram. Schedule them to go live on both platforms whenever you want in just a few clicks. At the time of this writing, “Scheduled posts need to be shared between 20 minutes and 29 days from when you create them.”

Third-Party Instagram Schedulers

Third-party scheduling tools offer more robust features for managing your Instagram content. These tools often provide additional capabilities such as bulk scheduling, content calendars, and analytics. Some popular options include Hootsuite, Later, and Buffer. The main advantage of these tools is their ability to manage multiple social media platforms from a single dashboard. However, they may come with a cost and require you to share access to your Instagram account. 

Choosing the right tool for your specific needs depends on various factors. Consider your posting frequency, the complexity of your content strategy, and your budget. If you're managing multiple accounts or need advanced analytics, a third-party tool might be more suitable. For individual users or those just starting with scheduling, Instagram's native scheduler could be sufficient. Evaluate the features of each option and how they align with your Instagram marketing goals before making a decision. 

Related: Learn how to promote your business on social media the right way.

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Schedule Instagram Posts

Using Instagram's Native Post Scheduler (on Mobile):

1. Guide to navigate the user interface:

   - Open the Instagram app and tap the "+" icon to create a new post.

   - Select the photo or video you want to share.

   - Edit your content as usual with filters and adjustments.

   - Once you're ready to post, tap "Next" in the top right corner.

2. Creating and scheduling a post:

   - On the post creation screen, scroll down and tap "Advanced settings."

   - Toggle on "Schedule this post."

   - Choose the date and time you want your post to go live.

   - Tap "Done" to return to the post creation screen.

   - Finish crafting your caption, adding hashtags, and tagging people if desired.

   - Tap "Schedule" in the top right corner to confirm.

3. Previewing and adjusting scheduled posts:

   - To see scheduled posts on Instagram, go to your profile and tap the menu icon.

   - Select "Scheduled Content" to view your upcoming posts.

   - Tap on a scheduled post to edit or delete it if needed.

Using Meta Business Suite to Schedule a Post (on Mobile or Desktop)

1. Log into Meta Business Suite

2. Navigate to the page you want to share content to, and click “Create post”

3. Load the content - it can be a photo or a video

4. Select where you want the content posted to (i.e. Facebook, Instagram, or both)

5. In the “Scheduling options,” choose the date and time you want the content to go live for the selected platforms

6. Then, click “Schedule,” and at the time and date you chose, your content will go live on your profile(s)

Using a Third-party Scheduling Tool:

1. Signing up and integrating with your Instagram account:

   - Choose a third-party tool and create an account.

   - Follow the tool's instructions to connect your Instagram account.

   - Authorize the app to access your Instagram profile.

2. Composing and pre-scheduling a post:

   - Use the tool's interface to upload your image or video.

   - Write your caption and add hashtags.

   - Select the date and time you want the post to be published.

   - Some tools offer features to help you find optimal posting times based on your audience's activity.

3. Monitoring and managing your post schedule:

   - Most third-party tools provide a content calendar view where you can see all your scheduled posts.

   - You can typically edit, reschedule, or delete posts from this calendar view.

   - Some tools also offer mobile apps, allowing you to manage your schedule on the go.

Extra Tips and Best Practices for Using Instagram Schedulers

Understanding and following Instagram's post scheduling policies is essential to maintain a good standing on the platform. Instagram allows scheduling for business and creator accounts, but there are limitations on the number of posts you can schedule per day and how far in advance you can schedule them. Always ensure your scheduled content adheres to Instagram's community guidelines to avoid any issues with your account. 

Developing a consistent schedule to maximize engagement is key to growing your Instagram presence. Analyze your audience insights to determine when your followers are most active and plan your posts accordingly. Aim for a regular posting frequency that you can maintain over time. This consistency helps build anticipation among your followers and keeps your content appearing in their feeds regularly. 

Adjusting your schedule based on insights and analytics is crucial for optimizing your Instagram strategy. Regularly review the performance of your posts to identify trends in engagement. Pay attention to which types of content perform best and at what times. Use this information to refine your posting schedule and content strategy. Many third-party tools offer detailed analytics that can help you make data-driven decisions about your posting schedule. 

By implementing these strategies and learning how to schedule posts on Instagram from mobile or desktop, you can significantly boost your influence on the platform. Remember that scheduling is a tool to help you maintain consistency and reach your audience effectively, but it should be combined with authentic engagement and high-quality content for the best results.

Use Castmagic to Create Instagram Posts and Generate Ideas From Your Video and Audio Content!

To have something to add to an Instagram scheduler, you first need to create content. And, if you're looking for a powerful tool to streamline your Instagram content creation process, Castmagic offers an innovative solution. This all-in-one transcription and AI-content platform can help you transform your video and audio content into engaging Instagram posts. 

Castmagic works by transcribing your audio or video files and then using AI to generate various content assets. Here's how you can leverage Castmagic for your Instagram strategy: 

1. Content Repurposing: Upload your podcast episodes, YouTube videos, or any audio/video content to Castmagic. The platform will transcribe your content and create summaries, quotes, and key points that can be easily adapted into Instagram posts. 

2. Caption Generation: Castmagic can help you create compelling captions for your Instagram posts based on the themes and topics discussed in your audio or video content. 

3. Hashtag Suggestions: The platform can analyze your content and suggest relevant hashtags to use in your Instagram posts, helping to increase your reach. 

4. Content Ideas: Castmagic's AI can generate content ideas based on the topics covered in your audio or video, helping you plan future Instagram posts. 

5. Visual Content Creation: While Castmagic primarily focuses on text-based content, the insights it provides can inspire your visual content creation for Instagram.

To use Castmagic for Instagram content creation: 

1. Upload your audio or video file to Castmagic.

2. Let the AI process your content and generate various assets.

3. Review the generated content and select pieces that would work well for Instagram.

4. Adapt the selected content to fit Instagram's format, adding visuals as needed.

5. Use the Castmagic-generated captions and hashtags to complete your post.

Incorporating Castmagic into your workflow helps you efficiently repurpose your long-form content into Instagram-friendly posts, saving time and ensuring consistency across your content channels. This tool can be particularly useful for podcasters, video creators, and businesses looking to maximize their content's reach across different platforms. 

Click here for a free trial!