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Publish: Instagram
Publish: Instagram

Learn how to publish content to your Instagram account in Meltwater Engage.

Cheyenne V. avatar
Written by Cheyenne V.
Updated yesterday

This article will cover:

Prerequisites

Before creating an Instagram post, you first need to connect your Instagram account in your account settings. Learn more about Connecting your Owned Social Accounts.

Creating an Instagram Post

To create an Instagram post in Engage, follow these steps:

  1. Click the Engage drop-down in the left-hand navigation bar

  2. Select Publish

  3. Click Create in the top right-hand corner

  4. Click Post

  5. Select the check box to the left of the Instagram account(s) you want to publish to

  6. Compose your post

    1. Write and edit the text within the post. When including @mentions to other Instagram profiles note that you will need to enter the handle as there isn't a drop-down list of profiles. There is a limit of 30 hashtags in body of the post - consider adding these to the first comment.

      1. Instagram posts do NOT require text. Once a user adds more than a single image, you will see that the submit button is available even when no text is entered.

    2. Image attachment. Instagram posts can support up to 10 images, with an image minimum size of 600px width.

    3. Video attachments are supported up to the file size of 100MB and play length of 60 seconds.

    4. Mixed Media: Instagram carousels can support 10 attachments (i.e. images, video, or combination) on both the web app and mobile app

      1. Note: Mixed Media posts are not supported for Instagram stories or reels. Additionally, all images and videos are subject to the same validation rules listed above.

    5. Animated GIFs

    6. Emojis

    7. AI Assistant

    8. Character length of post text can be up to 2,200.

  7. To add First Instagram Comment

    1. Select Edit in the Post Preview

    2. Select Post Type

    3. Add First Instagram Comment

    Note: Comments are limited to 300 characters. This is a great place to add hashtags so they do not clutter your original post.

  8. Once you've formatted all the details of your post, navigate to Post time and select when you would like your post to be published.

    1. Now

    2. Schedule date and time

    3. Save as draft

  9. Select an Approval process (optional). Learn more about Assigning Your Social Posts for Approval.

  10. Select Tags (optional). Learn more about Managing Your Social Posts with Tags.

Link in Bio

  1. Click the Engage drop-down in the left-hand navigation bar

  2. Select Publish

  3. Click Create in the top right-hand corner

  4. Click Post

  5. Select the check box to the left of the Instagram account(s) you want to publish to

  6. Compose your post

  7. Click Edit in Post Preview

  8. Select Enable Link in Bio. The link in bio popup will list all connected and assigned Instagram accounts you have access to in Meltwater.

  9. Click Enable to have Meltwater automatically create your Hosted Site

  10. A custom URL will appear, click Copy

    Note: The URL will always follow the same format: simplybio.io/handle name. Here is an example Link in Bio URL: https://simplybio.io/sunnyside_beachclub1/

  11. Paste the URL directly into the bio field of your Instagram handle, on Instagram directly

    Note: This step is not automated, and cannot be done via Meltwater.

Reels

  1. Click the Engage drop-down in the left-hand navigation bar

  2. Select Publish

  3. Click Create in the top right-hand corner

  4. Click Post

  5. Select the check box to the left of the Instagram account(s) you want to publish to

  6. Click Edit in the Preview Post

  7. Navigate to Post Type

  8. Select Reel

    Note: When a user selects Reels, to ‘Reels’ the option to select an image attachment will be removed, and a notification will appear that Reels must have a video. Reels support videos up to 15 minutes in length.

  9. To customize your Reel

    1. Hover over the video attachment

    2. Select Edit

    3. Select from the five frames automatically populated from the uploaded video or upload a custom thumbnail

  10. Add unique links and first comment as needed

  11. Select a Post Time

Collaborator Posts

Two or more collaborators can now collaborate to create a Feed Post or Reel, which is seamlessly shared on each collaborator's profile at the same time.

One creator will take the lead by inviting others to join in the creative journey. Once the invitation is accepted, the post is shared in an effort to reach a wider audience, increase engagement, and simplify collaboration and content creation. Likes, comments, and shares will appear on all collaborators' profiles.

To add Instagram collaborators to a post, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Post Creation workflow in Publish

  2. Select one or more Instagram profiles

  3. Open the Instagram-specific composer/editor

  4. Select Feed Post or Reel

    Note: Collabs are not available via General Compose or for Stories

  5. Click Instagram Collaborators

  6. Add up to three collaborators by entering the Instagram profile handle. Click Enter on your keyboard after entering each collaborator handle to separate profile names

    1. Note: Similar to Instagram mentions, there is no lookup available to verify Instagram handle names. You must enter the Instagram handle names exactly as they appear on Instagram.

      1. This is an Instagram API limitation

      2. Public accounts: Public accounts can invite both public and private accounts to be collaborators.

      3. Private accounts: Private accounts can invite both private or public accounts to be collaborators, but only if the invited account follows the private account. If a public account accepts a private account's invite, the post will be shared publicly through the public collaborator. Private accounts will see information explaining this in detail the first time they invite a collaborator. Once they acknowledge that they understand who can see collaborative posts, they can invite anyone who follows them to collaborate on future posts.

  7. Once added, all Instagram collaborators appear on all post previews

  8. Instagram posts with collaborators will be published and go live on your handles per the standard Engage publishing workflow. For the post to also appear on the accounts of your collaborators, they must accept your collaboration invite via native Instagram.

Photo Tagging

  1. Navigate to Engage on the left-hand navigation bar

  2. Select Publish

  3. Click Create in the top right-hand corner

  4. Select Post

  5. Select the Instagram account(s) you would like to post on

  6. Click the Add asset option in the General Compose section

  7. Upload your image

  8. After uploading your image, click Edit on the Instagram-specific post editor found on the right-hand side of your screen under Post Preview.

  9. Select the Instagram tags drop-down

  10. Click to view each taggable image thumbnail and any applied people tags. Select Add Instagram tags.

People Tagging

Tag brands, celebrities, and influencers or give UGC credit through photo tags directly from Engage.

For people tagging, first, complete steps 1-10 listed above, then complete the following steps:

  1. Within the new 'Add Instagram Tags' modal, there are two main sections: Image Gallery View and Tag List

    1. Image Gallery View (top)

      1. Click the specific area on the image to open the tagging box

        • Tags will be added to the exact pixel that has been selected

      2. Type the exact name of the Instagram handle you would like to tag. The handle lookup box only returns exact matches

        • Accounts that do not return an exact match, include a View account option to view the handle on native Instagram

      3. Click on the left/right arrows on the image to go to the next attachment

      4. Up to 20 unique people tags can be added to a single post

    2. Tag List (bottom)

      1. As tags are added to an image, they will appear in the People tags section below the image

      2. Click X to remove a tag

Product Tagging

For product tagging, first complete steps 1-10, then follow the below steps:

  1. Within the new 'Add Instagram Tags' modal, there are two main sections: Image Gallery View and Tag List

    1. Image gallery view (top)

      1. Click the specific area on the image to open the tagging box.

      2. The list of available catalogs from your Instagram shop will appear.

        • Catalogs must be created and populated via Instagram.

        • If no catalogs are available in Meltwater, ensure that an active catalog is linked to the Instagram shop.

      3. Click a catalog to view the included products within that catalog.

        • Products must be added to catalogs via Instagram.

          • If no products are visible, ensure that active products exist within the selected catalog.

        • The search feature can be used to find products by exact product name or content ID

      4. Select a product to tag.

        • Tags will be added to the exact pixel that has been selected.

      5. Click on the left/right arrows on the image to go to the next attached image.

      6. Up to 20 unique total tags can be added to a single post (People + Product)

    2. Tag list (bottom)

      • As tags are added to an image, they will appear in the Product tags section below the image.

      • Click the X to remove a tag.

Publishing an Instagram Story

Via Web

Draft, schedule, and publish Instagram stories directly within Meltwater without needing to use the Engage mobile app.

Note: When exclusively posting carousel posts through the web app, multi-media posts (images and videos in a single post) are not supported. We do support multi-media posts when using the web and mobile app together.

  1. Click the Engage drop-down in the left-hand navigation bar

  2. Select Publish

  3. Click Create in the top right-hand corner

  4. Click Post

  5. Select one Instagram profile. Instagram does not allow story publishing to multiple handles at the same time.

  6. Add a single video or image to your Instagram story, either in general compose or the Instagram-specific composer. Attaching multiple media assets at one time is not supported.

  7. In the channel-specific composer, select the Post Type drop-down

  8. Click Story

    1. If more than one Instagram profile is selected or more than one media asset has been added to the post, Story will not be available to select.

    2. Instagram stories do not support descriptions, unique links, or first comments. If a user selects Story from the dropdown, any entries to these areas will be removed.

  9. Instagram stories have specific aspect ratio requirements, and users may be prompted to change their ratio. This can be done via the image editor in-app

  10. Continue with the regular posting process all other channels follow.

  11. Instagram stories appear alongside all other scheduled content on the calendar.

Via Web + Mobile App

Before publishing your story or carousel via your mobile app, you must first create the story via the web. Follow these steps to do so:

  1. Click the Engage drop-down in the left-hand navigation bar

  2. Select Publish

  3. Click Create in the top right-hand corner

  4. Select IG Story on Mobile

  5. Select the Instagram handle you would like to create your story or post for

  6. Select Next

  7. Select your Post Type, Story, or Carouse

  8. Click Compose

  9. Select your media and enter your message text

    1. Image Requirements: PNG, JPG, GIF, 6MB max.

    2. Video Requirements: MP4, MOV, 60s max.

  10. To alter image dimensions, apply effects, filters, etc., hover over your image and select Edit.

  11. Click Save

  12. In your image preview, you can click your image to display the gallery

  13. Click Next

  14. Select when you would like the notification

    1. Now

    2. A future date and time

    3. Save as draft

  15. Assign a reviewer (optional)

  16. Save your notification

Via Engage Mobile App

Now that you’ve created your story via the web app, you can publish that story using the Engage Mobile App.

Note: Only the user who created the story or carousel will receive the push notification and task.

You can review the details of your story or carousel within the mobile app and then choose Post to Instagram. This will redirect you to the Instagram mobile app, where you will complete the process and publish the story or carousel live.

  1. You will receive a push notification to your mobile app 10 minutes prior to your selected scheduled time

  2. You can open your Engage mobile app or open it directly from the notification tray

  3. You will be directed to My Tasks, where all of your Stories and Carousels will appear

    Protip: My Tasks will display all scheduled Stories for that day, so you can access any story for the day, regardless of when it is scheduled to be published. This also means you do not have to wait for the notification if you want to publish earlier (or later) than originally planned.

  4. Click your post to preview the scheduled message

  5. Click Show details to view the text included in the post. This text is automatically copies to your clipboard

  6. Click Continue to Instagram

  7. You will receive a pop-up reminder alerting you to be sure you are logged in to the correct Instagram account on your phone before continuing. Click Got It to continue. You also have the option to not show this reminder again.

  8. Instagram will automatically open your feed

  9. Click the + symbol in the top right-hand corner to create either your carousel post or story.

  10. You are free to make any edits as you see fit within Instagram. The text from your post is automatically copied to your clipboard, so you can paste it directly into Instagram.

  11. Follow your typical workflow for sharing or posting to your Instagram handle.

Viewing Stories in Publish

On the Publish calendar, stories and carousels will be identified by a mobile post icon, text reading Story or Carousel, and Instagram logo.

Stories and carousels will stay in scheduled status (green and white hashed line) even after publishing.

In the Feed view, stories and carousels will appear on both the Scheduled and Draft tabs. They will not appear in the Sent tab. They will also indicate they are a mobile post via an icon in the bottom left corner.

Since posting requires notifications via the mobile app, you can continue to make edits and updates to your Story or Carousel before or after the scheduled notification time.

Note: Important! Meltwater does not detect which Instagram profile is signed in to the Instagram app on your mobile device. If you publish to more than one Instagram account, ensure that you are signed in to the Instagram app with the same profile you selected in Meltwater so that you publish the story or carousel to the appropriate account. It is best practice to do this prior to clicking Continue on Instagram via the Engage mobile app.

Learn more about Publishing on other platforms:

💡 Tip

Need more help? Feel free to reach out to us via Live Chat or check out our Customer Community.

Find answers and get help from Meltwater Support and Community Experts.

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