3 Ways to Schedule (and auto-publish) your Instagram Reels Content
Unlock the Power of Planning Your Short-Form Video Content
Creating Instagram Reels is already a time-consuming and daunting process, so what can you do to make your content creation workflow even more efficient? By scheduling those Reels in advance. Easier said than done, right? Well - kind of.
You might already be familiar with the concept of scheduling and auto-publishing your Instagram Feed Posts and Carousels, but with Reels there are a few limitations when it comes to pre-planning and pre-scheduling your short form video content.
Well, we have tested and researched the best way to approach this, and we are excited to share inside secrets on scheduling Instagram Reels. Let's dive into three awesome ways to streamline your content creation workflow and let scheduling tools do the heavy lifting for you.
Why Schedule Your Instagram Reels?
Before we jump into the how-to, let's talk about why scheduling Reels is a game-changer. Trust me, it's not just about being organized – it's about transforming your entire Instagram strategy.
When you schedule your Reels, you're setting yourself up for consistency, which is key to keeping your audience engaged and coming back for more. Plus, it's a massive time-saver. By batch creating your content, you free up your daily schedule and say goodbye to those stressful last-minute scrambles to post.
But that's not all. Scheduling allows for more strategic planning, helping you align your content with your broader marketing goals. It's like having a roadmap for your Instagram success. And let's not forget the stress reduction – no more panicking about what to post or when.
With your Reels scheduled, you can focus on engaging with your audience and growing your brand. Now that we've covered the 'why,' let's explore the three methods I use to schedule my Reels and take my Instagram game to the next level.
Method 1: Create in Canva, Add Music, Set to Auto-publish
This is our go-to method for creating and scheduling Reels in one seamless process. This method is perfect for fully complete Reels, including talking head videos or content edited outside of Canva. The best part? Once scheduled, it'll post automatically without any further action from you. Here's how to do it:
Create your Reel in Canva: Use a template from Your Template Club, and make sure that the visual aspect of the short form video is completely edited before moving forward
Add audio to your video: Click on the audio tab in Canva and browse through commercially available sounds. Once you have added your chosen audio to the timeline, you can adjust the sound to fit your video's length and style.
Export to your scheduling tool: you can download the MP4 video file and upload to your scheduling tool OR you can connect your scheduling tool directly to Canva. This is why we love our scheduling tool, Later, since it integrates directly with Canva and saves us a step in the process
Schedule your Reel: In your scheduling tool, drag and drop the video onto your calendar. You can now set it to auto-publish, write your caption and fill out any other necessary info. Once you've hit that schedule button, you are done, and the video will be posted for you!
Method 2: Create the Video, Set to Manual Publish
Sometimes, you need a bit more flexibility with pre=planning your Instagram Reels, especially when working with trending audio. This method gives you the best of both worlds: planned content with the flexibility to use the latest trending sounds. Here's how we handle that:
Create your video: Use Canva, CapCut, or any other editing tool, and don't add any sound or songs, we will leave space for adding trending audio later.
Open Your Scheduling Tool: Upload that video directly into your scheduling tool and write your caption. For this method you will set it to "Send Notification" or "Manually Publish" instead of auto-publish.
Prepare for trending audio: Find the trending sound you want to use on Instagram and copy the URL of the sound. Depending on the scheduling tool that you use, you can add the URL to your scheduled post's caption, the notes section, or a dedicated music section.
Publish the Reel manually: Unfortunately, as of right now, you cannot auto-publish Reels with trending or audio with copyright since it violates terms and conditions. But the good news is that you pre-planned your Reels content so you will get a notification on your phone when it is time to post. You'll click on the notification from your scheduling tool, and all of the assets will be brought to your phone so you can publish the Reel directly on Instagram.
Method 3: Create in Instagram, Use Internal Scheduling Tool
For those who prefer to work directly in Instagram, there's a built-in scheduling option inside of the app. Keep in mind that this method can be a bit glitchy and may only allow scheduling up to one week in advance. It's also not available in all regions or for all account types either, so don't be discouraged if you don't have the option. If you do, here is how you approach this method:
Create your Reel in Instagram: Record or add your video, and fully edit with text, transitions, and effects directly inside of Instagram
Schedule your Reel: Now that your Reel is ready, tap on "next" so you can write your caption and optimize your post. Scroll down to "Advanced Settings," toggle on "Schedule this Reel." Pick a date and time, and your Reel is done and scheduled!
Pro Tips for Batching and Scheduling your Instagram Reels
Batch create your content: Set aside dedicated time to create multiple Reels at once. This helps maintain a consistent style and saves time in the long run.
Plan your content calendar: Use a content calendar to map out your Reels alongside your other Instagram content. This ensures a good mix of content types throughout the week.
Stay flexible with trends: While scheduling is great, leave some room in your calendar for spontaneous, trend-based content.
Use templates: Templates can speed up your creation process. We have a TON of different templates and designs inside of Your Template Club
Monitor performance: Regularly check your Reels' performance and adjust your strategy based on what resonates with your audience.
Overcoming Common Scheduling Challenges
Audio limitations: Remember, auto-published Reels can only use royalty-free music available in your scheduling tool. For trending sounds, opt for manual publishing.
Instagram updates: Stay informed about Instagram's latest features and policy changes that might affect scheduling.
Video quality: Ensure your scheduled videos meet Instagram's quality standards. Sometimes, compression during the scheduling process can affect quality.
Engagement: Don't forget to engage with your audience after your scheduled Reels go live. Respond to comments and participate in conversations.
Scheduling Instagram Reels has been a game-changer for our content strategy, and we hope these methods help you too. Whether you prefer the set-it-and-forget-it approach of auto-publishing or the flexibility of manual scheduling, there's a method that can work for your workflow.
Remember, the key to success with Reels isn't just in the scheduling – it's in creating engaging, valuable content that resonates with your audience. Use these scheduling techniques to free up your time and energy to focus on what really matters: crafting amazing short-form videos that your followers will love.
Are you ready to level up your Instagram Reels game? Give these scheduling methods a try and let us know how they work for you. And if you're looking for more templates and ideas for your Reels, don't forget to check out Your Template Club.
5 FREE Canva Reels Templates
Are you ready to level up your Instagram Reels game? Give these scheduling methods a try and if you're looking for more templates and ideas for your Reels, don't forget to check out Your Template Club.
Get your hands on 5 FREE Canva templates to help you create Instagram Reels for your small business!!
Manu Muraro is the founder of Your Social Team, an Instagram strategy and templates business that helps ethical brands with a sense of humor grow their organic engagement and sales using Instagram.
Your Social Team also offers Your Template Club, a Canva template subscription to help social media managers and busy business owners get more results and save time.
Born and raised in Brazil, Manu moved to the U.S. in 2000, right out of college, to work for Cartoon Network, where she made an award-winning career in creative for 15 years.
Manu started Your Social Team in 2017 and has worked with brands like Teachable, Brit+Co, James Beard Foundation, Open Table before shifting focus to women founded small businesses and social media professionals.