Reels, Shorts & Stories

Short-form, immersive content formats for deep engagement. Use Publer’s API to schedule or publish Reels (Instagram & Facebook), Shorts (YouTube), and Stories (Instagram & Facebook) with a single JSON payload.

Supported Formats & Specs

Format	Platform	Max Duration	Aspect Ratio	Max Size	Notes
Reels	Instagram, Facebook	3–90 seconds	9:16	1 GB	Optional audio rename, feed toggle
Shorts	YouTube	≤ 60 seconds	9:16	2 GB	privacy: public/private/unlisted
Stories	Instagram, Facebook	≤ 15 seconds	9:16	1 GB	Photo or video, link stickers on IG

Request Structure

Send to the scheduling endpoint or use /posts/schedule/publish for immediate posting:

1. Instagram/Facebook Reel

{
  "bulk": {
    "state": "scheduled",
    "posts": [{
      "networks": {
        "instagram": {
          "type": "video",
          "text": "Our summer Reel!",
          "media": [{
            "id": "67c9630bedeb539dd87dd23c",
            "path": "https://cdn.publer.com/videos/67c9630b.mp4",
            "type": "video",
            "default_thumbnail": 1
          }],
          "details": {
            "type": "reel",
            "audio": "Custom audio name",
            "feed": false
          }
        }
      },
      "accounts": [{
        "id": "67d1f5f13d9895bab04393ec",
        "scheduled_at": "2025-07-27T14:16:00+02:00"
      }]
    }]
  }
}

2. YouTube Short

{
  "bulk": {
    "state": "scheduled",
    "posts": [{
      "networks": {
        "youtube": {
          "type": "video",
          "title": "Our Latest Short",
          "text": "Quick highlights!",
          "media": [{
            "id": "67c9630bedeb539dd87dd23c",
            "path": "https://cdn.publer.com/videos/67c9630b.mp4",
            "type": "video"
          }],
          "details": {
            "type": "short",
            "privacy": "public"
          }
        }
      },
      "accounts": [{
        "id": "64abc34d4e299e662bfd6389",
        "scheduled_at": "2025-08-01T14:16:00+02:00"
      }]
    }]
  }
}

3. Instagram/Facebook Story

{
  "bulk": {
    "state": "scheduled",
    "posts": [{
      "networks": {
        "instagram": {
          "type": "photo",
          "text": "Behind the scenes!",
          "media": [{
            "id": "680fa5cc48487c4ccbf8c146",
            "path": "https://cdn.publer.com/photos/680fa5cc.jpg",
            "type": "photo"
          }],
          "details": {
            "type": "story"
          }
        }
      },
      "accounts": [{
        "id": "67d1f5f13d9895bab04393ec",
        "scheduled_at": "2025-08-24T14:16:00+02:00"
      }]
    }]
  }
}

Common Parameters

Field	Type	Description
networks.{provider}.type	string	"video" for Reels/Shorts, "photo" for Stories
networks.{provider}.text	string	Caption or overlay text
networks.youtube.title	string	Title for YouTube Shorts
networks.{provider}.media[]	array	Media array (IDs from Media API)
media[].id	string	Publer media identifier
media[].path	string	URL to the video or image
media[].type	string	"video" or "photo"
media[].default_thumbnail	integer	Index of the thumbnail image (Reels only)
networks.{provider}.details	object	Format-specific settings
details.type	string	"reel", "short", or "story"
details.audio	string	Custom audio name for Reels (optional)
details.feed	boolean	true to also post Reel in Feed tab (Instagram only)
details.privacy	string	"public", "private", or "unlisted" (Shorts only)
accounts[].id	string	Target account identifier
accounts[].scheduled_at	string	ISO 8601 timestamp for scheduling (omit for immediate publishing)

Workflow

Reels

1. Upload: Use Media API to upload vertical video (9:16).

2. Compose: Set "details.type": "reel", optional audio and feed flags.

3. Schedule: Provide scheduled_at or publish immediately.

4. Verify: Monitor job status and preview in dashboard.

Shorts

1. Upload: Upload video ≤ 60 sec, 9:16 ratio.

2. Configure: Set "details.type": "short" and privacy.

3. Add Title/Text: Populate title and text.

4. Publish: Schedule or publish immediately.

Stories

1. Upload: Add photo or video ≤ 15 sec.

2. Tag as Story: Use "details.type": "story".

3. Caption: Add text overlay.

4. Schedule: Set scheduled_at or publish now.

Best Practices

• Use high-quality, platform-compliant media (9:16 ratio).

• Rename Reel audio to match branding.

• Schedule according to audience peak times.

Related Topics

• Platform-Specific Formats

• Publishing Methods

• Content Types