INTRODUCTION
Meta Business Suite (FKA Facebook Business Manager) is a management tool brands and businesses can use to manage multiple Meta products, like Facebook, Instagram and Messenger, in one location.
It has several useful features, such as a centralized inbox and post scheduling tools, that are intended to help you streamline your efforts and save you time. However, the platform is also associated with some quirks and glitches that can cause you or your marketing team some headaches, most of which involve Instagram.
Here are three things you can try if you are having issues using Meta Business Suite to manage Instagram.
REVIEW YOUR INSTAGRAM CONNECTION IN META BUSINESS SUITE
In order to use Meta Business Suite to manage Instagram, it must be connected to your business account. To check this, go to “Settings” within your Business Suite account and click “Business assets” then “Instagram accounts.”
If you don’t see the desired account, you will need to add it by clicking “Add assets” and selecting “Instagram account.” You must be an admin of the business account and have access to the login information for the desired Instagram account to do this. In addition, that account cannot be connected to a Facebook page unless it is already in your business account.
You will then be asked to review and agree to Meta’s terms. After you check the box, click “Claim Instagram account.” From here, a new window will open, prompting you to log in to the Instagram account to which you’d like to connect.
If you are already logged in, click “Continue as [your business’s Instagram handle].” Otherwise, select “Switch accounts” to log into the appropriate account. You may need to enter a security code if you have two-factor authentication set up.
Click “Confirm” when you are finished to add the account to Meta Business Suite. You can then access additional settings, such as allowing others to access and manage the Instagram account.
In some cases, you may see the appropriate Instagram account in Meta Business Suite with “login needed” next to it. Click on the account name to log into Instagram and access those additional settings. You may need to do this from time to time, so make sure to check your business assets regularly.
This is also a good time to check who has Instagram account access as well as connected assets, such as your company’s Meta ad account. A missing ad account is often the cause of Instagram boosting or advertising issues.
CONNECT OR RECONNECT FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM AT THE PAGE LEVEL
Even if your Instagram account is connected to your Meta Business Suite account, you still need to connect it to your Facebook business page to access all the features. To check this connection in the new pages experience, switch to your page profile, click “Manage” or “Professional dashboard” and select “Linked accounts” from the menu. Select Instagram to see if your account is connected to the Facebook page.
From the classic page view, go to “Settings” and select “Instagram” from the menu. If your Instagram account is connected, you will see the account listed on that page.
If needed, you can connect your Instagram account by clicking “Connect account” and following the appropriate steps. Note: you must be an admin of the Facebook page itself to do this. It is not enough to be an admin of the Meta Business Suite account alone.
Make sure to turn on “Allow access to Instagram messages Inbox” to manage Facebook and Instagram messages from one central inbox. When prompted, log into your Instagram account to confirm the connection. If your business has a personal Instagram account, you will need to convert it to a professional Instagram account, which is a best practice anyway.
If you are having problems with any of the Instagram management tools, such as having multiple scheduled posts failing to publish, try disconnecting and reconnecting the Instagram account from your Facebook page. For some reason, this connection needs to be reestablished from time to time.
You also could check the content section within Meta Business Suite. If there is an issue with the Instagram connection, you may see a banner alert stating the connection needs to be reviewed. Click on that message to log into your Instagram account and reconfirm the connection.
RESTART OR REINSTALL META BUSINESS SUITE
Although it may seem like a simple solution, sometimes Meta Business Suite issues can be solved by troubleshooting the program or app itself. If you are experiencing issues on the app, for instance, you should check to see if there is a pending update. Similarly, you can try restarting your device or uninstalling and reinstalling the app to see if that solves the issue.
From a desktop, try opening your Meta Business account from a new browser or a different computer. You also should test Meta Business on mobile and desktop devices to see if you experience the same issues on both.
Occasionally, individual Facebook accounts experience glitches, like a sudden inability to boost or schedule posts. Although inconvenient, these types of glitches often resolve on their own. To test this situation, check with other admins on the account to see if they have the same problem. If not, it may be an issue with your personal Facebook account.
If your issue persists, visit the Meta Business Help Center to contact support. Take screenshots of the problem if possible and share specifics, such as when it started and how long it’s been happening.