Sometimes it's a bit complex getting started with how Facebook and Instagram when it comes to Instagram Business Accounts.
It's annoying for us too, as unless things are set up "just right", Facebook won't let us see your Facebook Page(s) or Instagram account(s).
Here's what you will need:
An account with Meta Accounts Center.
Meta Accounts Center is the tool provided by Facebook to handle all of the 'assets' that your business manages, including Facebook pages, advertising accounts and Instagram accounts.
An Instagram Business Account
You will need to convert your regular account to an Instagram Business Account. You can see the instructions on converting to a Business Account here. You will also need to connect your Instagram Business Account to your Facebook Page for your business (below). You can also convert to an Instagram Business Account and link your Facebook Page by going to the Facebook Page settings -> Instagram (on the left), and adding the Instagram account.
A Facebook Page for your business
Because of how Facebook asks tools like Feedbird to access your Instagram account's information, you must connect the Instagram business account to a Facebook page. Permissions for how users (or tools like Feedbird) can perform actions on your Instagram business account is based on the role that they have for the associated Facebook Page.
Check your Meta Accounts Center is set up correctly
Here you can check your settings.
Make sure that your Facebook Page and Instagram Business Accounts are connected to your accounts center. You will see them listed under the "accounts" section.
Here is an example:
If the Facebook Page for your business is not yet added to your accounts center, add it now, and you should see Facebook prompt you that it will attach the associated Instagram account as well.
If the Page is already added but the Instagram Business Account is not, click "Add accounts" on this page right here.
Then, follow the prompts to login via Instagram and connect your Instagram Business Account to your accounts center.
Give users the correct permissions for Meta Accounts Center
Feedbird needs to be able to request the "instagram_manage_insights" and "instagram_basic" permissions in order to get access to your Instagram account. We also need to request "manage_pages" so that we can see the associated Facebook Pages to the Instagram account(s).
This means that the user who connects the Instagram account(s) will need to be able to perform these actions on the associated Facebook Page.
Page roles are updated in the new Pages experience. Instead of Page roles, people can have Facebook access or task access to help manage a Page. If you have Facebook access to a Page, you can view your access on Facebook.
To view your Page access on Facebook:
Log into Facebook, then click your profile photo in the top right.
Click See all Profiles, then select the Page you want to switch into.
Click your Page name in the left menu.
Click Manage below Page's cover photo, then click Page access.
Click your name to view access.
The role that is required to connect to Feedbird is "Admin".
Let us know if you have trouble
If you have difficulty connecting up Feedbird to your Facebook Page or Instagram Business Account, please reach out to hello@feedbird.co
We may ask you to send us a screen shot of how the permissions are set for your account like above, as this will help us debug what might not be connecting correctly.
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Confirm that your Instagram is a Business Account
To confirm what type of Instagram profile you have, follow these steps:
Open Instagram in a web browser, click on your profile image in the top-right corner and pick Settings from the dropdown menu.
In the bottom of the left side-menu you will see an option written with blue.
If it says Switch to Personal Account, it means that you currently have a Business Account enabled.
If it says Switch to Professional Account, click it, and choose Business Account.
Linking your Instagram account with your Facebook Page
Before adding Instagram to Feedbird, you will need to link you Instagram Business Account to a Facebook Page.
If you don't already have a Facebook Page, see how to create a Facebook Page.
Now, link your Instagram Business Account to your Facebook Page by following these steps:
Open Facebook in a web browser, select Pages in the left side-menu, and choose the page.
Click Settings at the bottom of the left side-menu, and then click Instagram in the side-menu.
Click on the blue "Connect Account" button as seen in the image below.
Adding Instagram to Feedbird
To add the Instagram Account, navigate to the /socials page and click the + Add Social button. Hereafter you pick Instagram from the list of available Platforms.
After choosing Instagram, you will be taken to a new page.
This is where you connect with the Facebook account that owns the Facebook Page you just linked to your Instagram Business Account.
This will initiate a login flow that will redirect you to the platform's website. Follow the instructions presented on the screen.
Once done you will be redirected back to Feedbird, you will be presented with a list of all Instagram pages that are associated with your Facebook account.
If you correctly linked your Instagram Business Account to your Facebook Page, the Instagram Account will show on the list.
Select it, and you have now successfully added Instagram to Feedbird 🥳
FAQ
Why can't I select multiple Instagram accounts at the same time?
Posting the same content to multiple Instagram accounts is prohibited by Instagram usage policies. The same goes for all the other social platforms.
Can you schedule stories on Instagram?
Unfortunately, due to Instagram's API limitations, it's not possible to post stories. Currently, you can publish single images, carousels, videos, and reels with Feedbird.
Since this is a limitation of Instagram's API itself, no other third-party tool is able to publish stories, IGTV, reels or carousels either.