Posterous was a simple blogging platform started in May 2008, funded by Y Combinator. It supported integrated and automatic posting to other social media tools such as Flickr, Twitter, and Facebook, a built-in Google Analytics package, and custom themes. It was based in San Francisco. Posterous agreed to be shut down in March 12, 2012 after much of the team was acquired by Twitter on March 12, 2012. In February 2013, Posterous announced that they would be shutting down the service on 30 April 2013. Following the shutdown, Posterous URLs displayed a "bye" page showing an image of an astronaut with a spanner and a satellite.
Updating to Posterous was similar to other blogging platforms. Posting could be done by logging into the website's rich text editor, but it was particularly designed for mobile blogging. Mobile methods include sending an email, with attachments of photos, MP3s, documents, and video (both links and files). Many social media pundits considered Posterous to be the leading free application for lifestreaming. The platform received wide attention when leading social media expert Steve Rubel declared he was moving his blogging activity entirely to Posterous.
Posterous also had its own URL shortening service, which as of March 2010 could post to Twitter.
Posterous allowed users to point the DNS listing for a domain name or subdomain they already owned to their Posterous account, allowing them to have a site hosted by Posterous that used their own domain name.
In January 2010, the3six5, a Posterous-based storytelling project, launched. It was nominated for a Webby Award in 2011.
In May 2010, Posterous was recognized as one of the “2010 Hottest Silicon Valley Companies” by Lead411.