With the rapid increase in social platforms, social media marketing tools are essential to help you capitalize on the nearly 4 billion users online. Social media marketing often to referred to as SMM, is a key part of any marketing strategy nowadays. Social media marketing tools are the go-to for almost all companies to reach out to various target audiences. This is why organizations need to enlist the help of a tools and strategies to provide social media campaign management and optimization tools. It is the most competitive market today. Effectively using these tools can help you shape your online reputation and maximize the output. Effective use of social media marketing applications is the key to success. Companies have been harnessing the benefits of SMM as a marketing as well as communication tool.
Table of Contents
Below, this guide provides details on the top 5 social marketing tools to use in 2023. Also, it looks at the best tools to use for Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. First, let’s understand what social media marketing tools are.
Also read: PWA Builders
What are Social Media Marketing Tools?
Social media marketing tools are platforms, software, and services that are designed to help businesses reach the larger public and simplify online marketing. These software and services allow for quick growth in the number of potential customers.
As of 2022, there are almost 380 million new social media users and almost 4.7 billion users in total. Using the right tools can help you reach thousands if not millions of these new followers.
The automation of SMM tools makes running campaigns a breeze. In many cases, these tools are used as marketing strategies. They are as effective as traditional marketing methods such as email marketing and digital advertising.
The primary benefits of social media marketing tools are:
- They allow you to manage various social accounts from a centralized platform;
- It is easy to get detailed reports on analytics such as social media activity;
- Monitoring hashtags, competitor accounts, and keywords is simple;
- You can schedule posts to post automatically at the same time so that you don’t waste time doing it once the content is ready.
Now you know what they are. Let’s look at the best tools to use to optimize your marketing strategy.
Related: Top 8 Free Google Marketing platforms for 2023
Top 5 Social Media Marketing Tools to Use
The following are the best SMM tools to use:
1. HubSpot
HubSpot is an all-in-one tool that simplifies the marketing process. Users can set posts to publish when they want to, automatically track engagement, and monitor brand mentions.
Top Features:
- Users can view customers’ interactions and inbox activity
- Schedule posts to be published at any time on YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter
- Toggle between different social networks with ease
- Users can access specific information and data about the performance of their social media
- You can connect social posts to campaigns and correctly trace the traffic back to the source
Pricing
- Starter Plan – starts at $45/month or $540/year
- Professional Plan – starts at $800/month or $9,600/year
- Enterprise Plan – starts at $3,600/month or $43,200/year
Free Tools on All Plans
- Live chat
- Email marketing
- Reporting dashboard
- Forms
- Ad management
- HubSpot mobile app
2. AgoraPulse
AgoraPulse is a social media marketing software that enables marketers to set goals, reach audiences, and track ROI. Some of the features it provides are analytics, marketing automation, content management, and personalization. So, you can easily get detailed reports in your dashboard.
Top Features:
- Integrates well with social platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube
- Collaborate in real time
- Generate in-depth analytics reports in CSV and PDF format
- Very attentive and helpful customer service
- Flexible content posting options for scheduled and queued posts
- Give varying access levels to different users
- Easily find, filter, and manage important messages, mentions, and comments
Pricing
- Free Plan – $0
- Pro Plan – starts at $99/month or $948/year ($79/month)
- Premium Plan – starts at $199/month or $2,388/year ($199/month)
- Enterprise Plan – contact AgoraPulse for a customized quote
- Pay the annual plan and get up to 20% off.
Free Tools on All Plans
- Label content
- Social CRM tools
- Facebook ROI calculator
- Mobile app
- Email support
3. Hootsuite
Hootsuite is a cloud-based social media management tool. It allows users to monitor, manage, and publish on all their social platforms and websites using one dashboard. Also, it lets users work across multiple devices and makes scheduling easier as well as faster.
Top Features:
- Posts can be scheduled in advance
- Enable teams to collaborate
- Efficiently manage social media customer service
- Monitor and analyze content on multiple platforms in one place
- Generates detailed data analytics reports
- Connect with customers through social media and analytics reports
- Manage Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts from one dashboard
Pricing
- Professional Plan – starts at $49/month
- Team Plan – starts at $249/month
- Business Plan – starts at $739/month
- Enterprise Plan – request a demo from Hootsuite for a customized billing plan
- 30-day free trial when you sign up
- Pay the annual price for the Professional and Team plans and get 20% off
Free Tools on All Plans
- Publishing calendar
- Recommended time to post content
- Bulk content scheduling
- Content apps
- Monitor incoming messages
- Customizable reports
- Report templates
4. BuzzSumo
BuzzSumo is an SMM tool that helps you find the best content for your content marketing and link building strategies. You can snap & track relevant social media posts, then check your keyword rankings for those posts in Google. You can also find and evaluate top debaters and influencers on social media who align with your niche.
Top Features:
- Track & analyze your competitors’ content, insights, and post keywords with this power tool
- Find notable influencers related to the topics you post about
- Explore the most shared content on all social media platforms
- Make consumers aware of trending topics based on their interests
- Works with Instagram, Twitter, Facebook (How to Create the Facebook Page?), YouTube, Pinterest, and Reddit
Pricing
- Pro Plan – $99/month or $948/year ($79/month, save 20%)
- Plus Plan – $179/month or $1,668/year ($139/month, save 20%)
- Large Plan – $299/month or $2,868/year ($239/month, save 20%)
- Enterprise Plan – Contact BuzzSumo for details on a tailor-made plan
- 7-day trial offer available with unlimited searches, easy cancellations, and no commitments.
Free Tools on All Plans
- Content ideas generator
- Content analysis reports
- Domain reports
- Influencer searches
- Backlinks
- Journalist profiles
5. Sprout Social
Sprout Special is an online all-in-one marketing and social media management tool. It aims to improve social media presence and understanding of brands via social media. It helps you stick to your plan, and strengthen client relationships.
Top Features
- Internal data is trackable, including sentiment, the number of replies, and the reply time
- All-in-one tool that includes team collaboration, engagement, analytics, and publishing
- Users have access to social listening functions
- You have access to scheduling capabilities
- Integrates well with Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Tumblr, Twitter, YouTube, and the web
Pricing
- Standard – $249/user per month; Additional users – $199/month
- Professional – $399/user per month; Additional users – $299/month
- Advanced – $499/user per month; Additional users – $349/month
- Each plan offers a 30-day free trial
Free Tools on All Plans
- Social content calendar
- Android and iOS mobile apps
- Review management
- Keywords, profiles, and locations monitoring
Buffer – Bonus Tool
Buffer is one of the best tools for scheduling posts on any social media channels. With Buffer Publish, you create posts, add them to your Buffer dashboard, then schedule them. Buffer Analyze analyzes, measures, and creates reports for Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. All this can easily be done from one dashboard.
Top Features
- Customize the times & days to publish your posts
- Reply to social media posts within Buffer
- Automatically post content added to your posting schedule in the order you want
- Easily analyze the reaction of customers to each post and generate a performance report of the content
- Tailor content for different social platforms
- Chrome extension enables you to add content or articles from different websites to your Buffer content queue
- Integrate with Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Twitter
Pricing
- Free Plan – $0/month
- Essentials Plan – $6/month or $60/year ($5/month)
- Team Plan – $12/month or $120/year ($10/month)
- Agency Plan – $120/month or $1,200/year ($100/month)
- 14-day free trial
- On yearly billings, you get 2 months free and save 20%
Free Tools on All Plans
- Social media & email support
- Two-factor authentication
- Google business profiles
- buff.ly link shortener
- Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google, and Pinterest profiles
- Set posting schedule
Also read: Using Digital Marketing Services to Grow and Increase Traffic Through an Agency
Best Tools to Use for Different Social Media Platforms
Each platform has its own preferred marketing tools. So, it’s essential to use the best one to ensure your content is of high-quality & has high engagement.
Let’s look at the best tools to use.
1. Instagram Marketing Tools
Instagram marketing tools include important Instagram features like analytics, scheduling, and an easy-to-understand work flow. Plus, there are many tools that make Instagram marketing a breeze. These include ones that create engaging graphics, share pictures at specific times, and pull in analytics.
Some top tools in addition to some mentioned above include:
- Social Pilot
- Iconosquare
- Blog2Social
- SocialInsider
- Kicksta
- Smartly.io
2. Facebook Marketing Tools
Facebook marketing tools are valuable because they allow users to get Facebook’s support and guidance through their campaigns. It also lets them use their Facebook profiles to build their social media presence.
In addition, marketing tools help marketers to engage with fans as well as build a marketing strategy for their business.
Some top tools in addition to some mentioned above include:
- Facebook Manager
- SendinBlue
- Canva
- SocialBee
- Mailchimp
- SEMrush
3. Twitter Marketing Tools
Twitter marketing tools are another way to stay connected with your customers and make sure they are still interested in your business. When you have a lot of followers, it’s important to make sure they are engaged. So, Twitter tools can help you accomplish this goal.
Some top tools in addition to some mentioned above include:
- Tweetdeck
- SocialPilot
- Iconosquare
- Meet Edgar
- Later
- Crowdfire
4. LinkedIn Marketing Tools
LinkedIn marketing tools are best for professionals who work in B2B industries. This service allows professionals to troubleshoot and update their profiles, and send more personalized messages. LinkedIn offers deep insights on your prospects as well as marketing tools give you the best way to reach them.
Some top tools in addition to some mentioned above include:
- Iconosquare
- SocialPilot
- Linked Helper 2
- LinkedIn Sales Navigator
- eLinkPro
- Crystal
Related: Content Marketing Tools to Boost Awareness and Make Money in 2023
How to Use Social Media Marketing Tools to Improve Your Marketing Strategy?
Using these tools isn’t a challenge if you continuously practice with them. With social marketing tools, you can easily show your audience what your brand is about. This makes it easier to build a connection with them.
You need to up the levels of your SMM game. Don’t fall behind by not having a great SMM strategy. Look through the following steps to learn everything you need to know.
1. Set Your Desired Goals
List the things you want to accomplish with the improved branding. Try to assess what the impact of social media marketing on your business. Do you want to improve brand awareness, increase sales, or better your ROI? Once you know this, all marketing is geared towards the goal.
2. Know You Target Audience
You don’t always know who your target audience will be when you start your business. The idea you have and who gravitates towards your business may be totally different. So, you need to analyze your desired target audience in-depth beforehand to know how to attract them.
3. Monitor Your Metrics
Your data & metrics will help you know if your business is on track to achieving your goals. Record your paid ad shares, organic likes, you reach, clicks, engagement, or hashtags for each campaign. This will help you determine the best way to promote your brand.
4. Analyze Your Competitors
Analyze does not mean copy. See what your competitors are doing and how they interact with consumers. Look for helpful strategies you can implement as well as the gaps they aren’t filling that you can capitalize on.
5. Produce High-Quality Content
Whether you produce videos, images, or text, high-quality and engaging content will generate an audience. Creating content that is optimized for social media and is useful to your audience is guaranteed to increase brand awareness.
Also read: Free Guide to Create a Funnel Marketing Strategy
Conclusion
Once you have a broad understanding of marketing, you can identify which tools will lead to the best results for your business.
In addition, social media marketing tools make it easier for brands to succeed in their marketing, and make it more affordable for them to do so. Start using these tools today and start to see the benefits.
Moreover, using a proper SMM tool can ensure maximum results with much less effort. For these reasons, you do not have to make expensive mistakes by confusing your social media strategies with marketing.
Hence, one of the tools mentioned above can have significant results on your marketing strategy. Look through our detailed guide to find the best tool that will work for you.
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