Connect Accounts

Connecting your social media accounts is the first and most important step in setting up Content Mate. Once connected, you can schedule posts, manage messages, and access analytics for your Facebook Pages, Instagram Business Accounts, and TikTok Accounts. This guide walks you through the connection process for each platform.

Prerequisites

Before you begin connecting accounts, make sure the following conditions are met for each platform you want to use.

Facebook

• You have a Facebook account with administrator or editor access to at least one Facebook Page
• Your Facebook account belongs to a Meta Business Portfolio (automatically created when you own a Facebook Page)

Instagram

• Your Instagram account is a Business or Creator account (not a personal account)
• Your Instagram account is linked to a Facebook Page in your Meta Business Suite
• You have administrator or editor access to the linked Facebook Page

TikTok

• You have a TikTok account with at least one video published
• Your TikTok account is a Business or Creator account (recommended for full API access)

Tip: Connecting via Facebook is the recommended way to also connect Instagram. Through the Facebook connection, you get access to all features including location tags, user tags, and full analytics for Instagram.

Navigate to the Accounts Page

1. Sign in to Content Mate
2. Select the workspace you want to work with (or create a new one)
3. If no account is connected yet, you will be automatically redirected to the Settings page
4. Alternatively, click Settings in the sidebar at any time

On the Settings page, scroll down to the Connected Social Media Accounts section. You will see three cards for the available platforms: Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Each card has a description and a connection button.

Connect a Facebook Page

Connecting a Facebook Page gives you access to post scheduling, Messenger messages in your inbox, comment management, and full analytics for your Facebook Page. It also automatically detects any linked Instagram Business Accounts.

Step 1: Start the Facebook Connection

1. On the Settings page, find the Facebook card
2. Click the blue "Connect Facebook" button
3. You will be redirected to Facebook's authorization page
4. If you are not signed in to Facebook, you will be prompted to log in

Step 2: Select Facebook Pages

In the first step of the Facebook dialog:

1. Select "Opt in to current Pages only" to share only specific pages
2. Place a checkmark next to each Facebook Page you want to connect to Content Mate
3. You can select multiple pages
4. Click "Continue"

Note: You will see all Facebook Pages for which you have administrator or editor rights. If no pages appear, check your role assignments in the Facebook Page settings.

Step 3: Select Business Portfolio

In the second step:

1. Select "Opt in to current Businesses only"
2. Place a checkmark next to the business portfolio linked to your Facebook Page
3. Click "Continue"

Step 4: Select Instagram Accounts (Optional)

If your Facebook Page is linked to an Instagram Business Account, an additional step appears:

1. Select "Opt in to current Instagram accounts only"
2. Place a checkmark next to the Instagram account you want to connect
3. Click "Continue"

Tip: This step only appears if your Facebook Page is linked to an Instagram Business or Creator Account. If you do not see your Instagram account here, refer to the section Link Instagram to Facebook.

Step 5: Review and Confirm Permissions

Facebook displays a summary of all requested permissions:

• Access Page and App insights -- for analytics and statistics
• Manage your business -- for business portfolio integration
• Access profile and posts from the Instagram account -- for Instagram integration
• Upload media and create posts for the Instagram account -- for Instagram posting
• Manage comments for the Instagram account -- for comment management
• Access insights for the Instagram account -- for Instagram analytics
• Manage and access Page conversations in Messenger -- for the inbox
• Create and manage content on your Page -- for Facebook posting
• Manage comments on your Page -- for comment management
• Manage accounts, settings, and webhooks for a Page -- for real-time notifications
• Read user content on your Page -- for analytics
• Show a list of the Pages you manage -- for account selection

Click "Save" to confirm all permissions.

Step 6: Confirmation and Redirect

After successful authorization, Facebook displays a confirmation message. Click "Got it" and you will be automatically redirected back to Content Mate's Settings page.

Step 7: Activate Accounts in Content Mate

Back in Content Mate, you will see the detected accounts listed under your Facebook Page:

1. Each detected account (Facebook Page, Instagram Business Account) has a toggle switch
2. Enable the toggle for each account you want to connect -- the status changes to "Activated / Will be connected"
3. Click the blue "Connect Selection" button

Note: You can choose to activate only the Facebook Page or only the Instagram account -- you do not have to connect both.

After connecting, you will be redirected to the Dashboard where your new accounts appear in the Connected Accounts section with a green status indicator.

Connect an Instagram Account

There are two ways to connect an Instagram account to Content Mate:

Option A: Via Facebook (Recommended)

If your Instagram Business Account is linked to a Facebook Page, it will be automatically detected during the Facebook connection process (see Step 4 above). This method provides access to all features including location tags, user tags, and full analytics.

Option B: Direct Instagram Connection

You can also connect Instagram directly:

1. On the Settings page, find the Instagram card
2. Click the "Connect Instagram" button
3. You will be redirected to Instagram's authorization page
4. Log in to Instagram if prompted and authorize Content Mate
5. After authorization, you are redirected back to Content Mate

Important: The direct Instagram connection may have fewer features compared to connecting through Facebook. For full functionality (location tags, user tags, complete analytics), connect your Instagram account through the Facebook connection instead.

Connect a TikTok Account

Connecting a TikTok account lets you schedule and publish videos and photos directly from Content Mate. TikTok analytics (views, likes, comments, shares) will also become available.

Step 1: Start the TikTok Connection

1. On the Settings page, find the TikTok card
2. Click the "Connect TikTok" button
3. You will be redirected to TikTok's authorization page

Step 2: Authorize on TikTok

1. Log in to your TikTok account if prompted
2. Review the permissions Content Mate is requesting:
   • Access to your basic profile information
   • Access to your profile statistics
   • Ability to publish videos and photos
   • Access to your video list for analytics
3. Click "Authorize" to grant access

Step 3: Confirmation and Redirect

After successful authorization, you are automatically redirected back to Content Mate's Settings page. Your TikTok account now appears under the Already Connected Accounts section.

Note: TikTok uses OAuth 2.0 with PKCE for enhanced security. Access tokens are refreshed automatically in the background, so you should not need to reconnect frequently.

Features Available After Connecting

Manage Connected Accounts

View Connected Accounts

After connecting accounts, you can view them in the Already Connected Accounts section on the Settings page. Each account shows:

• A profile picture (or platform icon as fallback)
• The display name of the account
• The platform (Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok)
• A partially masked account ID (click the eye icon to reveal it)

Connect Additional Accounts

In the same Settings area, you can connect additional accounts at any time:

• Facebook: Click "Reconnect" if you already have a Facebook account connected, or "Connect Facebook" for a new connection
• Instagram: Click "Connect Instagram" for a direct Instagram connection
• TikTok: Click "Connect TikTok" for a new TikTok account

Disconnect an Account

To remove a connected account:

1. Navigate to Settings > Connected Social Media Accounts
2. Find the account under "Already Connected Accounts"
3. Click the three-dot menu next to the account
4. Select "Disconnect"
5. Confirm the action in the dialog

Warning: Disconnecting an account stops all scheduled posts for that account and removes access to its messages and analytics data. This action cannot be undone.

Reconnect Facebook (Renew Token)

Facebook access tokens have a limited validity period (approximately 60 days). When Content Mate shows a warning about expired permissions:

1. Go to Settings > Connected Social Media Accounts
2. Click "Reconnect" on the Facebook card
3. Go through the Facebook authorization process again
4. Your existing accounts will be preserved -- only the access token is renewed

Link Instagram to Facebook

For your Instagram account to be detected through the Facebook connection, it must be a Business or Creator account and linked to a Facebook Page.

Convert Instagram to a Business Account

1. Open the Instagram app on your smartphone
2. Go to Profile > Settings and Privacy
3. Tap Account Type and Tools > Switch to Professional Account
4. Choose Business or Creator
5. Follow the instructions and select a category

Link Instagram to a Facebook Page

1. In the Instagram app, go to Profile > Edit Profile
2. Tap Page under "Public Business Information"
3. Select the Facebook Page you want to link to
4. Confirm the connection

After completing these steps, repeat the Facebook connection process in Content Mate. Your Instagram account should now appear in Step 4.

Privacy and Security

• No Password Storage: Content Mate never stores your Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok passwords. Authentication is handled entirely through OAuth tokens.
• Encrypted Tokens: Access tokens are stored securely and encrypted on servers in Germany.
• Revocable at Any Time: You can disconnect any account through Content Mate or directly in the platform's settings (Facebook: Business Integrations; TikTok: Connected Apps).
• GDPR Compliant: All data is processed and stored in compliance with GDPR regulations.
• Minimal Permissions: Content Mate only requests the permissions necessary for its functionality.
• Automatic Token Refresh: Facebook tokens are refreshed before they expire (60-day cycle). TikTok tokens are refreshed automatically every 24 hours.

Troubleshooting

"No Facebook Pages Found"

Possible causes:

• You do not have administrator or editor rights for a Facebook Page
• You did not select any pages in the Facebook dialog

Solution: Check at facebook.com/pages whether you manage any pages. If not, create a new page or have yourself added as an administrator.

"Instagram Account Not Showing"

Possible causes:

• Your Instagram account is not a Business or Creator account
• The Instagram account is not linked to a Facebook Page
• You did not select the Instagram account in the Facebook dialog

Solution: Follow the steps under Link Instagram to Facebook and repeat the connection process.

"TikTok Authorization Failed"

Possible causes:

• You denied the authorization request on TikTok
• Browser cache or cookies are causing conflicts
• Temporary issues at TikTok

Solution:

1. Clear your browser cache and cookies
2. Disable popup blockers for Content Mate
3. Try a different browser
4. Wait a few minutes and try again

"TikTok Account Already Connected"

Possible cause: The TikTok account is already connected to this or another workspace.

Solution: Each TikTok account can only be connected to one workspace at a time. Disconnect it from the other workspace first, then try again.

"Authorization Failed" (General)

Possible causes:

• Browser cache or cookies are causing conflicts
• Popup blockers blocked the authorization window
• Temporary issues at the platform

Solution:

1. Clear your browser cache and cookies
2. Disable popup blockers for Content Mate
3. Try a different browser
4. Wait a few minutes and try again

"Permissions Missing"

Possible cause: You did not accept all permissions in the Facebook dialog.

Solution: Go to Settings and click "Reconnect" for Facebook. Make sure you click "Save" in the permissions dialog without removing any permissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I connect multiple Facebook Pages?

Yes. During the Facebook authorization process, you can select multiple pages. Each page will be available as a separate account in Content Mate.

Do I need to reconnect my accounts regularly?

Facebook and Instagram tokens expire after approximately 60 days and are refreshed automatically. If automatic refresh fails, Content Mate will display a warning and you can manually reconnect. TikTok tokens are refreshed automatically every 24 hours.

What happens to my scheduled posts if I disconnect an account?

All scheduled posts for that account will be cancelled. Published posts on the platform are not affected.

Can I connect the same account to multiple workspaces?

Facebook and Instagram accounts can typically only be connected to one workspace at a time. TikTok accounts also have this restriction. If you need the same account in multiple workspaces, disconnect it from one workspace before connecting it to another.

Does Content Mate post on my behalf without my knowledge?

No. Content Mate only publishes posts that you explicitly create and schedule. It never posts automatically without your direct action.

Next Steps

After successfully connecting your accounts, you can:

• Explore the Dashboard -- See your statistics and connected account status
• Create and Schedule Your First Post -- Create your first scheduled post
• Explore the Inbox -- Manage your Facebook Messenger and Instagram messages
• Discover Analytics -- Analyze your reach and engagement