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Sendible Tips and Features

From Zero to Insta-Hero: How to Schedule Instagram Stories in 2023

22 August, 2023
8 min read
Tamara Biljman

Welcome to the exciting world of Instagram Stories - a powerful marketing tool that allows you to captivate your audience with engaging visuals and snippets of your brand's story.

We understand just how important it is for social media managers and agencies to maximise this dynamic channel. That's why we're thrilled to introduce you to a game-changing feature: scheduling and auto-posting Instagram Stories using Sendible.

In this guide, we'll take you through the ins and outs of scheduling Stories and publishing them, revealing the numerous benefits that come with it. From saving time and boosting efficiency to expanding your audience reach, Sendible's scheduling tool is a must-have for any social media pro.

Before we get started with exploring how you can up your Instagram Stories game with Sendible, don't forget to grab our useful Instagram Audit Checklist.

Audit Instagram accounts in 30 minutes or less with Sendible's free template

About the feature

Benefits of scheduling Instagram Stories

Who doesn't love a good Story? They're one of the most consumed content formats on Instagram.

Unfortunately, posting Stories can be a daunting task.

But fear not, because that's all in the past now!

We at Sendible believe in empowering social media managers and agencies with tools that simplify their workflows and drive results.

Plus, why waste time on going to the app to publish a Story when you can have some extra free time to scroll through your Instagram feed, engage with your community, and find new inspo?

So, why is scheduling Instagram Stories with Sendible a game-changer? Let's break it down even further.

  • Plan ahead and take control: With Sendible, you can plan your Instagram Stories in advance, seamlessly integrating them into your larger campaigns. No more last-minute rushes or missed opportunities. You're in complete control of when your Stories go live.
  • Never miss a beat: Say goodbye to relying on reminders or push notifications that you might accidentally overlook. By scheduling your Stories with Sendible, you can publish them exactly when you want, ensuring you make the most impact without missing a single beat.
  • Repurpose with ease: Why reinvent the wheel? With Sendible, you can effortlessly repurpose your short-form videos and other media used across other social channels and publish them as Instagram Stories. It's a time-saving hack that helps you maximize your content reach without breaking a sweat.
  • Engage like never before: Instagram Stories are known for their engagement potential. By scheduling Stories in advance, you have a unique opportunity to connect with your followers on a deeper level. Spark their curiosity, share behind-the-scenes moments, and keep them coming back for more!
  • Streamline your social media management: At Sendible, we understand the importance of having all your social content in one place. With our scheduling tool, you don't have to switch between platforms. Schedule and post all your social content, including Instagram Stories, without ever leaving Sendible.
sendible-smart-posts-compose-box

Sendible Smart Compose Box.

Tailor posts to match every platform by customising copy, adding tags, using our built-in image editor, and more. 

Comparison with other tools

When it comes to scheduling Instagram Stories, not all tools are created equal. Here's why Sendible stands out from the crowd:

  • Schedule a month's worth of content in minutes: Be the master of efficiency! With Sendible, bulk uploading from a CSV file, adding recurring posts to queues, and the dashboard's calendar featuring over 300 social media holidays, you'll schedule content at scale in a blink. No more wasting time, get ahead effortlessly!
Bulk Content Uploads

Bulk uploads and visual calendar

Make scheduling a breeze by uploading or composing months’ worth of content in one go and visually managing your calendar.

  • Make every post pop: Stand out from the crowd! Dive into a treasure trove of millions of royalty-free images in Sendible. Not only that, take advantage of our built-in image editor and Canva integration to add that extra oomph to your Stories. Prepare for greatness! 
  • Creative inspiration: Unleash your inner genius! Sendible's calendar auto-populates with hundreds of topical social media holidays, making it a breeze to share relevant content in just a few clicks. But wait, there's more! Get even more inspiration with automated RSS feeds and Google alerts. Fuel your creativity and watch it soar!
Anna Rump (1)

"I loaded an entire month of content across four platforms for one client the other day, each one with an image and a web link. It took me 35 minutes."

Anna Rump, founder of Amelia Rose Media

Who can benefit from this feature

If you're a social media manager or part of a social media agency, scheduling Instagram Stories with Sendible is a game-changer for you. Here are the key beneficiaries:

  • Social Media Managers: Juggling multiple client accounts? Sendible's scheduling feature ensures you stay on top of your Instagram Stories game, delivering consistent and timely content for each client.
  • Businesses and Influencers: Want to maintain an active presence on Instagram without the hassle? Sendible simplifies the process, allowing you to schedule Stories and focus on engaging with your followers.
  • Social Media Agencies: Streamline your social media workflows by utilizing Sendible's comprehensive scheduling tool. From planning and getting clients' approval to publishing, it's a one-stop solution for managing multiple clients efficiently.
Youtube Approval

Meet Approval Workflows.

Get approval from clients and steer clear of typos by setting up approval workflows for every post.

Other Instagram features that you'll love

While scheduling Instagram Stories with Sendible is a game-changer, there's a plethora of other Instagram features that will make your life easy. 👇 

  • Auto-posting Reels
  • Scheduling image Carousels
  • Visually planning your posts
  • Getting the client’s approval
  • Maximising your reach with Instagram geotags
  • Targeting the right audience with our hashtag selector
  • Keeping your captions clutter-free with the first-comment feature
  • Creating a thumb-stopping feed for Instagram with our Canva integration
HeaderImage_Instagram

Power up your Instagram marketing with Sendible.

Manage brands easily with a platform you can rely on. Automatically publish posts to Instagram Business profiles, monitor your audience activity, and track your growth in one place.

Explore the features

Quick how-to schedule guide

Now that you're eager to start scheduling Instagram Stories using Sendible, let's walk through the process step-by-step. Follow these simple instructions to unlock the power of seamless Story scheduling:

Step 1: Access the Sendible Dashboard

  • Log in to your Sendible account and navigate to the dashboard.

Step 2: Connect your Instagram Account

  • If you haven't already, connect your Instagram account to Sendible. This will enable you to schedule and publish Stories seamlessly.

Step 3: Create a New Story

  • In the Compose Box, under the Instagram tab, the option to toggle between publishing a "Post", "Reel" or "Story" will be displayed. Select "Story".

Step 4: Design your Story

  • Unleash your creativity! Design your Story by adding engaging visuals, text, stickers, and more. Customise it to align with your brand's voice and style with our powerful Canva integration!

Step 5: Schedule your Story

  • Once you're satisfied with your Story, select the desired date and time for it to go live. Sendible's intuitive scheduling interface makes it easy to choose the perfect timing for maximum impact.

Step 6: Review and Confirm

  • Before scheduling, review your Story to ensure everything looks great. Double-check the date, time, and content to avoid any surprises. Then assign it to the client to get the approval.

Step 7: Sit Back and Relax

  • Congratulations! You've successfully scheduled your Instagram Story using Sendible. Now, sit back and let Sendible take care of publishing it at the scheduled time.

Remember, Sendible offers a comprehensive support article with detailed instructions and visuals to assist you further. If you prefer visual guidance, check out our video tutorial below.

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Three actionable exercises

To fully harness the power of scheduling Instagram Stories with Sendible, here are some practical exercises to help you explore and utilize this feature effectively:

Exercise #1 | Showcase your Agency's Behind-the-Scenes Magic! 

Captivate your audience with an exclusive peek behind the curtain by sharing some behind-the-scenes moments that highlight the magic at your agency! 

Instructions:

  1. Gather Captivating Visuals: Create a captivating slideshow of behind-the-scenes photos or videos that showcase the inner workings of your agency. From brainstorming sessions to team collaboration, give your audience an insider view.
  2. Schedule and approve: With Sendible's powerful scheduling features, effortlessly plan and organise the posting of your images. For an extra layer of quality control, consider sending the selected images for approval. Getting a second pair of eyes on your content can provide valuable insights and ensure that your behind-the-scenes showcase meets your agency's standards.
  3. Choose the Optimal Time: Sendible determines when your audience is most active and engaged on social media, select this time to grab their attention.
  4. Build Relationships: By sharing these behind-the-scenes moments, you're inviting your audience to connect with your agency on a more personal level. They get a glimpse of the people, processes, and creativity that drive your success.

Pro Tip: To maximise engagement, add interactive stickers to your stories with our reminder feature, engage your audience and let them be a part of your agency's journey!

Exercise #2 | Create FOMO with Event Highlights! 

Capture all the exciting moments, and get ready to create buzz and FOMO for your upcoming events!

Instructions:

  1. Record Event Videos: During your events, make sure to capture engaging videos that showcase the energy, atmosphere, and highlights.
  2. Content Gathering: Instead of trying to post and edit videos or photos in real-time, focus on gathering all the content you need during the event. This allows you to fully immerse yourself in the experience while ensuring you have plenty of material to work with afterward.
  3. Post or Schedule Content through Sendible: After the event, schedule those amazing videos, one at a time, as throwbacks to create FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) for your next event.
  4. Build Anticipation: By sharing event highlights, you generate anticipation and interest among your audience for future events. This fosters engagement and increases attendance at your upcoming gatherings.

Exercise #3 | Edit and Schedule Stories with Ease! 

Say goodbye to app-hopping and embrace a seamless storytelling experience. With our Canva integration and Sendible's scheduling capabilities, you can now effortlessly edit your stories and schedule them for posting. 

Instructions:

  1. Edit Stories with Canva: Customise your story's visuals, add engaging graphics or text overlays, and bring your brand's unique style to life.
  2. Schedule with Sendible: Take advantage of Sendible's scheduling feature to effortlessly plan and organise your story posts. Schedule them at the optimal times for maximum audience reach and engagement.
  3. Ensure Brand Consistency: With the Canva integration, you can maintain brand consistency by using pre-designed templates or creating your own branded visuals. 

Pro Tip: Experiment with different story elements, such as stickers, interactive features, or swipe-up links, to make your stories more engaging and interactive with Sendible reminders.

These exercises will not only familiarise you with the scheduling feature but also allow you to unleash your creativity and explore the various possibilities of Instagram Stories within Sendible.