Later Influence uses social network API integrations to ingest content, performance data, and audience insights from social networks.

To support this, influencers must authenticate their social network accounts with Later, which generated access tokens that allow the platform to access their information. All access tokens expire after some time to keep influencers’ accounts secure. 

As the most utilized social network, Instagram access tokens are of particular importance. This article provides an overview of how these access tokens work.

Instagram Account Types

There are 3 types of Instagram profiles an Influencer may have: business, creator, or personal. Due to Instagram API changes, only business and creator profiles are supported in Later.

For more details see Instagram Profile Types. 

Business Tokens

Influencers with business or creator accounts connect using the Instagram Graph API, through which Business access tokens are generated.

The Graph API and Business tokens support the platform to automatically bind Instagram posts from influencer profiles, including the full-size image file or video file when applicable. 

Performance data, including engagements and actual impressions, are available from the Business tokens, providing richer and more accurate reporting. 

In addition to performance data, Business tokens also enable the platform to ingest Instagram Audience Insights data, providing greater visibility into the audience that the influencer can reach.

Business tokens can't be refreshed automatically. Influencers must periodically reconnect their accounts with the platform. Generally, Business tokens will last long enough that an influencer needs only to connect their account once per campaign during the application process. If an influencer’s Business token expires while they are participating in a campaign, the platform will send an automated reminder email prompting them to refresh the connection.

Token Reminder Notifications

Later Influence will notify influencers participating in campaigns via email when their Instagram access token is expired, under certain conditions. To receive reminder emails, an influencer must be a participant in a Live campaign that includes Instagram content requirements that they haven't yet completed. A participant is defined as an influencer who is past the Applied stage of the campaign workflow. 

Instagram Business accounts are subject to token expiration every 90 days, triggering the reminder notification to send.

Reminders

Reminders are sent in series spaced 3 days apart, until the influencer reconnects their account or otherwise completes the campaign requirements.

Reminders sent from your brand will appear in the Messages section and in the History tab of influencers' campaign details alongside other campaign messages.

Reminders include an unsubscribe link allowing influencers to manage their email settings.

Influencers Working With Multiple Brands

Some influencers may participate in campaigns run in Later Influence for multiple brands at a time. To prevent these influencers from receiving repetitive notifications, the platform will determine the most relevant brand instance from which to send the reminder.

Influencers participating in a campaign with your brand may be notified to reconnect by a different brand first if they are further along in the workflow of that campaign. While the notification will not come from your brand, the reauthentication will update their token for your brand instance simultaneously.

Reminder Notification Content

The content of the reminder notification email message is included below. This message can be translated into a number of languages using the Default Language setting in the Settings section. For additional detail on language choices, see Settings & Branding Options.

From: Email address associated with program the influencer is participating in (your program or another brand's)

Subject: Expired Instagram access for [Brand] collaboration

Body:

Hi [First name],

We're so excited that you're working with [Brand]! In order to ensure our system is able to capture the content you create in real-time, we need to make sure your social access tokens are active. 

Our records show that the Instagram access token we have on file for you has expired. To keep your accounts secure, social networks will automatically expire these tokens on a regular basis. They are easy to reconnect; just click the button below to go through the re-authentication process. 

Button: Reconnect Instagram [Linked to influencer campaign manager in relevant campaign]

You can refer to your campaign manager to check the status of your tokens at any time.

This is an automated message;  if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out through our Helpdesk for technical support