Over the last few years, social media has become integrated into our everyday lives. To date (2021), half of the global population (3.96 billion) are using social media to connect, engage and converse with family, friends, colleagues and brands.
For marketers and businesses, this makes social media an incredibly powerful tool for reaching and engaging with their audience. Of course, without strategy and the right tools, opportunities can be missed.
Here’s a list of highly recommended social media tools to help you leverage your social media marketing:
Content creation tools
1. Canva
Canva is a graphic design platform which gives users the ability to collaborate, create and edit social media graphics, presentations, posters, documents, videos and other visual content. As well as a vast library of pre-made content templates, the platform gives users the ability to create their own content. The platform is free to use but also offers paid subscriptions like Canva Pro and Canva for Enterprise.
2. Animoto
Animoto is a cloud-based video creation service that allows users to produce videos from photos, video clips, and music into video slideshows, and customized web-based presentations. It includes stock clips and templates but also allows for custom layouts. The platform has a free plan which includes Animoto’s branding on videos and pre-paid plans which do not include the company’s branding.
GET THE LATEST DIGITAL MARKETING TIPS & NEWS
Sign up for my monthly email newsletter
Content management tools
3. Buffer
Buffer is an application designed to help users manage accounts their social networks in one place. The platform allows users to manage and schedule social media content as well as analyze their results and engage with their community. As well as a free plan , Buffer also has various paid plans.
4. Sprout social
Sprout Social’s all-in-one social management solution helps businesses connect with audiences, streamline publishing workflows, collaborate in real time and turn analyse social media marketing performance. Its pricing plans start at $99 per month, with an option for a 30 day free trial period.
Scheduling tools
5. Hootsuite
Hootsuite is an all-in-one social media scheduling tool which helps users schedule content, implement social listening, discover new prospects and analyse performance on social media. It has a free plan which allows you to manage up to 3 social media platforms, as well as various paid plans.
6. Promo Republic
Promo Republic is a scheduling tool similar to Hootsuite. Its unique selling point is its vast content library which boats 100,000+ Post Ideas for 17+ industries and 6,000+ templates with images and GIFs created by their professional team. Unlike Hootsuite, Promo Republic doesn’t have a free plan but has various paid plans that are billed monthly or annually.
Link shortening tools
7. Bit.ly
Bitly is a URL shortening and a link management tool. It allows users to customise links and track click rates and information. As well as paid plans, the platform also has a free plan which includes 50 shortened URLs per month, and the ability to track click rates and information about your top referrers for 1,000 links per month.
8. TinyURL
TinyURL shortening tool which allows you to customise links for free. The paid plans include features for tracking and analytics, branded domains, and the ability to edit where each TinyURL goes in. Paid packages start at $9.99 per month which includes unlimited tracked clicks, link tagging, URL editing, and more.
Analytics/insight tools
9. Google analytics
Google Analytics is a free web analytics service by Google that tracks and reports website traffic, currently as a platform inside the Google Marketing Platform brand. The platform is a great tool for analysing traffic and performance across social media and includes features like goal setting to help you get the most out of your social media marketing.
10. Buzzsumo
Buzzsumo is a platform which helps users discover content ideas, uncover platform insights, identify passionate influencers and more. The platform’s insights aspect provides users the ability to measure social media engagement and general performance. Its pricing plans start at $99 per month, with an option for a 30 day free trial period.
For more social media resources, best practises and digital tools spanning across various fields, you can get my latest book, Digital Marketing Strategy.