instagram-post

name	instagram-post
description	Create and publish posts on Instagram Business/Creator accounts using the Graph API. Use when Claude needs to publish content to Instagram, manage account content, or interact with Instagram features. This skill reads approved action files from the Approved/ folder and executes corresponding Instagram operations.

Instagram Post Skill

This skill enables Claude to create and publish posts on Instagram Business/Creator accounts using the Graph API v25. It handles content publishing, engagement tracking, and post management for business social media operations.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

1. Processing approved action files from the /Approved folder that require Instagram operations
2. Publishing scheduled content to Instagram Business/Creator accounts
3. Creating promotional posts for business announcements
4. Sharing visual content and business updates
5. Managing Instagram account content as part of marketing campaigns

Available Operations

Post Operations

• Create single photo posts with captions
• Publish carousel posts with multiple images
• Share video content with descriptions
• Create Stories (where API permits)
• Schedule posts for future publication
• Update existing post content

Engagement Operations

• Monitor post engagement metrics
• Track reach and impressions
• Generate performance reports
• Analyze follower growth

Input Format

This skill reads action files from the AI_Employee_Vault/Approved/ folder with the following format:

---
type: instagram_post
action: create_post | schedule_post | create_carousel | get_insights
post_type: photo | carousel | video | story
caption: "Main caption for the post"
media_urls: ["https://example.com/image1.jpg", "https://example.com/image2.jpg"]  # For carousel posts
video_url: "https://example.com/video.mp4"  # For video posts
scheduled_time: "2026-01-07T10:00:00Z"  # For scheduled posts
account_id: "your-instagram-account-id"
hashtags: ["#business", "#marketing", "#announcement"]
location_tag: "Location Name"  # Optional location tag
target_audience: "general" | "customers" | "prospects"
call_to_action: "Learn More" | "Shop Now" | "Sign Up" | etc.
alt_texts: ["Description of image 1", "Description of image 2"]  # For accessibility
---

Execution Process

1. Scan the AI_Employee_Vault/Approved/ folder for files with type: instagram_post
2. Parse the post parameters from the YAML frontmatter
3. Validate content against Instagram's community guidelines
4. Prepare media for upload (resize, optimize as needed)
5. Execute the corresponding Instagram operation using the Graph API
6. Handle the two-step publishing process (container creation → publish)
7. Log the result to the audit log
8. Move the processed file to the AI_Employee_Vault/Done/ folder
9. Update the Dashboard.md with the post status and ID
10. Optionally save post metrics to the Reports folder

Instagram-Specific Process

Instagram requires a two-step publishing process:

1. Create a media object (photo/video/carousel) using the media endpoint
2. Publish the media object using the publish endpoint

This skill handles both steps automatically.

Rate Limits and Constraints

• Posts: Maximum 25 per day for business accounts
• Carousel posts: Maximum 10 images per post
• Video posts: Maximum 60 seconds (IGTV/Reels have different limits)
• Hashtags: Maximum 30 per post
• Batch operations: Limited by Instagram API

Error Handling

• If rate limits are reached, queue the post for later and alert the user
• If content violates Instagram policies, mark as failed and provide details
• If media upload fails, try alternative formats or compression
• If authentication fails, pause operations and alert the user
• If a post fails to publish, move to error queue for manual review
• Log all errors to the audit log with appropriate severity

Audit Trail

All Instagram operations are logged to AI_Employee_Vault/Logs/YYYY-MM-DD.json with:

• Timestamp
• Action type
• Actor (Claude)
• Target (Instagram account/post)
• Parameters used
• Post ID (if successful)
• Result of the operation
• Approval status

Compliance and Safety

• All posts are reviewed against Instagram's community guidelines
• Brand guidelines from Company_Handbook.md are enforced
• Visual content meets accessibility standards (alt texts)
• User privacy is maintained per privacy policy

Test Plan

1. Create a test action file in AI_Employee_Vault/Approved/TEST_instagram_post_2026-01-07.md
2. Run the skill and verify it processes the file
3. Check that the post was published to Instagram
4. Verify the file was moved to AI_Employee_Vault/Done/
5. Check that the audit log contains the operation
6. Verify Dashboard.md was updated with the post status

Dependencies

• Valid Instagram Business/Creator account linked to Facebook Page
• Properly configured Instagram access token with required permissions
• Internet connectivity to reach Instagram Graph API
• Media files accessible via public URLs or local paths
• Content guidelines from Company_Handbook.md