Posted by What Is Social Media Marketing?
Social media marketing is the use of social networks to promote a product or service. People in the field of marketing can use it to reach current clients and customers and attract new ones. Social media marketing can also involve affiliate marketing as well. For example, affiliate marketing with Instagram is gaining popularity amongst many users.
Before you start posting online, consider your overall digital marketing strategy.
Then, you can determine your goals and reasons for using social media to develop a specific social media strategy.
Why Is It Important?
As more people use social media to connect with others, it’s becoming vital for businesses to have an excellent social media strategy as they’re building their brand identities. You should also consider the distribution channels you will use to make sure your strategy works.
No matter which platforms you use, video is an essential part of strategic marketing.
Posting videos allows your audience to connect with your company. You don’t need a ton of production equipment to record a good video, and the audience can appreciate getting a look behind the scenes.
Influencer marketing is another excellent way to get valuable content to promote your business. Of course, you can pay an influencer with tens or hundreds of thousands of followers.
However, micro-influencers and nano-influencers with engaged followers can drive sales and results.
What Are Social Media Tools?
Social media tools are programs that help you manage your social media presence. The tools can fall into a few categories:
- Content creation
- Content curation
- Scheduling
- Analytics
You can use a few different online marketing tools together with your social media platforms. Then, you’ll get to use as many social platforms as you want. Plus, you can make the most of your marketing efforts.
Your Social Media Strategy needs to start with identifying what tools you need and what are the best ones you can opt for.
17 essential social media tools for modern marketers
1. Crowdfire
If you are looking for a one-stop solution to social media marketing then let us present to you, Crowdfire. Crowdfire allows its users to search for their topics of interest and discover hundreds of images and articles that they can then reshare across all their social media platforms.
Users can easily use the platform to curate eye-catching content from their own blogs that can then be pre-scheduled and sent out at optimal times depending on the platform and the location of your target audience.
Supported social media platforms include Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram.
Crowdfire has a free plan that allows you to link 3 social media platforms with a limited number of scheduled posts per account. After that prices range from $7.48 to $74.98. The more capacity you need, the higher the price.
Pros
- Free version
- Pre-scheduling of posts
- Reports & analytics
- Simple user interface
Cons
- The free version lacks certain features
- No bulk follow/unfollow option
2. Hootsuite
Another scheduler to test out is Hootsuite. The tool lets you view all of your social channels from one dashboard, so you can make sure everything looks good. You’ll also get access to insights and brand protection.
If you plan to use social media ads, you can manage those as well. Plus, you can access Hootsuite Academy to learn more about posting on social media.
Plans start at $49 a month, and you can contact Hootsuite for special pricing if you need even more features. There’s even a free plan if you just need to use the tool for one or two social accounts.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Free version
- Somewhat affordable
- Insights
Cons
- Limited features
3. Later
Later is a popular social media scheduling tool that lets you plan and analyze your content all in one place. The platform works with Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
The tool also lets you upload media to use later.
You can go through all of your media to decide what to post without having to create content from scratch. It also provides you with some Instagram analytics to see how well your account is doing.
You can start with the free plan, but it doesn’t have a ton of features. Paid plans start at $8 a month or $6.67 a month if you pay yearly.
Pros
- Works with multiple platforms
- Basic analytics
- Schedule content for a month
- Curate content
- Multiple tiers
Cons
- Limited features on the cheaper plans
- Analytics are only for Instagram
4. Social Status
If you want to track your analytics, consider using Social Status. The tool can create an automated report in a few minutes. You can also track your analytics in real-time to see how well your social media platforms are doing. Competitor analysis is also available.
Social Status works with Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
When it comes to Instagram, you can view your analytics for stories, ads, and professional profiles. Facebook analytics are available for pages, ad accounts, business managers, and business suites.
The tool offers a free plan with very limited features, such as access to three platforms and no monthly report credits. Paid plans start at $26 a month if you pay yearly and $29 a month if you pay monthly.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Various features
- Access to multiple platforms
- Competitor analysis
- Free plan
Cons
- Not for scheduling
- Some features are only on higher tiers
5. Vectornator
While Vectornator might not seem like a go-to app for a modern social media marketer, it absolutely is.
For the design-savvy marketer, that is.
Vectornator is perfect for creating quick illustrations, beautiful typography, infographics, flyer design, layout mockups, and other custom imagery. With ready-made social media templates, integrations, lettering, and print tools, Vectornator allows you to step above the usual average-looking social media visuals and create something truly outstanding.
Vectornator is also absolutely free, and if you’re interested in elevating your social media visual content, this graphic design software will help you get there.
Pros
- Social media templates
- Typography and lettering design
- Works great on mobile devices
- Mockup and infographic design
- Free
Cons
- A bit of a learning curve
- Available only on iOS
6. Bulk.ly
As the name might suggest, Bulk.ly is a tool that lets you schedule social media posts in bulk. You can create content in various ways and set it up in a few minutes.
The tool lets you create and organize your content to use it again in the future.
Once you connect your social accounts, you’ll add content from a blog URL or import it from another scheduling tool. Add different types of content to different groups to customize the schedule for your content.
Plans start at $19 per month or $179 a year and go up to $149 a month or $1399 a year.
Pros
- Automates your social media
- Easy to set up
- Multiple tiers
- Free trial
- Reuse content
Cons
- Takes time to set up
- No free plan
7. SocialPilot
Another excellent social media tool to test is SocialPilot. It lets you connect and schedule posts to more than 50 accounts. You’ll also get access to social media analytics and an inbox to keep track of how your accounts perform.
This tool is great for marketing teams because multiple users can create content.
However, you get to approve of the content before it goes live. And when it comes to creating content, you can curate content from around the web. Meanwhile, bulk scheduling lets you upload hundreds of posts.
Plans start at $25 per month and go up to $150. If you pay annually, the monthly cost drops to $25.50 to $127.50.
Pros
- Bulk scheduling
- Analytics
- Easy to use
- Multiple tiers
- Review feature
Cons
- Somewhat expensive
- No free plan
8. Biteable
If you want to get better at creating videos, try using Biteable.
You don’t need to have any experience to make great short, engaging videos. The tool lets you create videos to promote your business, and you can choose the right size for the platform where you plan to post the video.
This tool offers animations in various styles as well, and you can edit the colors to make them match your branding. You can choose from various templates to start creating your video.
Biteable offers a free plan that includes access to videos and photos. If you want to remove the Biteable watermark, you can upgrade for $49 a month or $588 per year.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Free version
- Access to media
- Works with different platforms
- No experience necessary
Cons
- Watermark on the free plan
9. Buffer
Buffer is an excellent tool to use if you want to schedule and manage different social platforms in one place. It can tell you the best day and time to post and the type of content that performs best for you.
You can use it with a team to help spread the work out between people. That way, you don’t have to do all of the work yourself. It even comes with a landing page builder.
Buffer offers a free plan with basic features. However, you can upgrade and spend $5 or $6 per social channel per month.
Pros
- Works with different platforms
- Easy to use
- Free plan
- Analytics
Cons
- Pay per channel
10. Tailwind
If you have a blog, you should use Pinterest. While the platform offers a built-in scheduler, Tailwind makes it easier. The tool lets you create new posts quickly so that you can share more with Pinterest and Instagram.
Once you have a post ready to go, you can schedule it to go out at the perfect time.
The content calendar lets you manage your content for multiple platforms in one place. If you use it for Instagram, Tailwind helps you find the right hashtags to use.
You can start using Tailwind for free with one Instagram and one Pinterest account. Upgrading will give you access to more features, and you can pay $9.99 to $79.99 a month.
Pros
- Helps with content creation
- Easy to schedule
- Multiple tiers
- Free option
- Analytics
Cons
- Only for Pinterest and Instagram
- Some limited features
11. BuzzSumo
Finding ideas for content isn’t always easy, but BuzzSumo can help. You can use the tool to figure out what content performs best and what isn’t as good.
That way, you’ll know just what to post to promote your business or stay on top of your followers’ minds.
The tool also lets you research influencers that you can work with to promote your content. And you can monitor your comments to make sure you reply quickly. It’s an excellent tool to make sure your social media strategy is on point.
BuzzSumo has a free plan with up to 10 searches per month. If you want unlimited searches and more features, you can upgrade for $99 to $299 a month.
Pros
- Find good content
- Research influencers
- Manage comments
- Various plans
- Easy to use
Cons
- Somewhat expensive
- Not a scheduling tool
12. IFTTT
IFTTT, also known as If This Then That, is an excellent social media tool. You can set up automation to trigger when a certain event happens. For example, you can trigger a post to go up on Twitter when you start a Livestream on YouTube or Twitch.
Then, you don’t have to worry about sharing content in multiple places.
If you want to cross-post content, you just need to set up the automation once. Schedule the content to one platform, and it can go up on other platforms.
The tool offers three tiers, starting with a free plan that has very basic features. You can pay $5 or $10 a month to access more applets to connect the services you want to use.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Free version
- Great for cross-posting
- Set up once
- Affordable
Cons
- The free version can’t do much
13. Zapier
If you want to use more advanced automation, you may want to look into Zapier. You can integrate and link different web apps, and you can start from a variety of apps. For example, you might set up an automation to download images any time you share them on Instagram.
Then, you can make sure the post goes up automatically.
If not, you’ll have the image ready to post manually. Consider what you and your team have to do regularly and create automation to help save time on those tasks.
You can test out Zapier for free and keep the free plan forever. However, the tool also offers paid plans starting at $19.99 per month if you pay a year at a time. Here’s a list of Zapier alternatives in case you’re looking for something else.
Pros
- Advanced automation
- Multiple tiers
- Set up once
- Free version
- Save time
Cons
- Limited features on the cheaper plans
14. Bitly
Formerly Bit.ly, Bitly is a URL shortener that can help you build trust with your audience. You can use the tool to shorten links and also to keep your brand name in the link.
That way, people can recognize the link and know where it leads.
The tool also lets you track link clicks and engagement to see how well a link is doing. That’s a great way to keep an eye on your link posting strategy on social media. If you create unique links for different platforms, you can separate those insights.
If you get the free version, you will be able to create bit.ly links. To get branded links, you’ll need to pay $29 to $199 per month. The annual cost for those plans is $348 and $2,388, respectively.
Pros
- Track link clicks
- Create multiple links
- Easy to use
- Branding option
- Multiple tiers
Cons
- No scheduling
15. Canva
If you want to stand out on social media, you need good visuals. Canva is a graphic design tool that anyone can use.
You can create graphics and images for Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and various other platforms.
The platform comes with thousands of templates, so you don’t need to design from scratch. If you get the Pro version, you can even resize images to make them work for different platforms. Canva Pro also lets you schedule social posts directly.
There’s a free version with plenty of features to get you started. Canva Pro costs $9.99 a month on the yearly plan for up to five users.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Plenty of templates
- Access to stock images
- Different image sizes
- Free version
Cons
- Not as professional as some programs
- Some features are only for Pro users
16. Meet Edgar
Meet Edgar is another excellent social media scheduling tool. You can use the tool with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. Unlike other tools, this one will take content from your library and schedule it for you.
You can organize your evergreen content and share it all on repeat.
Once you set up the tool, it can work for you and pull the right content to post. Then, you and your social media team can save time.
Plans cost $19 to $49 a month, and the more expensive plan comes with more features. Still, the Lite plan is a great way to get started.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Saves time
- Multiple plans
- Plenty of features
Cons
- Some limitations
- Only for a few platforms
17. Social Tradia
Social Tradia is worth checking out if you ever want to buy or sell an Instagram account. The tool connects buyers and sellers, and it only has accounts with real followers for sale.
You can search for accounts in different categories to make sure you buy an account with the right audience.
The handles are also available to view, so you can narrow your search even more.
If you want to make some money, you can sell your account if you’ve built up an engaged audience. The transactions are secure.
Pricing depends on the specific account you buy. Smaller accounts with less than 3,000 followers cost about $100. On the other hand, accounts with 100,000 followers or more can cost thousands of dollars.
Pros
- Safe
- Real followers
- Various niches available
- Different account sizes
- Quick process
Cons
- You have to make sure to buy a relevant account
- No other services
Effectiveness of Using Social Media Tools as a Marketing Strategy
Social Media Tools are important if you want to ensure growth for your business, not every business is as blessed as Tesla Motors to have a $0 Marketing budget and still succeed.
Using social media tools as a marketing strategy lets you reach a wide variety of social media users easily. You can schedule content to a social channel to post regularly.
Meanwhile, you can focus on other parts of your marketing communications strategy.
If you use influencer marketing, you can even use some tools to connect with the influencer. Then, you can make sure their approach to marketing meets your needs and provides a good user experience to your audience.
The Future of Social Media Marketing
As more people continue to use social media, marketing on social platforms will be essential for business growth. Compared to other options, it’s pretty affordable and is scalable.
Be sure to consider a few tools to help provide a good user experience on any social channel you use.