Stop posting on the fly. Here’s how to create, plan, and schedule Reels ahead of time so you can stay on track.
Instagram Reels have taken over as the fastest-growing feature on the IG app. In fact, the average Instagram user spends 30 minutes per day watching Reels.
Reels are a great way to build your brand and engage with your followers. But it can be difficult to record and edit a new video every day.
And even if you have a backlog of recorded content, manually posting each video takes way too much time. If your business uses Instagram, scheduling Reels is a must.
And if you want to schedule your Reels ahead of time, we’ve got good news.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through the best ways to schedule Instagram Reels. Plus, we’ve got some tips and tricks for getting the most out of your Reels content strategy.
Is there an app to schedule Instagram Reels?
How to schedule IG Reels using Moyens I/O
- Record your video and edit it (adding sounds and effects) in the Instagram app.
- Save the Reel to your device.
- In Moyens I/O, tap the Create icon on the very top of the left-hand menu to open the Composer.
- Select the Instagram Business account you want to publish your Reel to.
- In the Content section, select Reel.
- Upload the Reel you saved to your device. Videos must be between 5 seconds and 90 seconds long and have an aspect ratio of 9:16.
- Add a caption. You can include emojis and hashtags, and tag other accounts in your caption.
- Adjust additional settings. You can enable or disable comments, Stitches and Duets for each of your individual posts.
- Preview your Reel and click Post now to publish it immediately, or…
- …click Schedule for later to post your Reel at a different time. Select a publication date or choose one of the recommended best days and times to post.
And that’s it! Your Reel will show up in the Planner, alongside all your other scheduled social media posts. From there, you can edit, delete or duplicate your Reel, or move it to drafts. It will automatically publish on your scheduled date!
Once you publish your Reel, it will appear in both your feed and the Reels tab on your account.
Now that you’ve got the hang of it, what are you waiting for? Get out there and start bulk-scheduling those Reels!
How to schedule Reels using Creator Studio
You can schedule both Facebook and Instagram Reels using Creator Studio. It’s a great tool if you only need to schedule posts for Facebook and Instagram.
But if you manage many social media accounts, an Instagram Reels scheduler that can work with multiple platforms can really help.
Here’s how to schedule Instagram Reels using Creator Studio:
- Log into Creator Studio
- Click Create post and choose either Instagram Feed or Instagram Video (depending on the length of your video)
(It seems confusing, we know! The video will post as a Reel, though, since Instagram is now treating all non-Story videos as Reels.) - Optimize your content for Reels (if needed). This is your chance to crop and reframe horizontal videos
- Add your caption
- Schedule your Reel. You can also publish immediately or save as a draft
Oh, and an important note: You can only use Creator Studio to schedule Reels if your Instagram account is connected to a Facebook Business Page.
Benefits of scheduling Instagram Reels
Save time by planning ahead
This is the big one: Planning and scheduling your Reels ahead of time can help you save time in the long run. A content calendar and schedule allow you to batch film and edit your videos. That way, you’re not scrambling to put something together last-minute.
Planning also allows you to be more strategic and intentional with your content. Well-thought-out content can increase engagement rates on your Reels and other Instagram content. Higher engagement means to more followers and customers down the line.
Cultivate a consistent look and feel
Cohesive content performs better on social media. It’s important to consider the look and feel of your Reels when you’re planning them out. This means thinking about the colors, filters, and branding you use in your videos.
But while consistency is important, you also don’t want your content to look too uniform. Mixing up the types of videos you post will keep your Reels interesting and engaging. Planning your Reels in advance will also help you strike this balance.
Use these free Instagram Story templates to inspire your process.
Encourage engagement
In our research, we found that there’s a significant spike in engagement in the days after a Reel is posted. People are likely more inclined to watch Reels when they see them in their feed. And if they’re entertained, they’re more likely to engage. Reels are also often promoted in the Explore tab, which can also lead to more views and engagement.
Our experiment didn’t show any huge changes in our follow or unfollow rate, but we did see the average number of likes and comments increase per post.
So, what does this mean for you?
If you want to improve reach and engagement on your Reels, schedule them for when your audience is most active on Instagram. That way, you can be sure your Reels are being seen by people who are interested in engaging with your content.
Tap into video
88% of people say they’ve bought a product after watching a brand’s video. People are also twice as likely to share video content with their networks. This makes video content essential for driving awareness and sales for your business on Instagram.
Reels allow you to showcase your brand’s personality and products in a creative, engaging way. You can show off your products in action while getting creative with your marketing. You can create behind-the-scenes content, how-to videos, or even just funny clips that show off your brand’s personality.
Scheduling your Reels in advance can help you streamline your video marketing strategy. That way, you can make sure your Reels are getting in front of your target audience at the right time.
Improve team collaboration
Scheduling Reels can also be helpful if you’re working with a team. Planning out your content helps you coordinate who is posting what and when. No one wants to overwhelm their followers by posting too many Reels at once.
Scheduling also takes the pressure off of having to post in real-time. If you’ve got a lot on your plate, this can be a game-changer.