Choosing and Managing Post Formats in Alkai
When creating content in Alkai, selecting the right post format ensures your content looks professional and performs well on each platform. Here’s how you can easily choose and manage post formats to suit your social media needs.
There are three ways to select the best format for your content:
When editing a post you can change the format by changing the layout. To do so, while editing a post click on “Layout” and Alkai will present you a selection of all layouts for your post. This includes different formats (for example, if your post is recorded as a square, you can select the “tall” layout to make it vertical instead), and you can also change the post between video or static image formats (for example, if your post is currently recorded as a video, scroll to the right of the Layouts catalog to reach the “Image” section; selecting any layouts under “Image” will be a static image instead of a video).
When you start creating a post, simply tell Alkai whether you need a vertical video, square image, or vertical image. Alkai will handle the rest, helping you create the ideal post format for your platform.
Each post idea in the Plan tab comes with a suggested post format based on your Plan Settings. You can change the post format of a planned idea before it is drafted by clicking on the post idea and selecting a different post format. This flexibility lets you tailor each planned post idea to your specific needs before Alkai drafts your daily posts.
Click on the currently selected format in the post format section to choose. Each option will have information on which networks are recommended for that format.
You can control the formats you want Alkai to use from the Plan settings area of the app.
Open Alkai and click the Profile option in the lower navigation.
In Settings, Click Plan settings
Scroll to the header Formats and select or deselect available or coming soon formats. Alkai will only use your selected formats when generating post ideas.
Curious about the different post formats available? Check out our detailed guide on Alkai's post formats here.
Can I customize the layout of my post?
Yes! Depending on the format you choose, Alkai provides various, professionally designed layout options.
Does changing format apply to all my future posts?
By changing the format of a single planned post, you will not affect any other posts - this is to ensure that the planned idea assortment remains versatile and caters to all users and social media channels.
What if I need to switch formats after creating a draft?
If you've already started a draft and realize you need a different format, you can change the format of your post under the "Layout" tab on the "Edit post" page. You can switch between different post orientations as well as between static images and videos.
What formats are used for holiday posts?
Holiday posts come with preset layouts that include vertical video, portrait image, square static, square video, or landscape formats. These are designed to capture attention during festive seasons, and while you can still customize text, colors, fonts, and media, you won’t have different layouts to try on for holiday posts.
Why does my plan include a mix of post formats?
Your plan includes a mix of post formats to help you reach a wider audience by tailoring content to different platforms and maximizing engagement. Each format is optimized for specific types of posts, ensuring your business stays versatile and visible across social media channels.
How come I don’t see the (+) add media button when editing static/image posts?
The (+) add media button may be missing because many of the image formats have media limits and you've reached the limit for the selected layout. To add new media, click on the gear icon of an existing thumbnail and replace it with a different image. Alternatively, you can change the format of the post to “Video” to allow for more images in the post.
How do I choose a post format for a post in Alkai?
There are three ways to select the best format for your content:
1. Changing the format of a generated post on the Edit screen:
When editing a post you can change the format by changing the layout. To do so, while editing a post click on “Layout” and Alkai will present you a selection of all layouts for your post. This includes different formats (for example, if your post is recorded as a square, you can select the “tall” layout to make it vertical instead), and you can also change the post between video or static image formats (for example, if your post is currently recorded as a video, scroll to the right of the Layouts catalog to reach the “Image” section; selecting any layouts under “Image” will be a static image instead of a video).
2. When creating a post by chatting with Alkai:
When you start creating a post, simply tell Alkai whether you need a vertical video, square image, or vertical image. Alkai will handle the rest, helping you create the ideal post format for your platform.
3. Changing the format of a Planned Idea:
Each post idea in the Plan tab comes with a suggested post format based on your Plan Settings. You can change the post format of a planned idea before it is drafted by clicking on the post idea and selecting a different post format. This flexibility lets you tailor each planned post idea to your specific needs before Alkai drafts your daily posts.
Click on the currently selected format in the post format section to choose. Each option will have information on which networks are recommended for that format.
How do I change which post formats Alkai will use?
You can control the formats you want Alkai to use from the Plan settings area of the app.
Open Alkai and click the Profile option in the lower navigation.
In Settings, Click Plan settings
Scroll to the header Formats and select or deselect available or coming soon formats. Alkai will only use your selected formats when generating post ideas.
Curious about the different post formats available? Check out our detailed guide on Alkai's post formats here.
FAQ’s
Can I customize the layout of my post?
Yes! Depending on the format you choose, Alkai provides various, professionally designed layout options.
Does changing format apply to all my future posts?
By changing the format of a single planned post, you will not affect any other posts - this is to ensure that the planned idea assortment remains versatile and caters to all users and social media channels.
What if I need to switch formats after creating a draft?
If you've already started a draft and realize you need a different format, you can change the format of your post under the "Layout" tab on the "Edit post" page. You can switch between different post orientations as well as between static images and videos.
What formats are used for holiday posts?
Holiday posts come with preset layouts that include vertical video, portrait image, square static, square video, or landscape formats. These are designed to capture attention during festive seasons, and while you can still customize text, colors, fonts, and media, you won’t have different layouts to try on for holiday posts.
Why does my plan include a mix of post formats?
Your plan includes a mix of post formats to help you reach a wider audience by tailoring content to different platforms and maximizing engagement. Each format is optimized for specific types of posts, ensuring your business stays versatile and visible across social media channels.
How come I don’t see the (+) add media button when editing static/image posts?
The (+) add media button may be missing because many of the image formats have media limits and you've reached the limit for the selected layout. To add new media, click on the gear icon of an existing thumbnail and replace it with a different image. Alternatively, you can change the format of the post to “Video” to allow for more images in the post.
Updated on: 16/05/2025
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