Automation is all the rage, but does it work on Instagram (and is it even worth it)?
If done right, Instagram automation tools can help you ditch manual tasks so you can:
- Save loads of time (over 6 hours per week on average!)
- Increase engagement (through consistency and leverage)
- Gain followers (by helping you post at the ideal times)
- Improve your page’s quality with a data-backed strategy and posting plan
But beware: certain types of Instagram automation can get your account suspended or banned. Ouch!
These 15 Instagram automation tools help you ENHANCE your relationship with your followers instead of burning them with spammy tactics.
Feel free to skip to the tool you're most interested in:
- 1. Create and customize your automatic posting plan
- 2. Add content to your calendar
- 3. Create unique visual content
- 4. Automate Instagram posts in bulk
- 5. Create and schedule carousel posts
- 6. Schedule Instagram Stories
- 7. Schedule Instagram Reels
- 8. Schedule recurring Instagram posts
- 9. Generate captions
- 10. Generate hashtags
- 11. Add the 1st comment to your post automatically
- 12. Automatically cross-post your Instagram posts on other social media
- 13. Automate DMs the right way with Manychat
- 14. Customize your own AI with ChatGPT
- 15. Auto-generate Reels with OpusClip
- What types of automation are allowed on Instagram?
- Why you should NEVER automate Instagram engagement
- FAQ
1. Create and customize your automatic posting plan
Your 1st step is to set up a Posting Plan.
Your Posting Plan tells Post Planner what days and times you want to post.
It also allows you to choose what types of content to allow in each posting slot.
Here's how:
Start by creating or choosing "Buckets" to categorize your posts. (Buckets are a simple way to organize your different types of content.)
For example, you could create one Bucket for memes and another for educational posts. Then, you can set up your posting plan to post specific types of content on your set recurring day and time.
Once you’ve created your buckets, click “Posting Plan” to access your Posting Plan.
Then, select the Buckets of content you want to post and when.
As you add content to your Buckets, this schedule will automatically tell Post Planner when to post your content on specific days and times.
2. Add curated content to your calendar
After assigning your Buckets to posting times, you’re ready to fill your posting schedule with content.
Post Planner will automatically post any content you add to your Instagram schedule at the appropriate time!
To find content:
- Navigate to the “Content” tab on Post Planner.
- Search for a keyword that’s relevant to your niche.
- Click the green + symbol on the content you want to add, click “Create X post/s,” then fill in the post details (captions, hashtags, etc.).
To view your entire posting schedule at a glance, click on the “Posts” tab on the left-hand toolbar.
The Posts view shows the time, day, and type of content for each scheduled post in the month.
You can view your planned posts in a calendar, list, or grid view (shown below).
Each posting slot also shows you which bucket it will draw from.
Repeat these steps until your posting calendar is full!
The content will automatically post on time, so you don’t have to worry about consistency.
3. Create unique visual content
You NEED to create visual content for your Instagram content strategy.
Post Planner makes creating custom visual content for your Instagram plan easy without hiring a professional graphic designer.
Click on the "Content" tab, then click “Studio.”
Then, use Post Planner’s tools to create visually appealing photos or videos.
When you’re done creating your visual content, save it to your library for future use or add it to the composer to be optimized for Instagram and added to your Posting Plan.
Pro Tip: Post Planner's design studio is perfect for creating infographics or Story posts (more on that later).
4. Automate Instagram posts in bulk
Tired of creating and scheduling each Instagram post?
Post Planner's bulk create and schedule features are what you need!
There are 2 types of posts you can schedule in bulk with Post Planner:
- New content
- Curated content
Let's start by showing you how to schedule new posts:
1) Click on "Create Post,” then make sure your Instagram account is selected.
2) Click where it says "single post." Then select "multiple posts."
3) Choose which Bucket you want your posts to be part of.
4) Click “Upload,” then upload your images from your computer’s files.
5) Customize each post (including a first comment, selecting if the image will post as a story or a regular post, and deciding if you want the content to be automatically recycled) and determine the order you want them posted in your queue.
6) Add your posts to your queue.
But what if you want to combine Post Planner's powerful content curation features with bulk scheduling?
Here's how you can post a BUNCH of content that's proven to engage your audience at scale:
1) Go to the "Content" tab.
2) Use these filters to search for different types of content:
- Curate from social media - Find the top-performing content across social media.
- Find images, videos, and gifs - Search a vast library of free visual content.
- Curate from blogs - Find top-performing blog posts
3) Search for your desired keyword
4) Add the content you want to post. And keep adding content until you're done!
5) Click "Create [#] posts" when you're done selecting your content.
6) Customize your posts with captions, order them, and add them to your queue or Bucket (the same steps as above when you picked content from your computer library)!
5. Create and schedule carousel posts
Post Planner allows you to post one of Instagram's most popular post formats: Carousels!
There are 2 ways to use Post Planner to create and schedule your carousels:
1) Create a carousel using your own images. All you have to do is upload them simultaneously when you create your post.
2) Curate images from Post Planner to turn into a carousel.
Make sure to edit the images in the Content Studio to be the same ratio (if needed).
6. Schedule Instagram Stories
If you want to stay top-of-mind with your Instagram followers, post Stories.
Post Planner allows you to create a Story post from any image or video with an aspect ratio of 9:16.
In the example below, I selected a post I discovered in the Content tab. However, you can also post an image or video you created in the Content Studio or upload it from your computer’s files.
Select "Story" under "Instagram settings" before scheduling to turn a post into a Story.
7. Schedule Instagram Reels
Reels generate the highest rate of engagement of all content types on Instagram at over 5%!
This means you MUST make and schedule Reels to your Instagram content plan.
To do so, upload your Reel after you create it. Ensure it's in a 9:16 aspect ratio and no longer than 3 minutes.
Select "Post/Reel" before adding it to your content plan.
8. Schedule recurring Instagram posts
Post Planner helps you identify your top-performing posts so you can recycle those posts for future use.
It’s like getting 2+ posts for the price of 1!
You can set specific posts to recycle when you create them.
When creating a post, click the recycle icon and select how often you want the post to cycle through your plan.
Post Planner will do the heavy lifting and make sure it gets posted when you want.
You can also view how past posts performed in "History" (in the Posts tab). Then, filter through your content to find posts you want to recycle.
As a side note, you don’t want to recycle a post too frequently, or your followers might get tired of your redundant feed!
For example:
Posting the same post 7 times in a week is OBNOXIOUS.
But posting the same great content 2-3 times a year is SMART.
9. Generate captions
You have the PERFECT picture to post on Instagram.
But what are you going to caption it?
**Crickets chirping**
We've all been there. When posting on Instagram, finding a caption is usually the last thing you think about.
But at the same time, it can either make you look like a polished influencer or make your posts seem pointless if you fumble them.
One of my favorite Post Planner features to use when posting is the "AI Content" feature.
When creating your post, click "AI Content," then type in your prompt. Post Planner’s AI will generate up to 5 variations of a caption for your post based on your prompt!
10. Generate hashtags
When trying to reach a broader audience in your niche, hashtags are how you get discovered.
Sure, you should probably research the best Instagram hashtags for your industry.
But if you're short on time and need to find the BEST hashtags related to your post's topic, this is when you can use Post Planner's AI hashtag generator!
There are 2 ways to use the hashtag generator:
1) Generate hashtags automatically based on your caption.
2) Generate hashtags by adding a keyword related to your topic.
11. Add the 1st comment to your post automatically
As weird as it sounds, commenting on your own Insta post comes with some advantages:
- It boosts engagement and reach.
- You can use it to promote a call-to-action.
- You can use it to cross-promote other events or content related to your brand.
So, to make this tactic easier than scheduling a post and manually commenting at the right time — Post Planner allows you to automatically add a first comment when you schedule your post.
12. Automatically cross-post your Instagram posts on other social media
Post Planner doesn’t just work for Instagram. You can link ALL your major social media accounts and post to all of them from the same place.
When making a post, just select all the social media channels you want to post to.
Post Planner will pull up customization tabs for all the selected channels, allowing you to customize the caption, hashtags, and more for each channel.
One of the BEST and EASIEST ways to maximize the advantage you get from social media is to use your channels synchronously. Post Planner makes it incredibly easy to sync all your social channels and create a cohesive brand image online.
13. Automate DMs the right way with Manychat
Many people don’t realize (or don’t have time to fully access) the power of Instagram DMs.
Instagram DMs have a much higher response rate than cold emails, and they allow businesses to interact with their customers or potential customers personally.
That’s where Manychat comes in — it automates the initial interaction on Instagram DMs to help your potential customers get what they need faster and free you up for more meaningful interactions.
Here are a few ways to use Manychat to enhance your Instagram strategy:
- Automate replies to common DMs by setting up instant responses for FAQs like pricing, availability, or business hours.
- You can automatically DM people watching your IG Live with exclusive deals or other messages only for those tuned in.
- Identify users who mention you in their Stories and automate reaching out to them.
- Have followers comment a specific word (e.g., "SALE") on a post to receive an automatic DM with a promo code.
- Set up automated DM sequences with Manychat to guide potential customers from initial inquiries to purchases without manually responding to every message.
Manychat can help you streamline your Instagram DMs and keep you from having to respond to every single one, but it should never replace human interaction entirely. Make sure you set up your Manychat sequences to allow the user to talk with a real person if they ever need more individualized help!
14. Customize your own AI with ChatGPT
Almost everyone has heard of ChatGPT, and many have implemented it into their workflows.
But does generative AI have a place in helping social media managers market their business on Instagram?
Yes! For example, consider these uses of ChatGPT for Instagram marketing:
- Upload your product details to ChatGPT and have it generate a list of ideas for Instagram posts about your specific product.
- Ask ChatGPT to create a 10-post (or any number of posts) sequence for your upcoming Instagram marketing campaign.
- Have ChatGPT generate several caption options for your posts. Then, you can select and edit the one you like best.
You’ll notice that all 3 of these suggestions involve brainstorming. That’s where ChatGPT shines!
Instead of using ChatGPT to write all your content for you, consider using it in the planning phase, as shown above, to help you beat writer’s block and write content in a more engaging style!
Pro tip: Create ChatGPT Projects and upload your brand info to get more relevant results!
15. Auto-generate Reels with OpusClip
You’ve undoubtedly heard of Instagram Reels (and probably spent your fair share of time scrolling through them, too).
Many Instagram users scroll through Reels to pass the time, get new content ideas, or learn about new accounts similar to the ones they already follow, meaning it’s the perfect opportunity for you to get discovered!
Here’s the problem: making a ton of short videos can be highly time-consuming and challenging.
That’s where OpusClip comes in. It turns your long-form videos into short Reels that you can post on Instagram (and other networks like Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn).
Here are a few use cases for OpusClip on Instagram:
- Turn a video interview into 10+ Instagram Reels by letting OpusClip automatically pick the highlights and edit your video.
- Let OpusClip add animated captions to your Reels for increased engagement.
- Turn a long-form video into a reel by letting OpusClip select an engaging hook and highlights and stitch them together based on your prompt.
- Make your videos more engaging with AI-identified contextually relevant B-roll.
- Create a cohesive brand image on Instagram using OpusClip’s brand templates to edit videos similarly every time.
What types of automation are allowed on Instagram?
As we’ve seen above, different types of Instagram automation can have DRASTICALLY different effects on your social media presence.
There’s a catch to automation, though: certain types can ruin your credibility online — while others can gain followers and improve your content.
Understanding the difference between these types of Instagram automation is key to making a good decision for your business.
Let’s look at 2 common types of automation that you’ll encounter online.
Type #1: Automated Instagram engagement
When most people think of Instagram automation, they’re thinking of bots.
What is an Instagram bot?
An Instagram bot automatically does something without any manual input from the account owner.
For example:
- An Instagram “like bot” will automatically like other people’s photos.
- An Instagram “comment bot” will comment using AI technology or other methods to post comments,
- An Instagram "DM bot" will message people on your behalf.
There are even Instagram bots designed to interact automatically with Stories on the platform. In other words, the bot can view stories, vote in polls, and more.
This is what we call “automated engagement.”
Using automated engagement is supposed to increase:
- Followers
- Views
- Likes
- Comments
- Opt-ins or sales
However, be warned: there are some SERIOUS drawbacks to this method.
First, it’s against Instagram’s user agreement, meaning it can get your account banned.
Second, it doesn’t work anyway. We’ll examine some of the reasons why in the next section, but suffice it to say that paying for automated growth NEVER works out in your favor over the long run.
Type #2: Automated Instagram planning and posting
The 2nd type of Instagram automation automates the repetitive parts of your social media strategy to reduce the time it takes you.
This is the type of GOOD automation we focused on in our tool list above. NONE of the tools we’ve discussed go against Instagram’s user agreement and risk getting you banned.
For example, you might have 10 pictures that you want to post over the next 2 weeks.
You have 2 options:
- Log on daily to post your picture, think of a caption, get sidetracked looking at your friends, get FOMO, and finally post it. (Posting on Instagram manually from your PC or mobile device.)
- Use automated posting to set up all 10 posts in 30 minutes, then forget about posting for the next 2 weeks.
In other words, automated posting allows you to prepare ahead of time and NEVER risks your Instagram account.
This same situation plays out in so many different ways on Instagram:
- Get writer’s block or write captions in seconds with AI.
- Waste hours editing your Reels or do it in minutes with OpusClip.
- Struggle to plan an engaging Instagram schedule or use Post Planner to source engaging content from around the web.
The list goes on and on, but you get the picture.
On the other hand, automated engagement takes the human out of the picture.
The good type of automation we’ve discussed in this article simply allows humans to work faster and more efficiently. In other words, automating your content enhances what you excel at: creating awesome content for your target audience.
Why you should NEVER automate Instagram engagement
Automated engagement is all about using bots with artificial intelligence to:
- Comment
- Like
- Follow
- Interact
The catch?
It carries some serious risks!
We NEVER recommend using bots because it's more likely to harm your page than help it.
Let’s look at our top 4 reasons you should avoid Instagram bots at all costs.
Reason #1: Your followers can tell
Imagine with me for a moment:
You find a new business on Instagram, and you follow them.
The next day, they start commenting on your posts with things like:
- “Very cool! I like a lot!”
- “Interesting photo! Look fun!”
- “You have fun time with friends! Yay!”
What are you going to do?
Unfollow.
The truth is that people can ALWAYS tell when there’s a bot commenting on their pictures.
Likewise, people who follow businesses on Instagram want REAL interactions, not auto-generated text.
For example, take a look at this popular Instagram bot service.
Even the website is difficult to read.
The automated comments it makes won’t be any better.
Using a bot can damage your reputation and make you lose followers, but that’s just the FIRST reason to avoid bots.
Reason #2: Fake followers
Plenty of Instagram automation services claim that you’ll be able to grow your followers quickly.
Many even claim that you'll be able to gain THOUSANDS of followers every month:
The only issue is how these followers are generated.
Most Instagram engagement automation software works by interacting with low-quality accounts.
They might use thousands of TRASH accounts to boost your follower base.
Think about this:
Would you rather have 30,000 fake followers or 300 real ones?
Don’t let the numbers that the bot websites promise fool you.
Bots lead to fake or extremely low-quality followers that don’t help your page thrive.
Even with a large following on Instagram, your business will not benefit unless those followers regularly engage with your content.
In other words, having more followers will not help unless you can get them to engage meaningfully with your posts.
Reason #3: Hollow growth
If the IG bot does earn you some REAL followers, the chances are incredibly high that it'll be hollow growth.
Hollow growth means your follower count is increasing, BUT your profile isn’t getting any healthier.
The followers don’t:
- Interact with you in the comments
- Like your pictures
- Engage with your stories
- Click through to your websites
In other words, hollow growth is meaningless.
It won’t help your business at all.
Even the few bot services that get you real followers will still produce mostly hollow growth.
I won’t deny that you might get SOME good followers from a bot service.
It's possible, and it’s even likely that you’ll get a few.
However, the VAST majority of the growth from a bot service will be useless to you.
Spending time and money on something that produces such small gains isn't worth it.
Throughout this article, we’ve shown you how to spend that time better to help your profile take off.
Reason #4: Get banned
Finally (and worst of all), your profile might get banned for using Instagram bots or otherwise breaking Instagram’s terms of service.
In addition, you might not even know if you’ve been penalized by Instagram because there are 2 common types of ban:
- True ban
- Shadowban
A true ban is when Instagram completely removes your account from the platform.
You'll know you’ve been banned because you’ll no longer have access to your account.
On the other hand, a shadowban is when your Instagram profile is “demoted” without notification.
If your profile is demoted, Instagram will no longer allow your profile and posts to appear on most searches or the Explore page.
In other words, Instagram might hide your profile from most people’s views without your knowledge!
Both types of bans could spell disaster for your Instagram account.
So avoiding them at all costs should be your top priority, and using bots could earn you a one-way ticket to Ban-Ville.
Frequently asked questions about Instagram automation
Does Instagram allow automation?
You can't automate any engagement on Instagram. However, you can schedule your posts using Post Planner and automate other things like responses to frequently asked questions, video editing, and planning.
Do Instagram bots work?
While Instagram bots exist, their use is against Instagram's policies. Engaging in any type of engagement automation on the platform can result in account suspension or other penalties.
Can I automate my Instagram?
Attempting to automate activities on Instagram, such as likes, comments, or follows, is not allowed according to Instagram's policies. However, you can automate your posting schedule using tools like Post Planner.
Ready to start automating your Instagram posts?
Use tools like Post Planner and the others mentioned in this article to improve your Instagram presence WITHOUT risking your account. Then, take advantage of your extra time to interact more with your audience. Over time, you'll see impressive gains.
Don’t believe me? Create a free Post Planner account and see how much time it can save you!
Have you used Instagram automation in your social media strategy? If so, how has it helped (or hurt) you?
Let us know in the comments below!
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