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What You’ll Learn

In this guide, you’ll learn how to:
  • Create a new Square from scratch
  • Select an output format (Podcast, Newsletter, WhatsApp)
  • Choose a data source for your content
  • Review and manage your Square settings

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Before You Start

Prerequisites:
  • An admin account for BeatSquares
  • Understanding of what Squares are and their purpose
  • Access to the BeatSquares dashboard
What You’ll Need:
  • A clear name for your Square
  • Decision on output format (Podcast, Newsletter, or WhatsApp)
  • Knowledge of which data source contains your content

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Creating Squares

Login to your BeatSquares account and navigate to the Dashboard.

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1. Click on Add New Square

Click the Add New Square button to start creating a new Square. Step 1 screenshot

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2. Select the output format

Click on the Format dropdown menu to select your desired output format. Step 2 screenshot

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3. Choose your format type

Select the format you want to create:
  • Newsletter - For email-based content distribution
  • Podcast - For audio content generation
  • WhatsApp - For WhatsApp message creation
In this example, we’ll select Newsletter. Step 3 screenshot

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4. Select a data source

Click on the data source you want to use for this Square. The available data sources are configured by your organization. Contact BeatSquares support if you need additional data sources.
Data sources determine which content will be available when creating your media items. Each data source represents a specific content collection configured for your organization.
Step 4 screenshot

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Filtering Data Sources (Optional)

Some data sources support filtering to narrow down the content available in your Square. If your selected data source has filters available, you’ll see filter options after selecting the data source. Example: Selecting Districts For data sources that organize content by location (such as districts or regions), you can select specific areas to focus your Square’s content. Select first district: Select district 1 Select additional districts: You can select multiple filters to combine content from different areas. Select district 2
Available filters depend on how your data source is configured. Common filter types include geographic regions, content categories, or time periods.

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5. Name your Square

Enter a descriptive name for your Square. The name will be visible in the Dashboard and helps you identify the purpose of this Square. You can change the name later if needed. Step 5 screenshot

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6. Click Continue

Once you’ve selected your format, data source, and entered a name, click the Continue button to proceed to the confirmation step. Step 6 screenshot

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7. Confirm Square creation

Review your Square configuration and click Confirm Square to create it.
After creating a Square, you cannot change its format or data source. Make sure your selections are correct before confirming.
Step 7 screenshot

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Best Practices

  • Descriptive Names: Use clear, specific names that explain the Square’s purpose
  • Choose the Right Format: Select the format (Podcast, Newsletter, or WhatsApp) that best matches your content distribution strategy
  • Understand Your Data Source: Make sure you select the data source that contains the content you need
  • Test Before Committing: Remember that you cannot change the format or data source after creation

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Examples

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Example 1: Daily Local News Briefing

Create a Square named “Morning Commute Brief” with:
  • Format: Podcast
  • Data Source: Local News Feed
  • Perfect for delivering daily news updates during morning commutes

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Example 2: Weekend Cultural Guide

Create a Square named “Weekend Arts & Culture” with:
  • Format: Newsletter
  • Data Source: Arts & Events Feed
  • Great for weekly cultural event roundups

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What’s Next?

Related: Understanding Squares | Common Errors