How it works#
A YouTube automation follows one channel. Each new upload becomes an item with the video's title, description, link and thumbnail. You share it on your other networks as a link post, or as a picture post with the thumbnail.
Heropost reads the channel's public videos, so there's no YouTube sign-in, and any public channel works: yours, a partner's or one you curate.
The video file itself isn't copied. Posts share the video's link and thumbnail. To publish the video on Instagram, TikTok or another network, upload the file in the post editor. See Add photos and videos.
Set it up#
- On YouTube, open the channel's page and copy the address from your browser, for example
https://www.youtube.com/@ChannelName. - In Heropost, click Automations in the left menu, then Create Automation.
- On the YouTube card, press Add Automation.
- Paste the address in YouTube Channel URL and press Save. Heropost shows "YouTube automation created! Your items are being imported and will appear shortly."
- Press Settings on the new automation, select your accounts, choose Read from Source or Publish Immediately, and press Save.
Channel addresses that work#
| Works | Example |
|---|---|
| Handle | https://www.youtube.com/@ChannelName |
| Channel ID | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC… |
| Custom name | https://www.youtube.com/c/ChannelName |
| User name | https://www.youtube.com/user/ChannelName |
A link to a single video doesn't work: use the channel's page.
What each item contains#
| Part | From YouTube |
|---|---|
| Title | The video's title. |
| Description | The video's description. |
| Link | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=… |
| Picture | The video's thumbnail, in the best size available. |
Each check reads the channel's latest uploads, up to 100.
Settings that work well#
- Preferred Post Type: Link, so networks that take link posts show the video card. Backup Post Type: Image, so the others get the thumbnail.
- Caption: YouTube descriptions are often long. Choose Custom: it's filled with
{{title}}and{{link}}on separate lines, which suits most networks. - Attach Link to Caption: with Custom and
{{link}}, choose Never, or the link appears twice. - Accounts: YouTube and TikTok accounts aren't listed, because automations can't post to them.
All settings: Automations: how they work.
If it doesn't work#
| What you see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| "Invalid URL" | The address isn't complete. | Paste the full address, starting with https://. |
| "An unexpected error occurred while processing your request." when you save | Heropost couldn't find a channel at that address: it's a video link, a playlist, or a mistyped handle. | Open the channel's main page on YouTube and copy that address. |
| No new items after you uploaded | The automation checks on its schedule (Check for New Posts). Private and unlisted videos aren't public. | Wait for the next check, or open Settings and press Save to check now. Reload the feed. |
| Instagram is left out of the post | Instagram needs a picture, and the item had none. | Rare for YouTube items. Post the item by hand with Create Post and add a picture. |
Questions#
Can it post my videos as Reels or TikToks?
No. Automations share the link and thumbnail, not the video file. Download the video and upload it in the post editor to publish it natively.
Do I need to connect my YouTube channel to Heropost?
Not for the automation. It reads the channel's public videos. Connecting a YouTube account is only needed to publish videos to YouTube: see Connect a social account.
Can I follow someone else's channel?
Yes. Any public channel works. Make sure you're allowed to share what you post.