Connect Your Instagram Business Account
Connect your Instagram Business Account to schedule and publish posts directly from Postle.
Overview
The Instagram integration allows you to manage and publish content to your Instagram Business Account. Schedule posts, track engagement, and manage your Instagram presence from one place.
Instagram Business vs Personal Accounts
Postle works with Instagram Business and Creator accounts only. Personal Instagram accounts are not supported by the Instagram API.
Don't have a Business account? Learn how to convert your account
Phase 1 Limitation
What You Can Publish
- Single image posts: Share photos with captions (currently supported)
- Coming in Phase 2: Video posts, Reels, Carousels, and Stories
Requirements Checklist
Before connecting your Instagram account, make sure you have:
Instagram Business or Creator Account
Personal accounts won't work. Switch to a Business or Creator account in your Instagram app settings.
Linked Facebook Page
Your Instagram Business Account must be linked to a Facebook Page. This is required by Instagram's API.
Admin Permissions
You need admin access to both the Instagram account and the linked Facebook Page.
Connection Flow
Step 1: Verify Your Instagram Account Type
Check if your Instagram account is a Business or Creator account:
- Open the Instagram app on your phone
- Go to your profile and tap the menu (three lines)
- Tap "Settings" → "Account"
- If you see "Switch to Professional Account," you have a personal account and need to convert it
- If you see "Switch Account Type," you already have a Business/Creator account
Converting to Business Account
- In Instagram app: Settings → Account → Switch to Professional Account
- Choose "Business" or "Creator"
- Follow the on-screen setup
- Complete your business profile
Step 2: Link Instagram to a Facebook Page
Instagram Business Accounts require a connection to a Facebook Page:
- Go to your Facebook Page (create one if you don't have it)
- Click "Settings" in the left menu
- Click "Instagram" in the left sidebar
- Click "Connect Account"
- Log in to Instagram and authorize the connection
[Screenshot: Facebook Page Settings → Instagram connection]
Step 3: Connect in Postle
In your Postle dashboard:
- Navigate to Accounts
- Find the Instagram card
- Click the "Connect Instagram" button
Step 4: Authorize with Facebook
Since Instagram uses Facebook's authentication system, you'll be redirected to Facebook:
- Log in to Facebook if prompted
- Review the permissions Postle is requesting
- Click "Continue" to authorize
Permissions Explained
Postle requests these Instagram permissions:
- Basic profile info: Your Instagram username and profile picture
- Content publishing: Ability to create posts on your behalf
- Insights access: Read analytics to show you post performance
Step 5: Select Instagram Accounts
Postle will find all Instagram Business Accounts linked to your Facebook Pages:
- Review the Instagram accounts found
- All linked accounts will be connected automatically
- Click "Done" or "Finish"
Step 6: Verify Your Connection
After authorizing, you'll be redirected back to Postle:
- Check that your Instagram account appears with a "Connected" status
- Verify your username and profile picture are correct
- You're ready to start scheduling Instagram posts!
Publishing to Instagram
Currently Supported
- Single image posts: JPEG or PNG format, max 8MB
- Captions: Up to 2,200 characters including hashtags
- Hashtags: Unlimited hashtags (include in caption text)
Phase 2 Features
Coming soon:
- Instagram Reels: Short-form vertical videos
- Carousel posts: Multiple images in a single post
- Instagram Stories: 24-hour ephemeral content
Character Limits
Instagram allows up to 2,200 characters for captions. This includes:
- Your caption text
- Hashtags (# symbols count)
- Mentions (@ symbols count)
- Emojis and line breaks
Hashtag Best Practices
- Use 5-10 relevant hashtags for optimal engagement
- Mix popular and niche hashtags
- Research hashtags specific to your industry
- Place hashtags at the end of your caption or in a comment
- Avoid banned or spammy hashtags
Analytics & Insights
Available Metrics
Postle tracks these Instagram Insights metrics for your posts:
- Impressions: Total number of times your post was seen
- Reach: Number of unique accounts that saw your post
- Saves: Number of times users saved your post
- Engagement: Total interactions (saves in current version)
Data Update Frequency
Instagram Insights data is collected automatically every 6 hours. However:
- Initial insights: Available 24 hours after posting
- Full data: Up to 48 hours for complete metrics
- Real-time status: Publishing success/failure shows immediately
How to View Analytics
- Go to your Analytics dashboard
- Filter by platform (Instagram) or view all platforms
- Click on individual posts to see detailed metrics
- Export data to CSV for further analysis
Common Issues & Solutions
"Not a Business Account" Error
If you see this error when connecting:
- Verify your Instagram account is set to Business or Creator
- In Instagram app: Settings → Account → Switch to Professional Account
- Complete the setup process
- Try connecting to Postle again
"No Facebook Page" Error
If connection fails because no Facebook Page is linked:
- Create a Facebook Page if you don't have one
- Link your Instagram account to the Facebook Page
- Go to Facebook Page → Settings → Instagram → Connect Account
- Return to Postle and try connecting again
Connection Expired
Instagram access tokens expire after 60 days. Postle automatically refreshes them, but if you see an error:
- Go to your Accounts page
- Find your Instagram account with "Error" status
- Click "Reconnect"
- Authorize again through Facebook
Insights Not Available
If analytics aren't showing for a post:
- Wait 24-48 hours after publishing for insights to become available
- Verify your account is still a Business or Creator account
- Check that the post published successfully
- Ensure your account connection is healthy (not showing "Error" status)