Both
Auto-publishing
Auto-publishing is when a scheduler posts to Instagram or X at a scheduled time without human intervention.
Definition
True auto-publishing uses the platform's official API to POST at the scheduled time. Notification-only "scheduling" (a phone push telling you to open the app) is not auto-publishing.
How to use it
Use auto-publishing for evergreen and campaign content. Keep manual publishing for reactive/newsjacking posts.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a scheduler that only sends push reminders
- No retry logic for transient 5xx from the platform API
- No approval step before autopublish for regulated industries