How to Schedule Facebook Posts in 3 Easy Ways (+ Save Hours Every Week)

I run a Facebook group called Freelancers Who Work Smart, Not Hard, but, for ages, I managed it the hard way, not the smart way.

The hard way looks like this: trying to remember to post regularly (when I sometimes can’t even remember what day of the week it is), coming up with some of my best ideas at 3 a.m. (before promptly falling asleep and forgetting them), and posting sporadically with neither consistency nor strategy. Days or even weeks (eek) would go by without me posting, and the group would lose momentum. 

Somewhat ironically, things changed when I went on maternity leave. Before taking three months off work, I scheduled two posts a week to keep the group active while I was dealing with diapers. In doing this, the group ended up becoming more active than it’s ever been!

So in the interest of working smarter, not harder — whether you run a Facebook Page or Facebook Group — let me walk you through how you might be able to set up a similar process. 

In this guide, I’ll cover the main advantages of scheduling Facebook posts and explain exactly how to schedule posts on Facebook to improve your posting consistency and content performance.

5 benefits of scheduling Facebook posts 

Whether you’re trying to increase brand awareness, grow your audience, build community, or generate leads (or all four!), there are many benefits to scheduling your Facebook posts in advance. 

1. Maintain consistency 

Where content is king, consistent content is the trusted advisor the king can’t live without. It’s simple: When you post regularly, your audience knows what to expect and when to expect it. And you stay top of mind so they don’t forget who you are and what you do. 

The numbers back this up. Buffer’s data scientist, Julian Winterhiemer, analyzed engagement across all platforms Buffer supports — Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, Bluesky, Threads, X, YouTube, Mastodon, and Pinterest. And, guess what? The most consistent posters received 5 times more engagement per post than users who posted inconsistently.

From my own small and less impressive dataset, I can definitively say that scheduling = consistency. Check out my stats below. I was on maternity leave (with scheduled posts) from May 1st to July 31st. There’s clearly a lot more activity happening in the former half of the chart compared to when I relied on my ad-hoc posting (after August 1st).

So scientifically and anecdotally, scheduling posts consistently is your secret weapon for building an engaged, loyal audience.

2. Create higher-quality content 

The beauty of scheduling your posts is that it gives you the gift of time. 

Instead of scrambling to come up with something on the fly, you can plan ahead and make sure each post is thoughtfully crafted and not just checking the box of, “Oh heck, I need to post something before people think I’ve disappeared.” (Yes, I am speaking from personal experience.)

Scheduling forces you to slow down and focus on quality, rather than rushing through a post at the last minute just because you need to get something out there. 

When you take the time to consider your content carefully, it shows. Your posts will be more intentional, more aligned with your goals, and ultimately more effective at connecting with your audience. Plus, you’ve got a buffer (no pun intended) to refine things before hitting ‘publish.’

3. Be more efficient and save time 

I’ve touched on this above, but time is your most valuable resource. And posting on Facebook can take a lot of it, especially if you’re creating your posts one by one on the day you plan to share them. 

Then there’s the fact that constantly switching between tasks isn’t just inefficient; it’s a brain-drainer too. Did you know multitasking makes you slower, less accurate, and more mentally drained? I certainly don’t need that in my life, and I doubt you do either. 

When you schedule your posts ahead of time, you can batch your work, reducing the mental load of having to post on the fly and breaking your flow. By setting aside an hour or two to plan your content for the week, you’ll save time, preserve your focus, and ensure that each post is on point. Efficiency for the win!

As I mentioned earlier, I created my content in batches before I went on maternity leave, which made the task more manageable. So much so, that it’s the most consistent I’ve ever been, despite being away from my desk. 

4. Optimize reach by posting at the best time for your audience

Part of your content strategy involves figuring out the best time to post on Facebook for maximum engagement.

Julian was kind enough to dig into the data here on this, too. He pored over the performance of more than 1 million Facebook posts sent via Buffer by businesses, creators, and influencers to pinpoint the best time to post on Facebook, the best day to post on Facebook, plus the best-performing content on Facebook.

According to Buffer data, the best time to post on Facebook is 5 a.m. on Monday.

Note that this doesn’t necessarily mean this is when audiences are up and consuming your content — it’s likely that posts need some time to gain momentum on the feed.

Regardless, it means the best-performing posts were shared at that time. If that isn’t a great reason to schedule your Facebook content, I don’t know what else is! 

Here’s a crucial caveat: There’s no universally optimal time to post, as it will also depend on your business and its circumstances. The best time to post on Facebook — or any social media platform — always depends on your audience. 

In my group, for example, I’m reaching two primary time zones: SAST and CAT, so I need to find a time that works for both. I aim to hit the South African audience at lunchtime, and the US audience first thing in the morning as they start their day. 

5. Better content planning and control

I know that random posting can feel a bit like throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. But when you schedule posts, you’re in the driver’s seat. 

You can plan strategically, making sure your content is spaced out in a way that keeps things fresh and engaging. This also allows you to plan for time-sensitive content, ensuring it goes out when it’s most relevant. 

It’s also much easier to maintain a consistent voice and style when you’re in control of your posting schedule. Instead of lashing out with something spicy and off-brand because you’ve had a bad day, planning and scheduling ahead gets you in the flow of creating thoughtful, on-brand content that reflects your values and resonates with your audience.

For me, scheduling Facebook posts provides peace of mind that everything’s taken care of, leaving me with more brain space to a) do my real job, and b) focus on creating even more awesome content. 

Now that we've covered the ‘why’ of Facebook scheduling, let’s dive into the ‘how:’

How to schedule a post on Facebook using Buffer 

Let's start with the most feature-rich scheduling route, a social media management tool like Buffer.

Here’s how to schedule using Buffer in four simple steps:

1. Go to your Buffer dashboard.
2. Select your Facebook Page or group.
3. Craft your Facebook post.
4. Schedule your post.

1. Go to your Buffer dashboard

Once you’ve signed up for Buffer and connected your Facebook account, you’ll see your Buffer dashboard:

2. Select your Facebook Page or group 

Select the Facebook Page or profile you want to post to, in the left-side column. Click on the '+ New' create post button on the top right-hand side of your screen, then choose 'Post.'

3. Create your Facebook post

A popup where you can craft your post will appear. (You can also add any other channels you have connected to crosspost your content elsewhere.)

Use an idea you’ve generated or create from scratch. Choose 'Post,' 'Reel, or 'Story,' depending on what content you want to post. Upload your media and add your caption.

4. Schedule your post

Once you’ve crafted your post, you have a few scheduling options:

• Add to Queue (default): Add the post to the next available posting time on your posting schedule.
• Schedule Posts: Schedule the post for a specific date and time.
• Share Now: Share the post immediately.
• Share Next: If you are on one of our paid plans, you can add the post to the top of your queue and have it published next.

📌 Quick tips:

• To auto-publish your post at a specific time, make sure the 'Automatic' option is selected.
• To schedule Facebook Group posts, you’ll need to choose 'Notify Me’ to get a notification when the time comes to post.

Will using scheduling tools affect my engagement?

No, using scheduling tools will not negatively impact your engagement. In fact, consistency — something scheduling tools help you maintain — can improve your reach and engagement. 

Research has shown that posts scheduled via third-party tools may even achieve higher engagement compared to posts published natively. 

While scheduling posts doesn't guarantee success on its own, it ensures that your content goes out at optimal times and frees up time for you to focus on creating and interacting with your audience. Engagement drops when users neglect to respond to comments or focus on posting frequently without considering content quality.

The bottom line is that with good content, proper timing, and active engagement, using scheduling tools can be a great way to enhance your social media presence.

How to schedule a post on Facebook on the app

If you have a Facebook Page, a profile in professional mode, or a Facebook Group, you can create, schedule, and manage posts directly on the Facebook app.

How to schedule a post on your page or professional profile:

1. At the top of your feed, page, or profile, tap ‘What’s on your mind?’
2. Create your post.
3. Tap ‘Next’ to open post settings and scheduling options.
4. You can then choose a time to publish your post or use the recommended times.

⚡️ Pro tip: To see all your scheduled posts, tap ‘Manage Posts’ on your page or profile.

How to schedule a Facebook Group post:

1. Tap ‘Write something’ in your group and create your post. 
2. Tap the calendar icon to set a date and time, then ‘Schedule’. 

How to schedule a post on Facebook using Meta Business Suite

Meta Business Suite is a free tool from Meta that lets you manage your Facebook and Instagram content in one place.

Compared to Facebook’s native scheduling, Business Suite gives you more control and lets you post to both platforms at once, though it is a bit more complicated to use.

1. Navigate to the business page you manage.
2. Click on ‘Meta Business Suite’ on the left-hand menu or at business.facebook.com.
3. In the Business Suite dashboard, choose ‘Planner’.
4. Click ‘Create post’: Choose where you want to publish (Facebook, Instagram, or both), then write your post, add media, and links.
5. Scroll down to ‘Scheduling options’ and toggle ‘Set date and time’.
6. Pick the date and time you want the post to go live.
7. Click ‘Schedule’ to confirm.

📌 Note: Meta Business Suite currently does not allow posting or scheduling to Facebook Groups.

Comparing the three scheduling options at a glance

How to edit or delete a scheduled Facebook post

Spotted a spelling error to fix? Or perhaps circumstances have changed (is TikTok banned or not?!) and you no longer need the post at all? Good news; you can edit or delete a scheduled Facebook post. Here’s how: 

On Facebook: 

To change a post after you’ve scheduled it, tap ‘Manage Posts’, then delete the post and recreate it.

On Buffer: 

Tap your profile picture to head over to your page, then tap the 'Settings and activity' menu icon on the top right (the three horizontal lines).

1. Tap 'Scheduled content.'
2. Here, you'll find a list of the Facebook content you have scheduled. Tap on the one you want to edit.
3. Tap on the three dots on the top right-hand side of the post.
4. In this menu, you'll have the option to delete, edit, and reschedule your post, or even post it right away by tapping 'Share now.'

On Meta Business Suite:

Go to business.facebook.com and select your page. On desktop, from the left-hand menu, click ‘Planner’ or ‘Content’ > ‘Posts & stories’. On mobile, tap the calendar icon or navigate to Scheduled Posts.

1. Use the calendar view or filter options to locate the post you want to edit.
2. Click on the post.
3. Click the three dots to select ‘Edit’ or ‘Delete’. 
4. Make your desired changes and save or confirm deletion. 

5 quick tips for scheduling Facebook posts 

1. How often to post

We recommend posting to Facebook one or two times a day.

Action step: Plan out 5–7 high-quality posts per week in your scheduler. 

2. Best time to post

Our data suggests that early weekday mornings are the best time to post on Facebook. 

⚡️ Action step: Use Buffer’s Analyze feature to help you find the best times to post.

3. What can and can’t be scheduled

There are some post types that can’t be scheduled directly through third-party tools like Buffer.

Things that can be scheduled

• Text updates
• Images (up to four images with Buffer)
• Videos
• Links
• Stories and reels (with mobile notifications)

Things that cannot be scheduled

• Photo albums
• Events
• Check-ins
• GIFs
• Polls 

⚡️ Action step: Double-check each post type before scheduling. 

4. Stay consistent with goals and streaks

Buffer’s posting goals and streaks features help users stay consistent, which improves reach and builds audience trust over time.

⚡️ Action step: Set a posting goal in Buffer and use the streak tracker to keep yourself accountable.

5. Track analytics and engagement

Analyzing post performance helps you improve future content. 

⚡️ Action step: Use Buffer’s analytics dashboard to track engagement, reach, and click-through rates across posts. Repurpose or expand on what worked and ditch what didn’t.

Over to you 

There you have it; scheduling posts on Facebook makes it easier to stay consistent, grow your audience, and smash your social media goals. From my own experience, I highly recommend exploring how a scheduling tool like Buffer can help you work smarter, not harder. 

More Facebook resources 

• Best Time to Post on Facebook: We Analyzed 1 Million Posts
• Meta Ad Library 101: 7 Ways to Use the Facebook Ad Library to Improve Your Ads
• The Ideal Facebook Cover Photo Size and How To Make Yours Stand Out (+ 11 Ideas and Examples)
• How to Run Facebook Ads: Beginner's Guide to Advertising on Facebook