workflow · how to

Generate a single post

Follow the generate a single post workflow in Slack.

Goal

Finish one post end to end in the single-post create modal: caption, optional AI generation, media, preview, and a save or schedule decision. This workflow covers the full create modal from open through submit.

When to use this

Use this workflow when you need one finished item, not a batch import or a saved idea you will post later. Choose it when you already know the target platform and format and want to write, generate, or attach media in a single modal session.

Reach for a different path when:

  • You are repurposing a URL or thread (use Import and Repurpose).
  • You only need a draft shell without content yet (use Start a new draft).
  • You are promoting a saved idea (use Capture and use ideas).

Before you begin

Confirm you have:

  • Access to the Create work center.
  • At least one connected social account for the active brand when you plan to publish or queue.
  • The correct brand selected, especially in multi-brand workspaces.

AI planning assist is included on Free, Starter, Team, and Scale plans. AI actions in the create modal use that capability when you generate captions, hashtags, or related fields.

Steps

Open the create modal

The single-post modal is reachable from the create command, App Home, shortcuts, and Command Palette execute paths. Common entry points:

  1. Type /social-create, or type /social and run the create task.
  2. Open App Home, go to Create, and start the primary create action.
  3. Open the Command Palette and run the create task.

Confirm brand, account, and format

  1. Confirm brand and account selection in the modal.
  2. Choose the content format for the target platform (post, reel, carousel, story, and other formats your connected accounts support).
  3. If you change format after attaching media, confirm when prompted to clear incompatible media.

Brand selection may branch when no brand exists or when your workspace needs an additional brand setup step. Follow the prompts in the modal.

Build the post

  1. Enter a caption or topic, or use AI actions for a full post or individual fields (caption, hashtags, alt text, overlays when the format allows).
  2. Attach media when the format requires it. Open media management from the modal when you need library picks or uploads.
  3. Set campaign, pillar, or approval workflow selectors when your team uses them.
  4. Choose schedule intent: save as draft, add to queue, pick best time, set a custom time, or publish now when permitted.
  5. Open preview when preview is available for your format.

You can toggle per-platform mode when you publish the same item to multiple accounts with different copy.

Submit and wait for background work

  1. Resolve validation messages (missing media, account mismatch, or required fields).
  2. Submit the modal.
  3. Wait for generation or rendering when AI or motion formats need background work. Slack notifies you on completion or failure. A generation status modal may appear while work runs.

After success, you may see a success modal with options to view the draft or create another post.

Success criteria

You have finished this workflow when:

  • The item appears in Create or Workflow with the expected status: draft saved, pending approval, queued, or scheduled.
  • Preview and caption match what you submitted.
  • Connected accounts on the item match the brand you selected.
  • If generation or rendering ran, you received a completion notification or a clear failure message.

Failed generation appears in App Home failure counts and retry paths on Create home.

Troubleshooting

Validation errors block submit

Fix missing media, account mismatch, or required fields shown in the modal. Open media management to attach or replace assets. Confirm the format still matches your media.

Generation fails

Open failed jobs from Create home and retry when offered. Edit the draft before resubmitting if AI output was off-brand. See Retry a failed generation for the full recovery path.

Wrong brand or no accounts

Reselect brand in the modal. Confirm social accounts are connected for that brand before you queue or publish.

AI actions are unavailable

Confirm your workspace plan includes AI planning assist. Check whether you hit usage limits shown in the modal or a limit message.

Modal actions stop responding after a stack change

If you opened another modal from Create (for example media management or an angle picker), use the visible back or submit controls in the current modal rather than assuming the first modal layer is still active.

To reopen create from another entry point, see Slash commands reference.