Auto-Publishing vs. Notification Reminders

With the increasing number of social media platforms available, planning and scheduling multiple posts from different profiles can be time-consuming and overwhelming. That's where our publishing features like auto-publishing and notification reminders come into play! 

Auto-publishing: Set it and forget it

Auto-publishing is a feature offered by Vista Social that allows users to schedule and automatically publish content in advance without needing to manually post at the scheduled time. This automation feature can save time and effort for users who want to maintain a consistent posting schedule without having to be constantly present on social media.

How does auto-publishing work? 

1. After you craft your post (by selecting profiles and adding a caption), you'll see the "Auto publish" option enabled by default in the preview area.

2. All you have to do is choose a scheduling option, like adding to a queue or choosing a specific date/time.

3. At the scheduled time, the post will automatically get posted for you!

Notification Reminders: Manual posting on your device

Reminder publishing is a feature that sends users a reminder at the scheduled time to manually post their content (e.g., Facebook stories). Instead of automatically publishing the content, Vista Social sends a push-notification reminder to the user's email address, or if they have chosen a device, it will prompt them to log in to their Vista Social app and post the content themselves. 

So how do notification reminders work?

Mobile app reminder

1. Downloading the Vista Social app

• App store
• Google Play

Open the app and allow notifications (This is important since this is how you'll get notified at the scheduled posting time).

Just log in with your Vista Social account details, and your device will be ready to receive Notification Reminders.

2. Time to schedule your post!

Head to Vista Social on the web and start crafting your post.

Once you have created your post, you'll find an option to pick your "device" (the phone from which you have logged in) from the list. 

Then, just schedule your post! 

At the scheduled time, you'll receive a notification on your phone, like this:

Just open the notification and share it on your social media network.

When the notification opens simply click on "Continue to [Social Network]" Be sure to grant permission to access your phone's photos

3. Track your post

This step is optional, but if you mark your post as published in the app, it helps you better track your posts.

 Simply click on the check mark to acknowledge the post (mark it posted) or the x mark to reject it (you don't want to publish it). This way, you can find the post on your calendar: 

Email reminder

1. Once you're done creating your post, choose Send reminder notification on the right-hand side.

2. Then on the dropdown below it, choose the email address you want to send the notification to.

3. Choose your publishing option at the bottom.

4. On the scheduled date and time, you will receive the reminder through your email. Click on View post.
 

5. On the other tab that will open, you'll see the post you crafted. Download your media, copy your caption, and share the post on your social network. Confirm publication by clicking on the check mark, so you can keep track of what's published.

6. And you're done! Now let's look at the mobile app reminder notification setup.

Which profile types can use auto-publishing vs. notification reminders?

Here is an overview of which profile types are able to use Auto Publishing versus Notification Reminders

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What’s the difference between auto-publishing and notification reminders?
A: Auto-publishing means your post is published automatically at the time you schedule it. No manual steps required. Notification reminders send you a prompt (via email or mobile app) to publish the post yourself at the scheduled time.

Q: Which types of social profiles support auto-publishing?
A: Instagram Business and Creator, Facebook Pages, LinkedIn Company Pages & Personal Profiles, Pinterest, Reddit, YouTube, Google Business, Tumblr, Snapchat, TikTok, and X (Twitter) profiles all support auto-publishing. Instagram Personal, Facebook Personal, and Facebook Groups require notification reminders

Q: Why don’t some profiles support auto-publishing?
A: Platforms like Instagram and Facebook limit auto-publishing based on account type. Instagram, for example, only allows auto-publishing for Business and Creator profiles through their API.

Q: How do I set up a notification reminder on mobile?
A: First, log in to the Vista Social mobile app and allow notifications. Then, when scheduling your post on the web, select your mobile device from the “Send notification to” dropdown. You’ll receive a push notification at the scheduled time to manually post.

Q: How does the email reminder option work?
A: After crafting your post, select “Send reminder notification” and choose your email. At the scheduled time, you’ll get an email with a link to download the media, copy the caption, and post it manually.

Q: Can I track which posts I’ve published using reminders?
A: Yes. After you post, click the ✅ checkmark to mark the post as complete. This helps you stay organized and keeps your calendar up to date.

Q: Can I switch between auto-publishing and reminders?
A: You can choose the method that works best for each post. If your profile type supports both, you’ll see both options when scheduling.

Q: How do I know which method is being used for my post?
A: Look at the 'Customize your post' section on the right side when creating your post. If “Auto publish” is selected, your post will go out automatically. If “Send reminder notification” is selected, you’ll be reminded to publish it manually. 

Need further help?

If you have any questions or need additional help, feel free to contact our awesome support team. We are here to assist you! 💙

Related Reading:

Scheduling Instagram Stories with Vista Social

Instagram account types explained: Business, Creator, Personal. Which should you use?

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