A basic guide to HootSuite, which lets you schedule posts on Facebook and Twitter. Includes how to set up an account, add streams from Facebook and Twitter, and how to schedule posts in advance.

1. HOOTSUITE
BASICS
join.me: https://join.me/839-721-382
AUDIO (888)251-2909
CODE 630.310.9567
GATEHOUSE NEWS & INTERACTIVE DIVISION

2. The agenda
• What is HootSuite?
• Why use it?
• Getting set up
• How it works
• FAQ
• Resources, additional training

3. What is HootSuite?
• A social media dashboard
• Lets you manage multiple profiles/platforms
• Lets you time your posts
• Allows you to view upcoming posts

4. Why use HootSuite?
• Peak times for social media
traffic don’t line up with
traditional work hours.
• You want to post content
when your readers are
most likely to view it, and
share it.
• Inner Circle 2013 includes
Facebook and Twitter
expectations seven days of
the week.

5. Why use HootSuite
For Inner Circle 2013, all reporters must tweet
from their own professional account
• News consumers are increasingly
turning to Twitter for headlines,
updates and interaction
• Reporters should tweet at least
twice each day and multiple times
during breaking news coverage
GOAL Increase reach, community interaction and
potentially find stories and sources via Twitter

6. Why use HootSuite
For Inner Circle 2013, newsrooms must post to
Facebook every day of the week.
Larger newsrooms also will have increased
posting expectations.
• Readers are typically more active on
Facebook during the weekends, and
we need to reach our audience then.
• Posting more than twice daily gives
more opportunity to promote your
brand and content.
GOAL Increase our website referral traffic
from Facebook for more pageviews.

7. Why use HootSuite
HootSuite allows you to schedule Facebook posts and
tweets from a single account.
FACEBOOK
1-2 staff 6-19 staff
2 posts per day 5 posts per day
3-5 staff 20 or more
4 posts per day 6 posts per day
TWITTER
2 tweets per day, seven days a week
Expectation is the same for all reporters

8. Getting set up
Sign up for a free account at hootsuite.com
• Use an email account
that you’ll always have
access to:
(news@yourpaper.com)
• Use a generic password
that everyone in the
newsroom can have

9. Getting set up
To add Twitter:
(1) In the top, left corner,
click your user profile icon
(2) Under My Social Networks,
click Add a Social Network

10. Getting set up
(3) Click Twitter
(4) Click Connect
with Twitter

11. Getting set up
(5) Authorize HootSuite
to use your account by
logging in to Twitter.
• Type in your Twitter
handle
• Enter your password
• Click Authorize app

12. Getting set up
To add Facebook:
(1) In the top, left corner,
click your user profile icon
(2) Under My Social Networks,
click Add a Social Network

13. Getting set up
(3) Click Facebook
(4) Click Connect
with Facebook

14. Getting set up
Add social networks like Facebook and Twitter
(5) Type in Facebook
credentials
(6) Click Log In, located
at the bottom-right of
the login screen
(7) Click the “plus” icon to add the profile. Click
the check mark to remove the profile

15. Getting set up
Add social networks like Facebook and Twitter
(8) Check the box, ensuring a new tab is are
created for your Facebook page
(9) Click Finished importing

16. How it works
Compose your post just like you would in
Facebook or Twitter
Cut and paste the link to Select the pages
your story into the built-in you want to
URL shortener publish to
Click Send Now to post, or the calendar icon
to schedule your post

17. How it works
How to: Time-stamp a post
Click on the calendar icon
Type in your message
Use built-in link shortener
Select a date, time
Click “Schedule”

18. How it works
How to: Monitor scheduled posts
Click on the
paper airplane
icon
View your
upcoming posts

19. How it works
How to: Alter or delete a scheduled post
Click on the post
Select the “X”
You can also edit your post by
selecting the “Edit” option.

20. FAQ
Can I delete Facebook content on Hootsuite?
No. If you want to delete a post, you must log in to
your Facebook page and delete it manually.
I’m using the built-in scheduler on Facebook.
Do I need to switch to HootSuite?
No. Using Facebook’s scheduler is fine. But
HootSuite allows you to add Twitter accounts, so
you can schedule tweets in advance.

21. FAQ
The free version of HootSuite only allows five
streams. I have six Twitter or Facebook
accounts. What now?
HootSuite Pro, which lets you add unlimited
streams, is $10 a month.
If Pro isn’t an option, organize your streams using
multiple accounts.
Can I remove streams I no longer want?
Yes. Under your profile, all your social networks will
be listed. To remove one, just hover over it, click
on the gear that appears and choose “Remove from
HootSuite.”

22. Resources
• More information can be found in the 2013 Inner Circle
Handbook. Download at www.ghnewsroom.com
• Contact your content team manager:
Mike Turley Carlene Cox
mturley@ ccox@
corp.gatehousemedia.com corp.gatehousemedia.com
Sarah Corbit Brad Jennings
scorbitt@ bjennings@
corp.gatehousemedia.com corp.gatehousemedia.com

23. Resources
Twitter for Reporters
A basic session for reporters who have little or no
experience with Twitter. Training will cover how
and when to tweet, how to gain followers and will
explain basic Twitter terminology. Also included will
be ideas for posts, ethical boundaries and how to
time-stamp posts to appear on non-working days.
When: 2 p.m. Central, Thursday, Jan. 24

24. Resources
"Coming in Print"
Explains the strategy behind “Coming in Print” and
offers suggestions on how to write engaging
promotions.
When: 2 p.m. Central, Friday, Jan. 25

25. Resources
Seen-on-scene photo galleries
Covers how to maximize time spent taking and
uploading seen-on-scene galleries and effectively
translate those efforts into page views. Includes
suggestions on where to shoot seen-on-scene
galleries.
When: 2 p.m. Central, Tuesday, Jan. 29

26. HOOTSUITE
BASICS
GATEHOUSE NEWS & INTERACTIVE DIVISION