Imagine being able to schedule out a week or a month’s worth of Instagram content for yourself or your clients that would post automatically without you needing to post it. No need to check your phone for notifications. No missing ideal times. No interrupting your vacation or weekend…
Well, you’re in luck! On January 30, 2018, Instagram announced on their blog that it would allow scheduling directly to the platform for Instagrammers using a partner-approved Instagram scheduler (like Tailwind).
UPDATE: You can now auto post video to Instagram with Tailwind, too!
It’s here! Auto Post to Instagram with Tailwind – an approved partner tool.
For years, marketers have been asking, wishing, begging, and sometimes resorting to unapproved schedulers (and sometimes losing their accounts in the process) to allow them to schedule posts directly to Instagram. And it’s finally a reality.
The Old Way We Scheduled and Posted to Instagram
Instagrammers have long counted on Tailwind’s SmartSchedule to choose the best time to post, and then send a text notification to their mobile devices to remind them to click, paste the caption, and post. While this is great for reminding us to be ready to respond quickly to engagement, some find the process a bit more manual than is convenient for today’s busy marketers.
Auto Post to Instagram with Tailwind
This announcement from Instagram opens the way for more efficient, hands-off Instagram planning and publishing. Hooray! And now that you can auto post video, it’s easier than ever to consistently reach your followers and others.
You’ll Need an Instagram Business Account
If you were on the fence about making the change to a business account, and the improved analytics hadn’t convinced you – this will. True scheduling and posting to Instagram will only be available to business account holders. Convert your account now.
True Scheduling of Instagram Images and Video
Some of the things not yet supported in direct scheduling and posting to Instagram include using filters, shopping tags, multi-image posts, among other things. Even with some limitations, this is a huge change for Instagram marketers – and many of the features not (yet?) supported are most often used with in-the-moment posts.
Your Images on Instagram
Instagram is giving us quite a range! Keep them to a 4:5 to a 1.91:1 aspect ratio. So, if you’re posting square images, keep that up! The 4:5 ration looks like it’s about the same as a photo from your camera roll, but it’s just enough different that it won’t work. Make sure to crop before you schedule!
Make sure your images are fairly high-resolution, too – at least 150×150 to avoid distortion. Learn more about the specs and ratios for direct scheduling of Instagram videos.
Scheduling and Posting Directly to Instagram with Tailwind – Now Available!
Instagram is making this new capability available only through partner tools like Tailwind. Native scheduling from the Instagram app is not available.
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