The first thing to realize when using Instagram for business and being able to schedule Instagram posts is that you need to upgrade your account to a business account.
When you have a business Instagram account, you unlock many features that aren’t in the personal platform. So do that right away, then follow the rest of the steps.
Tools You Can Use
There are numerous tools that you can use to schedule Instagram posts. Hootsuite.com, Later.com, and HopperHq.com are great platforms to use. You can upload the information using your laptop or PC, or you can hire a virtual assistant to do it for you. You don’t have to push individual posts out via your phone anymore. If you have a business account you can just use the scheduling software to schedule each post. But you will still need to use your phone to finish the process if you are publishing photo albums or videos.
Engage with Your Followers
Even though you can now use tools to schedule posts on Instagram without your phone, you still need to force yourself to engage with your followers. You don’t want to forget to look at Instagram and comment to people who say things to you and comment on other people’s posts, even though you can schedule using your PC. Remember, social media is all about engaging. Engage.
Instagram Automation
There are some services that will say that they’ll automate getting more follows and shares for you. But the truth is, this is a bad idea. While it might seem fun to automatically follow and like people who comment or use a hashtag you set up, the best way to do this is personally. If you really want an active and legitimate following, do that yourself or ask your VA to do it for you. Otherwise you could even end up with a blocked account.
Don’t Spam Your Audience
Instagram are very adept at getting rid of spammers. So, you want to be careful about appearing spammy. If you have a lot of images that are from the same event, post them as a photo album. Plus, try to offer free content more than you promote. They say that you should promote only once after three posts. So, post useful content three times, then on the fourth time promote. It’s a good rule of thumb.
Avoid Scheduling Content Too Far Out
If you schedule your posts too far out, you may end up accidentally offending people. But, if you pay attention to the news and can stop your schedule, you might be saved if something happens. Be super-careful about any type of scheduled post that could be taken wrongly on a bad day.
Always check your post before you schedule or post. Check that you don’t have typos, and ensure nothing is wrong with your image that could be taken the wrong way, or something you don’t want out there. Post regularly, use appropriate hashtags, and follow your fans back.
