Every marketing campaign I\u2019ve participated in has always had social media<\/a> at its core. It\u2019s no shock \u2014 over five billion people<\/a> are active on social platforms daily. So if you want your product, service, and mission to reach the maximum number of people, your business needs to be on social media, too.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
However, the ease with which you execute your social media strategy<\/a> depends largely on the tools you use. Social media work is incredibly time-consuming, covering everything from the creative challenge of designing eye-catching graphics to posting at the right time to tracking campaign performance.<\/p>\n
Table of Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n
Social media tools are digital platforms and applications designed to help you manage, optimize, and measure your social media efforts. They streamline tasks like content creation, scheduling, audience engagement, and performance tracking, allowing you to focus on strategy and creative storytelling while automating repetitive tasks.<\/p>\n
There are different types of social media tools, including:<\/p>\n
Although the term \u201csocial media tool\u201d is very general and can apply to a wide range of services, there are a few key features that your top social media tools should have.<\/p>\n
The main goal of a social media tool<\/a> is to cut down on the hours spent on routine tasks without sacrificing quality. It should automate processes \u2014 whether it\u2019s scheduling posts or generating captions \u2014 while still ensuring each step is done right.<\/p>\n
I believe that one of the biggest benefits of social media is its ability to increase your brand awareness<\/a>, which is something you should keep in mind when choosing the social media tools you\u2019ll use.<\/p>\n
For instance, if you\u2019re using an editing platform like Lightroom<\/a> or an Instagram scheduler<\/a> like Later<\/a>, the primary focus should be that your brand\u2019s image is consistently presented. This way, when people come across your posts, they immediately know it\u2019s your brand.<\/p>\n
No matter how powerful a tool might be, it only saves you time if it\u2019s straightforward and intuitive. I appreciate social media tools that are designed with the user in mind \u2014 ones that let anyone, from the analytical folks on the accounting team to your creative, right-brained writers, navigate functions without hassle.<\/p>\n
Many top-notch tools offer tutorials on their websites to help you navigate the tools. Others, like Kicksta<\/a>, have exceptional customer service, which means you can always get quick, expert help when you need it.<\/p>\n
The best social media tools don\u2019t have to break the bank. Often, you can find high-quality options that are free or very budget-friendly, like the Unfold<\/a> app, which is great for creating engaging Instagram stories.<\/p>\n
Efficiency isn\u2019t just about speed \u2014 it\u2019s also about staying on top of your tasks. A good social media tool should help you manage your workflow, whether it\u2019s by sorting through comments, scheduling posts, or saving your designs for later edits.<\/p>\n
For example, HubSpot’s Social Media Management tool<\/a> keeps your interactions prioritized, and graphic design platform Canva<\/a> ensures that your creative work is neatly organized and easily accessible for revisions.<\/p>\n
When I\u2019m choosing a social media tool, here are some features\/elements I always look for:<\/p>\n
I\u2019d like to think I\u2019m tech-savvy, but I\u2019ll always appreciate a tool with a clean, intuitive design that minimizes the learning curve and reduces errors.<\/p>\n
Even if you can find your way around tools easily, chances are not everyone on your team can. So when choosing a social media tool, look for one with an interface that every member of your team can navigate easily.<\/p>\n
This is especially crucial during fast-paced campaign launches, where every minute counts.<\/p>\n
The first time I used Hypefury to schedule X (formerly known as Twitter) posts, my mind was blown at how much easier my work became. Since then, I\u2019ve always recommended choosing a social media tool that can automate repetitive tasks, like cross-platform publishing, so that your campaigns run smoothly even when you\u2019re not at your desk.<\/p>\n
For example, with scheduling tools like Hypefury or Hootsuite, you can set up automated posts for a six-month-long campaign. As long as you set your times and dates right, you can leave it and focus on other things, like responding to comments\/inquiries.<\/p>\n
Detailed analytics are my compass in determining what works and what doesn\u2019t. So, I choose social media tools that provide real-time engagement metrics, demographic breakdowns, and conversion rates. This way, I know what\u2019s working and what isn\u2019t, and can tweak my strategy accordingly.<\/p>\n
For example, if your analytics dashboard reveals that your video content is outperforming image posts by 40%, you\u2019ll know to scale back on images and focus more on creating videos.<\/p>\n
Integration is key to maintaining an efficient workflow. So, I look for social media tools that play well with other applications I use \u2014 whether that\u2019s my CRM, email marketing platform, or design software like Canva.<\/p>\n
I remember a campaign where direct integration with Canva allowed me to import and tweak images without the extra step of exporting files manually. This seamless connection saves time and reduces the chance of errors.<\/p>\n
Every campaign is unique, so having the flexibility to customize dashboards, reporting metrics, and even workflow settings is a huge plus.<\/p>\n
For example, if you\u2019re executing a user-generated content<\/a> (UGC) campaign, you can tailor your dashboards to monitor specific hashtags or mentions. This ensures that you\u2019re tracking the metrics that directly impact your strategy.<\/p>\n
When issues arise, having prompt and effective customer support makes all the difference.<\/p>\n
Picture a situation where you encounter a technical glitch right before a crucial campaign launch \u2014 having access to expert help means you can resolve the problem quickly and keep your project on track.<\/p>\n
Finally, I look for cost-effective tools that grow with my needs because budget constraints shouldn\u2019t limit campaign potential. So, if you\u2019re starting small and plan to scale, selecting a social media tool that offers both free and upgrade options allows you to invest in more features as your campaign demands increase.<\/p>\n
Price<\/strong>: Starts at $800\/month, included in the Marketing Hub Professional tier<\/a><\/p>\n
HubSpot\u2019s Social Media Management Software<\/a> is designed to simplify and unify your social media efforts. This tool allows you to publish different types of content<\/a> across multiple networks directly from a central dashboard, which streamlines the entire process and makes it easier to maintain a consistent brand voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cHubSpot Marketing Hub \u2026 puts the potential of corporate marketing within everyone’s reach,\u201d one customer says<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Some standout features of HubSpot\u2019s Social Media Management software include:<\/p>\n
Price: <\/strong>Starts at $99\/month per user with a 30-day free trial<\/p>\n
Hootsuite<\/a> is a comprehensive social media management tool<\/a> that brings all your social tasks together in one intuitive dashboard. This tool\u2019s robustness astounds me in that it allows users to plan, create, schedule, and analyze social content for multiple platforms \u2014 whether it\u2019s Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, or YouTube.<\/p>\n
Hootsuite\u2019s AI-powered tools<\/a> further enhance your strategy by helping you post at the best times for your audience, create on-brand captions for each network, and even analyze your performance against top competitors \u2014 all of which contribute to smarter, more efficient social media management.<\/p>\n
Pro tip: <\/strong>In our 2024 State of Social Media report<\/a>, we found that 6 PM to 9 PM, along with 12 PM to 3 PM, are the best times to post across social channels.<\/p>\n
Price: <\/strong>Starts at $199\/month per seat with a 30-day free trial<\/p>\n
Sprout Social<\/a> is an all-in-one social media management platform designed to power your entire social media strategy. I appreciate how this tool bundles social management, customer care, and data intelligence tools into one cohesive package.<\/p>\n
I also love Sprout Social\u2019s ability to support every stage of the social marketing funnel. Whether you\u2019re focused on content creation, post scheduling<\/a>, or reviewing campaign performance, Sprout Social has powerful features to help you.<\/p>\n
After every campaign, you can review your performance and make adjustments to your content strategy by using the social listening tool<\/a> to get insights into your brand\u2019s health and industry landscape.<\/p>\n
Price:<\/strong> Starts at $69\/month for two user seats with a 14-day free trial. For agencies, prices start at $49\/month per client.<\/p>\n
Statusbrew<\/a> stands out as a top alternative to Sprout Social<\/a>, offering a broad range of features that streamline social media management. I love its user-friendly navigation and robust tools for content creation, audience engagement, and analytics, which together help you build a strong brand presence across multiple networks.<\/p>\n
Price: <\/strong>Starts at $33\/month per workspace with a free plan available<\/p>\n
Planable<\/a> is a comprehensive collaboration, approval, and social media management tool that allows you to craft social media posts, content briefs, emails, newsletters, or even blogs \u2014 all from a single platform.<\/p>\n
Price: <\/strong>Starts at $39\/month for individual creatives<\/p>\n
Kicksta<\/a> is an Instagram growth service that helps you get more organic followers on your Instagram business account. It operates in two ways:<\/p>\n
Kicksta is a great alternative to buying followers because it ensures that all the followers you get are real people who are genuinely interested in your niche, not bots or fake accounts.<\/p>\n
“Kicksta helps introduce new audiences to our brand while providing consistent organic Instagram growth,\u201d says Ryan Beltran<\/a>, CEO of Original Grain. \u201cIt\u2019s great for social proof too!”<\/p>\n
Price: <\/strong> Starts at $24.20 per month with a 14-day free trial<\/p>\n
SocialBee<\/a> is a robust social media management platform that streamlines every stage of your social media marketing efforts. With its range of features, including automation, visual creation, AI assistance, analytics, and inbox monitoring, SocialBee offers a complete solution for your social media needs.<\/p>\n
This platform also integrates with popular design tools like Canva, Unsplash, and Giphy, allowing you to access a wealth of visual resources directly within SocialBee.<\/p>\n
And after your posts have been published automatically across all your social profiles, you can analyze the performance of your content from the Analytics dashboard and monitor your inbox for messages, comments, and mentions.<\/p>\n
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Price: <\/strong> Free, or starts at $12.25\/month<\/p>\n
Visme<\/a> is an all-in-one design tool that allows you to create, curate, schedule, and publish your social media content, all within the app. It offers a 360-degree approach to social media management by providing a user-friendly interface, access to thousands of customizable social media templates and millions of design assets, a brand kit, AI-powered tools to streamline your content creation process and provide engaging visuals and captions.<\/p>\n
Price: <\/strong>Starts at $11.99\/month<\/p>\n
Adobe Lightroom<\/a> is a photo editing and organization tool that allows you to create stunning visuals with ease. With a robust set of editing features \u2014 from sliders and filters to advanced color adjustments and cropping tools \u2014 this tool ensures that your images are always vibrant, on-brand, and tailored to your business’s aesthetic.<\/p>\n
Price: <\/strong>Free, or starts at $10\/month (billed $120\/year for one person)<\/p>\n
Canva<\/a> is a user-friendly graphic design platform that makes creating custom, on-brand visuals for your social media accounts a breeze. I\u2019ve used Canva for three years now and some of my favorite features are:<\/p>\n
Canva also supports collaboration, so you can work with team members to refine designs and share feedback in real time \u2014 making it perfect for busy teams and agencies alike.<\/p>\n
One user said<\/a>, \u201cCanva has been a lifesaver to me and my business. No more hours sitting in front of the computer coming up with graphics for social media post(s) or Pinterest post(s).\u201d<\/p>\n
Price: <\/strong>Free, starts at $5\/month<\/p>\n
Buffer<\/a> is a simple yet powerful toolkit that helps you create, schedule, and analyze content across all the popular social media channels. I love its clean, user-friendly interface that makes managing your social media presence straightforward \u2014 even if you\u2019re new to the game.<\/p>\n
Buffer also offers several free social media tools<\/a> including:<\/p>\n
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Price: <\/strong>Starts at $19.95\/month, with 7-day free trial<\/p>\n
Movavi Video Editor<\/a> is an easily navigable video editing software that helps you create stunning videos for social media \u2014 whether it’s showcasing products, riding the latest TikTok trend, or curating engaging Instagram content.<\/p>\n
Price: <\/strong>Free, starts at $12.99\/month<\/p>\n
Described as \u201ca toolkit for storytellers,\u201d Unfold<\/a> is a versatile app available on both iOS and Android that empowers you to create Instagram stories. Some standout features of Unfold include:<\/p>\n
Unfold is the ideal app for lifestyle brands who want to create stylish collages to keep their social media accounts on-brand and receive the maximum amount of engagement from followers.<\/p>\n
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Price: <\/strong>Free plan available. Paid plans start at $2999\/year<\/p>\n
HypeAuditor<\/a> is an influencer marketing platform that helps you find authentic influencers across several social platforms and industries.<\/p>\n
Price: <\/strong> Starts at $0.15-0.25 per image<\/p>\n
The website Retouchup<\/a> provides an easy way to edit photos for social media, from basic color correction to more advanced Photoshop-like features such as adding or removing people from a photo. With Retouchup, you don\u2018t do the work yourself \u2014 instead, just submit a photo and the website\u2019s experts will edit the photo for you within 24 hours.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou’re making me look like an awesome photographer!\u201d one user gushed<\/a>. Retouchup can save you time during the editing stage, and make your images appear higher-quality and more compelling.<\/p>\n
Price: <\/strong>Free, or starts at $9\/month (billed annually).<\/p>\n
Animoto<\/a> is a powerful yet user-friendly online video maker that allows you to create professional-grade videos in just minutes \u2014 even if you have no prior editing experience.<\/p>\n
Price: <\/strong>Reach out to Brandwatch for a custom quote<\/a><\/p>\n
Price: <\/strong>Starts at $19.79\/month with 7-day free trial<\/p>\n
Quuu<\/a> is an intelligent content curation platform designed to help you discover hand-picked content suggestions for your social media feeds. By providing a steady stream of pre-vetted articles, blog posts, and visual content, Quuu takes the guesswork out of content curation.<\/p>\n
Quuu looks for content so you don’t have to. The tool also integrates with Buffer, Hootsuite<\/a>, and Socialbee.<\/p>\n
Price: <\/strong>Starts at $16.67\/month, with 14-day free trial<\/p>\n
Later<\/a> is a visual-first social media scheduling platform that helps you plan, schedule, and analyze your posts across Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, X, and TikTok. It offers a clean, drag-and-drop content calendar that lets you visually plan your social feed and ensure your posts align with your brand’s aesthetic.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love that you can either use it via the website or app on-the-go,\u201d one user<\/a> remarks. \u201cIt is one of those apps that I could not live without \u2026 Later is [a] super easy tool to set up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Price: <\/strong>Free, or starts at $9.99\/month<\/p>\n
Design Wizard<\/a> is a versatile graphic design platform that empowers you to create professional visuals quickly and easily.<\/p>\n
Choosing the right social media tools is the key to streamlining your campaigns and boosting engagement. Whether you need robust scheduling, compelling visual content, or insightful analytics, the variety of tools we\u2018ve covered ensures that there\u2019s a solution tailored to every aspect of your social media strategy.<\/p>\n
Editor’s note: This post was originally published in May 2019 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.<\/em><\/p>\n
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