In this article, we cover the process for connecting your Instagram account(s) to the platform. Once you have linked your Instagram account to the platform, you will be able to post to your Instagram page and view and reply to comments on those posts in the feed.

IMPORTANT:

🔴 The user establishing the connection must have login credentials for the Instagram account(s) that will be connected.

🔴 The connection is passed through Facebook, so it will also require that the user making the Instagram connection have admin access to a corresponding Facebook business page.

Step 1: Preparing the Instagram account

You will first need to prepare your Instagram account(s) to ensure that you can make the connection to the platform.

Convert your Instagram account(s) to a Business profile.

In the Instagram mobile app, open your profile rather than the feed by clicking on the bottom right icon.
Click on the three-line icon at the top right.
Scroll down the page and find 'Account type and tools'.
Click 'Switch to Professional account'.
Select your business category.
In the next step, select Business rather than Creator.

Ensure that your Instagram account is Business but not Creator:

Click on the three-line icon at the top right.
Scroll down the page and find 'Business tools and controls'.
Switch account type
- If there is an option to switch to a business account, then do it.
- If there isn't such an option, then it is a business account.
You can also do it on the desktop:
Open www.instagram.com and click on 'Profile' on the left.
Click on 'Edit Profile' at the top.
Scroll down the page and find 'Account type and tools'.
Click 'Switch to Professional account'.
Select Business type, but not Creator.
Select the category and click Done.

2. Connect Instagram to Facebook

Each Instagram account must be connected to a Facebook business page, as it is a mandatory requirement by Facebook. Typically, you might want to connect your Instagram account to a respective Facebook page (e.g., brand Instagram account to a brand Facebook page or a location specific Instagram account to a corresponding Facebook location page).

Open the Facebook business page settings to which you want to link the Instagram account.
On the left side menu, find Linked Accounts.
Click on the blue Connect Account button.
This will launch a connection window to begin the process of connecting your Instagram account.
Click on the Connect button.
Next, you will be prompted to allow access to Instagram messages. Leaving this toggle deactivated will not enable you to connect this page to our platform at the end. So ensure it is activated.
You will be prompted to sign in to your Instagram Account. To do this, you will need login credentials.
The Instagram connection will then be visible, as shown below.
🔴 Please note that you might see a request to Review the connection. Please review the connection before proceeding; otherwise, the page connection won't be possible.

Step 2: Choosing the right connection method

There are two methods for connecting an Instagram account to the platform. The option you should choose will vary depending on the structure of the Facebook Pages, both brand and local pages.

Account Level Connect: Facebook admins can choose this method if the location pages are in Brand/Location structure. The Account Level Connect will pass all Instagram accounts through the Facebook connection for the pages in structure. This makes it easier for admins to connect all Instagram accounts to the platform. This method is also recommended for a brand Instagram connection.
Location Level Connection: This method is available should the Facebook pages not be in structure or if a location manager is empowered to make the connection themselves. This process will require that the user be an admin of the connected Facebook page. Each Instagram account will be connected individually.

Step 3: Connecting your Instagram account to the platform

Сonnect on Account Level

✅ Step 1. Authorize Facebook

The first step is to authenticate a Facebook user and initiate a business connection. If you have already connected Facebook, please proceed to the next step.
Go to the Accounts section in the platform and choose Account Level Connections. Click 'Log In' for the Facebook Connection and follow the process for authorizing the Facebook connection.
This user must be an admin of the platform and Meta (Facebook) accounts.
☝️ Once complete, the Facebook connection becomes the default connection for the entire business, and any newly created locations will be nested under the parent’s structure.

✅ Step 2. Connect Instagram

Next, expand the Instagram section in the Account Level connections. Make sure to view the 'Not Connected' tab to show the accounts that have yet to be connected to the platform.
Click 'Connect' to start the process for an Instagram account.

✅ Step 3. Login

You will be prompted to log into Facebook. Be sure to use your business login details. ☝️This Facebook account should be the same one used to establish the business' Facebook connection in Step 1.

✅ Step 4. Confirm User

Click "Continue as ..." with your user profile to confirm with Facebook that you have logged into the correct profile.

✅ Step 5. Select Account

Use the check box to Select All the Instagram accounts or individually select all the Instagram accounts that you want to manage and use within the platform.
Please ensure you select all Instagram accounts that you want to connect. This includes accounts across multiple brands and locations that you want to manage within the platform. You will only be asked for this once and unselecting pages will not allow for access at a later stage.
Click the Next button to proceed.

✅ Step 6. Enable Permissions

You will be asked to select permissions for the Instagram connection. Be sure that all permissions are set to 'Yes' before clicking Done.

✅ Step 7. Confirmation

Once you complete the steps above, you should receive a Successfully Connected message.
Additionally, any Instagram accounts that you have connected will appear the in "Connected" tab under the Instagram expanded list.

Connect Individual locations

✅ Step 1. Start

Navigate to the Directories tab of the location and click on 'Connect' on the Instagram widget to start the process.

✅ Step 2. Log In

Confirm that you are logged into the right Facebook account (or log into Facebook if you have not done so).
Click "Continue as..." to proceed. This should be the same Facebook account that was used to make the Facebook connection for the location.

✅ Step 3. Select Account

Click on the check box for all the Instagram accounts that you wish to connect to the platform. Click on 'Next' to proceed.
You will see all the Instagram accounts that are connected to the Facebook page you are an admin of. It's important to check all accounts that you want to connect within the platform.

✅ Step 4. Enable Permissions

You will be asked to provide PromoRepublic permissions to the Instagram account. Ensure that all permissions are set to 'Yes' and click 'Done' to proceed.

✅ Step 5. Confirmation

You should now see that you have successfully linked the Instagram account. Click 'Ok' to finish the process. You should see that Instagram is now connected in CoreX.

Checklist for Connecting Instagram

Convert any personal Instagram accounts to Business profiles.
Have Admin access to Facebook and Instagram.
Connect Instagram with the same Facebook Account credentials used to connect Facebook.
Connect the Instagram accounts to a corresponding Facebook business page.
Choose the correct connection method based on your Facebook business page structure.
Allow all of the permissions for Instagram in the connect flow to ensure features will work successfully in the platform.
Ensure you 'Select All' to connect all Instagram pages you plan to manage now and in future when pages are listed.

If you have any further questions, please contact us at
[email protected].