Facebook always tweaks its platform to better serve users. That’s why Pages have so many features to play with now, including the ability to schedule posts.

While not the most impressive tool in your arsenal, being able to plan posts ahead of time is a worthwhile luxury. It helps you manage your Page and post schedule more consistently.

Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to take you through the scheduling process using Facebook’s Publishing Tools...

1. Find Your Publishing Tools

Facebook Page Menu and Features

On your Facebook Page, you’ll see a menu on the left-hand side. Below options like Ad Center and Insights is the Publishing Tools tab. Select it.

This takes you to a hub full of handy tools for marketers and business owners. Getting to know them can improve your experience of Facebook's professional side, as well as what your brand can accomplish on it.

In fact, read up as much as you can on Facebook tips and tricks. They can be essential to understanding how the social network functions, not to mention if it’s the right one for you.

2. Select Create Post

Facebook Publishing Tools Posts and Features

The main feature you’ll come across in Publishing Tools is Posts. But the hub also gives you access to a range of other features to experiment with.

If you’re using videos in your marketing strategy, for example, you should explore Creator Studio’s upload or live streaming options. Also check out Business Suite to set up ads, analyze them, and more.

In terms of posting on your Page, however, Facebook's basic tools are all you need. Just select the Create Post button. You can then compose whatever you want to share next.

3. Create Your Facebook Page Post

Creating New Post on Facebook Publishing Tools

There are lots of things you can add to your new post, like a location and "feeling". You can also tick whether you want to post it on both Facebook and Instagram.

Don’t underestimate what these platforms can do together. Learn more about how Instagram works too and imagine what kind of content you could promote on it.

Something about Publishing Tools to keep in mind, however, is that a photo or video post can’t contain a call-to-action button or visual preview of a link at the same time. You can still add these things in the text of your post, but they won’t come up as preview images. For example, if you run a blog, you can't add a video and an article preview at the same time---but you can add a video and link to your blog in the post's text (Facebook just won't load its usual blog post preview).

Whatever you need for the post to look its best, put it all together. Once ready to go, think about when you want it to go live. You can, of course, come back and make adjustments before and after you post it.

4. Schedule Your Facebook Post

Scheduling Post on Facebook Publishing Tools

At the bottom right corner of the New post window is the Publish button with an arrow beside it. Click on the arrow and select Schedule post. A new window will pop up so that you can choose the date and time you want.

It’s a good idea to do some planning and research in advance. This way you can get the timing right and reach as many people as possible.

Once you've selected a time slot, click the Schedule button.

The post will then appear in the Scheduled section of your Publishing Tools. From there you can edit the post and settings, as well as create an ad. Everything you need to broadcast your message is right there.

Why Schedule Posts With Facebook’s Tools?

Colorful Calendar

A good question is why you should bother with Publishing Tools when you could just use apps like Loomly or Buffer. The answer comes down to your management skills and how complicated your business is, especially in terms of social media profiles.

Apps for scheduling posts are very useful, often featuring many more professional options than Facebook. But their design is mainly for people with accounts across several networks.

If all you use are Facebook and Instagram, making use of the built-in tools ready and waiting for you is a more direct approach. You won’t have to deal with a bunch of software just to schedule one little update. Your Page can be all the support you need.

Keep Learning How Facebook Can Help Your Goals

Growing your public image isn’t easy, but mastering social media is definitely a good way to do it. Among many marketing tricks open to you, Facebook offers the technology to schedule posts.

In order to do that, however, you need to know how social networks can benefit you and your goals the most. It’s a demanding process, but one you may easily come to enjoy.