Social Media Usage Globally
Social media has captivated a lot of people all over the world. Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok, Pinterest, and Snapchat, and other social media apps have 4.65 billion users. People are spending more time on the aforementioned platforms for various reasons. Businesses of all sizes need to create strategies to connect with users, engage with them and track their engagement in order to grow. For small business, social media has become the equalizer in the digital world.
Things to Consider: Social Media Management Apps.
Cost
Small to medium size business typically don’t have a lot of cash on hand. So, choosing a Social Media Management app (SMM) which is cost effective is tough decision. SMM apps have varied features, different pricing strategies, and integration with other apps to compare. See if the app has 30-day free trail.
Is it compatible with other Social Media Platforms?
There are a lot of social media management apps to choose, however, not all of them are created equal. Review which platforms they are compatible with before proceeding. Some apps are heavily focused on Pinterest and Twitter, while others integrate with all social media platforms. It is advantageous to utilize an app which integrates with all major networks.
Social Media Monitoring
Once you post your videos, banners, advertisements, or content online, you need to monitor engagement with users. A considerable amount of time Social Media Management is spent replying to messages. Needless to say, it is not possible to monitor messages on all platforms and brands. AI handles all tracking for agencies, social media managers, or anyone else who managing SMM.
Reports
A necessary component of social media management is creating and publishing content. Once you create the content, how do you know which content is generating interest with users? Generate reports then take some time to review and analyze social media performance. However, you need an app with insightful, easy to digest analytic tools.
Content Scheduling and Calendar
Selecting a SMM app is no easy feat. As part of the process, consider an application which will streamline content scheduling. And the app should have an easy-to-use calendar. Leveraging a scheduling tool will enable you to plan out when certain content will be released.
Competitor Analysis
Posting, competitor analysis, and scheduling are the top features which businesses should focus on in SMM. Businesses competing in same domain will conduct their own competitor analysis, you need to do the same.
Comparison of Social Media Managment Apps
Sprout Social
Naturally, one would ask: What is the best social media scheduling tool for small businesses? There are various factors to consider, such as: price, where users can post from, built in workflows, how many posts can be scheduled, and last but least ability to review content. In short, the answer is Sprout Social.
What makes it standout:
- Customer support is stellar
- Powerful data analysis capabilities
- Integrated with several social media accounts
If you want a one stop shop for scheduling and managing your social media accounts through one simple to use platform, look no further than Sprout Social. Agency staff or social media administrators will find it easier to manage Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or any other social media account.
What’s more? Analyzing data is one of its strengths. People can sort data by geographic and demographic measures, enabling them to determine what content is working. Plus, the app allows users to manage several accounts and track keywords across any social media account. Quickly respond to customers by routing messages to people who need act on them.
The app has a 30-day free trial. Give it a try! The stater plan has five different social profiles, and you can add more profiles, features, and scope.
Buffer
Looking for an affordable, intuitive, and all-in-one social media management app? Buffer checks all those boxes. Individuals, professionals, teams, and agencies will enjoy using this app to expand their social media reach. All while doing so with plans that are competitive and affordable. Noteworthy is Buffer does not charge fixed amount for a set of channels. Rather, you only pay for the channels you use.
Standout features of this app:
- Customer engagement
- Social Media Analytic
- Planning and publishing
- Ability to create landing pages swiftly
Hootsuite
Hootsuite is another fantastic app for social media management. In fact, Hootsuite was the first social media platform in the growing space. Overtime, the platform has continued to fine-tune ways to engage with customers in order gain customer insight. It strives to help individuals and business personnel plan, schedule posts all in one place. Streamlining the access to social media accounts enables users to save time and focus on growing their customer base.
Standout features of this app:
- Plan and schedule posts
- Monitor activity
- Engage with customers
- Advertise content
- Analyze results
Agorapulse
Used by over 31,000 social media managers daily, this app is another all-in-one tool. It is everything you need to make headway on various social media platforms. The app is touted for it excellent customer service, affordable plans, and broad features.
Standout features of this app:
- Intuitive publishing
- Social listening
- Insightful analytic
- Social Media ROI
Sensible
Consider choosing Sensible to achieve your social media goals. The app plans are reasonably priced, plus each plan includes a 14-day free trail. One thing to note, the platform built for agencies but supports individuals and teams. If you’re looking to outsource SMM to agency, Sensible might be a wise choice.
What makes this app standout:
- Manage SMM on the go with two mobile apps
- Agency focused application
- Affordable and scalable pricing
- Quick, responsive, and accessible customer service
eClincher
eClincher prides itself on adding value so individuals or social media managers can focus on executing their strategy. Also, the app has a lot integration with top social media platforms and lesser-known ones. Of course, expanding the brands reach is one the goals each business focuses on. However, simplifying managing social media is the ultimate goal and this app does that.
What makes this app special?
- Visual calendar and scheduler
- Monitor what’s happening on social media with hashtags
- Advanced analytic and reporting
- Feature that suggest the best time to post
SocialPilot
Want an app that is easy to use, is affordable, and is powerful? SocialPilot is the app for you. It has tons of features which will help your business level up to the competition. For example, Bulk Scheduling will enable you to schedule up to 500 posts at one time. The ease to schedule post is nice. However, this app enables you to control access to certain features, to minimize errors.
Features that make this app standout.
- RSS feed automation
- Bulk scheduling
- Social Media Scheduling
- Browser extension
Post Planner
Every business whether small or large wants to drive sales, attract more customers, and retain customers. Post Planner is great social media management application to achieve all those goals and much more. Perhaps you have top performing post- well, recycle it automatically with Post Planner. This means, the brand/business will be able to reach a new audience and lead to more engagement.
Standout features:
- Automatically schedule post
- Local SEO -optimize your site so that customers can find it quickly
- Post analytic – swiftly determine which content is engaging
- Post Composer- create posts for each platform
Later
Unlike the other social media management software mentioned, Later is solely focused on Instagram. Don’t overlook the power of Instagram, it is fourth largest social media network. It would behoove any business not to leverage it. That being said, turn followers into customers with this app.
Features to note:
- Link bio- use it to customize links in the bio page
- Publish and schedule content
- Analytic – Understand what is working for your business and how to improve
Tailwind
If you’re a savvy Pinterest or Instagram user, Tailwind might suit your needs. It optimizes capabilities to post on the aforementioned social media sites. Use it to schedule posts up to the release day and increase your chances of getting more views. This will like lead to more engagement and sales naturally. Again, this app has integration with Pinterest and Instagram.
Top features:
- SmartLoop- Lets recycle popular posts via rescheduling
- Optimized scheduling – Offers insights on the best times to post.
- Insights – See whether content is captivating
#SocialMediaManagement #DigitalMarketing #SMMSolutions #SocialMediaTips
Hi, thank you for this detailed and insightful post on the top social media management tools for small businesses.
It’s a tough decision to decide which social media app would be best to suit your business, particularly an online one. It was great to see that most of these have a 30-day free trial which makes good sense and allows you to have a good period of time before committing to purchasing the product.
Your article is very detailed and makes for an insightful read for those serious about media management for their business. well done
Dale- Indeed, there are a lot of factors to consider when picking social media app. Money is not always the top priority, budget-wise. A 30-day free trial will enable you (any interested parties) to explore the features of each app and make an informed decision.
Social media management apps are great tools to leverage to retain business, connect with customers, and generate new revenue.
I appreciate the feedback.
Hey thanks for compiling this useful post that way we don’t have to go jumping from different sites to sites which can be a hassle!
Anyways I’ve been wanting to pick a social media management tool since I have signed up with many social media platforms, it’s quite a stress handling them all not to say time consuming too! I’ll be taking a look at the ones mentioned here.
Have a great day!
Sariyah-
I appreciate the positive feedback.
Creating a one-stop shop for social media management apps was one of my goals.
Good luck with everything.
Godwin
I’ve just read your brilliant article on top social media management tools for small businesses, and let me tell you, it’s a real cracker! If you’re a small business owner like myself, you know how overwhelming it can be to keep up with all the social media platforms out there. That’s why it’s essential to have the right tools to help you manage your social media accounts effectively.
You did an excellent job of breaking down the top social media management tools, from Hootsuite to Sprout Social, and even gave a comprehensive review of each platform. As someone who has tried a few of these tools, I couldn’t agree more with the author’s assessment of these social media management platforms.
As an entrepreneur, I understand the importance of maintaining a strong social media presence, and these tools have been a godsend. However, I do have one question for you. What would be the best platform for a small business owner who’s just starting and doesn’t have much experience with social media management tools?
Overall, I want to thank you, Godwin, for writing such an informative and helpful article. It’s always great to have a resource that breaks down the complicated world of social media management and makes it more accessible for everyone.