Creating Your First Post
A comprehensive guide to using the post composer. Learn how to write content, add media, select platforms, and schedule your posts for maximum impact.
Prerequisites
Before creating your first post, make sure you've created your account and connected at least one social media platform.
Understanding the Content Composer
Your central hub for creating social media posts
The post composer is where you'll create all your social media content. It's designed to make multi-platform posting simple while respecting each platform's unique requirements.
Accessing the Composer
You can open the post composer in several ways:
- • Click "New Post" in the dashboard header
- • Click a date in the calendar view
- • Navigate to Content → New Post
- • Use the keyboard shortcut Cmd + N (Mac) or Ctrl + N (Windows)
Composer Interface Overview:
- • Content Area: Where you write your post text
- • Platform Selector: Choose which platforms to post to
- • Media Uploader: Add images, videos, or carousels
- • Schedule Picker: Set when your post should publish
- • Preview Panel: See how your post looks on each platform
- • Additional Options: Categories, first comment, alt text, etc.
The composer automatically saves your work as a draft every 30 seconds. You can always come back to finish a post later from the Content Library.
Writing Your Post
Craft engaging content for your audience
Character Limits by Platform
Each social media platform has different character limits. Postle tracks these automatically and shows you a counter for each selected platform.
| Platform | Character Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| X | 280 characters | Includes spaces; links count as 23 chars |
| 2,200 characters | First 125 chars visible without "more" | |
| 63,206 characters | Shorter posts (1-2 paragraphs) perform better | |
| 3,000 characters | First 140 chars visible in feed | |
| TikTok | 2,200 characters | Caption for videos |
| YouTube | 5,000 characters | Video description |
| 500 characters | Pin description |
Character Limit Warnings
If your content exceeds a platform's character limit, Postle will show a warning and highlight the affected platform in red. You can either shorten your content or deselect that platform.
Using Hashtags Effectively
Hashtags help people discover your content. Each platform has best practices for hashtag usage:
InstagramInstagram Best Practices
Use 5-10 relevant hashtags. Mix popular (#fitness) and niche (#yogaforbeginners) tags. Place hashtags in the caption or first comment.
XX Best Practices
Use 1-2 hashtags max. More than 2 can decrease engagement. Choose trending or campaign-specific tags.
LinkedInLinkedIn Best Practices
Use 3-5 professional hashtags. Focus on industry-specific terms. Hashtags help categorize content for LinkedIn's algorithm.
TikTokTikTok Best Practices
Use 3-5 hashtags. Include trending tags when relevant. Mix broad (#FYP) and niche tags (#veganrecipes).
Example Hashtag Usage
Check out our new product launch! 🚀
Perfect for small business owners who want to save time on social media.
#socialmediamanagement #smallbusiness #productivity #entrepreneur #saasMentions and Tags
Tag other accounts or people in your posts using the @ symbol:
- • Instagram/Facebook: Type @ followed by the username (e.g., @username)
- • Twitter: Mentions count toward character limit
- • LinkedIn: Tag companies and people to increase reach
Adding Media
Upload images and videos to make your posts stand out
Supported Media Formats
Postle supports the most common image and video formats across all platforms:
Images
- • Formats: JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF
- • Max size: 10 MB per image
- • Recommended: 1080x1080px (square) or 1080x1350px (portrait)
- • Carousel: Up to 10 images per post
Videos
- • Formats: MP4, MOV, WebM
- • Max size: 500 MB per video
- • Aspect ratios: 16:9 (landscape), 1:1 (square), 9:16 (vertical)
- • Duration: Varies by platform (see below)
Video Requirements by Platform
| Platform | Max Duration | Recommended Aspect Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram Reels | 90 seconds | 9:16 (vertical) |
| TikTok | 10 minutes | 9:16 (vertical) |
| YouTube Shorts | 60 seconds | 9:16 (vertical) |
| YouTube Videos | No limit | 16:9 (landscape) |
| Facebook/Instagram Feed | 60 minutes | 1:1 or 4:5 |
| X | 2 minutes 20 seconds | 16:9 or 1:1 |
Video Optimization
Upload your video once, and Postle will automatically optimize it for each platform you've selected. We'll warn you if your video doesn't meet a platform's requirements (e.g., too long for Reels).
How to Upload Media
- Click the "Add Media" button in the composer
- Drag and drop files or click to browse your computer
- Wait for the upload to complete (you'll see a progress bar)
- Rearrange images by dragging them if you're creating a carousel
- Add alt text for accessibility (highly recommended)
Alt Text for Accessibility
Always add alt text to your images. Alt text helps visually impaired users understand your content and can improve your SEO. Aim for concise descriptions (125 characters or less).
Image Carousels
Create multi-image posts (carousels) for Instagram and Facebook. Simply upload multiple images, and they'll automatically be formatted as a carousel. You can upload up to 10 images per post.
Platform Selection
Choose where your content will be published
One of Postle's biggest advantages is the ability to post to multiple platforms at once. Select the platforms you want to target, and Postle handles the rest.
Selecting Platforms
- In the composer, you'll see toggles for each connected platform
- Click to select/deselect platforms for this post
- Selected platforms will show a checkmark and be highlighted
- Each selected platform shows a character count and preview
You can only select platforms you've already connected. If you don't see a platform, visit the Accounts page to connect it.
Platform-Specific Requirements
Keep these differences in mind when posting to multiple platforms:
InstagramInstagram Requirements
- • Requires at least one image or video
- • Vertical images (4:5 or 9:16) perform best
- • Links in captions aren't clickable (use link in bio)
- • Can tag up to 20 accounts per post
XX Requirements
- • Text-only posts are common and effective
- • Up to 4 images or 1 video per post
- • Links are automatically shortened and count as 23 chars
- • Can create threads (currently not supported in Postle MVP)
LinkedInLinkedIn Requirements
- • Professional tone recommended
- • Link previews automatically generated
- • Document posts (PDFs, slides) supported
- • Tagging companies increases reach
FacebookFacebook Requirements
- • Works with Facebook Pages (not personal profiles)
- • Supports text, images, videos, and links
- • Link previews can be customized
- • Best times: weekdays 1-4 PM
Preview Before Publishing
Always check the preview panel to see how your post will look on each platform. Postle shows platform-specific previews so you can catch formatting issues before publishing.
Scheduling Options
Choose when your post goes live
You can publish your post immediately or schedule it for a specific date and time. Scheduling ahead helps you maintain a consistent posting schedule even when you're busy.
Publishing Now vs Scheduling
Publish Now
- • Posts immediately to all selected platforms
- • Great for timely content or announcements
- • You'll see confirmation once posted
- • Can't be edited after publishing
Schedule for Later
- • Set a specific date and time
- • Plan content days or weeks in advance
- • Can edit or reschedule before it publishes
- • Maintains consistent posting schedule
Time Zone Considerations
Scheduled times use your account's time zone (set in Settings → Preferences). If you're targeting an audience in a different time zone, make sure to adjust accordingly.
Optimal Posting Times
Click "Suggest Times" in the schedule picker to see recommended posting times based on when your audience is most active. General best times by platform:
- • Instagram: Weekdays 11 AM - 2 PM
- • Facebook: Weekdays 1 PM - 4 PM
- • Twitter: Weekdays 8 AM - 10 AM, 6 PM - 9 PM
- • LinkedIn: Tuesday-Thursday 9 AM - 12 PM
- • TikTok: Evenings 7 PM - 11 PM
Editing Scheduled Posts
You can edit or delete scheduled posts before they publish:
- Find the post in your calendar or content library
- Click on the post to open the details
- Click "Edit" to modify content or timing
- Or click "Delete" to cancel the scheduled post
Once a post starts publishing, you can't edit or cancel it. Make sure to review your content and timing before the scheduled time.
Publishing Your Post
Final steps before your content goes live
Review Checklist
Before clicking "Schedule" or "Publish Now", make sure you've:
Understanding Post Status
After creating a post, you can track its status in the calendar and content library:
Draft
Post is saved but not scheduled
Scheduled
Waiting to be published at the scheduled time
Publishing
Currently being sent to platforms
Published
Successfully posted to all platforms
Failed
Issue posting to one or more platforms
What if a post fails?
If a post fails to publish, you'll receive an email notification with details about what went wrong. Common issues include expired platform connections or platform-specific content violations. You can retry the post after fixing the issue.
Viewing Published Posts
Once published, you can view your posts in the content library. Each post shows links to view it on each platform, along with performance metrics (impressions, engagement, etc.) once data is available.
Next Steps
Congratulations! You've learned how to create and publish your first post. Here's what to explore next: