Being able to schedule Facebook posts is one of the best things about the Meta Business Suite. The schedule button allows you to set posts ahead of time and calendarize your content, making it far easier to manage. The Meta Business Suite is an essential tool for managing and scheduling Facebook content effectively.

You can look a month into the future and visualize how your campaigns will look. You’ll quickly improve brand consistency and public content far more efficiently.

Brands often use Facebook’s native tool or third party software like Brandwatch to organize their posts. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the benefits of scheduling posts, the best software to use, and the strategies companies deploy to get the most from their scheduled content.

In this guide:

Understanding the importance of scheduling Facebook posts

Before we look at how to schedule Facebook posts, it's worth understanding why it's useful. After all, you might allocate this job to someone in your team who may not truly appreciate the value of scheduling.

Benefits of consistent posting

Of course, the biggest benefits to come from being able to schedule Facebook posts ahead of time is efficiency and consistency. You can map out an entire month’s worth of content for your Facebook Pages in just a few hours and ensure it’s totally consistent.

This reduces time spent logging back into the Meta Business Suite and messing around with individual social media posts. You can get the job done quickly and move on to other things.

From a brand perspective, regular posting keeps you in front of your followers. Consistency helps you build trust and stay relevant in their feeds.

What’s more, you also improve your chances of reaching more people. That’s because Facebook’s algorithm favors accounts that post regularly.

Finally, you can schedule multiple Facebook posts at once in batches, which dramatically reduces your time spent on the upload process.

Native Facebook scheduling features

As we mentioned earlier, the two ways to schedule a post is via either the Meta Business Suite or third party software. Additionally, you can schedule posts in Facebook Groups, which is particularly useful for group admins and moderators. Let’s start by looking at the native option that’s built into your Facebook business page. The ability to schedule group posts helps in managing both page and group content simultaneously, enhancing overall engagement.

How to schedule posts directly on Facebook

To schedule a post on Facebook, start by going to the Meta Business Suite. From here, click on the "Create Post" button to open the post page. Write your post as usual, adding any photos or videos.

Then scroll down to "Scheduling options" and click on the "Set date and time" button to expand the scheduler. Choose a date and time you plan to post, and then tap schedule when you're ready.

Limitations of Facebook's native scheduler

While convenient, Facebook's scheduler has some drawbacks. The biggest issue is that you can only schedule from the Meta Business Suite. The scheduler also lacks advanced features like bulk uploading or reposting.

You also can't schedule posts to multiple pages at once, but at least you have the option to also post on linked Instagram accounts.

For more robust scheduling, you may want to use a third-party tool. These often offer extra features like analytics, team collaboration, and cross-platform posting.

Third-party tools for Facebook scheduling

One of the biggest advantages of third-party tools like Brandwatch is the ability to access far more data on what you post. Here's what you need to know about them.

Brandwatch Publish is the perfect platform for managing your Facebook page and calendarizing your content. Its cross-platform publishing power means you can focus on more than just Facebook and ensure your brand gets maximum exposure.

Sendible is another top choice for many social media managers. It lets you schedule regular posts and Reels on Facebook, plus content for other platforms. Sendible also allows you to manage and schedule group posts, making it a versatile tool for both pages and groups.

A third option is Planly, with its user-friendly interface. It works well for teams that need to collaborate on social media tasks.

All these tools often include analytics to track post performance and help you improve your strategy. That’s what makes them stand out from the Meta Business Suite. You can track analytics in far greater detail and get more from each post.

Best practices for scheduling Facebook posts

Whether you opt for Facebook's in-built scheduling tool or prefer to go for a third-party option, it's important to get into good habits in order to build consistency. Failure to do this will likely lead to your social media strategy falling apart .

Let's explore these Facebook tips to maximize your scheduling efforts.

1. Make sure scheduled posts are worth it

Scheduled posts need as much attention as any other content on Facebook, so make sure it's engaging. Stick to content types that work for your audience and write clear captions. Scheduled posts that are shareable can achieve some organic reach.

If you don't really know what your audience likes then experiment with a few styles until you find the right match. You can always delete individual posts that are in the calendar before they're published.

2. Monitor and adjust your scheduled content

Keep an eye on your scheduled posts, even after they're set up. World events or company changes might make some content inappropriate, or simply outdated. This is particularly important if you're trying to jump on social media trends. Be ready to pause or edit posts if needed.

It's also important that you check posts after they go live. Don't forget your schedule but review it regularly to ensure it still fits your goals.

Consider using a social media content planner to organize your posts. This can help you see gaps in your schedule and ensure a good content mix.

3. Analyze performance metrics of scheduled posts

This is crucial and really easy if you use a third-party tool. Track how each post performed with your Facebook audience and look at what you could have done better.

Metrics like reach, engagement, and click-through rates will give you a good indication of the success or failure of each post. Use these insights to refine your future content and scheduling.

You can then use the data obtained in your tool to compare the performance of posts at different times and days. Monitor your rivals, too, and see where you might be going wrong.

Pay attention to which types of content get the most engagement. Do videos perform better than photos? Do link posts get more clicks? Use this data to guide your content strategy and don't be scared to delete a scheduled post if you need to.

Advanced strategies for scheduling posts

Smart scheduling can boost your Facebook posts' impact. If you're planning to publish content on a regular basis then these advanced tactics will come in handy.

1. Use analytics for optimal scheduling

Use Facebook Insights or a third-party tool to find when your audience is most active. Facebook actually offers this service when you post on the Meta Business Suite. As you can see here, the algorithm suggests three "Active times" to choose from.

You can also track which types of content perform well at certain times. For example, you might find videos get more views in the evening. Use this data to plan your content calendar.

Consider using a tool like Brandwatch to dig deeper into audience behavior. It can help you spot trends and optimize your posting schedule.

2. Integrate scheduled posts with overall marketing campaigns

You might not do it at first but eventually you'll need to align your Facebook posts with your broader marketing efforts. Plan content that supports your campaigns and promotions, rather than just trying to get attention. This keeps your messaging consistent across channels and helps in maintaining brand consistency.

Create a content calendar that maps out posts for key dates and events. This can also be used to spot when employees and co-workers might be on vacation. Perhaps you need to schedule posts to cover those absences.

3. Automate engagement and follow-up actions

Brands are able to set up auto-responders for common questions in Facebook Messenger. This gives quick answers to followers and frees up your time. It's a small step towards larger AI automation of Facebook's services but it is very useful for helping users on their first point of contact.

You can even schedule follow-up posts to keep engagement high, depending on the response to your previous posts.

Of course, it's important to check your automated systems regularly. Make sure they're working correctly and still align with your brand voice.

Facebook post scheduling FAQs

We hope our guide will help your Facebook page look better than ever. However, if you're still unsure about some things then you might find the answers in our FAQs section.

How can I schedule a post on a Facebook Page from my iPhone?

Open the Meta Business Suite app on your iPhone. Go to your page and tap "Create Post." Choose whether you want to post on Facebook, Instagram, or both. Create your post and include any media like photos or videos, then tap "Next." Choose "Schedule for later" and pick a date and time. Tap "Schedule" to finish.

Where can I find my scheduled posts in the Facebook mobile app?

To see scheduled posts, go to your page in the Facebook app. Tap "More" and then "Scheduled Posts." You'll see a list of all your upcoming posts here.

Is it possible to edit a post I've scheduled on Facebook via mobile?

Yes, you can edit scheduled posts. Go to your page's scheduled posts in the Meta Business Suite app. Tap the post you want to change. You can edit the text, change images, or update the scheduled time.

Can multiple admins view and manage scheduled posts on a Facebook Page?

Yes, all admins and editors can see and manage scheduled posts, either on the Meta Business Suite or a third-party tool like Brandwatch. This lets your team work together on content planning. Everyone with the right permissions can upload, edit, or delete scheduled posts.