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Which caption are you more likely to engage with? A. “Download our free report on marketing trends.” B. “This 24-page report took us 60 hours to research. You can have it for free.” If you picked B, you just experienced anchoring: a psychological principle that shapes...
Jun 23, 2025
If you’ve ever waited for a post to go live, ready to hit ‘Send’ on the first comment, you’ve probably also wondered how to schedule the first comment to go live automatically and save yourself the trouble.
Adding a first comment to your social posts sounds like a small detail, but small details make a big difference. First comments boost your reach and improve performance, but posting them manually can be a pain in the brain.
In this article, I’ll walk you through how to schedule Instagram posts, Facebook content, and LinkedIn updates with first comments that pull their weight. Let’s dive in!
Adding a first comment to your main post is one of those small social media management hacks that can make a big impact.
It’s a neat way to extend your message without cluttering your caption or angering the algorithm. Scheduling your first comment automates your content workflow and allows you to stick to your strategy even during non-peak hours.
Here’s how adding a first comment can help you across multiple social media platforms:
A first comment can help push your content further into users’ feeds. On platforms like Instagram and Facebook, early engagement shows the algorithm that your post is gaining traction. More engagement means a bigger reach.
Here’s why it works:
This early boost doesn’t have to come from followers. Facebook’s algorithm doesn’t really care if it’s you who drops the first comment — it still counts.
So yes, you’re nudging things a bit when you schedule a first comment, but it’s not cheating. It’s just smart social media management, and no social media manager says no to an extra push.
This simple tactic complements your content strategy and helps you show up in more feeds, especially if your content is already solid.
Comments feed the algorithm, and this works not only for reach but for engagement, too. On LinkedIn and X (previously Twitter), comments have the benefit of driving engagement and signaling to the platforms that this content is worth your attention.
Comments drive interactions by:
Even on other social media platforms, engagement benefits from an early nudge. When people see an active conversation, they’re more likely to jump in. The comment section is where real conversations happen, and a strong first comment can help get things rolling.
A well-placed first comment makes your post feel active and interactive. Exactly what algorithms like to see!
Hashtags can help with discoverability, but they’re not always the prettiest thing to have in your main post. They clutter the post caption and can make your message feel messy or overly optimized.
A smart hashtag strategy placement offers:
Many social media platforms are abandoning hashtags as the main reach-driving force. However, some platforms, like TikTok, still factor them into content discovery. If you’re not ready to drop the hashtags completely, the first comment is a great middle ground.
Putting your relevant hashtags into the first comment helps you use the power left in hashtags without making your main post look like a keyword dump.
It’s cleaner, more focused, and still does the job.
Your main post needs to stay clean, short, and scroll-stopping. But sometimes, you still want to say more. This is where the first comment comes in handy.
Add depth with these elements:
Use it to add additional context without overloading your main caption. This could be background info, an update, or a follow-up link.
For example, if your post mentions a new product, your first comment can include a link to the full announcement or a previous post on the same topic.
You can also use the first comment for disclaimers or disclosures — things that are important but don’t belong in your main post.
This way, you keep the main message sharp while still giving curious followers everything they need in the comments.
Social media platforms want users to stay put. That’s why links in your post caption can sometimes hurt your reach.
Consider these linking tactics:
Some platforms like Instagram and TikTok don’t allow clickable links in captions or comments at all. LinkedIn and X can even demote your content with direct links. Facebook is a little more forgiving.
Either way, the trend’s clear: platforms favor content that keeps users scrolling on the platform.
If you’re not ready to embrace the zero-click content strategy, using the first comment to add external links is an algorithm-friendly workaround.
Link blog posts, sign-up pages, previous content, or any resource that supports your message in the comments and direct your followers to the comment section in the main caption.
Manual posting is so not in style. Planable makes it easy to schedule a first comment for your Instagram Business profile alongside your post. It’s a quick way to boost visibility without crowding your caption.
Before you begin, make sure your Instagram account is connected to Planable. If you connected your Instagram page before the first comment feature was available, you might need to reconnect the account.
Here’s how you can schedule a first comment for your Instagram posts:
Open Planable’s post editor and start creating a new Instagram post. Upload your images or video, and write your post caption as usual.
Instagram post editor with image and caption fields in Planable.
Click the comment icon right below the post preview. A text box will open where you can type your first comment.
Instagram post draft with first comment field open in Planable.
You can include:
Note that Instagram doesn’t allow clickable links in the comments.
Choose your publishing time and hit Schedule. Your post and first comment will go live together at the time you selected.
Instagram post scheduler in Planable with calendar and time options.
Need to edit later? You can always go back and tweak the first comment or remove it completely. If you accidentally delete your first comment, click Include the first comment to recover it.
Want to drop a link, a hashtag set, or a witty follow-up? Planable lets you schedule a first comment on your Facebook posts with zero manual effort.
Run a quick check to ensure your Facebook page is connected to Planable, and reconnect it if needed. Then, once you’re all set, here’s how to schedule the first comment together with your post:
In Planable, select your Facebook page and create a new post in the post editor. Add your image, video, or text — whatever you’re sharing.
Facebook post draft view in social media scheduler Planable.
Below the post preview, click the little speech bubble icon. That’s where you’ll type your scheduled first comment.
First comment field opened via comment icon on Instagram draft in Planable.
You can include:
Pick your publishing time and schedule the post. The first comment will be published alongside the post — no extra steps required.
Facebook post scheduling interface with date and time picker in Planable.
You can edit, remove, or restore the first comment anytime.
If your LinkedIn post includes a link, add it to the first comment instead of the main caption. LinkedIn’s algorithm is known to reduce reach on posts with external links.
Planable makes it easy to schedule a first comment on LinkedIn, and you can follow up with additional information right after your post goes live.
Before you begin, make sure your LinkedIn page is connected to Planable. Once that’s all set, here’s how to schedule a first comment for LinkedIn:
Open Planable’s post editor, select your LinkedIn page, and start crafting your post. Add your caption, upload media if needed, and get it looking just right.
LinkedIn post editor with caption and image upload in Planable.
Click the comment icon underneath the post preview. It’ll open a text box where you can write your first comment.
First comment field shown below LinkedIn post draft in Planable.
You can include:
Pick a time, click Schedule, and you’re good to go. Your post and first comment will go live together — no manual posting required.
LinkedIn post and comment scheduling view in Planable.
You can always return to edit, delete, or recover the comment later, if needed.
The first comment feature can help you drive engagement, add value, and guide the conversation. But it takes some hacks to do it right.
Here are three best practices on how to get the most out of scheduling a first comment for your social media posts:
Every post has a job to do. Maybe it’s boosting engagement, promoting a product, or directing traffic elsewhere. Your first comment should support that goal, not distract from it.
Align comments with these objectives:
If you’re promoting something, use the first comment to drop a helpful link or key detail. If your goal is to drive engagement, ask a question or invite additional replies.
You don’t have to schedule a first comment for every post in your feed. If it feels out of place, don’t force it. The first comment feature isn’t a space filler but rather a way to support your content strategy and move users in the right direction.
The clearer the purpose, the more native the comment.
We know your content has to bring value to your followers. That goes for the first comment, too, since it’s just as much a part of your main post as your visuals.
Value-adding elements include:
If you want high interaction, you need to give people something to react to. A vague “What do you think?” in the comments section won’t get you far. But a takeaway + question combo? Much better.
Use the first comment to add insight, context, or a personal opinion. Then, invite engagement with a specific follow-up — “Agree or disagree?” or “Would you try this?” are good options.
If you want to share a link in the first comment, tie it to your post caption. Say, for a case study, your caption can say “Full story in the comments”, and the first comment can drop the link with a short summary.
Treat your first comment as a continuation of your post, just as conscious and valuable.
Don’t post and forget. Track how your first comment is doing and whether this hack is bringing you results. Is it getting likes and replies? Are the links getting clicks? Is it helping your post get more engagement overall?
Monitor these performance indicators:
Watching what works helps you shape better comments in the future. For example, you might notice that when you ask a question in the comment instead of the post, people are more likely to reply. Or maybe your link gets more clicks when you include a one-line summary before it.
Minor tweaks like these can make a big difference.
Also, take note of any pushback. If a comment tone feels off or triggers negative reactions, consider this and adjust.
The comment section is a conversation, so use it as an opportunity to tune in.
Adding the first comment is a smart way to extend your message and stay on good terms with the algorithm. It declutters your caption, prevents link penalties, and gives your content extra context without cramming it all into one text box.
With Planable, you can schedule first comments on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn alongside your posts, so your social media managers don’t need to stand guard. Try it now — the first 50 posts are free!
Content marketer with a background in journalism; digital nomad, and tech geek. In love with blogs, storytelling, strategies, and old-school Instagram. If it can be written, I probably wrote it.
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