How to Schedule Facebook Posts, Reels, Stories and More with Metricool

Scheduling Facebook posts is one of the easiest ways to stay consistent without constantly being online. Whether you’re managing a personal profile, a growing page, or multiple social media accounts, scheduling helps you save time and keep your content flowing smoothly. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to schedule Facebook posts, Stories, and Reels using Meta Business Suite and Metricool. By the end, you’ll have a more efficient workflow—and see why Metricool is the simplest, most flexible option.

Why Schedule Posts on Facebook?

Posting to Facebook manually every day can be time-consuming and inefficient—especially if you manage multiple accounts or other tasks to get done. Scheduling your content in advance helps you stay consistent without having to be online 24/7. 

• Stay Consistent, Even When You’re Busy – Life gets hectic, but your social media presence doesn’t have to suffer. Scheduling ensures your content goes live even when you’re offline or focused on other tasks.
• Post at Peak Engagement Times – Your audience isn’t active 24/7, so why should you be? By scheduling posts, you can target the best times for engagement, increasing your reach and interactions.
• Plan Ahead and Stay Organized – A well-thought-out content schedule prevents last-minute scrambling. It allows you to align your posts with upcoming campaigns, holidays, and trends.
• Save Time by Automating Routine Tasks – Instead of manually posting every day, you can set up content in batches and let it run on autopilot. This frees up hours each week for more important tasks—like engaging with your audience and creating new content.

How to Schedule Facebook Posts

Scheduling Facebook posts lets you stay consistent without having to post manually every day. You can use Meta Business Suite, Facebook’s built-in scheduling tool, or Metricool, a more flexible platform that works across multiple social media channels. Here’s how to do both:

Scheduling Posts with Meta Business Suite

Meta Business Suite allows you to create and schedule Facebook posts directly within the platform. Here’s how:

1. Open Meta Business Suite – Log in to Facebook, click the account menu in the top-right corner, and select Meta Business Suite.
2. Create Your Post – Click Create Post and add your text, images, videos, or links.
3. Set Your Schedule – Instead of clicking “Publish,” select Schedule, then choose the date and time you want your post to go live.
4. Confirm & Save – Click Schedule, and your post will automatically be published at the chosen time.

Scheduling Posts with Metricool

If you need a more user-friendly tool that schedules not just posts but also Stories and Reels, Metricool is a great alternative.

1. Log in to Metricool and go to the Planner tab.
2. Check the Best Posting Times – Use Metricool’s recommendations to schedule your post when your audience is most active.
3. Choose Your Content Type – Select whether you’re scheduling a feed post, Story, or Reel.
4. Customize Your Post – Add text, images, videos, hashtags, and links. Preview how your post will look on desktop and mobile.
5. Schedule & Autopublish – Pick your preferred date and time, then enable Autopublish so the post goes live automatically.

Why Use Metricool?

Unlike Meta Business Suite, which has restrictions on Stories and Reels for personal accounts, Metricool allows you to schedule all content types—regardless of whether you have a business or personal Facebook account.

How to Schedule Facebook Stories

Stories are one of the most engaging formats on Facebook, offering a quick and visually dynamic way to connect with your audience. However, only professional accounts can schedule Facebook Stories through Meta Business Suite. If you have a personal account, Metricool allows you to schedule Stories effortlessly.

Scheduling Stories with Meta Business Suite (Professional Accounts Only)

If you have a professional account, you can use Meta Business Suite to schedule Stories in advance:

1. Open Meta Business Suite and go to the Stories section.
2. Create your Story using images or videos (up to 60 seconds).
3. Select Schedule, then set the time and date for it to be published.

Scheduling Stories with Metricool (For All Accounts)

For those who want an easier way to schedule Stories—whether for a personal or professional account—Metricool offers a seamless solution:

1. Open the Metricool Planner and choose Story as your content type.
2. Upload your visuals, add captions, and pick your preferred time.
3. Enable Autopublish so your Story posts automatically.

Scheduling Facebook Reels

Reels are short, highly engaging videos that can quickly capture attention. Both Meta Business Suite and Metricool allow you to schedule Facebook Reels, but Metricool offers a more streamlined process for all account types.

Scheduling Reels with Metricool (For All Accounts)

If you want a simple, flexible way to schedule Reels, Metricool offers the best option for both personal and professional users:

1. Open the Metricool Planner and choose Reel as your content type.
2. Upload your video (up to 60 seconds) and add captions, hashtags, or links.
3. Select your preferred time and date, then enable Autopublish for automatic posting.

Scheduling Reels with Meta Business Suite (Professional Accounts Only)

If you have a professional account and prefer to use Meta Business Suite, follow these steps:

1. Open Meta Business Suite and click Create Reel.
2. Upload your video and customize it with captions, hashtags, and effects.
3. Select Schedule, set the time, and confirm.

How to Edit Scheduled Facebook Posts

Need to adjust a scheduled post? Both Meta Business Suite and Metricool make editing simple.

Editing Posts in Meta Business Suite:

1. Open the “Planner” or “Scheduled Posts” section.
2. Find your post and click on it to make changes.
3. Save or reschedule your post as needed.

Editing Posts in Metricool:

1. Navigate to the Planner tab and locate the scheduled post you want to update.
2. Click the post to open the editor.
3. Make your changes and save. Metricool will automatically update the schedule.

Best Practices for Scheduling Facebook Posts

Scheduling posts isn’t just about setting a date and time—it’s about creating a content plan that keeps your audience engaged. Here are some best practices to make the most of your scheduled Facebook posts:

1. Post at the Right Time

The best time to post is when your audience is most active, and Metricool makes it easy to find those peak engagement hours. In the Planning section, click on Best Times and select Facebook. The darkest blue areas on the calendar indicate when your audience is most engaged—schedule your posts during these times for maximum reach. Plus, you can use this feature across multiple platforms like Instagram and TikTok to optimize your entire content strategy.

2. Balance Automation with Real-Time Engagement

Automation saves time, but social media is all about conversation. While scheduling posts ensures consistent content flow, it’s just as important to check in regularly—reply to comments, engage with your audience, and share relevant trends in real time. A great way to maintain a steady content stream is by using Autolists in Metricool. This feature lets you automate evergreen content, freeing up time for real-time interactions. Striking the right balance between automation and live engagement helps you build a loyal and active community.

3. Use a Content Calendar

A content calendar keeps your posting schedule organized and prevents last-minute stress. Plan your content around key dates like holidays, product launches, and trending topics to keep your posts relevant and timely. With a well-structured calendar, you can maintain consistency without scrambling for ideas at the last minute. Metricool’s Planner feature makes it easy to map out your posts in advance, ensuring a seamless content flow across all your platforms.

4. Mix Up Your Content Formats

Facebook’s algorithm favors variety, so don’t stick to just one type of post. Instead of only publishing text-based updates, mix in videos, Reels, Stories, carousels, and polls to keep your content fresh and engaging. Experimenting with different formats not only prevents your feed from feeling repetitive but also helps you reach different segments of your audience. By diversifying your content, you increase your chances of appearing in more feeds and boosting engagement.

5. Optimize Posts with Hashtags and Tags

Hashtags and tags make your posts more discoverable. Use relevant hashtags to help your content appear in searches and tag brands, influencers, and collaborators to expand your reach. If you’re featuring a location or event, geotags can also enhance visibility. However, avoid overloading your posts with too many hashtags—stick to a few strategic ones that are relevant to your content and audience.

6. Review and Edit Before Posting

Mistakes in scheduled posts can affect your credibility, so always double-check before they go live. Review your captions for typos, broken links, or formatting issues to ensure they look polished and professional. Metricool and Meta Business Suite both allow you to preview posts before publishing, so take advantage of this feature. A few extra minutes of review can prevent avoidable errors and make your posts more effective.

7. Track Performance and Adjust Your Strategy

Scheduling content isn’t a one-and-done task—you need to track how your posts perform and adjust accordingly. Use Metricool’s analytics to monitor engagement, reach, and interaction rates. Identify which types of content perform best and tweak your strategy based on what resonates with your audience. Regularly reviewing your performance metrics ensures that your content remains relevant, engaging, and optimized for growth.

Why Metricool Is the Best Choice to Schedule Facebook Posts

While Meta Business Suite is a helpful tool, it comes with limitations—only professional accounts can schedule Stories and Reels. Metricool breaks these barriers by allowing all Facebook account types to schedule feed posts, Stories, and Reels. Metricool also provides:

• Multi-Platform Scheduling: Manage content for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and more from a single dashboard.
• Smart Recommendations: Get insights on the best times to post based on audience activity.
• Performance Tracking: Analyze how your content performs and optimize your strategy.
• AI Content Creation: Generate custom content tailored to your audience and platform. Have a popular post? Use our AI Social Media Assistant to recycle it for other channels.

If keeping up with your social media feels overwhelming, Metricool is here to simplify the process. Whether you’re managing a personal page or multiple accounts, Metricool lets you schedule content quickly, so you can focus on what matters most.

Gretchen Oestreicher , 30 January 2025