How to Schedule a First Comment on Instagram
Not sure how to schedule a first comment on your Instagram? We’ve got you. Here’s exactly how to schedule a first comment for your next post!
Posted 10 months ago
Written by
Mackenzie TaylorPosted 10 months ago
Your caption looks beautiful. Perfect. The only thing though … you want to add your hashtags but don’t want your caption to look overcrowded and ugly. Well, lucky for you, you can automatically schedule the first comment to post live at the exact same time as your Instagram post with Flick! So if you’re looking to post your CTA within your first comment or you’re wanting to store your hashtags in a new location, Flick’s First Comment has got you covered.
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What is a first comment on Instagram?
A first comment is exactly what is sounds like. It’s a comment you post at the same time as you post your photo or video, so that it’s guaranteed to be the first comment on the post.
A first comment might have a CTA (“Check out the link in my bio!”), a hashtag set, or even an inspirational quote. It’s up to you what you use it for.
But why should you bother beating your adoring fans to the punch when it comes to leaving the first comment? Let’s discuss!
Why should you schedule a first comment on Instagram?
There are a number of reasons why you should schedule the first comment on Instagram. One of the best ways is that it can help increase your reach and boost your engagement on Instagram.
How can it do that? Well, hashtags are one of the best ways to increase your reach on Instagram (like, duh, Mackenzie! We know this). But adding hashtags to your first comment can help your Instagram caption look less crowded and get people to actually read your post without feeling overwhelmed.
Plus, you’ll still get all of the views you want from your hashtags.
Drive more reach and engagement on your Instagram posts by scheduling a comment to go live at the same time as your post.
How to schedule a first comment on Flick
Ready to get started with scheduling a first comment on Flick? Let’s get started:
- Login and click “scheduling” on your Flick account.
- When you click “create post,” you’ll start putting together your content and you will see a space called “First Comment.”
- From here, you can either copy over your hashtags or whatever kind of CTA you’d like to put in the first comment.
- Schedule your post as usual and the first comment will get scheduled along with it.
- Ta-da! You’re done. It’s that easy. Seriously.
And here’s the step-by-step guide in case you’re looking for a bit of extra guidance:
Step 1: Log in to your Flick account
If you haven’t created a Flick account yet, that’s the first step.
Still on the fence? Start your 7-day free trial and test the platform out for yourself. You’ll have full access to all the features, including scheduling posts and first comments!
Step 2: Create your post and add a caption
Now that you’re logged in, you’ll need to click onto the Scheduling tab—this is where you can create your post.
Once you’re there, just click Create Post to get started! You’ll be able to upload the photo(s) or video(s), add a caption, and select any additional settings you’d like to change (location, tags, etc.).
Step 3: Click on theFirst Comment block
Now it’s time for the main event: scheduling the first comment!
Once you’re done creating your post and adding your info, just scroll down to the First Comment block. You can find it next to the block for Location Tag. When you click on the First Comment block, a text box will appear. This is where you’ll be able to write your message—including any hashtags that you’ve stored in your Hashtag Manager.
Of course, you’re free to add whatever you want to your comment. Just remember—if you are adding hashtags, it’s best to include 30 relevant hashtags in order to maximize your reach. Also, make sure you’re using a mix of high and low competition hashtags!
Step 4: ClickSchedule!
Once you’re done creating your post and first comment, it’s time to add the date and time you want to post to Instagram. You can use Flick’s Golden Hour feature to find the best time to post to optimize reach and engagement based on when your followers are actively online.
Then, when you’ve picked a date and time, just click the Schedule button.
That’s it! You’re all done—you’ve successfully scheduled a first comment on Flick. Now you can rest easy knowing that your post has the maximum number of hashtags to increase your reach.
Who should use first comment hashtags?
Earlier we mentioned that, according to Instagram, adding hashtags to your captions is better than adding them to the comments.
Well, it turns out that this isn’t really accurate for a lot of creators.
There was a study done that investigated whether it’s better to use hashtags in your first comment. They found that it really depends on your follower count. And crucially, for tons of creators, it’s actually better to add hashtags to the first comment than it is to add them in the caption.
Here’s a breakdown of which hashtag location saw the most reach for different follower counts:
- <5,000 followers (~50%): Hashtags in caption.
- 5,000-10,000 followers (~35%): Hashtags in the first comment.
- 10,000-50,000 followers (~12%): Hashtags in the caption.
- 50,000-100,000 followers (~2.5%): Hashtags in the caption.
- >100,000 followers (~0.5%): Hashtags in the first comment.
It’s important to keep in mind that the differences we’re talking about here are small. The hashtags you’re using matter much more than where you put them.
But if you’re looking to optimize your reach and engagement, it’s worth testing out hashtags in the first comment—especially if you’re between 5,000-10,000 followers.
Instagram first comment FAQs
How long can a first comment be?
A first comment can be up to 2,200 characters. That’s about the length of three tweets or two paragraphs.
Are hashtags discoverable in second and third comments?
Yup! Instagram is really flexible when it comes to hashtag placement. For example, you can…
- post 30 different hashtags in your caption.
- post 30 different hashtags in your first comment.
- post 15 different hashtags in your caption and 15 in your first comment.
- post 30 different hashtags across 30 different comments.
The bottom line—you can use any configuration of hashtags you like, and it will still count. The only requirement is that you don’t exceed 30 hashtags total.
Can I edit first comment hashtags?
You’re free to edit or delete hashtags in your first comment at any time. Just make sure that you don’t exceed the 30 hashtag limit when you’re done making changes.
Are hashtags in captions or comments more effective?
That depends on your follower count. For most accounts, it’s slightly better to use hashtags in the caption than in the comments. But for some accounts (like those with 5,000-10,000 followers), adding hashtags to the first comment generates more engagement.
Are there any rules or best practices for adding hashtags to comments?
The same rules apply as with captions—you should only include hashtags that are relevant and popular. You also want to mix in high and low competition hashtags so that you balance potential reach and ability to rank.
Finally, you should always make sure to proofread your comment for typos or errors. A typo in a hashtag can be the difference between success and failure.
It’s time to get scheduling!
Now that you know everything there is to know about Instagram hashtags, it’s time to start scheduling your posts and planning your hashtag strategy.
Flick is an all-in-one Instagram management platform that can help you schedule posts, plan hashtags, and analyze your engagement. Plus, with Flick’s hashtag tools, you can find tailored hashtag suggestions for every post and quickly add them to your captions or comments.
Try Flick out today with a 7-day free trial—you won’t regret it!
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