Instagram is one of the most popular social media networks.
Many people use it to socialize, promote their businesses, and keep up with the latest trends. While on Instagram, you can send messages, like photos & videos, comment on a post, post your photos & videos, add stories, create reels, and much more.
If you haven't joined yet, you are missing out on a lot.
The Instagram Reels are like videos but a bit shorter, like YouTube Shorts. Reels can be used to engage with your followers and simply build your brand.
However, as much as they are short, they can take up a considerable amount of time to record and edit. Therefore, to keep your followers engaged, you can opt to be recording and then schedule the Reels for a later date.
In this article, we will cover how to schedule an Instagram Reel using various software and the importance of scheduling Reels.
What’s the Best Time to Schedule Instagram Reels Free
If you want to capture your audience's attention, try and schedule reels to be posted when they are most active. Therefore, based on your audience, check when they mostly like or comment on your posts.
That's when they are most active. Make it a routine to post during those hours.
Why Do You Need to Schedule Reels on Instagram?
1. Easy Planning
Through scheduling reels on Instagram, it becomes easier to plan your content. Therefore, if you schedule reels during the weekend, you are assured that each day a reel will be posted automatically.
You won't have to strain on how to record, edit and post the Instagram Reels. Planning reduces the last-minute rush to post, especially if it is for your brand.
Planning also makes you more intentional with your content to increase engagement rates. Therefore, if it is a brand, it will lead to more sales.
2. Maintain Consistency
If you use your Instagram account for business or influencer marketing, then consistency is key. Therefore, post high-quality reels often without compromising on quality.
The reels should have a consistent look and feel but shouldn't look off. However, don't make them too uniform. Use your creativity to create amazing reels that people will share and engage with.
The comments or feedback you get from your followers are really important.
3. Boost Engagement
If you are into influencer marketing, you surely know that if you stay long without posting, your followers might start unfollowing or start asking what's up. Therefore, through scheduling reels, regardless of how busy you are, you can always keep your audience engaged and entertained.
Scheduling reels can be useful for content creators, musicians, and other brands. People love being fed with content often. Additionally, if you post regularly, it can increase your number of followers.
4. Increase Sales
Most people tend to buy products after watching reels or videos on how to use the items. Therefore, if you are serious about social media marketing, you need to leverage how to schedule reels.
The videos or reels make it easier to show off how to use certain products or access certain services. People are often convinced by visuals rather than just words.
Additionally, it helps to boost team collaboration since no one will be overwhelmed by when to post. You can plan and know when the best time is to post without putting too much pressure on one person.
How to Schedule an Instagram Reel
Can you schedule reels on Instagram? We have highlighted some ways that you can use to have later reels.
1. How to Schedule Reels Using Later Tool
If you want to schedule reels to be posted after a while, you can use the Later tool. It is trusted by many brands, creators, influencers, and social media managers. Therefore, you shouldn't be left out.
Not only can you use it on Instagram but also on other social media networks.
Step 1: Connect Your Instagram Account With Later
Later can either be used on the web or downloaded as an app on a mobile phone. Depending on your device, access Later, tap the "Add Social Platform" option, select Instagram, and log in to your account.
Step 2: Upload Your Reel to the Media Library
Once you have successfully connected your Instagram account with Later, you will need to upload your edited reel video to the media library. However, ensure you have already recorded and edited the reel before posting it in the media library.
Step 3: Add Captions, Hashtags, and Other Details
Once you have uploaded the video to Later's media library, drag the video to the calendar to open the post builder.
Proceed on to click "post type" and select reels from the menu. Think of a creative caption or other keywords to include in your Reel. These keywords, hashtags, and captions help to increase your Reel's visibility.
Therefore, formulate creative ones. If you love certain captions, you can save them on the Later application to access them every time you want to post a reel.
Step 4: Edit Your Reel
If you feel you need to modify the Reel, do so. You can edit the video to change it or select a new cover. Additionally, you can discard the post if you don't want it anymore.
Reels should only be 90 seconds long. Therefore, try and record a good length of video for optimal viewing. Click the crop option and use the trim tool to edit it as you wish. Unfortunately, it is not possible to upload custom cover images for scheduled reels.
Step 5: Choose the Perfect Time and Date to Schedule the Reel
Once you are done editing the post, select the appropriate time and date the Reel should be posted on Instagram.
You can schedule the time and date at the top of the page. Next, proceed on to settings and under the "Share to feed" toggle whether the Reel should appear on your Instagram account profile or not. Save the changes.
The Reel will be posted at the scheduled time without you having to do anything. That’s how you can schedule later reels.
2. How to Schedule Reels on Instagram Using Hootsuite
Hootsuite is another social media management app for scheduling reels.
Step 1: Record and Edit Your Video
The first step is to record your reel or video as per your preference. Make the reel more appealing by using graphics, audio, and sound effects through Instagram. Once done, save it to Instagram and your phone/device.
Step 2: Log In to Hootsuite
Sign into your Hootsuite account and tap on the "create" icon. Choose your Instagram account through the composer.
Step 3: Upload It in Hootsuite
While in the Hootsuite content section, tap the "Reel" option and upload the video/reel saved on your device. It is required that the reel ranges between 5–90 seconds in length. The ratio also needs to be 9:16 to prevent overlapping.
Step 4: Customize Your Reel
Once you are satisfied with your Reel upload, add captions, emojis, keywords, tags, and any other important text.
Be creative enough to engage with your audience.
Step 5: Schedule for Later
Countercheck your Reel and either post immediately or schedule the reel to be published at a later date. Be sure to choose the date and time you would want it posted.
3. Use Creator Studio to Schedule Instagram Reels for Free
The other option is to schedule reels using Creator Studio.
Not only can it be used on Facebook but also on Instagram. The method requires your Instagram and Facebook business pages to be connected
Step 1: Log in to Creator Studio
The first step is to log in to the Creator Studio account. Click on the "Create post" option and choose “Instagram Feed”, which will cover reels that are shorter than 60 seconds or “IG video” for Instagram videos that will be longer than 60 seconds.
Step 2: Customize Your Content
Luckily, you can customize your video to fit as a Reel. Also, remember to add a caption, emojis, hashtags, or SEO keywords to make it more visible and get more engagement.
Step 3: Schedule the Reel
Once done with the editing, save it as a draft so that it can be posted later.
4. Schedule Reels Using the Preview App
The Preview App is another Instagram Reels planner. It allows you to plan your feed, prepare captions, preview your reels, and change the cover images.
Step 1: Open the Preview App
First, you will need to open the Preview app and press on the Reels tab. Press the + button to upload videos.
Luckily, you can upload your reels from your phone, repost someone's reels, take videos, or upload a video. Rearrange the reels based on the order that you want.
Step 2: Modify the Instagram Reels Cover Image
Proceed on to modify the Instagram Reels cover image till you find the most preferred. You can choose a cover photo from the free photos option and use the beautiful photos or use the preview app filter to edit your cover photo.
Step 3: Write Your Caption and Hashtags
Proceed to write your caption and hashtags for the reels. You can research great captions that you can use for your reel. Also, explore the trending hashtags at the moment. Moreover, edit whether to show your reels in your Instagram feed.
Step 4: Scheduled the Instagram Reel Video
Proceed to schedule your Instagram Reels. First, turn on the "scheduled post" option. Next, choose a day and time when you would want to post it.
5. Schedule Instagram Reels Free on Planable
You can also use Planable to schedule Instagram Reels.
Step 1: Sign Up for Planable
Planable is a great platform for planning and scheduling social media content. You can do the scheduling so fast. First, log in to your account.
Step 2: Connect Your Instagram Profile
Connect your Instagram account to Planable. Proceed on to click “compose from”. On your workspace, select the Instagram tab and open the reels section.
Step 3: Upload Your Video
Either upload your video or choose from the media library. Edit the reel as you wish and add captions, hashtags, keywords, and much more.
Step 4: Schedule the Time
Proceed to select the date and time the Reel will go live and save the settings from your Instagram page within Planable.
That’s it.
Schedule Reels for Later
With a busy schedule, it can be hard to post often on social media. Therefore, you can consider scheduling reels for later. You can use Later, Creator Studio, Planable, preview app, or Hootsuite. They all come with different capabilities; therefore, make a wise choice.
Also, if you want to have a great social media presence, ensure you engage with your audience often, and this will also help increase your number of followers.
