Want to know how to schedule Instagram posts for the best chance of #Instafame?
You’ve come to the right place.
While there’s no magic strategy for Instagram success, if there was one, it would focus on things like high levels of engagement, quality, and consistency.
The good news?
You can accomplish all of those things by learning how to schedule Instagram posts. Knowing when to publish your posts each day will help you to rise above the noise on Instagram, making it one of the best marketing strategies out there.
Here’s what you need to know about scheduling your Instagram posts.
Why Schedule Instagram Posts?
Today, changes to the Instagram algorithmmean that the exact time and day you post your content will matter a little less than it used. However, it’s still essential.
Ultimately, the more active you are on Instagram at the same time as your customers, the better your account will perform. After all, your followers want to see great content, and they want to see it on your account as regularly as possible.
If you know that most of your audience is online on Saturdays at 3 pm, then it makes sense to post at those times and potentially gain more engagement as a result. Unfortunately, if you don’t know how to schedule Instagram posts, then sharing your content on time would mean hanging over your computer and smartphone, waiting for the right time to click “send.”
Scheduling your posts allows you to up your Instagram game with more of a “set it and forget it” approach to marketing.
The Benefits of Learning How to Schedule Instagram Posts
Until recently, there was no way to schedule your posts on Instagram.
The only option was to set up a tool that would remind you to publish at a certain time – which isn’t as convenient as it sounds. Fortunately, Instagram updated its APIsin 2018 to make scheduling posts with third-party tools easier. Now, with the help of the right system you can:
- Save time: Scheduling a week’s worth of posts in advance allows you to spend more time on other aspects of your business or personal brand growth.
- Be more consistent: Want people to believe in your brand? Make sure you’re consistent. Posting at the same time each day allows you to build a rapport with your target audience, and helps customers understand what they can expect from you.
- Measure your performance: Post scheduling allows you to gather relevant data about how people respond to your posts at certain times of day. This is particularly important when you’re adjusting your strategies after new Instagram updates.
- Post content from your desktop: Learning how to schedule Instagram posts also means that you can upload posts directly from your computer after you’ve finished editing them. Better quality photos = more followers.
- Plan a stunning Instagram feed: When you schedule your posts ahead of time, you can see a bigger picture of how they’ll play out on your feed. You can even organize your posts to create a stunning pattern on your branded page.
How to Schedule Instagram Posts with Third-Party Tools
You don’t need much to learn how to schedule Instagram posts, but you will need at least these two things:
- A business profile
- A scheduling tool
If you’re unsure what kind of account you have, check on your settings page before you start building your scheduling strategy.
Once you’re sure you’re set up with a business account, its time to look at your options for third-party publishing tools. Some of the most popular software solutions include:
1. Later
Later is a highly visual content planner that offers scheduling and direct publishing options for Instagram users. You can also publish on other channels like Pinterest and Facebook too. Later provides free accounts for when you’re managing just one profile at a time, and as soon as you set up the app, you should find it very easy to use.
Later’s system allows you to drag and drop photos from your computer into your calendar so that you can create an easy-to-follow publishing strategy.
2. Buffer
Buffer is a social scheduling tool excellent for those who want to learn how to schedule Instagram posts. You can manage up to ten posts for your account without paying anything, but you will need to set up a plan for additional content.
Once you connect your business profile on Instagram to Buffer, you can use their posting feature to queue, schedule and publish posts with your carefully structured captions. Your content will appear on your field automatically, with no need for reminders.
3. Hootsuite
Hootsuite is another social media management tool that allows you to publish content directly to your Instagram account without confirmation from your phone. With HootSuite, you can also post on a range of other channels like Facebook, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
HootSuite comes with a free plan, like many of the other options on this list, and with it, you can manage up to 3 social profiles at a time, with 30 posts scheduled at a time. Of course, you might need a lot more than that if you want to get the most out of your Instagram account.
4. Sendible
Sendible makes it easy to figure out how to schedule Instagram posts by giving you a complete calendar overview of your social strategy. To get started with Sendible, you’ll need to set yourself up for an account that starts at $29 per month for up to 4 social profiles.
You can track your Instagram campaigns on Sendible, monitor hashtags to improve your chances of trending and more.
5. Sprout Social
Finally, Sprout Socialis one of the most significant up-and-coming social media management tools, compatible with many of the major social networks on the market. Sprout Social comes with a content calendar that allows you to measure various aspects of engagement and schedule your posts according to your needs.
The unique social listening abilities from Sprout Social will help you to identify significant trends in your social media content, and potentially grow your Instagram following as a result.
Top Tips on How to Schedule Instagram Posts
There’s more to learning how to schedule Instagram posts than knowing which tools to use or understanding that you need a business profile.
If you want to be successful with your campaigns, then you also need a strategy for how you’re going to share your content.
1. Find the Best Times to Post
First, you need to know the best times to post on Instagram to improve your chances of success. Remember, the Instagram algorithm prioritizes posts with higher engagement. The more people online when you publish your posts, the more likely your content will be to gain likes and engagement.
Additionally, the Instagram algorithm also prioritizes when a post was published when determining who should show up on the top of the feed. This means that the times you publish are more critical than ever.
2. Curate and Create Content
With your schedule of when to publish on Instagram completed, you need to start creating incredible content to post for your followers. Look at your calendar and set aside days when you can devote your time to shooting and editing the perfect pictures. Once you have a great selection of photographs to show off, you can organize them into a schedule that will make your Insta feed look incredible.
Some Instagram scheduling tools even let you see what your post will look like when you publish it, making it easier to plan your feed.
3. Don’t Depend Too Much on Scheduling
Finally, just because you know how to schedule Instagram posts, doesn’t necessarily mean you should be doing it all of the time. Don’t shift your strategy so that everything is automated. Otherwise you could run the risk of losing engagement with your target audience.
People still want to feel like they’re part of your community, and if your feed starts to feel robotic and predictable, you could lose out on followers. Remember that trends change quickly on social media, and if you schedule too far in advance, you could miss out on essential evolutions.