Publishing to Instagram Business Accounts Using Hootsuite

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Video Transcript | Intro

Posting to Instagram in the Hootsuite Dashboard is different than publishing to your other social networks. There are two methods for sending an Instagram post, based on the type of Instagram account you’re using. Direct Publishing is used for business profiles, while personal Instagram profiles use Hootsuite’s Mobile Notification workflow. 

Authentication

In this video, we’ll look at publishing images and videos directly to your Instagram Business account. If you haven’t already converted your personal Instagram account to a Business account, do so by going to the profile tab, tapping settings, then switch to business profile. 

Now, add your Instagram Business account to Hootsuite or re-authorize your existing account for the direct publishing workflow. 

Re-authorizing

To do this, simply click your profile picture, then select Manage social networks. Select your Instagram business profile, then Connect with Instagram.  Follow the prompts to authorize your account. This involves logging in to your Instagram account, as well as Facebook. 

Please note, all Instagram Business Accounts are required to be connected to a Facebook Business Page. So, you’ll need to login to Facebook using the credentials of an administrator of that page. 

Publishing an Image

Now you’re ready to publish individual images and videos to Instagram the same way you would for any other network.  Click New Post and find your Instagram profile in the picker. Business profiles display an icon if direct publishing is successfully enabled. 

Add your copy, along with hashtags, then add your image or video.  If you’re a Hootsuite Enterprise user, you can also select an image from your Content Library.  You can also resize your image using Hootsuite’s image editor. If you’re uploading videos, keep in mind Instagram’s 60-second limit. 

Finish

When you’re done, check the post preview to ensure everything appears exactly how you want it. Now either publish it or schedule it for a later date.

Check out our Help Desk for more information on Direct Publishing to Instagram Business Accounts.