How to Schedule Posts to Instagram and LinkedIn at the Same Time

Instagram and LinkedIn are two of the most valuable platforms for creators — one drives visual discovery and brand recognition, the other builds professional authority and meaningful connections. The problem is that scheduling them separately doubles your publishing time and fragments your workflow. Learning how to schedule posts to Instagram and LinkedIn at the same time starts with a unified workflow that respects the differences between these platforms while letting you handle both in a single session.

This guide walks you through exactly how to do that — from preparing your content to adapting captions and visuals, to scheduling both platforms at once using BrandGhost’s post splitting and cross-posting features.

Why Instagram and LinkedIn Belong in the Same Scheduling Session

These two platforms seem radically different. Instagram is image-first, hashtag-driven, and geared toward discovery. LinkedIn is text-forward, relationship-driven, and built for professional engagement. But they share one critical trait: both reward consistent, high-quality content on a predictable cadence.

When you schedule them together, you eliminate the context switch of handling each separately. Instead of thinking about Instagram content on Monday and LinkedIn content on Tuesday, you address both at once — same core idea, adapted for each audience. A personal insight that works as an Instagram caption can become a professional lesson on LinkedIn with slightly different framing. Those adaptations happen naturally in a single creative session.

Content Format Differences You Need to Know

Before you open your scheduler, understanding how these two platforms treat content differently saves you from posting something that feels native on one and awkward on the other.

Image requirements diverge significantly. Instagram demands visual content for every post — a photo, a carousel, or a Reel. LinkedIn makes images optional. A text-only LinkedIn post can outperform an image-heavy one if the writing is strong. This means your Instagram post always needs a visual asset, but your LinkedIn version of the same idea might perform better without one — or with a different image entirely.

Caption length and structure work differently. Instagram captions can be up to 2,200 characters, but the platform truncates them after two lines in the feed unless someone taps “more.” That means your opening hook matters enormously. LinkedIn gives you 3,000 characters and shows more of your text upfront, so you have room for a full narrative arc. A caption that’s perfectly paced for Instagram often needs expansion for LinkedIn — more context, more professional framing, a different conclusion.

Hashtags serve different functions. Instagram hashtags are discovery tools — they categorize your content and surface it to people who don’t follow you yet. Using 5–15 targeted hashtags is standard practice. LinkedIn hashtags matter far less for discovery and can look out of place if overused. Stick to 3–5 broad industry hashtags on LinkedIn, or skip them entirely if they don’t add value.

Audience expectations differ by platform. Your Instagram audience expects visual storytelling, personality, and creative expression. Your LinkedIn audience expects insight, actionable takeaways, and professional relevance. The same creator posting about productivity might share a behind-the-scenes photo of their workspace on Instagram with a casual caption, while on LinkedIn they’d frame the same topic as a lesson learned with specific strategies others can apply.

Understanding these differences doesn’t mean creating entirely separate content for each platform. It means knowing which adjustments to make so the same core idea feels intentional on both — and that’s exactly what makes simultaneous scheduling work.

Step-by-Step Workflow: Scheduling Instagram and LinkedIn Together

Here’s the process for handling both platforms in a single session. This workflow assumes you’re working with BrandGhost, which is built for exactly this kind of paired scheduling, but the principles apply regardless of your tool.

Step 1: Start with Your Core Idea

Write the message first, not the post. Before you think about images or hashtags, articulate the core idea you want to communicate. This might be a personal story, a practical tip, a perspective on your industry, or a lesson from your work.

Write it in its most natural form — however long or short it needs to be. Don’t constrain yourself to either platform’s format yet. This is your “source post,” and everything else flows from it.

If you’re pulling from a content calendar or working through a batching session, you might already have these core ideas lined up. Either way, start with the idea and let the platforms shape it afterward.

Step 2: Create the Instagram Version

Take your core idea and shape it for Instagram. This means:

• Choose your visual. Select or create the image, carousel, or Reel that will anchor the post. The visual should complement your message, not just decorate it. If you’re discussing a workflow, a screenshot or diagram outperforms a generic stock photo. If you’re sharing a personal moment, an authentic photo outperforms a polished graphic.
• Write a hook-first caption. Your first line needs to stop the scroll. Instagram truncates quickly, so front-load the value or curiosity. Then develop your point in the body of the caption, keeping the tone conversational and personal.
• Add your hashtags. Place 5–15 relevant hashtags that match the topic and your niche. You can add them at the end of your caption or in a first comment to keep the caption clean.
• Include a call to action. Tell your audience what to do — save the post, drop a comment, share it with someone who needs it. Instagram engagement signals feed the algorithm, so asking for interaction isn’t pushy, it’s strategic.

If you’re scheduling a carousel or Reel specifically, our guides on scheduling Instagram carousels and scheduling Instagram Reels cover the format-specific details.

Step 3: Create the LinkedIn Version

Now take the same core idea and reshape it for LinkedIn. You’re not copying your Instagram caption — you’re creating a parallel version that serves a different audience in a different context.

Start by expanding the narrative. LinkedIn rewards posts that tell a story or build an argument. Where your Instagram caption might be 3–5 sentences, your LinkedIn version might be 8–15. Add context, explain your reasoning, share what you learned and why it matters professionally.

Adjust the tone. LinkedIn’s sweet spot is “professional but human.” You don’t need corporate jargon — in fact, the best-performing LinkedIn posts sound like thoughtful conversations, not press releases. But you do want to frame things in terms of value, outcomes, and professional relevance rather than pure personal expression.

Trim the hashtags. If you used 10 hashtags on Instagram, use 3 on LinkedIn. Pick broad industry terms that your target audience follows. LinkedIn’s algorithm relies more on engagement signals than hashtag categorization, so they’re less critical here.

Decide about the image. If your Instagram visual is a branded graphic or a relevant photo, it might work on LinkedIn too. But if it’s a personal lifestyle shot that doesn’t translate to a professional context, consider either swapping it for something more relevant or posting text-only on LinkedIn. Not every LinkedIn post needs an image.

Step 4: Schedule Both Simultaneously

This is where a unified scheduling tool pays for itself. In BrandGhost, you compose your post, select Instagram and LinkedIn as your target platforms, and use post splitting to maintain separate versions for each platform — all within a single scheduling flow.

Here’s what that looks like in practice: you write your core post, then split it into platform-specific versions. The Instagram version keeps your visual, your hook-first caption, and your hashtags. The LinkedIn version gets the expanded narrative, adjusted tone, and trimmed hashtags. Both versions schedule from the same screen at the same time.

If you want both posts to go live at the same time, set a single publish time. If you’d rather stagger them — posting to Instagram in the morning when visual engagement peaks and LinkedIn at midday when professionals are scrolling — set different times for each. Either approach works, and you can experiment to find what your audience responds to.

The key advantage here is that your scheduling session happens once. You’re not logging into Instagram Creator Studio, scheduling a post, then switching to LinkedIn’s native scheduler, reformatting your content, and scheduling again. You do it all in one place, in one sitting, and move on to your next piece of content.

Step 5: Review Before You Close

Before wrapping up your session, preview both scheduled posts. Check that:

• The Instagram version has a visual asset attached and the caption reads well with truncation in mind.
• The LinkedIn version stands on its own as a complete thought without depending on context from the Instagram version.
• Hashtags are appropriate for each platform — more on Instagram, fewer on LinkedIn.
• Your publishing times align with when each audience is active.

This review takes two minutes and catches the kind of small errors that look careless when they go live — like Instagram hashtags showing up in your LinkedIn post or a LinkedIn-length caption appearing on Instagram without a visual.

Adapting Captions and Hashtags: A Quick Example

Imagine your core idea is: “The best content isn’t original — it’s familiar ideas explained in your voice.”

Instagram version: Pair it with a text graphic or short video. Open with the hook — “Stop trying to be original.” — expand with a personal example, and close with a question like “What’s a common idea you’ve made your own?” Add 8–10 niche hashtags.

LinkedIn version: Open with a story about struggling to create original content, share the realization that originality is about authentic delivery, and close with an actionable takeaway. Use 2–3 broad hashtags like #contentstrategy #personalbrand.

Same idea, same session, two posts that feel native. That’s cross-posting done right.

Using BrandGhost Post Splitting for This Pairing

BrandGhost’s post splitting feature is specifically designed for workflows like this. Rather than composing two entirely separate posts, you start with one and split it into platform-specific versions that you can edit independently before scheduling.

Here’s how it works for the Instagram-LinkedIn pairing. You compose your post in BrandGhost’s editor. Select both Instagram and LinkedIn as your target platforms. When you activate post splitting, BrandGhost creates separate versions for each platform. You can then edit each version independently — expanding the LinkedIn caption, adjusting hashtags, swapping or removing the image for LinkedIn — while keeping both versions linked to the same scheduling time slot.

This matters because it preserves the connection between your posts. You can see at a glance that Tuesday’s Instagram post and Tuesday’s LinkedIn post come from the same core idea, which makes your content calendar coherent and your workflow auditable. If you want to reschedule or edit, you’re working with one content unit that has two platform expressions, not two unrelated posts that happen to say similar things.

Post splitting also prevents the most common cross-posting mistake: forgetting to adapt. When you see both versions side by side before scheduling, obvious mismatches jump out — Instagram hashtags in your LinkedIn caption, a too-casual tone for LinkedIn, or a LinkedIn-length paragraph sitting in an Instagram caption without a strong opening hook.

For creators who are already scheduling across more than two platforms, the same approach scales. You might split a single post into versions for Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Threads — all from one screen.

Timing: Should Both Posts Go Live at the Same Time?

Posting simultaneously is the simplest option — and for most creators, simplicity wins over micro-optimization. If you’re just building this workflow, schedule both at the same time and move on.

If you want to experiment, staggering can help. Post to Instagram in the early morning when visual engagement peaks and LinkedIn at midday when professionals are scrolling. This lets you engage with each audience separately and feels less automated to followers who see you on both platforms. Check your Instagram Insights and LinkedIn Analytics to see when your specific followers are most active.

Either way, consistency matters more than perfect timing. A regular cadence beats a theoretically optimal window every time.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Copy-pasting the exact same caption to both platforms. LinkedIn followers will see Instagram hashtags that look out of place. Instagram followers will see a text-heavy caption that buries the hook. Every pairing needs at least light adaptation — adjust the opening line and the hashtag set at minimum.

Using the same image when it doesn’t translate. A lifestyle photo that stops the scroll on Instagram might look confusing on LinkedIn. Choose visuals intentionally for each platform, or let the LinkedIn post go text-only when the Instagram visual doesn’t fit.

Neglecting engagement on one platform. When you schedule both at once, it’s easy to check in on one and forget the other. Comments on both platforms deserve responses, especially in the first hour after posting when engagement signals matter most.

Over-scheduling without a content rhythm. Scheduling makes it easy to post more often, but quantity without purpose creates noise. Aim for a cadence you can sustain — even three times per week on each platform — rather than flooding both channels in a burst and going silent.

Your Next Steps

You now have everything you need to schedule Instagram and LinkedIn in a single workflow. Here’s how to put it into action:

1. Set aside one session this week. Block 45–60 minutes. Bring 3–5 content ideas and work through the full workflow: core idea → Instagram version → LinkedIn version → schedule both.
2. Use BrandGhost’s post splitting. Sign up for BrandGhost and connect both your Instagram and LinkedIn accounts. Use post splitting to create platform-specific versions from a single post — it’s the fastest way to schedule both without switching tools.
3. Review after a week. Look at engagement on both platforms. Note which ideas resonated where, and use that to refine your adaptation process for the next batch.
4. Build toward a full multi-platform system. Once Instagram and LinkedIn feel smooth, layer in additional platforms using the same paired approach.

The creators who maintain strong presence on both Instagram and LinkedIn aren’t spending twice the time. They’re scheduling smart — one session, two platforms, every week.

Start scheduling Instagram and LinkedIn together with BrandGhost →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I post the exact same content to Instagram and LinkedIn?

Technically yes, but you shouldn’t. The platforms serve different audiences with different expectations. At minimum, adjust your opening line to match each platform’s tone, trim hashtags for LinkedIn, and consider whether your Instagram visual makes sense in a professional feed. BrandGhost’s post splitting makes these adaptations fast — you edit each version side by side before scheduling.

Do I need a Business or Creator account on Instagram to schedule posts?

Yes. Instagram requires a Professional account (either Business or Creator type) for scheduling through most methods, including Meta Business Suite and third-party tools like BrandGhost. Converting is free and takes a few minutes in your Instagram settings. Our complete Instagram scheduling guide covers setup in detail.

How many hashtags should I use on Instagram vs. LinkedIn?

Instagram posts benefit from 5–15 targeted hashtags that match your niche and content topic. LinkedIn posts work best with 3–5 broad industry hashtags, or none at all if they don’t add relevance. Over-hashtagging on LinkedIn looks spammy and can reduce engagement rather than boost it.

What’s the best time to post on Instagram and LinkedIn?

It depends on your specific audience, but general patterns hold. Instagram engagement tends to peak in the early morning and evening when people browse casually. LinkedIn activity concentrates during business hours, especially late morning and early afternoon on weekdays. Check your Instagram Insights and LinkedIn Analytics for data specific to your followers, and adjust your scheduling times accordingly.

Can I schedule Instagram carousels and Reels alongside LinkedIn posts?

Yes. BrandGhost supports scheduling carousels, Reels, and standard image posts for Instagram alongside your LinkedIn content in the same session. The post splitting workflow handles format differences — your carousel stays intact for Instagram while your LinkedIn version adapts the same message into text-forward content. See our guides on scheduling carousels and scheduling Reels for format-specific tips.

How far ahead should I schedule Instagram and LinkedIn content?

Most creators find a 1–2 week buffer comfortable. Scheduling a full week ahead during a single batching session is the sweet spot between planning efficiency and staying responsive to current events. If you build up a library of evergreen content, you can schedule those pieces further ahead while leaving room for timely posts closer to their publish date.

Will scheduling hurt my reach compared to posting manually?

No. Both Instagram and LinkedIn treat scheduled posts the same as manually published ones in their algorithms. What matters is the quality of your content, the engagement it generates, and the consistency of your posting cadence — not whether you clicked “publish” in real-time or scheduled it in advance. Scheduling actually tends to improve results because it enables consistency that manual posting rarely sustains.