Instagram has added a new option in the app to schedule forthcoming Instagram Live broadcasts, with users being able to tap through to receive a reminder notification on the day of the broadcast.

With this new feature, creators and brands will now have the option to schedule Instagram Lives up to 90 days in advance. 

Instagram has also included a new feature called “Practice Mode,” which allows you to test out your Live setup ahead of time. We’ll go over how to plan Instagram Lives, how to use “Practice Mode,” and why these are such useful new tools for growing your company.

How Does Instagram Live Scheduling Work?

You might be wondering how a “live” event can be scheduled. Consider it like reserving a time slot on the calendar so that your audience is aware of the event – and you can generate more excitement for the actual event.

According to Instagram, Instagram Live Scheduling is meant to help with the discovery and distribution of Instagram Lives. 

And even better, now when a user schedules a Live event, they can share reminders and countdowns directly to both their Instagram Stories and feed.

And because the feature lets users schedule Instagram Lives in advance (up to 90 days), you’ll have plenty of time to spread the word.

NOTE: Instagram Live Scheduling is rolling out to users globally, so if you don’t have it yet – sit tight! 

Here’s How to Schedule an Instagram Live:

#1. Open up the Instagram Stories camera and swipe over to the “Live” tab. Select “Schedule” from the side panel.

#2. Enter your Live information like the video title, start date and time, any tagged products, and select “Schedule Live Video“.

#3. Next, you can tap the three dots to either choose to edit or “Share as Post”.

When you choose to share a post, your audience will be able to sign up for reminders and notifications so they’ll receive an alert when you go Live. 

If you want to share the countdown for your Live on your story, head to your Instagram Stories Sticker tray and select “Scheduled.”

What is Instagram Live “Practice Mode”?

In addition to Instagram Live Scheduling, Instagram has introduced “Practice Mode.”

Practice Mode is a great addition to the Instagram Live lineup. You’re not alone if you’ve been waiting for a feature like this. 

Everyone who’s done an Instagram Live, whether alone or with a guest, knows that it can be challenging – from getting the best lighting to making sure your Internet connection is drop-free.

And that’s just the setup. We haven’t even mentioned all of the troubleshooting that can happen during the actual broadcast. 

Well, Practice Mode “lets creators join their guests ahead of the scheduled event to test their connection, lighting, and manage any other pre-show prep that may be needed.”

Having the ability to hop on to your Instagram Live ahead of time will hopefully alleviate any technical difficulties and make your lives a breeze. Pun intended.

Instagram Lives have taken off over the last few years, and we predict these features will encourage even more brands and creators to get involved. So if you’re new to the realm of Instagram Lives, now is the perfect time to experiment.

Conclusion

The launch arrives as the market for live content is heating up. In addition to enabling real-time e-commerce — an area where Instagram is deeply invested — Instagram’s biggest rival, TikTok, has also been working to make its live content a larger part of the overall user experience. Not only do users randomly come across live videos as they scroll their TikTok feeds, but it also recently introduced a new way to navigate through live videos by category using an “explore” button within the live section.

Instagram, on the other hand, has been revamping its video strategy in recent days. This month, it said it was giving up on the “IGTV” brand, and instead would merge that long-form video with Feed video. As part of this effort, it rebranded the IGTV app, which will now be the home for all Instagram videos, including Lives, with the exception of Reels.

Reels, however, continues to have a central place in the main Instagram app, where it’s accessible from the center button, users’ profiles, Explore, and —  just recently, we’ve confirmed — on hashtag pages.

Live Scheduling is available starting today to global users. Practice Mode will begin its rollout “soon,” the company says.