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Prerequisites for Bulk CSV Scheduling in Social Planner

Prerequisites for Bulk CSV Scheduling in Social Planner

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Efficiently managing your social media content at scale requires tools that support structure, consistency, and flexibility. One of the most effective methods to achieve this is through bulk scheduling using CSV files within the Social Planner. CSV (Comma-Separated Values) and XLSX file formats allow you to organize content and relevant metadata in a structured format, ready for upload and scheduling. Social Planner supports both .csv and .xlsx formats and offers two powerful options for CSV import, Basic and Advanced, each designed to meet varying scheduling needs.

Bulk Scheduling Options in Social Planner #

Basic CSV Upload #

The Basic format supports essential content elements:

  • Date
  • Content
  • OG Meta URL
  • Image(s) Link
  • Video(s) Link
  • GIFs

Advanced CSV Upload #

Unlock the full potential of social media scheduling with the most feature-rich CSV importer. The Advanced format supports:

  • Platform-specific post types (Post, Story, Reel, Shorts)
  • Watermarking
  • Tags and Categories
  • Follow-up comments
  • Google Business Profile enhancements (post types, CTAs, events, offers)
  • YouTube options (title, privacy, video type)
  • TikTok and LinkedIn PDFs
  • Pinterest board selection, and more

CSV File Prerequisites and Column Requirements #

Note: If a field is labeled as “Advanced” it is only supported in the Advanced format. Fields labeled as “Both” apply to both formats.

1. Date and Time [Both] #

Schedule posts with a 24-hour format (for example, 2025-08-25 21:30).

  • Header: postAtSpecificTime ({{format}})
  • Accepted formats: YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm, YYYY/MM/DD HH:mm, M/D/YYYY H:mm:ss, and more
  • Empty values default the post to Draft status

Note: The upload must occur at least 10 minutes before the scheduled time.

2. Content [Both] #

Insert your post caption and hashtags. Header: content. Ensure character limits comply with the platform requirements:

  • Facebook Page/Group: 62,000 characters
  • Business Instagram Account: 2,200 characters
  • LinkedIn Page and Profile: 3,000 characters
  • Twitter Profile: 280 characters
  • GMB Location: 1,500 characters

3. Preview Link (OG Meta URL) [Both] #

Add the URL to be displayed as a preview link. Header: link. If media fields are populated, this will be overridden and appended to the content.

4. Image URL [Both] #

Insert direct links to your images (max 10 per post). Header: imageUrls. Acceptable formats: .png, .jpg, .jpeg.

Note: Multiple images must be separated by commas.

5. GIF URL [Both] #

Include a single GIF link. Header: gifUrl.

Note: Do not use other media fields in combination.

6. Video URL [Both] #

Insert direct links to your videos (max 10). Header: videoUrls.

Note: Do not use other media fields in combination. Multiple videos must be separated by commas.

7. Media Optimization [Advanced] #

Automatically checks and converts incompatible formats to supported ones (for example, .mp4 to .mov for Instagram Stories). Header: mediaOptimization. Value: true or false.

8. Watermark [Advanced] #

Applies your watermark to uploaded media. Header: applyWatermark. Value: true or false.

9. Tags [Advanced] #

Organize content with tags (comma-separated). New tags are auto-created and added to filters and dropdowns. Tags will be applied in the order they were added. Header: tags.

10. Category [Advanced] #

Organize posts under specific content categories. New categories are auto-created and added to filters and dropdowns if they do not already exist. Header: Category.

11. Follow-Up Comment [Advanced] #

In this column, you may add a follow-up comment, which will appear as the first comment on your post to help boost engagement. Header: followUpComment. Supported platforms: Facebook Pages, Instagram Business, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Communities.

12. Facebook Post Type [Advanced] #

In this column, you can specify the Facebook post type by selecting from the available options: post, story, or reel. Header: type.

13. Instagram Post Type [Advanced] #

In this column, you can specify the Instagram post type by selecting from the available options: post, story, or reel. Header: type.

14. LinkedIn PDF [Advanced] #

In this column, you can provide a LinkedIn PDF title if you intend to publish your content in PDF format. To post the file as a PDF rather than as images, set the corresponding field to true or false using the postAsPdf column. Headers: pdfTitle, postAsPdf. Value: true or false.

15. Google Business Profile [Advanced] #

Enhance posts with events, CTAs, and offers. Headers include: eventType, actionType, title, offerTitle, startDate, endDate, termsConditions, couponCode, redeemOnlineUrl, and actionUrl. CTA posts use actionUrl and ButtonActionType. Event posts use actionUrl, ButtonActionType, title, startDate, and endDate. Offer posts use title, offerTitle, startDate, endDate, termsConditions, couponCode, and redeemOnlineUrl.

16. YouTube [Advanced] #

In these columns, you can specify YouTube-specific options, including the video title, privacy settings (private, public, or unlisted), and content type (video or short). Headers: title, privacyLevel, type.

17. TikTok [Advanced] #

In these columns, you can configure TikTok-specific settings such as privacy level, promotion of other brands, enabling comments, duet and stitch features, video disclosure, and the option to promote your own brand. Headers include: privacyLevel, promoteOtherBrand, enableComment, enableDuet, enableStitch, videoDisclosure, and promoteYourBrand.

18. Communities [Advanced] #

In these columns, you can add the Community options of adding a title and notifyAllGroupMembers. Headers: title, notifyAllGroupMembers. Value: true or false.

19. Pinterest [Advanced] #

In these columns, you can configure Pinterest-specific options by adding the post title and destination link. Headers: title, link.

Whether you are working with basic content or advanced platform-specific features, Social Planner’s CSV capabilities offer the flexibility and structure needed for professional-grade content management. Be sure to download the appropriate sample file, adhere to the column formatting guidelines, and review the prerequisites before uploading. With the right setup, you will save time and ensure consistent, error-free posting across all your connected platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions #

What file formats does Social Planner accept for bulk scheduling? #

Social Planner supports both .csv and .xlsx file formats for bulk scheduling.

What is the difference between the Basic and Advanced CSV formats? #

The Basic format covers essential elements like date, content, links, and media, while the Advanced format adds platform-specific post types, watermarking, tags, categories, follow-up comments, and platform-specific options for GMB, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Communities, and Pinterest.

What date format should I use in the CSV? #

Use a 24-hour format such as YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm, and note that the upload must occur at least 10 minutes before the scheduled time.

How do I add multiple images or videos to a single post? #

Provide direct links in the imageUrls or videoUrls columns (up to 10 each), separated by commas, and avoid combining different media field types.

What happens if I leave the date and time field empty? #

An empty date and time value defaults the post to Draft status.

Which fields require the Advanced format? #

Any field labeled “Advanced,” such as media optimization, watermark, tags, category, follow-up comments, and platform-specific options, is only supported in the Advanced CSV format.

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Updated on May 26, 2026
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