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.
And while Reels are a great way to share a quick video update with your followers, it can be difficult to record and edit a new video every day.
If you’re looking for a way to schedule your Reels–so you can continue to post fresh content without feeling like you’re chained to your phone–we’ve got good news.
You can use Hootsuite to auto-publish and analyze Instagram Reels alongside all your other social media content.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through the best ways to schedule Instagram Reels using Hootsuite, plus some tips and tricks for getting the most out of your Reels content strategy.
Bonus: Download the free 10-Day Reels Challenge, a daily workbook of creative prompts that will help you get started with Instagram Reels, track your growth, and see results across your entire Instagram profile.
Is there an app to schedule Instagram Reels?
Yes! You can use social media management apps like Hootsuite to schedule Instagram Reels automatically.
Keep reading to learn how to schedule Reels through your Hootsuite dashboard.
Can you schedule Reels on Creator Studio?
Unfortunately, no. While Instagram’s API does allow you to schedule Instagram feed videos and photos, you can’t schedule Story or Reels content on the Meta Creator Studio app or website.
How to schedule Reels
You can use Hootsuite to schedule your Reels to be auto-published at any time in the future.
To create and schedule a Reel using Hootsuite, follow these steps:
Record your video and edit it (adding sounds and effects) in the Instagram app.
Save the Reel to your device.
In Hootsuite, 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 Reels.
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. You can manually select a publication date or pick from three recommended custom best times to post for maximum engagement.
And that’s it! Your Reel will show up in the Planner, alongside all of your other scheduled social media posts. From there, you can edit, delete or duplicate your Reel, or move it to drafts.
Once your Reel is published, it will appear in both your feed and the Reels tab on your account.
Note: You can currently only create and schedule Reels on desktop (but you will be able to see your scheduled Reels in the Planner in the Hootsuite mobile app).
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Benefits of scheduling Instagram Reels
Now that you know how to schedule Reels in Hootsuite, here are a few reasons why you should.
Save time by planning ahead
Planning and scheduling your Reels ahead of time can help you save time in the long run. By having a content calendar and schedule, you can batch film and edit your videos, so you’re not scrambling to put something together last minute.
This also allows you to be more strategic with the content you post and make sure it aligns with your overall marketing goals. Well-thought-out content can increase engagement rates on your Reels and other Instagram content, which can lead to more followers and customers down the line.
Cultivate a consistent look and feel
Cohesive content performs better on social media, so it’s important to consider the overall 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.
While it’s important to be consistent with the aesthetic of your Reels, 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.
Upload Instagram Reels from your desktop or laptop
While Instagram Reels have to be shot on your phone, scheduling them in advance lets you upload them from your desktop or laptop. This can be a big time-saver, especially if you have multiple videos to schedule.
As well, uploading Reels from your desktop gives you more control over the quality of your videos. You can choose to upload a video in higher definition, which will make your Reels look even more polished and professional.
Encourage engagement
Hootsuite research found that in the days after a Reel is posted, there is a significant spike in engagement. This is likely because people are more inclined to watch Reels when they see them in their feed—and if they’re entertained, they’re more likely to engage. As well, Reels are often promoted in the Explore tab, which can also lead to more views and engagement.
And while our experiment didn’t show any huge changes in our follow or unfollow rate, we did see the average number of likes and comments increase per post.
Source: Hootsuite’s Instagram Insights
So, what does this mean for you?
If you want to increase your chances of being seen and getting engagement on your Reels, schedule them for when you know 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. Find the best times to post on Instagram here.
Source: Hootsuite’s Social Team
Tap into video
88% of people say they’ve bought a product after watching a brand’s video. Not to mention, people are twice as likely to share video content with their networks than any other type of content. This makes video content essential for driving awareness and sales for your business on Instagram.
Reels are the perfect way to showcase your brand’s personality and products in a creative, engaging way. Not only do Reels give you a chance to show off your products in action, but they also allow you to get 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 and make sure your content 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 and need to coordinate who is posting what and when. This can help you avoid having too many Reels going live at once and overwhelming your followers.
Scheduling also takes the pressure off of having to post in real-time, which can be helpful if you’re trying to balance posting Reels with other tasks.
Take the pressure off real-time posting with Reels scheduling from Hootsuite. Schedule, post, and see what’s working and what’s not with easy-to-use analytics that help you activate viral mode.
Save time and stress less with easy Reels scheduling and performance monitoring from Hootsuite. Trust us, it’s reely easy.
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