How to Schedule and Publish Instagram Stories from Your Desktop [4 Easy Steps]

Content Marketing Social Media StoryChief Updates 6 min read

Instagram Stories have become a go-to tool for marketers and creators to engage with their audience and boost their brand's visibility. As Instagram's algorithm continues to prioritize Stories, it's no secret that utilizing this feature is crucial for audience growth.

For marketers, agencies, and copywriters, Instagram Stories provide a unique opportunity to showcase their brand, promote products or services, and establish meaningful connections with their target audience on a personal level.

However, the process of managing and publishing Stories can be a hassle, especially when it involves manually posting at the most inconvenient times.

We're proud to announce that StoryChief is among the first platforms to introduce scheduling and auto-publishing of Instagram Stories, a groundbreaking feature that will revolutionize the way you manage your Stories. 📲

What are Instagram Stories?

Instagram Stories are a popular and dynamic feature that allows users and brands to share photos, videos, and interactive content with their followers.

Unlike traditional Instagram posts, Stories only last for 24 hours, which creates a sense of urgency and exclusivity. This is great for businesses and individuals who want to create buzz around their content and drive engagement.

With Instagram Stories, you can engage their audience through creative elements such as stickers, filters, text overlays, and interactive features like polls and quizzes.

With the ability to experiment with different types of content and engage with your audience, Instagram Stories have become an essential tool for anyone looking to build their brand and grow their following.

And now, with StoryChief's latest enhancement, scheduling and sharing your Stories has never been easier!

How to schedule and publish Instagram Stories from your desktop using StoryChief

In the past, Instagram's API limitations prevented scheduling tools from automatically publishing Stories. Although you could prepare and schedule your story content in advance, you still had to manually hit "publish" when the notification came through. Fortunately, those days are over!

With StoryChief, you can plan, schedule and publish your Instagram stories ahead of time, directly from your desktop. No manual intervention is required.

Here's how it works:

Step 1. Connect your Instagram account to StoryChief

Start by connecting your Instagram account to StoryChief. Follow the instructions provided in this helpful guide. This step will establish the necessary connection between StoryChief and your Instagram profile, enabling seamless publishing.

Step 2. Upload your video or image into the Instagram post composer

Once your Instagram account is connected, you can effortlessly schedule your Instagram Story within StoryChief. Import your desired image or video content directly into StoryChief's interface.

Tip: We recommend using an aspect ratio of 9:16.

Step 3. Click ‘Share as Story’ and schedule to go live at your preferred time

Next, specify the exact date and time you want your Story to be published. StoryChief gives you the flexibility to schedule your Story to go live at your preferred time. This feature ensures that your Story reaches your audience when they are most active, maximizing its impact and engagement.

Step 4. Sit back while we publish your Instagram Story

StoryChief will take care of the rest for you. As the scheduled time approaches, StoryChief will automatically publish your Instagram Story on your behalf. This hands-off approach saves you valuable time and effort, allowing you to focus on other important tasks.

5 tips to get the most out of Instagram Stories

Creating a winning Instagram Story strategy for your business is crucial for engaging your audience and driving results. Here are six tips to help you develop an effective Instagram Story strategy:

1. Design engaging and visually appealing Stories

Grab attention with compelling visuals. Use captivating images, videos, and graphics that stand out in the Instagram Stories feed. Incorporate vibrant colors, interesting compositions, and eye-catching designs to capture your audience's attention from the very first frame.

2. Your Stories don't have to disappear after 24h

If you've received significant engagement on a particular story, you can maximize its impact by adding it to your profile permanently. You have two great options: sharing it as a regular post or adding it to your Instagram Highlights.

To share as a post, open your Story, tap the three dots at the bottom right of the photo or video and tap Share as Post. To add the Story to your Instagram highlights, go to your profile, tap the "+" button below your bio, and select the Stories you want to include.

3. Feature user-generated content

Encourage your followers to share their experiences, testimonials, or creative content related to your brand or products. Reshare the best UGC in your stories to showcase real-life examples of how your audience interacts with your brand. This not only adds authenticity and social proof to your stories but also fosters a sense of community and encourages others to engage with your brand.

4. Take your audience behind-the-scenes

Offer an exclusive glimpse into your business or brand by showcasing behind-the-scenes content in your Instagram Stories. Share sneak peeks of product development, office life, events, or the creative process. Giving your audience an insider perspective fosters a sense of connection and authenticity, building a stronger relationship with your followers.

5. Dig into your story analytics

Regularly analyze the performance of your Instagram Stories using the built-in analytics tools. Pay attention to metrics such as views and engagement to understand what content resonates best with your audience. Use these insights to optimize your strategy and create even more impactful Stories in the future.

By following these tips, you'll be well on your way to creating an effective Instagram Story strategy that drives engagement, builds brand loyalty, and delivers results for your business.

🚀 Ready to take your social media and content marketing to the next level?

The following are some of the unique features that set StoryChief apart in the social media and content marketing fields:

📆 Content calendar: Wave goodbye to disorganized spreadsheets and juggling multiple tools. StoryChief offers an intuitive content calendar that provides a centralized view of your content schedule. Effortlessly plan, organize, and manage your content with ease.

🌄 Smart image cropping: Ensure your visuals shine on every social media platform with StoryChief's smart image cropping feature. No more manual resizing or distorted images—StoryChief automatically adjusts your visuals to fit each platform perfectly.

⚙️ Tailoring images to social media channels: Each social media platform has its own unique image requirements. StoryChief simplifies the process by allowing you to select the perfect image to maximize your engagement on each platform.

📽️ Video thumbnail customization: Capture attention from the get-go by customizing your video thumbnails. With StoryChief, you can select the most enticing thumbnail to enthrall your audience and increase engagement.

🤝 Content collaboration tools: Collaborating with your team has never been easier. StoryChief provides seamless content collaboration tools, allowing multiple team members to work together, review, and provide feedback, streamlining your content creation process.

🤖 AI copywriting assistant: Need a helping hand with your captions and copy? StoryChief's AI-powered copywriting assistant is at your service to help you craft captivating and engaging content that resonates with your audience.

📊 Social media performance: Gain valuable insights into your social media performance with StoryChief's comprehensive analytics. Track key metrics, including engagement, reach, and follower growth, to understand what content resonates best with your audience.

And much more!

Try StoryChief free

Sign up for a free trial of StoryChief and discover how it can transform the way you schedule and publish Instagram Stories from your desktop. Try StoryChief for free today!

Autopublish Instagram Stories