Finding the right social media scheduling tools can be a lifesaver when it comes to speeding up the way we do business – but which one is right for you?
Brands and businesses have heard time and time again on the importance of maintaining an active presence on social media. What they don’t get told is the sheer amount of effort and time required. Posting, liking, commenting, engaging – the list is endless – so what if there was a short cut, or a way to speed things up?
What Is Social Media Scheduling?
Social media scheduling is the act – or art, depending on who you ask – of automating and uploading your new posts to particular dates or times of the day. This somewhat magical service is available on most social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and even LinkedIn.
Most digital marketers will tell you about the importance of timing. You may be posting great content, but if you aren’t paying much attention to your social media analytics – none of your followers are seeing it. By posting when they are most active (say 12:00pm on a Tuesday), you’re already giving your engagement levels a significant boost.
However, staying on top of these times can be draining and it’s easy to miss the window of opportunity. We get it, life gets in the way and you may be busy with the many other areas of your brand or business. This is where the help of social media scheduling tools come in, as these styles of software can actually post for you.
How Can Social Media Scheduling Benefit Me?
You Can Post Without Internet – Worried about no WiFi or lack of reception? Social media scheduling has that covered for you, as the content is all ready to go.
Out Of Hours Posts Sorted – Your users might be most active at 6:00pm, but you’ve already finished work for the day. The post is still scheduled to go, even if you’re off the clock.
Focus On The Content – “Quality vs Quantity” is often the key to success on social media. Concentrate more on sourcing and creating high quality posts, instead of the manual labour.
Less Distractions – Who has time to drop everything to action a post at the peak times? Focus on what you do best at work, as social media scheduling tools help you to stay on task.
Manage Multiple Accounts – Cross posting one piece of content on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn could easily amount to an hour a day – not anymore.
Social Media Scheduling Tools And Platforms
Social Media Scheduling Tools And PlatformsOkay, we’ve sold you on scheduling as a concept – now what? Most social media channels have their own built in scheduling functions, but if you have multiple accounts across a variety of platforms this can still take quite a chunk out of your day.
Thankfully, there are a huge range of both free and paid online tools that can automate your posts across many channels. Some only offer options for Facebook and Instagram, while others include the likes of Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn. The most popular online social media scheduling tools that we’ve discovered include:
- Hootsuite
- Buffer
- Later
- Tailwind
- Semrush
- Meet Edgar
- Loomly
When comparing social media scheduling tools, it’s important to consider the specific needs of your brand or business. Do you need access to one specific social media platform? How much are you willing to pay a month, if anything? How many people will access the schedule? The list goes on.
The good news is that the vast majority of these types of software programs offer free trials. If you’re feeling cheeky (or savvy) – you could easily avoid paying any fees for at least the first few months. Alfred Lua over at Buffer even made a free spreadsheet guide to assist in comparing your options.
Without great content, your success on social media is going to be limited. If you don’t have the time, energy or resources to do this yourself, then it might be time to consider outsourcing. Luckily, here at Content Hive producing top quality content is exactly what we do – so why not book in a free discovery call today to discuss how we can get your business buzzing online.
