When it comes to social media posting, working smarter, not harder, is key. If you have started using Instagram stories in your strategy, you have probably wondered if you can schedule them ahead of time. The answer is yes!
Scheduling IG stories is one of the best ways to improve your content creation game. While there is no way to schedule stories directly through the Instagram app, there are three third-party platforms you can begin utilizing today.
Scheduling Instagram Stories is a great way to ensure that your account is always fresh and engaging. So let’s get to it.
How to Schedule Posts with Meta-Business Suite
If you have an Instagram Business account, you can use Meta’s native Business Suite to create and schedule Instagram Stories.
We love a one-stop shop. To use this option;
Login to the Meta Business Suite
Go to your home page and choose Meta Business Suite from the menu on the left side of the screen. Your Instagram profile must be linked to your Facebook account for this to work.
Start creating your stories
There are three ways you can do this from the Meta dashboard:
- The Create Post Button on the left side of the screen.
- The Post and Stories option, also on the left side menu.
- The Create Story button in the center of the dashboard.
Once you select one of these options, the story editor window will open. Here you can decide what platforms you will be posting to, as well as edit the content you want to use.
Note that the editing options in Business Suite are limited compared to Instagram and other scheduling apps.
Schedule your story
When you’re done crafting your story, click the Publish Story button to see the scheduling options. Tap "Schedule Story" and select the date and time you want it uploaded.
After saving the date and time, click on Schedule Story, and VOILA! The story will be posted automatically at the time you selected.
How to Schedule Posts with Hootsuite
Hootsuite also has a scheduling feature you can use. In order for it to work, you must be using the latest versions of both Hootsuite and Instagram. Please note that to publish stories with this application, you also need to have a professional user profile for Instagram.
Create your story
From the Hootsuite dashboard, click the arrow next to the green New Post button and select Instagram Story.
In the Post to section, you can choose which Instagram profile you want to publish the story on just in case you have multiple users.
Drag and drop up to 10 images and videos for your story into the Media section, or click Select files to upload.
Click Edit Image below each file to prepare your story with Hootsuite's image editor.
Don't forget to use stickers and all the editing options to give your story personality.
Preview and add interactive elements.
Use the preview pane to review the components of your story and make sure everything looks great and just how you want it. Make sure you include any hashtags or links necessary.
Schedule your story
Tap schedule for later
Select the date and time and click Done.
Click the green Schedule button to schedule your story.
The Hootsuite app can’t upload for you but it will send a notification to your phone when it's time to publish your story.
How to Schedule Posts with Later
Upload your content to the storyboard tool. You can also just drag and drop pictures and videos. Once uploaded, you can arrange them in the order you prefer.
From here, you can add links and captions to drive traffic to your post.
Select the date and time in the drop-down menu beside the Save Story button. Push Save Story and that's it!
Just like with Hootsuite, you will receive a notification when it’s time to post.
With this option, your stories will be downloaded to your phone, and the captions and links will be copied to your clipboard.
Why pre-schedule and plan IG stories?
Scheduling content in advance is a great way to save time, allowing you to focus on other things. Instead of having to create and post stories on the fly several times a day, you can sit down and prepare your stories for the week all at once.
Batch content creation also helps you lay out planned content to maximize results and engagement.
Additionally, using a third-party planner gives you the ability to upload stories from your laptop. No more sending files from your laptop to your phone!
You can upload your stories directly from your desktop or laptop computer. When it's time to post your story, the components automatically appear in the correct order at the top of your camera roll, ready to share.
Conclusion
So there you have it! Three great ways to schedule your Instagram stories. We hope this gives you a bit more freedom and flexibility. If you’re looking for more tips on how to succeed with Instagram Stories, check out our latest book, The Micro-Influencer’s Brand Partnership Bible. In it, we dive into all things related to creating successful partnerships on the platform. From identifying your target audience to measuring success, we cover it all.
