You’re not dreaming: you can schedule Instagram Stories to auto-publish with Later.
And bonus, it’s super easy too.
We're breaking down how to plan a week’s worth of Instagram Stories, so you can say hello to work-free evenings and weekends. 🎉
Table of Contents
Why You Should Schedule Instagram Stories in 2023
Instagram Stories are viewed by over 500M users every day, making them an important part of your content strategy.
However, there's a difference between a good Instagram Story and a great one — and scheduling them in advance can make all the difference.
Here are the top three benefits to scheduling your Instagram Stories in 2023:
Batch Content and Win Back Time
Be More Consistent
Strategize, Strategize, Strategize
#1. Batch Content and Win Back Time
It’s no secret — Instagram Stories help brands and businesses drive traffic and sales, increase brand awareness, and strengthen their relationship with followers.
And by using an Instagram Stories scheduler like Later, you can sit down at your computer, batch content, and plan out an entire week’s worth of Instagram Stories in one dedicated session.
So say goodbye to searching the high-heavens for content on the fly, and hello to stress-free content creation.
#2. Be More Consistent
If we’re being honest, posting daily Instagram Stories can be challenging — whether it's choosing what to post, finding the time to create content, or forgetting to post altogether.
The struggle can be #Real.
Not only does scheduling Instagram Stories save you time, but it also helps build a stronger posting cadence — and ultimately, help you reach your goals.
#3. Strategize, Strategize, Strategize
With over half a billion people watching Instagram Stories on the daily, focusing your marketing efforts on an effective Instagram Stories strategy will seriously pay off.
By visually storyboarding your stories, you gain an end-to-end view of how your stories will flow together — so you can tell the strongest story and capitalize on opportunities for engagement.
Plus, you can easily see how your Instagram Stories are performing with Later's easy-to-use analytics dashboard.
The tool lets you track up to 12 months' worth of Instagram Stories, so you can see exactly what's performed best — and filter by key metrics, such as likes, reach, comments, and more:
By bulk uploading and storyboarding your content in advance, you’ll be sure to stay consistent with your audience while saving time, driving sales, and increasing your reach.
Scheduling Instagram Stories is simply a no-brainer — sign up today and keep your followers tap-tap-tapping for more!
How to Schedule Instagram Stories with Later
Whether you’re looking for a more consistent way to engage with followers, or are hoping to drive traffic to a product page, scheduling Instagram Stories in advance is the answer.
Get started in five easy steps:
Step #1: Connect Your Instagram Profile
Sign up (or login) to Later on your desktop and tap “Add Social Profile.”
Select the Instagram icon to connect your account and tap "Stories":
NOTE: Due to API limitations Instagram Creator accounts can only schedule Instagram Stories through notification publishing.
Step #2: Use Later’s Storyboard Tool
Upload content to your Media Library and drag and drop stories onto the storyboard tool, then re-arrange them to fit the order and look that you prefer:
Step #3 (Optional): Edit Your Instagram Stories
Add text and filters to your Instagram Stories content.
Here you can also easily crop and resize images and video to fit Instagram Stories 9:16 ratio with Later’s crop tool:
Step #4: Add Captions
From there, add your caption to your scheduled stories:
TIP: Don’t forget to take the time to write compelling captions and CTAs to ensure your Instagram Stories drive traffic and sales.
Step #5: Schedule Instagram Stories
Select "Auto Publish" and the time and date from the drop-down:
Finally, tap “Save Story” and just like that you’ve scheduled your first Instagram Stories — life really can be that simple.
When it’s time to post, your scheduled Instagram Stories will auto-publish to your profile, no notifications required!
NOTE: Due to API capabilities, auto publish does not support stickers, links, or audio. However, you can still schedule stories through notification publishing.
When it’s time to post, you’ll receive a push notification to your mobile device. Your stories will be downloaded to your phone and the caption and links will be copied to your clipboard.
In a nutshell, Later can help you spend less time posting on a whim, and more time growing your business and nurturing your community.
Plus, with extra time on your hands, you can take some well-deserved downtime — especially on the weekends.
So, what are you waiting for? Start scheduling your Instagram Stories in advance with Later today — available on paid plans.
