Getting started with Buffer's publishing features

This guide walks you through publishing with Buffer for the first time. The first step to getting started with Buffer is connecting your social channels. From there, you can create your ideal posting schedule, engage with your audience, and analyze your results. Let’s get started!

In this article:

1. Connect your first channel to Buffer
2. Set up your timezone, posting schedule, and other channel settings
3. Compose, schedule, and publish a post
4. Using Buffer's account settings

Connect your first channel to Buffer

To publish with Buffer, connect a social channel first. A channel is a social account you've linked to Buffer, such as a Facebook Page, an Instagram account, or a LinkedIn profile.

Watch the video below to learn more about connecting your social channels to Buffer.

1. To speed up the connection process, log into your social channel first, then open Buffer in a separate tab.
2. Once you're logged into Buffer, click the Publish tab.
3. Click your profile avatar in the bottom left of your dashboard and select Channels from the dropdown menu.
4. Click the channel you'd like to connect.
5. Click Start Connecting when the pop-up box appears.
6. Authorize permission for Buffer to access your social channels. For specific details on each network's permissions, see our guide to connecting your channels to Buffer.
7. Click the Add to Buffer button.
8. You'll see a dialog box in the top-right corner confirming that your connection was made successfully.

Success! 🎉 Next, let's set up your timezone and configure your posting schedule.

Set up your timezone, posting schedule, and other channel settings

Your posting schedule is the set of time slots Buffer uses to publish the posts you add to your queue, so setting it up (and getting your timezone right) is what makes automatic scheduling work. Set this per channel.

Watch the video below to learn more about adjusting your channel settings in Buffer. This includes adjusting your timezone, posting schedule, link shortening, UTM parameters, and more.

1. Click Publish on the left side of your dashboard, then click one of your connected channels on the left.
2. Click the Settings cog (⚙️) next to the channel name.
3. Replace the city listed with one in your timezone.
4. Scroll down to Posting Times. Here you can add a new posting time (for every day, or for weekends, weekdays, or an individual day), or click the "X" to remove a posting time.
5. Repeat steps 1–4 for each social channel you have connected to Buffer, and explore the other channel settings explained in the video.

All set! Now the posts you add to your queue will automatically be scheduled and published according to your posting schedule. 📆 You're ready to compose your first post.

Compose, schedule, and publish a post

To publish with Buffer, open the composer, choose your channels, add your content, then either add the post to your queue or set a specific time. Buffer publishes it for you at that time.

Watch the video below to learn more about how to schedule posts in Buffer.

1. Click the blue + New button at the top of your dashboard to open the composer.
2. Select the channels you want to publish to. You can select multiple to publish the same content across several channels at once. If you've connected a channel but don't see it here, check that it's connected and that you have posting access to it.
3. Write your text, then upload an image or video. The main text box is your caption (on Pinterest, this is the Pin description). Select Customize for each network to tailor the caption, first comment, or other options for each channel individually.
4. On the left side of your composer, choose when to publish:
   • Next Available adds the post to the next open slot in your posting schedule.
   • Prioritize inserts the post at the top of your posting schedule (moving other posts down by one slot).
   • Set Date and Time lets you choose a custom day and time.
   • Now publishes it immediately.
5. Click Schedule Post on the right side of the composer to finish. Your post moves into your queue (or the time you set).

You're finished! Your post will be published through Buffer at the selected time.

Using Buffer's account settings

Once you're up and running with scheduling and publishing, take full control of your workflow by exploring Buffer’s account settings.

Watch the video below to learn more about:

• Setting up your email notifications,
• Managing tags,
• Configuring channel groups, and
• Updating saved replies for your Community comments.