Composing and Publishing Posts

Hootsuite makes it easy to create, preview, and publish social media posts from one place. The Create button is your starting point. After selecting Create → Post, choose the social media account where you want the post to appear.

Inside the composer, you can write your caption and immediately see a real-time preview on the right side. This helps ensure your text, formatting, and layout look correct before publishing.

To add visuals, click Add Media. You can upload files from your computer, choose from your Media Library, use free images, pick GIFs via GIPHY, or even design directly in Canva thanks to the built-in integration.

When your post is ready, you have three publishing options:

• Post Now: publish immediately;
• Schedule for Later: pick a date and time;
• Save as Draft: return later for updates.

Hitting Publish posts your content instantly or at the scheduled time.

Using the Hootsuite Publisher

Scheduling your content in advance is one of the most powerful features Hootsuite offers. It helps you maintain a consistent posting schedule, save time, and plan campaigns strategically.

To access the scheduling tools, open Plan on your dashboard. This brings up your visual calendar view, showing all posts for the week or month. From here, you can create a new scheduled post by selecting Create → Post, choosing the social media account, writing your caption, and adding your media files.

Once your post is set up, click Schedule for Later. You can select a date, choose from recommended posting times, or set a custom time. Hootsuite will then automatically publish your content according to your chosen schedule.

The Planner also allows you to:

• Drag and drop posts to different days or times;
• Edit scheduled posts if priorities change;
• Manage content for multiple accounts across platforms;
• View your entire content plan in one organized timeline.

Creating and Managing Content Templates

To create a template, open Plan → Content → Templates, then select Create a Template. Choose which social account the template is for and begin adding the reusable elements, such as recurring hashtags, slogans, campaign messaging, or media assets you plan to use multiple times. Templates are especially helpful for promotions, recurring content series, or branded announcements.

You can also pre-define audience targeting parameters if you plan to boost those posts later, saving you from reselecting the same settings each time. After adding your content, continue to the metadata section where you can assign tags to organize your templates by campaign, platform, or content type. Optional notes help clarify each template's purpose.

Once saved, templates appear in your Template Library. At any time, you can open a template, select Edit Post, and it will automatically populate your post editor, allowing you to add new visuals, make small adjustments, and publish or schedule instantly.

Using the Media Library and Canva Integration

To access your media files, open Plan → Content, then switch to the Media section. Here you can upload images, videos, and GIFs directly from your device, organize your assets, and even manage team permissions by controlling who can view or use specific media items.

Hootsuite also integrates directly with Canva, enabling you to create designs inside Hootsuite. In Explore Apps, open the App Directory, find Canva, and install it. Once connected, you can start a new design by choosing Create Post → Canva, select a template, or design from scratch with the correct dimensions (e.g., Instagram Post, Facebook Cover, Reel Thumbnail). When finished, your design can be saved straight into the Media Library and inserted into a post immediately.

Exploring Hootsuite App Integrations

Through App Directory, you can integrate platforms like Dropbox, Mailchimp, Canva, Slack, and many others to streamline content creation, communication, and team collaboration.

To access integrations, open More → App Directory. You'll see featured and trending apps, but you can also search directly for tools you rely on—such as Dropbox for media storage, Mailchimp for email marketing, Canva for graphics, or Slack for internal communication. Once you choose an app, click Install, follow the setup prompts, and grant the necessary permissions.

After installation, the integrated features become available directly inside your Hootsuite dashboard, letting you import media, coordinate with your team, design visuals, or sync campaigns.