You set them up in 'Bulk sources setup', which is the fast path: instead of connecting one hashtag at a time, you pick the platforms you want, then type all your mentions, keywords, and hashtags in one pass. From that moment on, matching posts keep arriving on the 'Posts' page on their own.
Before you start, connect at least one social account, so there is something to listen with. See Connect your first source.
Hashtag, mention, and keyword sources start on the Pro Plus plan, and a few platforms require a higher plan than that. See Plans for what each plan includes.
How to add keywords, hashtags, and mentions in bulk
Open the source picker. Click '+ Add source' in the left menu.
Start the bulk setup. Under 'Get started with social listening', click 'Connect sources' to connect multiple accounts at once, instead of picking a single platform from the list below it.
Choose the platforms you want to listen on. Tick every platform you want in 'Connect platforms' and connect the accounts. Each row lists the listening types that platform supports, for example Instagram with 'Mentions' and 'Hashtags', or Threads with 'Mentions' and 'Keywords'. Then click 'Next: Source settings'.
Add your mentions, keywords, and hashtags. In 'Source details', tick 'Mentions' and pick the accounts to monitor, tick 'Keywords' and type the words you want to track, tick 'Hashtags' and type the tags. Keywords and hashtags go in one field each, separated by a comma. Click 'Done' when the list is complete.
Start collecting. Click 'Start listening' in the top right. EmbedSocial starts pulling the public posts that match your topics, or click 'Create widget' if you also want to display that content on your site.
The counter next to 'Bulk sources setup' shows how many sources you are using. Every hashtag, keyword, and monitored account counts as one source against your plan, the same way a connected account does. Each source also has a monthly media limit, so a high-volume topic can stop importing new posts until the limit resets. See Usage and limits.
What each listening type collects
- Mentions. Posts where a monitored account is tagged, so you catch the conversation aimed at you, including the comments you were never notified about.
- Keywords. Posts containing the words you track, even when nobody tags you. This is how you find people discussing your brand, your product category, or a competitor by name.
- Hashtags. Posts carrying the tags you track, which is what you want for campaign tags, event tags, and community tags your audience already uses.
Which types are available depends on the platform, and the 'Connect platforms' step spells it out per platform, so you always see what a platform can and cannot listen for before you set it up.
Where your posts land
Everything your topics collect arrives on the 'Posts' page under 'Social listening' (the page header reads 'Monitor'). Nothing needs importing: the page fills up on its own and keeps updating as new matching posts are published.
Open the filter panel above the table to work through it. 'Source type' narrows the feed to 'Hashtag' or 'Mentions' posts, 'Select sources' limits it to one topic, and the platform, date, and search filters cut it down further.
From here you moderate what you collected: show or hide posts, tag them, and review them one by one. To read what the whole set adds up to, which hashtags carry the conversation and how people feel about it, open Social Insights.
Ready to hear what people say about your brand?
FAQ
What is the difference between a keyword and a hashtag?
A hashtag only matches posts that carry that exact tag, while a keyword matches the word anywhere in the post text, tagged or not. Track a hashtag for a campaign you named, and a keyword for conversations that mention your brand without any tag.
How many keywords, hashtags, and mentions can I add?
As many as your plan's source limit allows. Each one counts as a single source, and the counter at the top of 'Bulk sources setup' shows where you stand. Listening sources start on the Pro Plus plan. See Usage and limits and the pricing plans.
Can I add several keywords at once?
Yes. Type them into the 'Keywords' field separated by a comma, and do the same for hashtags. That is the point of the bulk setup: every topic for every connected platform is entered in one step.
Do I have to create a widget to use social listening?
No. 'Start listening' collects posts into your account for monitoring and analysis. Creating a widget is a separate choice, for when you also want to display the collected content on your website.
How soon do posts appear after I start listening?
The first batch is collected right after setup, then EmbedSocial keeps syncing on your plan's schedule. See Connect your first source for the sync frequency per plan.
What's next
Turn what you collected into charts with Social Insights, or let AI label the posts you select with tags and a category, 1 credit each, using AI Post Enrichment.
If you have any questions, click the bottom right chat icon to talk with our customer success team or send us an email at support@embedsocial.com We're here for you 🙏