If you’ve ever sat down to post on Instagram and realized an entire week went by without a single post—you know the feeling (woof). Real-time posting sounds nice in theory, but in reality? It’s stressful, inconsistent, and the first thing to fall off your plate when life and business get busy. That’s why learning how to schedule Instagram posts is such a game-changer for small business owners.

When you schedule Instagram posts ahead of time, you free yourself from that “what do I post today?” scramble and give your audience a consistent experience (even when you’re on vacation or buried in client work). The best part? With tools like Enji, scheduling your Instagram content is easier than ever. Plus, you can even use our free social media scheduler to get started!

Let’s walk through how to schedule Instagram posts including:

• A lil’ pep talk on how to hold yourself accountable (cuz you need it)
• How to schedule Instagram posts in Enji
• FAQs about scheduling Instagram posts 

You Need to Hold Yourself Accountable to Schedule Instagram Posts

First, let’s talk mindset because it actually matters. Because the number one mistake most small business owners make when it comes to scheduling posts? Forgetting to schedule them at all. Seriously—people will research scheduling tools, even sign up for one, and then never actually sit down to use it. (Don’t be that person.)

Here’s the fix: treat scheduling Instagram posts like a non-negotiable task, just like sending invoices or responding to client emails.

• Add a recurring reminder on your calendar (weekly or biweekly works for most people).
• Block off a small chunk of time (even 30 minutes is enough to get a couple posts scheduled to cover the week with tools like our AI copywriter to help).
• Stick to it.

When you build the habit of sitting down to schedule Instagram posts, you’ll find it quickly becomes part of your routine—and saves you hours of stress down the road.

And remember this: Consistent doesn’t mean constant. Because marketing is the things you do to make sure people know your business exists. And you can consistently show up without constantly working on marketing.

How to Schedule Instagram Posts in Enji

This is where things get fun. Enji makes scheduling Instagram posts ridiculously easy because it was designed for small business owners who don’t have time to mess around with complicated workflows.

And here’s what makes Enji unique: you actually have two different ways to start the scheduling process depending on how YOUR brain works.

Option 1: Start With the AI Copywriter to Draft the Caption

If the hardest part for you is knowing what to say, begin with the AI Copywriter.

1. Open the AI Copywriter and scope the ideas Enji created for you. Pick one you like or just type in your own topic  
2. Let the AI Copywriter draft the caption for you in your brand voice
3. Then upload your photos or videos, set the date and time, and boom—you’ve got a post that’s ready to go

This approach is perfect for business owners who feel stuck staring at a blank caption box.

Option 2: Start With the Image or Video

If you’re more of a “big picture first” type of person, start in the Marketing Calendar and with your image or video.

• Open your Calendar view and decide which days you want to post
• Drop your placeholders into the dates where you want content to go
• Use the Visual Instagram Planner to preview how your feed looks. Grey boxes act as spacers so you can visualize your future posts and make sure your feed looks *chef’s kiss*
• From there, call in the AI Copywriter to generate captions for each placeholder.
• Set the date and time—and you’re done

This method is perfect for small business owners who are more visual and want to see their feed at a glance before filling in the details.

Approve, Publish, Forget

Once you’ve got your posts in place, simply approve them for auto-publishing. That’s it. No more alarms reminding you to manually post at the “right time.” Enji does it for you while you focus on running your business.

Deciding Between a Free or Paid Social Media Scheduler

Enji offers both a free social media scheduler plan and paid plans. The free plan includes up to eight scheduled posts per month (great for trying it out or keeping a simple baseline schedule).

Or, if you’re ready to ramp things up, the paid plan gives you unlimited scheduling across Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. A Canva integration. And you can track your social media metrics.

FAQs About Scheduling Instagram Posts

Do I really need to schedule posts, or can I just post in real time?

You can post in real time, but chances are it won’t last. Consistency is the number-one factor in building trust on Instagram. Scheduling helps you stay visible even when you’re busy.

What’s the best time to schedule Instagram posts?

Honestly, this doesn’t matter. Go look at when your audience is most active in your insights. It’s pretty much waking hours on every day of the week. Here is your permission slip to stop overthinking this!

Can I schedule Instagram Stories too?

Yep! Enji supports scheduling for both feed posts and Stories. This is especially handy for launches, events, or campaigns when you want a mix of both.

How far in advance should I schedule Instagram posts?

Many business owners find a 1–2 week cycle works well. It’s enough to stay ahead, but not so far that your content feels out of touch with what’s happening in your business.

Can I edit scheduled posts if I change my mind?

Absolutely. With Enji’s drag-and-drop calendar, you can move posts around, swap captions, or replace photos right up until the publish date.

Is scheduling allowed by Instagram, or will it hurt my reach?

Great question—and a common myth! Scheduling through an approved partner like Enji is 100% allowed by Instagram (Instagram made us jump through hoops to get approved and reviewed things at every step while we built our social media scheduler.). It won’t hurt your reach—in fact, posting consistently often improves your results because you’re able to be consistent.

What if I run out of ideas for captions?

That’s exactly why Enji comes with an AI Copywriter and Idea Generator. You’ll never be stuck staring at a blinking cursor again. Give our Idea Generator for Social Media a try!

Make Scheduling Instagram Posts the Easiest Part of Your Week

At the end of the day, learning how to schedule Instagram posts isn’t just about saving time—it’s about making your marketing sustainable (so it actually works for you!).. No more late-night posting, no more inconsistent weeks, and no more stress about what to share.

With Enji, you’ve got everything you need to market your small business in one place: AI tools for captions, a drag-and-drop calendar, grid previews, and a scheduler that auto-publishes for you. Whether you’re keeping it simple with the free plan or going all-in with unlimited scheduling, Enji makes Instagram the easiest part of your marketing strategy.

Ready to try it for yourself? Start scheduling smarter with Enji today.