Ready to schedule your first social media post? This guide walks you through the Viraly post composer — from selecting platforms to scheduling your content.
Opening the Post Composer
There are several ways to open the post composer:
- Click the Create Post button in the left sidebar
- Click the + button in the calendar header
- Click on any date in the calendar view
The post composer opens as a full-screen dialog with three main areas:
- Left sidebar — Your connected social profiles
- Center panel — Content form and settings
- Right panel — Real-time preview of your post
Selecting Platforms
Before writing your content, select which social platforms you want to post to:
- Look at the row of platform icons at the top of the composer
- Click on each platform you want to post to
- Selected platforms show a colored border; unselected ones are grayed out
You can select multiple platforms to post the same content across all of them at once. Each platform will create its own post.
Tip: Make sure you’ve connected your social profiles first. Only connected profiles appear in the platform selector.
Writing Your Content
The center panel is where you write your post content:
- Click in the main text area
- Write your caption, message, or description
- Watch the character counter to stay within platform limits
Character Limits
Each platform has different character limits:
| Platform | Character Limit |
|---|---|
| 2,200 | |
| 5,000 | |
| X (Twitter) | 280 |
| TikTok | 2,200 |
| YouTube | 5,000 |
| 3,000 |
The character counter changes color as you approach the limit. If you exceed it, you’ll see an error message.
Adding Hashtags
Type hashtags directly in your content using the # symbol, or use saved Hashtag Lists for quick insertion.
First Comment (Optional)
For Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, you can add a first comment that posts automatically with your content. This is useful for adding extra hashtags without cluttering your main caption.
Adding Media
Most social media posts perform better with images or videos. To add media:
- Drag and drop files onto the attachment area, OR
- Click the attachment area to select files from your device, OR
- Click Media Library to choose from previously uploaded files
Supported File Types
- Images: JPEG, PNG, GIF (platform dependent)
- Videos: MP4, WebM, QuickTime
- Documents: PDF, Word, PowerPoint (LinkedIn only)
Managing Attachments
- Reorder: Drag and drop to change the order
- Edit: Click the edit icon to crop or adjust
- Delete: Click the X to remove an attachment
Click Media Requirements in the header to see platform-specific size and format guidelines.
For detailed media guides, see Adding Images and Adding Videos.
Platform-Specific Settings
Each platform has unique settings you can configure:
- Post type: Choose between Post, Reel, or Story
- Tag accounts: Tag other Instagram users in your post
- Add collaborators: Invite others to collaborate on the post
- Add location: Tag a location
- Post type: Choose between Post, Reel, or Story
- Add location: Tag a location
- Add collaborators: For Reels
YouTube
- Title: Required for all YouTube videos
- Category: Select a video category
- Privacy: Public, Unlisted, or Private
- Tags: Add searchable tags
- Board: Select which board to pin to (required)
Scheduling Your Post
Once your content is ready, choose when to publish:
- Click the date/time field to open the calendar picker
- Select your desired date and time
- Click Schedule Post
The post will automatically publish at the scheduled time. You can see it on your calendar with a “Scheduled” status.
Tip: Posts are scheduled in your workspace’s timezone. Check your timezone settings if times seem off.
Other Actions
Besides scheduling, you have other options available in the action menu:
Publish Now
Click Publish Now to post immediately without scheduling. The post goes live right away.
Save as Draft
Click Save as Draft to save your work without scheduling. You can find drafts in your calendar and schedule them later.
Add to Queue
Click the dropdown arrow next to Schedule, then Add to Queue to add the post to your next available time slot. This requires time slots to be configured.
Request Approval
For teams, click Request Approval to send the post for review before publishing. Available on Business plans and above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I post to multiple platforms at once?
Yes! Select multiple platforms in the platform selector, and Viraly will create a post for each one. The content is shared, but each platform gets its own post.
Why don’t I see all my social profiles?
Only profiles connected to your current social set appear. Make sure you’ve connected your profiles and are viewing the correct social set.
What happens if I exceed the character limit?
You’ll see a red error message and won’t be able to schedule the post until you shorten your content. The character counter helps you stay within limits.
Can I edit a post after scheduling?
Yes, you can edit scheduled posts anytime before they publish. Click the post in your calendar to open it for editing. See How to Edit Scheduled Posts.
How do I cancel creating a post?
Click the X button in the top corner or select Cancel from the menu. If you’ve made changes, you’ll be asked to confirm discarding them.
Where can I see my scheduled posts?
All your posts appear in the Calendar view. You can also use the List view to see them in a queue format.