Building a Custom Report in Publlish

Build a custom social media report in Publlish in three steps: set up branding, choose channels and metrics, and deliver as PDF, CSV, slides or a password-protected web link — with a live preview.

Bhanu Prasad

— 3 min read
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The Report Builder lets you create exactly the report you need — the channels, the metrics, the branding and the format — in three steps, with a live preview that updates as you go.

Go to Analytics → Reports → Report Builder, or click + New Report in the Reports Hub.

Step 1: Setup & Branding

Report details

  1. Enter a Report Name (for example, "March 2026 Monthly Performance")
  2. Set Date From and Date To
  3. Choose what to Compare Against: - Previous period - Same period last year - No comparison

Report type

  • One-time — generate it now, then download or send
  • Recurring — automatically generate it on a schedule. Scheduled reports →

Output format — choose one or more:

  • PDF — a formatted report ready to send
  • CSV Data — raw numbers for Google Sheets or Excel
  • Slides — a presentation-ready version
  • Web Link — an online version you can share with a link

Branding

  • Agency / Your Logo — appears in the report header (PNG, SVG or JPG; recommended 200×60px)
  • Client / Brand Logo — the brand the report is for, shown alongside your logo on the cover
  • Report Accent Color — match the report to your or your client's brand colours
  • Cover Page Note (optional) — a short message or summary for the reader

Link Protection — click Generate to create a password for the web-link version. Recipients will need it to view the report.

Click Next →.

Step 2: Channels & Metrics

Use the tabs to pick channels: All, Overview, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X, YouTube, TikTok and your other connected channels. Each tab shows how many metrics you've selected (for example, 5/15).

Within each channel, metrics are grouped (for example, Core and Content), and each has a short description. Metrics marked KEY are the most important ones for that channel.

Overview (cross-channel) metrics include:

  • Cross-channel summary: Total Reach, Total Impressions, Blended Engagement Rate, Net New Followers, Total Posts Published, Best Performing Channel
  • Channel comparison: Reach by Channel chart, Engagement Rate chart, Follower Growth chart

Example — Instagram metrics: Reach, Impressions, Engagement Rate, Net New Followers, Profile Visits, Link in Bio Clicks, Saves, Shares, Likes.

Example — TikTok metrics: Video Views, Engagement Rate, Net New Followers, Average Watch Time, Profile Views, Shares.

Use All to select every metric for a channel, or Clear to start again. A counter at the bottom shows your total channels and metrics.

Click Next →.

Step 3: Deliver

Report Summary — check the name, date range, comparison, channels, number of metrics and format.

Delivery — choose how to send it:

  • 📥 Download — save to your device
  • 📧 Email — send to recipients' inboxes
  • 🔗 Share Link — copy a view link

View tracking — when enabled, you're notified when a recipient opens the report. Opens are recorded in the Delivery Log.

💾 Save as Template — save this whole setup so you can re-run it with a new date range any time from your Templates library, without rebuilding it.

Click ✦ Generate & Save Report.

Live Preview

The Live Preview panel on the right updates as you make changes. It shows your branded cover, the KPI overview, growth trends, top performing posts, and a Smart Insights section with key recommendations for the period.

Tips for Better Reports

  • Keep it focused. 5–10 key metrics per channel is easier to read than everything.
  • Always compare. Choose a comparison period so readers can see progress, not just totals.
  • Use the cover note to add context — what you did this period and what's next.
  • Save as a template for anything you send more than once.
  • Use the brand switcher or channel groups so each client's report only includes their channels. Channel groups →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I include every channel in one report? Yes. Select the Overview tab for cross-channel metrics, then add any individual channels.

Can I add my own logo and my client's logo? Yes. Upload both in Step 1 — your logo appears in the header and the client logo on the cover. White-label reports →

Can I password-protect a report? Yes. Use Link Protection to generate a password for the web-link version.

How do I reuse a report every month? Save it as a template, or set the report type to Recurring to deliver it automatically.

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