Step 1: Create a Post

1. Click the Social tab to the left of the Salsa Engage window, and then click the Social Posts tab.
2. Click the + Create a Social Post button to the top-right of the window.
3. Name this post - Give your post a reference name (that will be used by only Salsa Engage). The name should describe what the post is about so you can search for it in the future.
   
4. Description - Describe your post. (This description will be used only for reference in Salsa Engage.) Since you will probably have a lot of social posts within Salsa Engage, it is best to be as descriptive as possible so that you'll be able to find specific posts later.
5. Choose the social channel to which you want to post a message.
6. Click the Next: Compose Your Post button in the lower right-hand corner of the window to continue.

Step 2: Compose

1. Chose the account(s) to which you want to post. You will be able to choose any social account that you synced. If no account is synced, click the Connect with [Social Channel] button to sync a new account. If you need to reauthorize your Facebook account for Salsa Engage, click here for directions.
2. Write the content of the message you want to send. If you're tweeting, remember to keep it short and sweet. You can make your URL shorter by using a service like bit.ly to keep other links nice and short.
   Pro Tip: to ensure all of your followers can see every tweet, don't lead with an @username or else only folks who follow you AND that user will not be able to see the tweet.
3. Below the field for entering a message, you'll notice that you have two options: Add an image and Choose a link. (These are explained below.) Select one of the options.

Add an Image

Click the Add an image button. You can select an image that has already in your Asset library by clicking the thumbnail of the image; once you've made your selection, click the Save Content button to add the image to your post.

Alternately, you can upload a new image if you don’t already have it in your Assets. To add new images, click the Upload from Computer tab and follow the on-screen directions. The image will be uploaded and focus will be returned to the Choose from Asset Library tab.

When you are done adding images, click Save Content to add the selected image to your message. You will now see the image below your message. You can remove it by clicking the Remove button or return to Your Image Library with the Edit Image button. 

Choose a link

To include a clickable URL to your post, click Choose a link. The Insert a Link window appears. It features two tabs: Your Pages, where you can quickly select from the list of your own pages; and An External Page, where you can enter a link to an external page.

Your Pages - This tab includes a list of the donation, sign-up, and petition pages you've created within your account.  Select from the list, and then click Add it! to place the selected link in your social media post.

An External Page - This tab enables you to add a link to the website you'd like followers to see.  Again, you're given the option to track the number of clicks. Once you've included the URL, click the Add it! button.

Once you have the message drafted, select an option for When should this message be posted? You can choose Post Now or Post Later.

Step 3: Publish

Choose a publishing option:

• Post Now - If you select Post Now, you'll be given the option to publish your post immediately. To post, select Next: Sent it! at the bottom right corner of the Salsa Engage window. Your message will post immediately. If you need to retract it, you can do so from the social channel to which you posted.
• Post Later - If you select Post Later, you'll be given the option to schedule your post for a later time. After you've selected a date and time, click Next: Send it! at the bottom right corner of the window. Your message will post at the time that you scheduled.
  

  Pro Tip: schedule when a post is to be executed based on the time zone of the user that is saving the edit, particularly the time zone setting on that computer workstation. We store the request in a universal time format that will work for all users, regardless of location. A Central time zone user scheduling for an east coast organization has to be cognizant of this relative to when the organization wants the action taken. 10 AM Central time is 11 AM Eastern time! If the time zone setting on the computer is not correct, this can affect scheduling.

Below is an example of how a post will display on Twitter.

Step 4: Analyze Posts' Performance

After you have published a social media post, you can look at analytics to see how well your post is performing.

1. Click the Social tab to the left of the Salsa Engage window, and then click the Social Posts tab.
2. In the table of posted messages, click the message in which you are interested. The analytics page for the post will open.
3. When you are done, click the SOCIAL POSTS bread-crumb at the top of the frame to return to the Social Posts tab.