---
title: "Content Pillars and Formats | Maeve Social"
description: "Create content pillars and formats, choose starter ideas, and delete categories you no longer use."
url: "https://maevesocial.com/guides/labels-and-hashtags/content-pillars-and-formats"
---

On this page

1. [Home](https://maevesocial.com/)
2. [Guides](https://maevesocial.com/guides)
3. [Labels and Hashtags](https://maevesocial.com/guides/labels-and-hashtags)
4. Content Pillars and Formats

# Content Pillars and Formats

Updated October 19, 2026

Open **Labels** and select **Content Pillars** or **Formats** to manage how you classify posts. Editors and Managers can create and manage these categories.

A pillar describes a recurring topic, such as `Customer stories`. A format describes the content approach, such as `Interview` or `Tutorial`.

Labels

LabelsContent PillarsFormatsHashtag Groups

New pillarGet ideas

Behind the scenes

Customer stories

Education

Illustration of workspace categories and the controls used to assign them to a post.

## Create a Pillar or Format

1. Open **Content Pillars** or **Formats**.
2. Click **New pillar** or **New format**.
3. Enter a name and choose a color.
4. Click the create button to save it.

Choose names your team can apply consistently. A format classification does not change the post's publishing type, media requirements, or network settings.

## Use Get Ideas

1. Click **Get ideas** on the tab or inside the creation dialog.
2. Read the suggested names and descriptions.
3. Select the suggestions you want to create.
4. Review the count on the **Add** button, then click it.

Suggestions already present are marked **Added** and cannot be selected again. You can also enter a custom name while selecting suggestions; the button count includes both.

The current dialog has name and color fields for custom entries. It does not have a custom description field. Starter suggestions include their supplied descriptions.

## Assign Categories to a Post

1. Open the post in the composer.
2. Open the pillar or format control in the metadata row.
3. Select the categories that apply.
4. Save the post or complete your usual scheduling action.

Both controls allow multiple selections. A post assigned to several categories can contribute to several rows in a report, so category totals can overlap.

## Choose Between Categories and Labels

| Type           | Use It For                                                       | Applies To      |
| -------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------- |
| Content pillar | Recurring topics                                                 | Posts           |
| Format         | Content approaches or styles                                     | Posts           |
| Label          | Categories you want to filter or report on, with optional groups | Posts and media |

Pillars and formats do not have label-style grouping or merging. Use labels when you need the same category on a post and a media file.

## Delete a Pillar or Format

1. Open the row's actions menu and select **Delete**.
2. Click **Delete** to confirm.

Deleted entries are hidden from new selections while existing post assignments stay attached. Deleting does not reclassify older posts, and you cannot restore a deleted entry.

## Questions

### What is a content pillar?

A recurring topic you assign to posts, such as customer stories or product news.

### What is a format?

A classification for the content approach, such as an interview or tutorial. It does not change the publishing post type.

### How many pillars should I have?

Create the categories you need for your posts and reports. The app does not require a particular number.

### Can a post have more than one pillar?

Yes. Pillars and formats allow multiple selections, so report categories can overlap.

### How are these different from labels?

Pillars and formats classify posts. Labels also apply to media and support groups and merging.

### Do pillars and formats apply to media?

No. Use labels to classify media files.

### What is the Get ideas panel?

A list of starter names and descriptions. Select ideas and use the Add button to create them.

### Should I write a description?

The current custom-entry dialog has name and color fields, but no description field. Starter ideas include supplied descriptions.

### What happens when I delete a pillar?

It is hidden from new selections and keeps its existing post assignments. You cannot restore it.

In Maeve Social

* [Tags and Content Pillars](https://maevesocial.com/features/tags)