# Quickstart: First post in 5 minutes

Schedule your first post via the Sharetopus REST API.

## 1. Create an API key

Visit [/integrations](https://sharetopus.com/integrations) and click **Create REST API Key**. Copy the key (starts with `stp_rest_`). You will not see it again.

## 2. Connect a social account

If you have not connected a social account yet, visit [/connections](https://sharetopus.com/connections) or use the REST API:

```bash
curl -X POST https://sharetopus.com/api/v1/connections/initiate \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer stp_rest_YOUR_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"platform": "linkedin"}'
```

Open the returned `connect_url` in your browser to authorize.

## 3. Schedule a post

```bash
curl -X POST https://sharetopus.com/api/v1/posts \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer stp_rest_YOUR_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "platform": "linkedin",
    "post_type": "text",
    "description": "Hello from Sharetopus!",
    "scheduled_at": "2026-07-01T15:00:00Z",
    "social_account_id": "YOUR_ACCOUNT_UUID"
  }'
```

The response includes the post ID and status.

## 4. Check your post

```bash
curl https://sharetopus.com/api/v1/posts/POST_ID \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer stp_rest_YOUR_KEY"
```

## Next steps

- [Authentication guide](/docs/authentication) for key management and scopes
- [Webhooks guide](/docs/webhooks) for real-time event notifications
- [Interactive API reference](/docs/api) to explore all endpoints