Automate Instagram Posts with Pabbly Connect: A Step-by-Step Guide

Learn how to automate Instagram posts using Pabbly Connect, Google Sheets, Canva, Dropbox, and more. Follow our detailed tutorial for seamless integration. Follow this definitive guide to creating powerful automated workflows with straightforward, efficiency-focused solutions that save valuable time.

Watch Step By Step Video Tutorial Below

1. Setting Up Pabbly Connect for Automation

To automate Instagram posts, start by accessing Pabbly Connect. This integration platform allows you to connect various applications seamlessly. First, create an account on Pabbly Connect and log in to your dashboard.

Once logged in, you can initiate a new workflow. Select the ‘Create Workflow’ option and name it appropriately. This workflow will be the foundation for automating your Instagram posts using Google Sheets, Canva, and Dropbox.

2. Triggering the Workflow with Scheduled Events

The first step in our automation process is to set a trigger using Pabbly Connect. For this, we will use the ‘Scheduled by Pabbly’ trigger to execute the workflow daily at a specific time. This is crucial for posting Instagram content consistently.

• Select ‘Scheduled by Pabbly’ as your trigger.
• Set the frequency to daily and choose the time for execution.

After setting the trigger, you can customize the schedule frequency based on your requirements. This flexibility allows you to control when the automation runs, ensuring your Instagram posts are timely and relevant.

3. Formatting Date and Retrieving Data from Google Sheets

Next, we will format the date using the Pabbly Connect DateTime format module. This step is essential for fetching the correct data from Google Sheets. You will need to get today’s date to match it with your scheduled posts.

Once the date is formatted, the next action involves using the ‘Lookup Spreadsheet Row’ feature to retrieve the corresponding quote and author name for the current date. Here’s how:

• Select your Google Sheets account.
• Map the formatted date to find the relevant row.

After executing this step, Pabbly Connect will return the quote and author name from your Google Sheets, which will be used to create the Instagram post.

4. Creating Instagram Post Using Canva

Now that we have the content, we will use Pabbly Connect to create a dynamic Instagram post using Canva. Select Canva as the action app and choose the ‘Create Design’ action event. This allows you to utilize a template designed for your Instagram posts.

To set this up, you will need to:

Select a pre-made brand template from your Canva account. Map the quote and author name to the respective fields in the template.

Once the design is created, Pabbly Connect will provide a success response, confirming that the post has been generated successfully. You can preview the design using the provided link.

5. Downloading the Image and Sharing on Instagram

After creating the post, the next step is to download the image from Canva. Use the ‘Download Design as Image’ action event in Pabbly Connect. Here, you will need to input the design ID received from the previous step.

To complete the automation, follow these steps:

Set the export quality and size for the image. After downloading, upload the image to your Dropbox account for backup.

Finally, use the ‘Instagram for Business’ action event in Pabbly Connect to create a new post on your Instagram account. Map the caption to include the quote and author name. After executing this step, your Instagram post will be live, completing the automation process.

Conclusion

Using Pabbly Connect, you can automate the process of creating and posting Instagram content from Google Sheets effortlessly. This integration saves time and ensures consistent posting without manual effort, enhancing your social media strategy.