Wouldn’t it be empowering to wake up every day knowing all your social media has long since been planned, written and scheduled for posting at the correct times, on the right platforms? Yes, today we are talking about the dream. Automation. It was only a matter of time before we would arrive at a state where automating your social media is not just plausible but essential. We all know that posting regularly with high-value, relevant content on the appropriate platforms is the key to social media success. Whilst AI is on the horizon, it is nowhere near ready to take on your social media for you! To avoid overload, we take a look at what we consider the top social media management tools available today.
What Social Media Automation isn't.
Automating your social media is not about outsourcing your social media to unknown faces and or bots who make you promises to boost your followers, likes or engagements. It is not ‘click and forget’. This is the fastest way to lose money, lose your following and damage your business brand and reputation.
Successful Automation = planning + software
Automation is not about abdication but instead is about planning and organisation and then utilising the most appropriate Social Media Management Tools for your business.
If you are simply looking for a function to schedule and forget, then you should be aware that both Facebook and Instagram provide this function for you free of charge. Indeed Facebook and Instagram now have the function for you to create and schedule posts from within the platform without requiring a third-party tool. Both Instagram and Facebook allow you to schedule posts and cross-post, saving you the time of repeat posting on both platforms.
However, if you have many social media platforms, or are interested in Social Media Optimization, in-depth reports and tracking, as well as a suite of other fantastic tools and insights, read on.
Hootsuite - Best for larger enterprises
Probably one of the most famous in this crowded field, Hootsuite lets you manage all your social media in one place. Used by 800 fortune 1000 companies, it is famous for being an excellent all-in-one social media management tool businesses of various sizes. Hootsuite does more than just curate and schedule, it allows you to monitor the results of your efforts and connect with over 35 social networks!
Hootsuite is not cheap. While they technically have a free version, it is very limited. Realistically paid plans state from $49 per month, with team plans from $129 all the way to enterprise level, which we assume is when you get on a call and discuss your needs!
Costs at a glance (USD)
- Professional: $49 per month
- Team: $129 per month
- Business: $739 per month
- Enterprise: Call to confirm
Sprout Social - Best Overall o
With the most expensive minimum paid plan, it is worth saying up front that Sprout Social also acts as a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. Sprout Social users enjoy a similar range of features to Hootsuite, Sprout Social also provides high-end in-depth reporting that allows helps your engagement and ROI. Whilst Hootsuite provides decent reporting, and some come at additional costs! It also has a host of Social Media Optimization tools, that allow you to assess the effectiveness of your media efforts. Plans from $89 per month, with a limited number of profiles per account.
Costs at a glance (USD)
- Professional: $89 per month
- Professional $149 per month
- Advanced: $249 per month
Zoho Social: Best 'all in one' for small businesses
Lesser known. Zoho Social also acts as a CRM, allowing you to organise emails, accounting and all activities in one place. It is also the most affordable, with plans starting at $10 per month for individuals. Like all Social Media Management Tools – the free version is not worth it!
Costs at a glance (USD)
- Standard: $10 per month
- Professional: $30 per month
- Premium: $40 per month
