Choosing a Post Type

Updated September 12, 2026

Choose the post type before writing the caption or adding tags. It determines which fields are available and what media you can publish.

Instagram and Facebook have a post type toggle. Other platforms use the attached media or their own settings to determine the format.

The Maeve composer with a video attached to Instagram, showing the post type toggle and the Instagram settings panel with cover image and share to feed controls — A vertical video makes it a Reel, and the Reel controls appear underneath: cover frame, whether it shows on the grid, and sound.

The post type toggle, drawn once inside each channel's section. Both change together, because the draft holds a single post type. Setting Story disables both caption boxes, and picking Facebook's Reel leaves the Instagram toggle with nothing lit, because Reel is not one of its two options.

Selecting a Post Type

Select Post, Story, or Reel in the channel section. This selection applies to the draft, so changing it under Instagram also changes it for Facebook.

Network	What you can pick
Instagram	Post or Story
Facebook	Post, Story or Reel
Everywhere else	Nothing to pick

For an Instagram Reel, select Post and attach one video.

Formats Determined by Media or Settings

Instagram. A video on a Post publishes as a Reel. Meta has no separate feed video any more, so a single video is always a Reel unless you set the type to Story. A video inside a carousel stays part of the carousel
YouTube. A video is a Short when it is square or taller and runs 180 seconds or less. Anything else is a regular video, which also needs a thumbnail
TikTok. Attaching a video makes a video post, and attaching images makes a photo post. One post cannot hold both
X and Threads. A chain is written in the thread section rather than picked as a type. Write one message and it is a single post
LinkedIn and Pinterest. Prepare the feed post or Pin using the channel's available fields
Google Business Profile. Standard, event and offer live in its settings panel rather than on the post type toggle

The same attachment, read by four networks. Nothing here is a setting: each outcome is worked out from the file, which is why seven of the nine networks have no post type to pick.

What Changes When the Type Changes

Check which fields are supported before switching to Story.

The same Instagram section as a Post and as a Story. Collaborators, product tags and the first comment are gated on the post type and go. Alt text is the trap: the control stays and saves, and Instagram is never sent the text on a story.

What it affects	Post	Story
Instagram caption	2,200 characters	No caption
Facebook caption	5,000 characters	No caption
First comment	Yes	No
Instagram alt text	Sent	Not sent
Instagram collaborators	Yes	No
Instagram product tags	Yes	No

Maeve disables the Instagram and Facebook caption fields for Stories and does not send a first comment. Instagram Stories also do not send alt text, collaborators, or product tags.

Stories

Select Story, then attach the images or videos in publishing order. Maeve creates a separate Story for each selected item, scheduled a second apart.

Both networks want vertical media. Facebook stories run 3 to 60 seconds, and so do Instagram stories.

Three attachments on a story become three stories, in media order, on both Instagram and Facebook. They are queued a second apart and each one waits for the one before it to finish, so nothing arrives out of order.

Reels

A Facebook Reel is one vertical video, 3 to 90 seconds, at least 540 by 960, and it cannot carry a photo alongside it.

For an Instagram Reel, select Post and attach one video. Then review these settings:

Cover. A frame from the video, or a JPEG you upload
Share to Feed. Whether the Reel also appears on your profile grid
Trial reel. Shows it to people who do not follow you first, and Instagram checks account eligibility when you publish
Audio. A track from Instagram, available on the Facebook login

What a Reel adds to the Instagram section. Audio is the one row that turns on how the account was connected rather than on the post, and connecting through Instagram directly disables it with the reason in place of the helper line.

Before You Schedule

Set the type, attach the media, and then complete the available fields. Check the preview after changing type to confirm the format and media selection.

Questions

Why is there no Reel option for Instagram?

Select Post and attach one video to publish an Instagram Reel. Select Story if you want a Story. A video within a carousel remains part of the carousel.

Can the same post be a Story on one network and a Post on another?

No. The toggle is shared across the draft. Create separate posts if Instagram and Facebook need different types.

Why did my first comment not publish on a story?

Stories do not support a scheduled first comment. Use a feed post if you need one.

What happens if I attach several images to a story?

Maeve creates a separate Story for each selected item, scheduled a second apart.

How do I choose between a YouTube Short and a regular video?

Use a square or vertical video up to 180 seconds for a Short. Other videos are treated as regular videos and require a custom thumbnail.

Why can I not type in the caption for my Instagram story?

Maeve does not send captions for Instagram or Facebook Stories. Select Post to use the caption field.

Where is the post type for Google Business Profile?

Open the Google Business Profile settings and choose Standard, Event, or Offer. Each requires different fields.