Slow growth? Declined reach? An inconsistent posting schedule may be to blame.

News flash: You don’t have to post daily if you can’t keep up with it. The last thing you want is to get burnt out on posting content. 

You need to find a schedule that works and makes sense for you and is something you can stick to consistently! 

Something we’ve taken note of recently on the algorithm is that the lifespan of our content lasts a lot longer these days. That means when you have a great post, it can keep reaching and provide exposure for even months at a time. 

In other words, quality over quantity is really starting to become fleshed out on these social platforms. 

That being said, to reach those posts that last a long time, it will take some initial leg work with a certain quantity of posts. Even ten posts alone won't be enough to cut it. You need to prove to both your audience and the algorithm that you are trustworthy and can generate valuable information. 

Below, we’ll share the right scheduling and the right formats to pack a punch. Let’s dive into what schedules might work best for you and your organization to garner the attention you deserve without killing yourself. 

“I have no time” Schedule: 

Monday2-3 stories on your plan for the weekTuesday1 reelThursday2-3 stories on how things are goingFriday1 reelSaturday2-3 stories on how things are going

Est. Time Spend: 1-2 hours/week

“I can do this” Schedule:

Monday1 image, 2-3 storiesTuesday1 reelWednesday2-3 storiesThursday1 imageFriday1 reel, 2-3 storiesSunday3-5 stories

Est. Time Spend: 4-5 hours/week

“I am all in” Schedule: 

Monday1 reel, 3-5 storiesTuesday1 carousel post, 2-3 storiesWednesday1 reelThursday1 carousel post, 2-3 storiesFriday1 reelSaturday1 carousel post, 2-3 storiesSunday3-5 stories

Est. Time Spend: 5-8 hours/week

How to Leverage Instagram Content Formats

Static Posts

• Big, bold headline promises an outcome
• Color combination that stands out
• More visuals than words (or just short sentences)
• Make post caption valuable
• Information organized, clean design, easy to scan

Stories

• Videos/Images highlighting short and sweet thoughts
• Captions are preferable
• Images should not have long sentences
• Sequence of events that increase in thought with a takeaway at the end

Reels

• Start video with a pain point/desire
• The shorter the better, no fluff
• Use graphics, animations, effects to keep viewers engaged
• Design covers with interesting hooks to get people to click and watch

Carousels

• 5-8 slides work best
• Big, bold headline on the first slide
• Short paragraphs and sentences
• Create lists, bullet points
• Recap main lesson in last slide for more saves

Still feeling overwhelmed by the amount of content to both create and then schedule? Onya understands this can all feel like a lot for those who are focused on keeping their organization running. If social marketing is something you want to learn more about, reach out to us today!