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Stories & Reels
9 min readJanuary 1, 2025How to Schedule Instagram Stories and Reels in Bulk
Master the art of batch creating and scheduling Instagram Stories and Reels using spreadsheets. Learn advanced techniques to maintain consistent story presence and maximize your reach with automated posting.
Understanding Stories vs Reels Scheduling
Instagram Stories
- • 24-hour visibility (unless saved to highlights)
- • Vertical format: 1080x1920px (9:16 ratio)
- • Perfect for behind-the-scenes content
- • Higher engagement rates than feed posts
- • Multiple story slides can be scheduled
- • Interactive elements (polls, questions, etc.)
Instagram Reels
- • Permanent content (stays on profile)
- • Vertical video: 1080x1920px, 15-90 seconds
- • Higher discoverability through Explore
- • Algorithm favors Reels content
- • Can include trending audio and effects
- • Cross-posted to Facebook automatically
📊 Performance Comparison
87%
Higher engagement on Stories
22%
More reach for Reels
3.5x
Better discovery rate
Setting Up Bulk Stories & Reels Scheduling
1
Create Separate Sheets
Organize your content by creating dedicated sheets for Stories and Reels within your content calendar.
Recommended Sheet Structure
- • Stories: Short-lived, behind-the-scenes content
- • Reels: Polished, evergreen video content
- • Feed Posts: Traditional Instagram posts
- • Campaigns: Special promotions and events
Stories Sheet Columns
- • Content/Text
- • Media URL
- • Schedule Date/Time
- • Story Type (photo/video)
- • Highlight Category
- • Interactive Elements
- • Status
Reels Sheet Columns
- • Caption/Description
- • Video URL
- • Schedule Date/Time
- • Music/Audio (optional)
- • Hashtags
- • Cover Image URL
- • Status
2
Configure Post Types
Set up the post type column to distinguish between different content formats.
Post Type Values
Stories:
- • story
- • story_photo
- • story_video
Reels:
- • reel
- • reels
- • video
Feed:
- • post
- • feed
- • carousel
Content Planning Strategies
Stories Content Ideas
- • Behind-the-scenes moments
- • Quick tips and tutorials
- • Product demonstrations
- • Team introductions
- • User-generated content reposts
- • Polls and Q&A sessions
- • Day-in-the-life content
- • Limited-time offers
Reels Content Ideas
- • Educational content
- • Trending challenges
- • Before/after transformations
- • Product features and benefits
- • Quick recipes or tutorials
- • Customer testimonials
- • Industry insights
- • Inspirational content
Content Batching Strategy
Create multiple pieces of content in one session to maximize efficiency and maintain consistency.
Weekly Batching
- • Monday: Stories creation (7-10 stories)
- • Tuesday: Reels filming (2-3 reels)
- • Wednesday: Editing and scheduling
Monthly Planning
- • Week 1: Educational content
- • Week 2: Behind-the-scenes
- • Week 3: Product/service focus
- • Week 4: Community engagement
Content Mix Formula
60%
Educational
Tips, tutorials, how-tos, industry insights
30%
Behind-the-Scenes
Process, team, daily life, workspace
10%
Promotional
Products, services, offers, announcements
Advanced Scheduling Techniques
Optimal Posting Times
Stories Timing
- Morning: 8-10 AM (catch the commute)
- Lunch: 12-1 PM (lunch break browsing)
- Evening: 7-9 PM (peak social time)
- Frequency: 3-5 stories per day maximum
Reels Timing
- Peak Hours: 6-10 PM weekdays
- Weekends: 10 AM-12 PM, 6-8 PM
- Avoid: Early morning (before 8 AM)
- Frequency: 3-4 reels per week maximum
Story Series Scheduling
Create engaging story series by scheduling multiple related stories in sequence.
Example: "Tutorial Tuesday" Series
Story 1 (10:00 AM):
Introduction and teaser
Story 2 (10:05 AM):
Step-by-step demonstration
Story 3 (10:10 AM):
Final result and call-to-action
Story Series Ideas
- • "Monday Motivation" - Weekly inspirational content
- • "Tutorial Tuesday" - Educational how-to series
- • "Behind-the-Scenes Wednesday" - Process documentation
- • "Feature Friday" - Product/team member spotlights
- • "Sunday Setup" - Week preparation and planning
Reels Publishing Strategy
Content Pillars
- • Educational (40%): Tips, tutorials, insights
- • Entertainment (30%): Trends, humor, relatable content
- • Inspirational (20%): Quotes, success stories
- • Promotional (10%): Products, services, offers
Weekly Schedule
- • Monday: Motivational/Inspirational
- • Wednesday: Educational/Tutorial
- • Friday: Entertainment/Trending
- • Sunday: Behind-the-scenes/Personal
Best Practices for Success
Stories Best Practices
- • Keep text large and readable on mobile
- • Use consistent brand colors and fonts
- • Add interactive elements (polls, questions)
- • Include clear calls-to-action
- • Save important stories to highlights
- • Cross-promote other content
- • Tag relevant accounts when appropriate
Reels Best Practices
- • Hook viewers in the first 3 seconds
- • Use trending audio and hashtags
- • Keep videos 15-30 seconds for best engagement
- • Add captions for accessibility
- • Include clear value proposition
- • End with strong call-to-action
- • Optimize cover image for discovery
🎯 Quality Over Quantity
Stories
- ✅ 3-5 high-quality stories daily
- ❌ 10+ low-effort stories
- ✅ Strategic, purposeful content
- ❌ Random, unplanned posts
Reels
- ✅ 3-4 polished reels weekly
- ❌ Daily low-quality videos
- ✅ Well-edited, engaging content
- ❌ Raw, unedited footage
Overall
- ✅ Consistent brand aesthetic
- ❌ Inconsistent visual style
- ✅ Value-driven content
- ❌ Purely promotional posts
Ready to Automate Your Stories & Reels?
Start bulk scheduling your Instagram Stories and Reels today. Save hours of manual posting while maintaining consistent, engaging content.