Multiple Pics in Social Posts

[Cloudia]

We are missing the option to attach more than one picture to e.g. Insta or Twitter posts.  Is this feature planned?

[AllisonWolcott]

The original post about this topic was from August 2018, I think. In a few weeks, it will be January 2020, yet this issue remains.

Since August 2018, from what others in this thread are reporting, it seems that competing platforms have offered the ability to post multiple images to LinkedIn and Instagram.

I understand HubSpot's position that it's on LinkedIn and Instagram to update their HubSpot APIs, but isn't it also on HubSpot to keep up with what the competition is offering, and to work with social platforms to get it done? 

[chriscardone]

Hi @AllisonWolcott!

I can shed some light on this;

Instagram is a VERY closed API right now, with only a few companies receiving any access to their posting feature.

So, Instagram has most likely not yet provided Hubspot the ability to attach multiple posts.

Reference link: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/instagram-api/guides/content-publishing/

Also, it's an incredibly new API; therefore, publishing a stable feature using a new API takes some time.

However, if you need something right away, Buffer does offer that feature along with Later.com 🙂

Best of luck,

Chris Cardone

[AllisonWolcott]

Thanks for the quick reply and the alternative solutions, @chriscardone .

My point is more about optics. From where HubSpot users sit, as you can see in this thread, it looks odd that users of competing tools have access to this functionality while we do not. It makes users doubt that HubSpot is trying to resolve this. And, the responses from HubSpot sound like finger-pointing at the platforms.

I realize optics aren't reality, and that these things take time, and I appreciate all of the features HubSpot does offer that I love. For me, this issue is not a dealbreaker. It's just an inconvenience.

[jago]

I second the response from @AllisonWolcott. While this isn't a dealbreaker, it's disappointing that a major company like Hubspot isn't moving forward in line with their competition. It's not a good thing that we're on this board sharing alternative services to use. Especially considering how much Hubspot costs, I expect them to move faster than services that are free and/or much less expensive. 

[camdahl]

I third the responses from both @AllisonWolcott and @jago! This has been my point the whole time. The technology is clearly out there. We are paying a LOT of $$ for HubSpot services. And, to be frank, this is getting to the point of being a deal breaker for me, personally. I am a marketing department of one. Everytime I want to do a multi-image post, in order to stay on par with our competition, it's like pulling teeth! I post what I can via HubSpot then I have to email myself all the individual pieces of content in order to post on IG. It's tedious and annoying!! And it's frustrating that HibSpot doesn't seem to be advocating for it's users on this. 

[AllisonWolcott]

@camdahl that sounds like a pain. 😞

[camdahl]

@AllisonWolcott it really is! And it's precious time spent doing something that should be entirely automated when I could be focusing my efforts elsewhere. And, to your point, the really frustratng part about all of this is that it doesn't seem to be getting ANY attention. Each time I post in here I just get responses about how IG and LinkedIn don't allow this and here are some other options and blah, Blah, BLAH! Really wish HubSpot would take some notice and proactively work on this. Or , if they are, keep us in the loop.

[maddietabor]

Agreed! I really love HubSpot, and everything else about this tool is great, but when budget decisions come around next, I just don't know this will be an easy sell anymore given the price and lack of speed to catch up to the competition...

[jago]

Not only do we have to duplicate work, but we also lose valuable statistics by not posting via Hubspot. It's not right that we, as the users, have to choose - use the expensive tool with limitations or not use the tool and lose data. When my boss is asking why we aren't posting multiple images, it's a tough sell on why this expensive service I'm paying for doesn't allow me to do it. While it's not a deal-breaker for me, yet, it could be for my company. 

[camdahl]

Couldn't agree more!!

[Latitude37]

100% Agree. 

You can post on Linked In with multiple photos, so why wouldnt you be able to via Hubspot? It really defeats the purpose if you cannot mimic the same features of the platform your trying to schedule for!

[RenéP]

What is there to add... this should really become a priority for social medias. I hope it comes soon!

[JustinTime]

This should hardly be marked 'solved'.   Using a third party app or a different social media marketing tool entirely isn't exactly efficient or useful, especially when this is a paid product.   

As companies shift more and more of their marketing focus to social media, these quality of life fixes need to be addressed on a shorter curve than the 2+ years this simple request has been going on for.   

It's 2020 - and we still can't create a multi-image post on Instagram or LinkedIn?   

[jago]

Agreed! This is far from solved. Instagram is still not allowing multiple images. Until this is updated (and yes, Instagram allows multiple images from 3rd party software, and has for a while now), this thread should NOT be marked as solved. 

[jago]

To clarify, the Instagram function in Hubspot is still not allowing multiple images, even though Instagram's API allows for this. In fact, many other third party posting services have allowed us to do this for a long time now. Especially now, as many businesses are in the process of cutting costs in order to avoid/reduce layoffs because of the current world circumstances, I'd think Hubspot would tackle this seemingly low-hanging fruit to appease its customers as they are deciding what to do moving forward. 

By the way, MeetEdgar allows posting multiple images on Instagram from its services, and you can easily schedule on multiple platforms, for anyone looking for an alternative. 

[JustinTime]

As I sit here right now - I have an important post to update our company Instagram with.  As it involves the rollout of a new company product, I NEED to see the metrics on how well it does.   BUT - I need it to show TWO pictures.   What would you suggest I do, HubSpot,  @hubSpotDev?  @John_Gennell?    Are you suggesting that other lesser companies have been given access to Instagram's API that enables these features, but not HubSpot?   What are you folks doing to fast-track this clearly MUCH-needed feature?

Use another service?

[Latitude37]

You can combine 2 photos in photoshop, or use an app like Layout to combine 2 pictures in 1, then upload it into hubspot from there. hope this helps.

Its rediculous we have to go to these lengths in the first place, but thats all we can do right now, and its what i do for Linked in posts when i need more than 1 photo.

[JustinTime]

I appreciate your help... but combining photos isn't a solution, it's a bandaid.   And it doesn't always work.   Instagram photos are notoriously small to begin with, forcing a 1:1 ratio in order for it to look halfway decent.   If the viewing party would be forced to click on the photo in order to see all the detail present in the picture, it's already a failed effort.   IG posts need to get across the idea at a glance, and the less space you're working with to do that, the better chance you have of not reaching the customer at all.

But thank you for being helpful.  

[Latitude37]

I totally agree, we shouldnt have to go to these lengths and go out of our way for something that is so basic and easy to implement.

[cbmb]

Is this feature coming soon?

[PamCotton]

Hello @cbmb 

At the moment on Linkedin, Twitter, and Facebook you should be able to add more than one photo. But with Instagram, this functionality is not yet available from Instagram so it won't be possible at the moment.

I was able to find a similar idea in our Ideas forum here, my suggestion is if you could please upvote on this idea and leave your feedback, as this forum is constantly monitored by our developers.

Kindly,

Pam

[cbmb]

There are lots of other Social tools available that have worked a way around the Instagram carousel post issue by way of an app that syncs posts and reminds you to publish at the set time.  It's not perfect but it's a workaround.  Check out ContentCal for example.... Hubspot is lacking behind.   We're looking at going elsewhere as Hubspot just can't keep up with the times and other tools are available at a fraction of the cost that provide this functionality.  

[Karolien]

Yes, multiple photo's -carroussel on Instagram is a must for social media planning.

[PamCotton]

Hello @Karolien,  I would recommend to please upvote this idea here 

Upvoting here will alert our Product Team to the popularity of this request. Doing so will also auto-notify you if/when this functionality becomes available within HubSpot. You may read more about how that review process works here.

[Synapse]

As an annual subscriber, socials management is one of the main reasons I subscribed to HubSpot. With so many applications that are above and beyond your competition and such a costly service, I am stunned multiple images is not a part of the IG plugin. Social Media is a huge piece of anyone's marketing efforts nowadays and there is no doubt this should be a part of the plugin.

[PamCotton]

Hello @Synapse, thank you for sharing your feedback. I strongly suggest sharing this feedback and please upvote this idea here.

As our product team will be able to see more information in that specific idea and you will be able to receive any updates.

Kindly,

Pam

[TGeraghty]

Reading the customer responses (and lack thereof from Hubspot) it's clear that Hubspot is being surpassed by competitors who can offer something as simple as multiple image posts via instagram. (And yes, I've already upvoted  this idea here. ) Here's hoping this becomes more of a priority and quickly as using multiple tools is counterintuitive to why we subscribe to Hubspot.