What The Blueprint looks for in a great social media management tool
When reviewing social media tools, The Blueprint assesses a number of vital factors.
First, we analyze the basic features most businesses will need, such as the ability to schedule social media posts across different platforms. In this regard, we’re looking for reliability, flexibility, and the ability to connect with the most popular social networks.
Furthermore, The Blueprint looks for the advanced, cutting-edge features that will make the difference for large, complex social media teams.
Below, we’ve summarized some of the most important capabilities accounted for in our reviews.
1. Multichannel publishing
For all of its overt creativity, social media strategy is really about meticulous planning. There are lots of social media scheduling tools available that can push your content live on a range of different social networks. In our review, we begin by assessing the reliability of these tools before moving on to the extra features that can make all the difference.
For example, we look for tools such as image-editing software that can help brands adapt their content for multiple social media accounts, or automated tips that will alert you to the best time to send your posts live.
2. Collaboration tools
Businesses of all sizes include multiple parties within their social media strategy. Social media management tools can be helpful, here, but it can also add to the number of platforms team members need to sign onto and respond on every day. A tool designed for slick collaboration can exacerbate the problem it was designed to solve.
In our review, we’ve assessed the potential of each platform to facilitate genuine collaboration through thoughtful tools and automation that addresses real-world challenges.
3. Social listening
Social listening has become one of those digital marketing terms to attain the undesirable “buzzword” status, but there is plenty of substance to this field.
After all, an advanced social media management platform should alert brands to noteworthy new trends relating to their industry and products. Social listening is a fantastic way to achieve this.
It’s challenging, and no platform gets it 100% right because of the many ambiguities in the language people use. However, a strong performer here can alert your marketing or social media team to those little insights that can influence a new strategy.
How your business can benefit from using social media management tools
Social media management software should help you get better results. Whether you aim to add leads, followers, sales, or a combination of the three, these platforms should enable and augment your strategy.
They can do so through the three core benefits outlined below.
1. Automation
Given how advanced and digital our world is supposed to be today, we still spend a lot of time on repetitive administrative tasks. A good social media management platform will take these tasks out of your hands through automation, allowing you to focus on understanding your audience and creating content.
2. Deeper audience insights
Social media can act as the world’s largest focus group — if we know how to listen. People take to social networks to share their thoughts on trends, brands, and products every day, so an effective social listening tool can help you tap into these rich insights before your competitors.
3. Reporting
We need to know whether we are progressing towards our business and marketing goals through our social media efforts. Social media management tools should not only display important marketing metrics for you, but also help you interpret and communicate the results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I invest in social media management software?
Why should I invest in social media management software?
The right social media management tool will extend the capabilities of your team by providing them with insights from your data, automating your social media content publication, and helping them to collaborate on content creation.
What is the best free social media management tool?
What is the best free social media management tool?
Both Buffer and Hootsuite offer a free account option. The Hootsuite free account just about beats the Buffer account, as it offers 30 scheduled posts compared to the 10 scheduled posts in the free Buffer version.
What is the best social media management tool?
What is the best social media management tool?
Sprout Social comes out on top in our social media management software reviews. It’s easy to use, offers great support, and has a variety of advanced features that can provide that all-important competitive advantage.
The Motley Fool has a Disclosure Policy. The Author and/or The Motley Fool may have an interest in companies mentioned.