Create a Short for exactly one connected YouTube channel and start its upload now or at a scheduled time. Create separate posts for Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok. The YouTube selection uses its own title, visibility, and audience fields.
Requirements and file checks
First, connect your YouTube channel. Your workspace role must allow creating or scheduling the post, and the connection must have valid Google authorization for uploads.
| Field or property | ContentMate requirement | Example or explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Number of media files | Exactly one video | No image series or carousel |
| File format | MP4 or MOV | The file must be recognized as that video type; renaming its extension is not enough |
| Dimensions | Square or vertical | 1080 × 1920 and 1080 × 1080 meet the aspect ratio requirement; 1920 × 1080 is landscape |
| Duration | More than 0 seconds, no longer than 180 seconds | A 3:01 video must be shortened |
| Video metadata | Readable duration, width, height, and file size | Without these values, ContentMate cannot validate the file |
| Title | 1 to 100 characters | Whitespace alone is not a valid title |
| Description | Optional, up to 5,000 characters | Additional information about the video |
| Visibility | Explicit selection required | Private, unlisted, or public |
| Audience | Explicit selection required | Made for kids or not made for kids |
Passing ContentMate's technical checks does not guarantee YouTube approval. YouTube determines Shorts classification and processes the video. See YouTube's three-minute Shorts guide.
1. Select the channel and video
- Open the Planner and create a new post.
- Select the intended YouTube channel. The wizard uses YouTube Short and clears any other platforms previously selected.
- Upload a video or choose an existing file from the Media Library.
- Check the preview and media messages. A video in your media library has not yet been uploaded to YouTube.
- Resolve file errors before continuing. For example, shorten an overlong video or export it again with the correct aspect ratio.
A YouTube Short has exactly one destination channel. Recheck the channel name in the final summary, especially when managing several clients or workspaces.
2. Understand the title and description
In Short title and description, specify the text sent to YouTube with the video.
- Title: Your video's name on YouTube. Write a clear summary of its content. The counter shows usage against the 100-character limit.
- Description: Optional additional text. This field can remain empty; its limit is 5,000 characters.
- Preview: Helps you check your input. It does not replace checking the processed video on YouTube.
An automatic first comment is not supported for YouTube. If needed, write a later reply through the inbox.
3. Choose visibility
| Selection | Who can watch? |
|---|---|
| Private | You and people explicitly selected through YouTube. Having the link alone does not grant access |
| Unlisted | People with the video link; they can share it with others |
| Public | Anyone; the video can appear on the channel, in search, and in recommendations |
Unlisted therefore does not mean confidential. See YouTube's visibility settings guide.
ContentMate labels your selection Requested visibility. After uploading, check Visibility confirmed by YouTube when available and open the video on YouTube. Restrictions applied by YouTube can result in a different setting. Uploaded to YouTube alone does not confirm public publication.
4. Choose the audience
Made for kids or Not made for kids describes the intended audience of this particular video. Select it based on the content. It is not an advertising audience selector.
This classification affects available YouTube features. For example, comments are unavailable on content made for kids. If unsure, consult YouTube's audience settings guide.
5. Schedule the time
To upload later, enable Schedule post and choose a date and time. Check the time displayed in the summary before saving.
Scheduling sets the start of the upload. Transfer and YouTube processing take additional time. For example, an upload scheduled for 18:00 starts transferring at that time; it does not promise that the video is publicly playable at 18:00. A media file successfully saved in ContentMate has not necessarily been processed by YouTube.
6. Review and confirm
- Check the channel, file, title, description, visibility, audience, and upload time.
- Read the statement about YouTube's Terms of Service, Community Guidelines, and third-party rights, then select its confirmation checkbox.
- Choose Upload now or Schedule upload.
- Wait for the result and check the calendar entry.
This content confirmation applies to the particular upload. The Google account authorization you previously granted does not replace it.
Check the upload status and result
Open the calendar entry to check its title, description, audience, and visibility. After a successful upload, the entry can show the YouTube video ID and an Open video on YouTube link.
| Information | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Scheduled time | When ContentMate should execute the upload |
| Uploaded to YouTube | The video has been transferred; also check visibility and playback on YouTube |
| Requested visibility | The setting you selected in ContentMate |
| Visibility confirmed by YouTube | The setting returned by YouTube, when confirmation is available |
| Error message | The operation needs checking; the error alone does not establish whether a video already exists on YouTube |
Use the full planner to edit YouTube content. The quick view shows YouTube fields for review and directs you to the planner for editing. For a video already uploaded, check changes directly in YouTube Studio.
Resolve common errors
| Problem | Next step |
|---|---|
| Select exactly one video | Remove extra media or select a video instead of an image |
| Unknown duration or dimensions | Export the file again with readable metadata and upload it to the media library |
| Video too long or landscape | Shorten it to three minutes at most, or export a square or vertical version |
| Upload button disabled | Check the title, media errors, visibility, audience, and content confirmation |
| Missing account permission | Reconnect the channel and check your workspace role |
| Upload failed | Read the error and check the channel for an existing video before starting another upload |
| Uploaded video is not public | Compare requested and confirmed visibility, and check its status in YouTube Studio |