Instagram Live Scheduling is Here – Here's What You Need to Know

Instagram Live Scheduling is here and spoiler alert: we’re here for it. 

With this new feature, creators and brands will now have the option to schedule Instagram Lives up to 90 days in advance. 

Instagram also announced a new tool called “Practice Mode” — giving you the option to test out your Live setup in advance.

We're diving into how you can schedule your Instagram Lives, use "Practice Mode," and why these are great new tools for building your brand.

How Does Instagram Live Scheduling Work?

You may be wondering: how is it possible to schedule a "live" event?

Think of it like reserving a slot in the calendar, so your audience has a head's up – and you can build more hype around the live event.

According to Instagram, Instagram Live Scheduling is meant to help with the discovery and distribution of Instagram Lives. 

Now, when a user schedules a Live, they can share reminders and countdowns directly to their Instagram Stories, feed, and profile.

Instagram has also introduced a new "Live in Profiles" badge that lets your followers (or anyone who visits your page) know that you have a scheduled Live:

@mosseri

When a user clicks on the badge, they can press "Remind me" to subscribe to the event.

@mosseri

And because the feature lets users schedule Instagram Lives in advance (up to 90 days), you'll have plenty of time to spread the word.

Plus, you can schedule as many Lives as you'd like.

NOTE: Instagram Live Scheduling is rolling out to users globally, so if you don’t have it yet – sit tight! 

Here’s How to Schedule an Instagram Live:

#1. Open up the Instagram Stories camera and swipe over to the “Live” tab. Select “Schedule” from the side panel.

#2. Enter your Live information like the video title, start date and time, any tagged products, and select "Schedule Live Video".

#3. Next, you can tap the three dots to either choose to edit or “Share as Post”.

When you choose to share a post, your audience will be able to sign up for reminders and notifications so they’ll receive an alert when you go Live. 

If you want to share the countdown for your Live on your story, head to your Instagram Stories Sticker tray and select "Scheduled."

While we’re on the topic of scheduling, did you know that you can schedule your Instagram feed posts and stories with Later? 

Later’s scheduling tools allow you to plan, preview, and schedule your content ahead of time. Call us biased, but we think it's a major game-changer. 

Ready to start scheduling your Instagram feed posts and stories with Later? Sign up today – it's free!

What is Instagram Live “Practice Mode”?

In addition to Instagram Live Scheduling, Instagram has introduced “Practice Mode.”

Practice Mode is a great addition to the Instagram Live lineup. You’re not alone if you’ve been waiting for a feature like this. 

Everyone who’s done an Instagram Live, whether alone or with a guest, knows that it can be challenging – from getting the best lighting to making sure your Internet connection is drop-free.

Even Adele, the Grammy award winning artist Adele, had Instagram Live troubles recently.

And that’s just the setup! We haven’t even mentioned all of the troubleshooting that can happen during the actual broadcast. 

Well, not anymore. 

According to TechCrunch, Practice Mode “lets creators join their guests ahead of the scheduled event to test their connection, lighting, and manage any other pre-show prep that may be needed.”

Having the ability to hop on to your Instagram Live ahead of time will hopefully alleviate any technical difficulties and make your lives a breeze. Pun intended.

Instagram Lives have taken off over the last few years, and we predict these features will encourage even more brands and creators to get involved.

So if you're new to the realm of Instagram Lives, now is the perfect time to experiment.

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