This is an understandable question many creators ask themselves, as the history of automation on social platforms has been relatively taboo. One main reason for this is that many social platforms explicitly state that using automation tools isn’t allowed. This is rather ironic, as there are many free and paid automation services you can use online. Nevertheless, the question still comes up: should you automate Instagram posts?
Well, the answer to this comes with multiple angles of consideration. Instagram is a leading social platform for independents, influencers, and businesses alike. In today’s world, some businesses are entirely built on the platform, making it an extremely valuable asset.
However, most people would agree that keeping up with a consistent content schedule is challenging. This article explores whether you should automate Instagram posts and the many caveats that come with navigating automation within social media.
Understanding Instagram Post Automation
If you aren’t familiar with how automation works in this context, it primarily consists of streamlining post scheduling and publishing. This eliminates the requirement of manually posting in real-time, regardless of what your schedule is. For a crash course on post automation, review the key points listed out below.
- Helps support content calendars, posting drafts, and auto-publishing
- Utilize built-in analytics to support your automation strategy
- Bulk uploading becomes easier than ever
- Automation can also guide you on the best time to post on Instagram
- Multiple free and paid automation tools are available on the market
If you want to schedule Instagram posts, it’s advisable to handle it in the most efficient way possible. While Instagram itself has some built-in features for this, they still require quite a bit of manual input. Third-party online tools help eliminate quite a bit of this, allowing you to schedule posts far in advance with minimal effort.
A great example of this would be Inflact’s Instagram Scheduler, which supports a drag-and-drop calendar, AI-supported generation, and much more. If you want to get a closer look at how all of this works, take a peek at the YouTube tutorial below.
Although time efficiency is a leading factor in why people learn how to schedule Instagram posts, it isn’t the only angle here.
Why Do People Automate Instagram Posts?
Saving time is a given, but automation offers a lot more than that alone. It’s also highly effective for helping creators maintain consistency with their audience. Learning how to schedule posts on Instagram is rather easy, but managing the schedule is harder than many expect.
There’s a reason why the phrase “consistency is key” is repeated so much: it’s a crucial component to algorithm visibility.
You can also get pretty customized with automation tools. From working with different themes, campaign styles, or promotions, you can guarantee an organized approach across the board.
Automation tools go beyond simple posting features, allowing you to post across multiple platforms, making it more than ideal for businesses and marketing teams.
It’s common to find collaborative features within this tech as well, making content approvals and scalable workflows easier to achieve. Traditionally, all of this would require manual input, which is truly hard to keep up with in the long term.
Using automation is nearly a requirement in this day and age to remain competitive, considering so many others are doing the same. This all definitely sounds great on paper, but it’s vital to understand the benefits and downsides involved in learning how to automate Instagram posts.
The Pros of Automating Instagram Posts
It’s true that the pros here are pretty undeniable, but it’s a lot more than what you see on the surface. One of the obvious upsides is that automation significantly improves your efficiency with content creation and posting. This can be seen in batch-scheduling features, AI-driven suggestions, and overall streamlining from beginning to end.
Aside from that, it also supports better consistency long-term, which is vital for engagement and overall visibility on the platform. Asking the question “Can you automate Instagram posts?” is just the tip of the iceberg here. You can also optimize your posting times and manage multiple accounts with a lot more ease. It essentially eliminates a lot of the manual labor involved, while still giving you full control of how it’s used.
On the other hand, when you consider platform terms and conditions as well as the quality of certain third-party tools, due diligence is still required. You don’t want to end up on the wrong side of Instagram or its algorithm because you gave a third-party tool full autonomy.
The Cons of Automating Instagram Posts
Learning how to schedule a post on Instagram through automation is great, but this shouldn’t come at the expense of human intervention or the integrity of your account. Without the right approach, using automation can land you in some hot water with the platform, its algorithm, and your audience.
Relying too much on automation here can hinder real-time engagement and overall responsiveness from your audience. If it’s overly scheduled without any kind of variety, certain segments of your audience may miss it entirely. Reviewing optimal posting times is important, but that doesn’t mean you should experiment with different timeframes.
On another note, some automation tools could violate Instagram’s terms, which is a risk you don’t want to take. Not all tools function in the same way, and you want to make sure you stay within the platform’s limitations. Diving into how to schedule an Instagram post through automation can be very helpful, but you want to make sure you’re still following the rules.
Another potential downside to automation is that it can limit your ability to adapt to shifting trends. Overreliance on automation can actually do more harm than good, and it’s important to make sure you maintain oversight while doing so with a bit of hindsight. To help summarize the pros and cons, the table below offers a direct comparison you’ll want to keep in mind moving forward.
|
|
Pros |
Cons |
|
Efficiency |
Saves time by scheduling in advance |
Less hands-on oversight |
|
Content Planning |
Strategic planning with batch creation |
Harder to pivot quickly when trends shift |
|
Consistency |
Easy to maintain a regular posting schedule |
Overuse will lead to a repetitive and robotic look to your audience and the algorithm |
|
Multi-Account Use |
Simplifies management of multiple accounts and cross-posting |
Errors could lead to duplicates across more than one account |
|
Engagement |
Post can always go live at the best possible posting time |
May reduce real-time engagement from followers active at different timeframes |
|
Creativity and Control |
Helps streamline the entire process while maintaining oversight |
Too much automation can reduce the overall creativity in your account |
|
Platform Compliance |
Most tools are safe when used within proper limitations |
Other tools may outright violate certain platform terms and conditions |
Having an understanding of these pros and cons is how you stay out of trouble when it comes to scheduling posts on Instagram. It’s also important to note that automation may not be necessary for everyone. This is primarily beneficial for those who need a long-term content marketing plan or a consistent posting schedule that doesn’t feel so manual. Scheduling Instagram posts is smart for anyone, but integrating automation only really pertains to certain types of creators.
Who Should Consider Automating Their Instagram Posts?
For those who want to schedule IG posts, it’s important to think carefully of what your needs are. There are numerous demographics that can benefit from automation, but it’s equally important to take stock of whether or not that pertains to you. Small businesses and solopreneurs trying to grow an Instagram account can definitely benefit from this.
The same can be said about account managers aiming to schedule social media posts with minimal effort. For many people, it’s about being as efficient as possible with their Instagram profile. It’s a similar situation for most people who have an Instagram business account, as they keep a close eye on their analytics day to day.
Instagram scheduling tools are helpful, but they don’t come close to what third-party automation can offer. Overall, using automation helps align your Instagram activity with broader marketing and content goals with a long-term vision. Using the combination of automation and real-time engagement is how you streamline and maintain consistent quality here. While automation can be used by anyone to schedule content, it primarily benefits those with a growth strategy involved.
Should You Avoid Using Automation for Instagram Content?
Aside from the pros and cons, this is a question that’s relevant for other niche types of creators on the Instagram app. If you’re working with a personal account or niche, community-focused account, it may not be worth your time to automate Instagram feed posts.
Here are several angles as to why that is:
- Spontaneous content or real-time content thrives on authenticity
- Industries pertaining to sensitive or complex information require a human touch
- Automation can appear tone-deaf during crises and unexpected social events
- Accounts that rely on authentic interaction and emotional connection benefit more from real-time engagement
Then again, there’s nothing wrong with taking a hybrid approach if you want to auto publish here and there. It isn’t always so black and white, as many factors change like the algorithm, engagement, specific trends, and more.
When you’re looking at creating content from a bird’s-eye view, you want to consider all angles. Yes, automation is extremely helpful, but it might be overkill for casual posters or those with a highly personalized community. It also isn’t a necessary component if you’re looking to boost engagement, as there are many ways to get that done.
Steps to Using Automatic Publishing Successfully
If you’re on the fence about using automation for yourself, there are several steps you can take to ensure it’s handled successfully. Nobody wants to infringe on the terms and conditions or end up on the wrong side of the algorithm. By following the steps below, you can integrate automation for safe and streamlined results to drive traffic in the long run.
- Balance automation with real-time engagement strategies
- Review and update scheduled posts on a regular basis
- Mix automated content with spontaneous posts
- Use tools that clearly align with Instagram’s policies
- Monitor performance of automated posts through Instagram analytics
- Adjust your strategy where needed through data-backed decision making
There’s no argument that automation can help save time, but this benefit shouldn’t come at the expense of your account’s overall integrity.
Scheduling Instagram posts in advance is great for anyone. In the same vein, that doesn’t mean your approach should be void of hindsight. With a hybrid approach of automation, real-time engagement, and even in-depth analysis through Meta Business Suite, your account will stay in good standing.
The Final Word
It’s not about if you can schedule an Instagram post, it’s about how you should do it. That’s the question, which can be answered through due diligence, best practices, and navigating the pros and cons with tact.
Choosing the right tools is a big part of this, as well as knowing where your strategy fits into the equation. Take stock of your content goals, target audience, and content style to know whether or not automation fits into your posting demands. Above all else, being safe with the Instagram app and its terms and conditions is paramount to avoiding being flagged or banned in the process.
FAQ
Does Instagram allow post automation?
Instagram does allow post automation through approved third-party tools. The important detail here is that these tools use the official Instagram API to process their actions.
Can automation harm my engagement?
If it’s overused or without any kind of real-time engagement, it can definitely harm the account interaction. Any approach that reduces authenticity or your natural brand voice is bound to affect engagement rates.
What are the best tools for Instagram post automation?
Although there are numerous options on the market, Inflact’s Instagram Scheduler is one of the best for multiple reasons. You get reliability, ease of use, and backend support, all in one.
How often should I automate vs. post manually?
You should go for a hybrid approach here and avoid any attempt at fully automating your posting schedule. This allows you to pivot when you need to while retaining authenticity in your audience interactions.
