When planning social posts in Buffer, keep three things separate: a posting schedule is a repeating set of weekly time slots, the queue holds posts waiting to go out, and a draft is unfinished content that is not ready to publish. A date on a draft is only a planning reminder; the draft still needs to be scheduled as a finished post.
Buffer sends content to connected social accounts, which Buffer calls channels. WordPress publishers can also use PressQueue, a free WordPress plugin that sends new posts to Buffer automatically.
Set a posting schedule for each channel
Connect a social account, then open Publish, select the channel, and use the settings cog beside its name to set its timezone and posting times. Add slots for the days and times when you want Buffer to publish posts. Each channel has its own schedule, so repeat the setup for other accounts. Buffer’s schedule instructions also cover editing or removing existing slots.
The slots repeat each week; the content does not. For example, if you set Monday, Wednesday, and Friday times, Buffer can place different posts in those openings. Buffer also offers posting goals and suggested schedules to fill a calendar. Use suggested times as a starting point; they do not guarantee better engagement. See Buffer’s posting goals.
Check the timezone before scheduling. The channel’s timezone controls publishing, while the All Channels view uses your computer’s timezone and the mobile app uses your device’s local timezone. Times in the All Channels view and mobile app can differ from the channel’s publishing time.
Add posts to the queue
Select one or more channels and write your post, then choose a publishing option from Buffer’s scheduling options:
- Next Available places it after the other queued posts in that channel’s schedule.
- Prioritize moves it to the top of the queue.
- Set Date and Time assigns a specific publishing time.
- Now publishes it immediately.
Use Next Available for regular posts that can follow your schedule. Choose a specific time for an event or announcement tied to a date. A custom-timed post stays at its chosen time when you change the schedule; ordinary queued posts move into revised slots.
Some posts need you to finish publishing on your phone. Buffer’s notification-publishing option sends a reminder so you can finish publishing in the social network’s app. Check for that option when composing, especially for channels or media that require manual publishing. Buffer explains the notification workflow.
Reorder or pause queued posts
Open the post’s channel, then drag the post to a new position, or open its menu, choose Reorder, then Move to Top or Move to Next Available Slot. Buffer’s queue controls do not apply to custom-timed posts in the same way, so keep those at their assigned times.
To stop scheduled posts for a channel, go to Publish, open the channel settings, and select Pause Queue. Pausing is per channel, so pause each channel you need to stop. Removing posting times does not cancel posts already scheduled. Buffer describes the pause and resume behavior.
Save drafts and schedule them when ready
In the post composer, choose Save as Draft to keep content unfinished. To find drafts for a channel, open Publish and select that channel’s Drafts view. Buffer also provides a calendar sidebar for drafts and posts awaiting approval, accessible through No Date in the calendar.
When the content is ready, edit the draft and choose Add to Queue to use an available slot or Schedule Post to set a specific time. A dated draft remains a draft until you take this step; its planned date does not authorize it to publish. Buffer explains how to save and schedule drafts.
When PressQueue fits a WordPress publishing workflow
PressQueue is a free, open source WordPress plugin built for Buffer. When you publish a post, it hands the post to Buffer, and Buffer posts it to your channels. You need a WordPress site where you can upload plugins and a Buffer account with social accounts connected.
Download pressqueue.zip from the PressQueue download page, then go to Plugins > Add Plugin > Upload Plugin in WordPress. Connect it by pasting a personal Buffer API key from your Buffer settings; there is no Buffer login button. The key is stored encrypted.
PressQueue starts in test mode, where it records what it would share without sending posts. Set rules for which WordPress posts to share and which Buffer channels to use. Specify the messages and images to send, along with when to send them. New rules start off, so test them against recent posts before switching them on. For scheduling, you can add a post to the end of Buffer’s queue or put it at the top of the queue, ahead of posts already waiting. You can also send it right away, save it as a Buffer draft, or choose a date and time.
PressQueue works through Buffer with LinkedIn, X, Bluesky, Mastodon, Threads and Facebook. The PressQueue documentation covers setup.