Create engaging Instagram content with Viraly’s post composer. Schedule feed posts, Reels, and Stories with advanced features like location tagging, collaborators, user tags, and custom audio names. This guide walks you through every feature available for Instagram.
Creating an Instagram Post
Follow these steps to create and schedule an Instagram post in Viraly:
Step 1: Open the Post Composer
Open the post composer using any of these methods:
- Click Create Post in the sidebar
- Click the + button in the calendar header
- Click on any date in the calendar view
The composer opens with three panels: platform selection on the left, content form in the center, and a real-time preview on the right.
Step 2: Select Instagram
At the top of the composer, you’ll see circular icons for each connected social profile. Click the Instagram icon to select it. Selected platforms appear in full color with a pink border (#f00376), while unselected platforms are grayscale.
You can select multiple platforms to cross-post, but Instagram-specific features will only appear when Instagram is selected.
Step 3: Choose Your Post Type
Select your post type using the radio buttons:
- Post — Standard feed post (photos or carousel)
- Reel — Video content (3 seconds to 15 minutes)
- Story — Temporary content that disappears after 24 hours
Note: If you upload a single video while “Post” is selected, Viraly automatically switches to “Reel” since Instagram doesn’t support single video feed posts.
Step 4: Add Your Media
Upload your images or videos:
- Drag and drop files onto the upload area
- Click to select files from your device
- Click Select from Library to use previously uploaded media
Once uploaded, you can drag thumbnails to reorder them (for carousels) or click the paintbrush icon to edit your images.
Step 5: Write Your Caption
Enter your caption in the text area. Instagram allows up to 2,200 characters and a maximum of 30 hashtags. A real-time character counter shows your progress.
Note: Stories don’t support captions—the caption field is disabled when Story is selected.
Step 6: Configure Instagram Features
Depending on your post type and plan, you can configure additional features like location tagging, collaborators, user tags, and more. See Instagram-Specific Features below for details.
Step 7: Schedule Your Post
Click Schedule Post to open the date/time picker. Select when you want your post to go live, then confirm. Your post will be scheduled and appear in your calendar.
Post Types
Feed Posts
Standard Instagram posts that appear in your profile grid and followers’ feeds.
- Single Image: One photo with caption
- Carousel: 2-10 photos or videos that users swipe through
Feed posts support all Instagram features: location, collaborators, user tags, and first comment.
Reels
Short-form video content designed for discovery and engagement.
- Duration: 3 seconds to 15 minutes
- Aspect Ratio: 9:16 recommended (flexible 0.1:1 to 10:1)
- Max Width: 1920 pixels
- File Size: Up to 300MB
Reels support additional features:
- Cover Photo: Choose a frame from your video or upload a custom thumbnail
- Rename Audio: Give your original audio a custom name
- Trial Reel: Test your Reel with a small audience before going public (requires 1,000+ followers)
Stories
Temporary content that disappears after 24 hours.
- Photo Stories: Single image, max 8MB
- Video Stories: 3-60 seconds, max 100MB
- Aspect Ratio: 9:16 recommended
Limitations: Stories don’t support captions, location tagging, or collaborators. Creator accounts cannot publish Stories through the API.
Caption Features
| Feature | Limit |
|---|---|
| Caption Length | 2,200 characters |
| Hashtags | Maximum 30 |
| Mentions | Unlimited (@username) |
| First Comment | 500 characters (Influencer+ plan) |
Caption Tools
The caption field includes several helpful tools:
- Emoji Picker: Click the smiley face icon to insert emojis
- Hashtag Lists: Click the hashtag icon to insert saved hashtag groups
- AI Generator: Click the sparkle icon to generate captions using AI (write new, shorten, expand, or rephrase)
First Comment
Add a first comment that posts automatically after your content goes live. This is useful for adding hashtags without cluttering your caption, or for asking engagement questions.
- Available for Posts and Reels only (not Stories)
- Maximum 500 characters
- Requires Influencer plan or higher
Media Requirements
Images
| Post Type | Aspect Ratio | File Size | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feed Post | 3:4 to 1.91:1 | Max 8MB | JPEG, PNG |
| Carousel | 3:4 to 1.91:1 | Max 8MB each | JPEG, PNG |
| Story | 9:16 recommended | Max 8MB | JPEG, PNG |
| Reel Cover | 9:16 recommended | Max 8MB | JPEG, PNG |
Recommended Crop Sizes
| Aspect Ratio | Dimensions | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 1:1 (Square) | 1080 x 1080px | Feed posts |
| 4:5 (Portrait) | 1080 x 1350px | Feed posts (more screen space) |
| 1.91:1 (Landscape) | 1080 x 566px | Wide images |
| 9:16 (Portrait) | 1080 x 1920px | Reels, Stories |
Use the image editor to crop your images to the perfect size for Instagram.
Videos
| Post Type | Duration | File Size | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reel | 3 sec – 15 min | Max 300MB | MP4, MOV |
| Story | 3 – 60 sec | Max 100MB | MP4, MOV |
| Carousel Video | 3 sec – 15 min | Max 300MB | MP4, MOV |
Use the video editor to crop and optimize your videos for Instagram.
Instagram-Specific Features
Instagram offers several unique features in the post composer. Most require an Influencer plan or higher.
Location Tagging
Add a location to your post that viewers can tap to see other content from that place.
- Click Tag Location in the Instagram settings
- Search for a location by name
- Select from the results or use the map
- The location appears in your post preview
Available for: Posts and Reels (not Stories)
Plan required: Influencer or higher
Collaborators
Invite other Instagram accounts to collaborate on your post. The post appears on both profiles.
- Click Collaborators in the Instagram settings
- Enter Instagram usernames to invite
- Viraly verifies each username exists
- Collaborators appear as “with @username” in your preview
Available for: Posts and Reels (not Stories)
Plan required: Influencer or higher
User Tags
Tag Instagram accounts directly on your images, similar to tagging in the native app.
- Click Tag Accounts in the Instagram settings
- For carousels, select which image to tag
- Click on the image to place a tag
- Enter the Instagram username
- Repeat for multiple tags
Tags are visible when viewers tap the image. Each image in a carousel can have different tags.
Available for: Posts, Reels, and Stories
Plan required: Influencer or higher
Rename Audio (Reels)
Give your Reel’s original audio a custom name that appears when others use it.
- Click Rename Audio in the Instagram settings
- Enter your custom audio name
- The name appears in your Reel preview
Available for: Reels only
Plan required: Influencer or higher
Trial Reel
Test your Reel with a small audience before making it fully public. Instagram shows the Reel to non-followers first and measures performance.
- Click Trial Reel in the Instagram settings
- Choose your graduation strategy:
- Manual: You decide when to make it public in the Instagram app
- Auto-Graduation: Instagram automatically promotes it if it performs well
Requirements:
- Reels only
- Account must have 1,000+ followers
- Influencer plan or higher
Cover Photo (Reels)
Choose the thumbnail that appears before your Reel plays.
- Frame Selection: Use the slider to pick a frame from your video
- Custom Upload: Upload a separate image as your cover
Cover photos should be 9:16 aspect ratio for best results.
Scheduling Options
After creating your post, choose how to publish it:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Schedule Post | Set a specific date and time for publishing |
| Publish Now | Post immediately |
| Save as Draft | Save without scheduling |
| Add to Queue | Add to your posting queue |
| Request Approval | Send to team members for review |
The date/time picker uses your account’s timezone setting. All scheduled posts appear in your calendar where you can edit, reschedule, or delete them.