Getting Started: Set Up Social Planner in Captivation Hub

Social Planner is your central hub for connecting social accounts, building content, and scheduling posts across multiple platforms — all from one calendar view. This guide walks you through the essential setup: connecting your accounts, choosing how to create posts, managing media, and keeping an eye on performance.

What Is Social Planner?

Social Planner is Captivation Hub's built-in tool for drafting, scheduling, publishing, and tracking social content in one place. You can manage Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Google Business Profile, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Bluesky, and Captivation Hub Community from a single location. Post types, media options, and analytics vary by platform.

Before You Begin

Social platforms require the right permissions before Captivation Hub can publish on your behalf. Getting these in order first will prevent missing accounts and failed posts.

• Confirm you can sign in to each social platform you want to connect.
• Verify you have admin or publishing access to the required page, profile, channel, board, or location.
• Prepare the captions, links, images, or videos you plan to publish.
• Confirm your media meets each platform's format and size requirements.

Post Types in Social Planner

When you create a new post, you can choose from several options depending on your workflow:

• New Post: Write a post from scratch for one or more connected accounts.
• Template Post: Start from a saved post template to speed up your workflow.
• Bulk Action: Upload a supported CSV or XLSX file with up to 90 posts at once.
• Evergreen Queue Post: Build a reusable Category Queue you can reorder, edit, or reschedule.
• Recurring Post: Repeat a post on a set schedule.
• RSS Post: Automatically turn new RSS feed items into social posts.

Step 1 — Connect Your First Social Account

Connecting an account authorizes Captivation Hub to publish to the selected page, profile, channel, board, or location.

1. Go to Marketing → Social Planner.
2. Select the social platform you want to connect.
3. Sign in and approve the requested permissions.
4. Select the specific page, profile, channel, board, or location you want to manage.
5. Complete the authorization process.
6. Confirm the account appears in Social Planner.

Note for Facebook Pages: Sign in with a Facebook profile that has admin access to the Page. If you manage multiple Pages, you'll be prompted to select which one to connect.

Step 2 — Create a Post

Once an account is connected, you're ready to start creating. Click New Post in Social Planner and choose the post type that fits your workflow (see Post Types above). Write your caption, add links or hashtags, and use the Post Preview panel on the right to see how your content will appear on each selected platform.

Step 3 — Customize for Each Channel

If you're posting to multiple platforms at once, you can tailor the caption and media for each one.

1. Select all the social accounts you want to post to.
2. Enable Customize for Each Channel.
3. Edit each platform's caption and media separately.
4. Review each version in the Post Preview panel before scheduling.

Step 4 — Add Media and Edit a Video Thumbnail

Reviewing your media before scheduling helps prevent cropping, format, and compatibility issues.

1. Use the Image or Video icon in the post composer to add media.
2. Wait for the upload to finish before switching accounts or enabling channel customization.
3. Review the media in the Post Preview panel.
4. Leave Media Optimization enabled if you want Captivation Hub to automatically adjust media for platform requirements.

To edit a video thumbnail on a supported platform:

1. Hover over the uploaded video.
2. Click the pencil icon.
3. Select Edit Video Thumbnail.
4. Upload or select the thumbnail.
5. Review the updated preview.

Tip: Thumbnail support depends on the platform and post type. If the option doesn't appear, check the current Social Planner media guidelines for your platform.

Step 5 — Connect Additional Accounts

You can add as many social accounts as you need — useful if you manage multiple brands, locations, or profiles.

1. Click the Settings gear in Social Planner.
2. Open Social Accounts.
3. Click + Connect Social.
4. Select the platform you want to add.
5. Sign in, approve the permissions, and select the account.
6. Confirm it shows as connected.

Account health: Captivation Hub shows in-app and email alerts when a connected account loses authorization. Reconnect it right away — scheduled posts won't publish while the account is disconnected.

Monitor Posts and Social Performance

Keeping an eye on your publishing activity helps you catch failed posts, maintain active connections, and spot the content that resonates most.

• Use the Planner tab to view your scheduled content in calendar or list view and check post status.
• Use the Analytics or Reporting tab to review available engagement metrics for each connected account.

Available metrics and reporting timelines vary depending on the platform, account type, and permissions you've granted.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens when a social account expires or disconnects?
Scheduled posts can't publish to that account until it's reconnected. Captivation Hub shows an in-app alert and can also send an email notification. Head to Social Accounts in the Settings to reconnect.

Can I use different captions or media on each platform?
Yes. Select multiple social accounts and turn on Customize for Each Channel. From there you can edit each platform's caption and media separately before scheduling.

Can I schedule posts in bulk?
Yes. Social Planner supports CSV and XLSX uploads with up to 90 posts per file. Review and correct any flagged errors before importing.

Why is Edit Video Thumbnail not available?
Custom thumbnails are only supported on certain platforms and post types. If the option doesn't show up, check the current Social Planner media guidelines for your platform.

Why are some analytics missing or delayed?
Available metrics and reporting delays depend on the platform, account type, permissions, and selected date range. If Captivation Hub prompts you to update analytics permissions, reconnect the account to restore full reporting.