Sometimes at work you may need to cancel or reschedule a post that was previously scheduled on a social media account or other platform. Here are some quick answers about how to cancel scheduled posts in various workplace contexts:
On Social Media Platforms
Most major social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn have options to cancel, edit, or reschedule posts that have been previously scheduled. The exact steps vary by platform but generally involve:
- Logging into the account where the post was scheduled
- Going to the “Scheduled Posts” or “Drafts” section
- Locating the specific post and selecting an option to cancel, delete, or edit it
- Confirming that you want to cancel or delete the scheduled post
On Facebook, for example, you would go to Publishing Tools > Scheduled Posts, find the specific post, click on the three dots beside it, and select “Cancel Scheduling.”
In Social Media Management Platforms
If you use a social media management platform like Hootsuite, Buffer, or Sprout Social to schedule posts, you can cancel scheduled posts within those platforms. Steps generally include:
- Logging into your social media management platform
- Going to the queued or scheduled posts section
- Locating the post and selecting an option to cancel, delete, or edit it
- Confirming cancellation of the scheduled post
So in Hootsuite, for example, you would navigate to the Scheduler tab, click on the post, and choose “Cancel Schedule” to remove it.
In Email Marketing Platforms
For scheduled email newsletters or campaigns set up in email marketing platforms like Mailchimp, Constant Contact, HubSpot, or ConvertKit, you can cancel or stop scheduled emails before they go out. Typically you would:
- Log into your email marketing platform
- Go to the section for scheduled or queued emails
- Open the email campaign and find a cancel, stop, or delete option
- Confirm that you want to cancel the scheduled email
So for instance in Mailchimp, you would go to Campaigns > Scheduled, click on the campaign, and choose “Cancel Campaign.”
On Content Management Systems
If you use a content management system (CMS) like WordPress or Drupal to schedule blog posts, pages, or other content, you can cancel scheduled posts by:
- Logging into your CMS platform as an admin
- Going to the section for scheduled, unpublished, or draft content
- Opening the scheduled item and selecting an option to cancel, unschedule or delete it
- Confirming cancellation of the scheduled post
In WordPress, for example, you would navigate to Posts > Scheduled, click on the post, and choose “Cancel Scheduling” in the Publish box.
When Should I Cancel Scheduled Posts?
There are a few common situations where you may need or want to cancel scheduled social media posts, emails, or other content at work:
- The information is outdated, incorrect, or no longer relevant
- There is an emergency or urgent situation that requires communication
- A planned event related to the post has been cancelled or rescheduled
- You notice an error or typo in the scheduled post
- Your company wants to pull or delay a product announcement or campaign
- You are testing posts and no longer need certain ones to go out
- The scheduled post or email is considered poor timing given external events
Having the option to cancel or pull back scheduled content can be extremely useful when situations change rapidly. This allows you to prevent any outdated, irrelevant, or potentially damaging posts from going live.
Best Practices for Canceling Scheduled Posts
When faced with canceling scheduled posts at work, keep these best practices in mind:
Act Quickly
As soon as you realize a scheduled post should be cancelled, act fast to pull it down before it goes live. This gives you the most flexibility to prevent or mitigate any potential issues.
Double Check Platform Settings
Make sure you understand the nuances of canceling or deleting posts in each platform you use. Some only allow edits within a certain timeframe, for instance. Check platform settings so posts are removed properly.
Notify Relevant Team Members
Let co-workers know if you end up having to cancel important or high-profile scheduled posts for any reason, especially those who originally helped develop the content or strategy.
Reschedule Thoughtfully
If you still want the message to go out, consider the best timing and approach to reschedule the post thoughtfully. Rushing to repost something too soon may be counterproductive.
Learn From The Experience
Look at any cancelled post scenario as a learning opportunity. Reflect on how your team can improve content planning and scheduling processes to prevent issues in the future.
Mistakes to Avoid When Canceling Scheduled Posts
When managing the cancellation of scheduled social media posts, email campaigns, and other content at work, be sure to avoid these common mistakes:
Canceling Too Late
If you wait until the last minute to cancel a post, it may already be live and being seen by your audiences. This limits your ability to control the narrative around pulling the content down.
Not Notifying Relevant Team Members
Failing to communicate cancelled posts with colleagues can lead to confusion, duplicated efforts, and frustration that benefits no one.
Deleting WithoutArchiving
Make sure you archive any cancelled posts properly for records management purposes. Simply deleting them permanently may go against company policies.
Canceling Without a Backup Plan
Don’t leave a gap by cancelling a post without thinking through how and when you will reschedule or replace it to avoid gaps in your editorial calendar.
Overreacting Prematurely
Exercise caution before hastily canceling content that can’t simply be unpublished later. Wait for more details of unfolding situations before making rash decisions.
How Do I Cancel Scheduled Emails at Work?
To cancel scheduled email newsletters, campaigns, or other messages before they send at work, follow these steps:
Step 1: Log Into Your Email Platform
Pull up the email marketing or CRM platform used to create the email. Make sure you can access all scheduled emails.
Step 2: Navigate to Scheduled Emails
Go to the section, tab, or menu where scheduled emails are housed. This may be called scheduled, queued, or drafts.
Step 3: Open the Email You Want to Cancel
Locate the specific scheduled email you want to cancel and open it up. You likely need to access the email itself in order to cancel it.
Step 4: Select the Cancel Option
Each platform is slightly different, but there should be a clear cancel, stop, or delete option available within the email preview.
Step 5: Confirm Cancellation
You will be prompted to confirm that you really want to cancel the scheduled email. Read any disclaimers and check the box before submitting.
Step 6: Notify Relevant Team Members
Let colleagues who worked on the email know it has been cancelled so there is no confusion about its status.
Following these steps will cleanly cancel any scheduled email and prevent it from being distributed at the intended time. Just be sure to archive the email for your records afterwards.
Key Takeaways
– Check platform-specific settings to properly cancel scheduled social media posts, emails, and content. Act quickly once the decision is made.
– Notify team members when scheduled content is cancelled to avoid duplication of work or messaging gaps.
– Avoid waiting too long to cancel content before it goes live. But also don’t overreact prematurely to unfolding events.
– Never simply delete cancelled posts. Make sure to archive them appropriately based on company policies.
– Have a backup plan in place when cancelling and removing scheduled items from your editorial calendar.
Conclusion
Being able to efficiently cancel and reschedule social media posts, emails, and other content is an important skill for any marketing or communications professional. While calling back scheduled items can be disruptive, in many cases it is the right approach when situations change or content is no longer accurate. Use the guidance in this article to ensure you have a thoughtful process in place for canceling and recouping from changed plans. With the right platforms and protocols, your team can maintain an agile, reactive approach while keeping stakeholders aligned.