Post photos, carousels, Reels and Stories to Instagram, the professional account it needs, and how to switch a personal account.
On this page
Coming soon: Instagram can't be connected yet. On the Channels page, its tile under Connect Channel says Coming soon. You can still plan and write Instagram posts; they're saved as drafts until you can connect an account. This page describes how it will work.
Social9 posts photos, carousels, Reels and Stories to Instagram. Instagram only lets apps post for professional accounts (Creator or Business) that are linked to a Facebook Page.
Where to find it#
Tools → Channels → Connect Channel → Instagram. You can also press the Instagram icon under Connect more channels in the left menu.
Instagram is on every plan, including Free.
Before you connect#
You need two things:
- A professional Instagram account, Creator or Business. Switching is free, takes about a minute, and you keep your followers and posts.
- A Facebook Page linked to it.
Switch a personal account to professional#
- In the Instagram app, open your profile and tap the menu (☰).
- Tap Settings and privacy → Account type and tools → Switch to professional account.
- Pick Creator or Business and finish the steps.
- Link it to a Facebook Page: on your profile tap Edit profile → Page → connect or create one.
The same steps are in Social9: in Connect Channel, press Instagram needs a professional account linked to a Page. How do I set that up?, or How do I switch to a Creator account? in the Connect Instagram window.
Connecting#
- On the Channels page, press Connect Channel and pick the Instagram tile.
- Sign in with Facebook.
- When Facebook asks, tick the Page and its Instagram account.
If you get "No Instagram business or creator account is linked to your Facebook Pages", the account is still personal, or it is not linked to a Page you ticked. Do the steps above and try again.
What a post can include#
| Limit | |
|---|---|
| Text | 2,200 characters |
| Photos and videos | Up to 10, mixed (a carousel) |
| Needs media | Yes. Every Instagram post needs a photo or video |
Options#
In the Create Post window, press Customize for each network and open the Instagram tab (or press Options for Instagram when it is the only network). Under Options for Instagram:
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Post type | Feed (or Carousel with several files), Reel or Story |
| First comment | Posted right after. A good place for extra hashtags. Not on Stories |
| Collaborators (up to 3 usernames) | Invites other accounts to co-author. Not on Stories |
| Tag people | Click the photo where the person is, then type their username. Not on Reels |
| Also show in the main feed | For Reels. On by default |
| Cover image URL or cover frame | For Reels |
Rules: a Reel needs exactly one video. A Story takes exactly one photo or video.