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In this blog, we cover the best tool for social media management, including
The world of digital marketing is competitive, with new software and systems always emerging. For brands looking to not only survive but thrive within this dynamic ecosystem, mastering social media management is critical. Essential to this effort is social media management tools. Social media management tools allow your business to execute your social media strategy easily, with the most important tools being scheduling, monitoring, and reporting. This software allows businesses to streamline and enhance their digital marketing efforts. With the many options available in 2023, choosing the right one can be challenging.
Let's explore the five best social media management tools you should consider using for your business.
Source: G2 Grid For Social Media Management
1. HubSpot
Ranked as the best social media management software by G2, HubSpot undoubtedly leads the pack. HubSpot's strengths lie in its integrative approach to social media management, tying together various digital marketing functions into a cohesive, manageable whole.
Most Suitable For:
HubSpot is suitable for businesses looking for a CRM platform instead of just a social media management tool.
At its core, HubSpot is an all-in-one CRM platform that can seamlessly integrate with all your marketing initiatives within a single platform. Their social media management software is just a small part of what HubSpot’s marketing hub offers. So if CRM is not on your radar, keep reading this blog to see other alternative choices to consider.
Pros:
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Comprehensive Integration: HubSpot's social media software integrates seamlessly with its own suite of tools for content management, email marketing, SEO, and CRM. This allows for holistic management of all digital marketing efforts from one central platform. It makes tracking the customer journey, from initial social media engagement through to the final sale, much more straightforward.
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Excellent Analytics: The software provides robust analytics that offers in-depth insights into social media performance across various platforms. These analytics can help businesses better understand their audiences, measure the effectiveness of their social media strategies, and adjust their efforts as necessary for optimal engagement and conversion.
Cons:
- HubSpot Pricing is Costly: One of the significant drawbacks of HubSpot's social media software is its cost. It tends to be more expensive than many other social media management tools available on the market. For small businesses or startups with limited budgets, the cost of the software may be a considerable barrier.
- Difficulty with Advanced Features: Using HubSpot's social media tool for uploading and publishing social posts is pretty straightforward. However, getting the most out of the more advanced features, like detailed social media reports or marketing automation, can be tricky. Some users might find it hard to use these features without extra help or HubSpot training.
Price:
The 'Marketing Hub' Starter Pack costs $45 USD monthly. Given the wide range of features, this is a competitive price, and HubSpot offers multiple plans depending on your business size. Larger enterprises will need to request a quote from HubSpot to get software that suits your specific business needs.
2. Sprout Social
Sprout Social is another social media management tool worth considering in 2023. It is an easy-to-use platform that allows you to manage, schedule, and analyse social media posts across various channels.
Most Suitable For:
Sprout Social stands as a unified platform offering post-scheduling and potent social listening tools for any sized business.
Sprout Social is a versatile tool that is well-suited for any size business, including social media management teams and small businesses. It is particularly helpful for those looking to go beyond just scheduling and get key insights through their social media platforms.
Pros:
- User-Friendly Interface: Sprout Social is favoured for its user-friendly interface, which eases the onboarding process. Their customer support is also renowned, offering swift and effective assistance
- Comprehensive Social Listening: It offers comprehensive social listening capabilities, providing valuable insights into audience sentiment and behaviour, which in turn can inform future marketing strategies.
Cons:
- High Costs: While Sprout Social's advanced features are impressive, they are only accessible with higher-tier plans. When using this platform, the price tag may be harder to justify for smaller to medium enterprises.
- Lack of LinkedIn Integration: While you can publish content to your business pages on Sprout Social, its integration is limited to just that. Linkedin activity, messaging, and feed are not incorporated into the dashboard, which may be very important for B2B users looking to garner insights.
Price:
Sprout Social's 'Standard Plans' begin at $249 USD per month.
3. Buffer
Next on our list is Buffer, a tool renowned for its simplicity and efficiency. Offering free versions also makes it a good option for beginners in social media management.
Most Suitable For:
Buffer is a perfect pick for small businesses seeking a free, user-friendly social media management tool.
Buffer offers post scheduling of up to 10 posts and enables users to manage up to 3 social channels with the free feature. This makes it great for small businesses looking to start building a social media presence.
Pros:
- Easy User Interface: Buffer's streamlined user interface makes it simple to use, even for beginners. Its intuitive functions, including straightforward post-scheduling and easy channel management, make it a great option for those just beginning in social media management.
- Multiple-Account Management: The tool's ability to manage multiple accounts from a single dashboard is also a highlight when paying for all the features.
Cons:
- Costly Additional Features: Buffer may not be suitable for medium to large enterprises as advanced features come at a higher additional cost.
- Limited Post Scheduling: Furthermore, post-scheduling capabilities are limited to only ten on the free version, which may not satisfy the needs of businesses with high social media activity.
Price:
While its most basic software is free, the cost of Buffer can rise to $120 USD per month for complete access to all features for multiple channels.
4. Hootsuite
Hootsuite is a staple in the social media management sphere. Known for its impressive functionality and wide range of integrations. They also offer a free version with limited functions.
Most Suitable For:
Hootsuite is a go-to for small businesses seeking a limited, free tool that can be upgraded as they grow.
Hootsuite provides management of up to 3 social channels under the free trial, allowing users to schedule up to 30 posts free of charge. Perfect for businesses starting out with social media but looking to grow their feature use as their business pages grow too.
Pros:
- Extensive Functionality: In its paid version, Hootsuite offers extensive functionality and a wide range of integrations, making it a versatile tool for managing and monitoring social media activities. It supports a wide array of social platforms and allows businesses to track conversations and trends, providing insightful data.
Cons:
- Restrictive Free Trial: Hootsuite's free trial is somewhat restrictive, allowing only one user and offering limited post-scheduling.
- Less Intuitive Platform: The platform's user interface is also less intuitive compared to other social media management tools.
Price:
Hootsuite provides a free 30-day trial; afterwards, the 'Professional' pack begins at $99 USD per month for single-user access.
5. Sendible
Last but not least, Sendible is another top social media management tool in 2023. Specialising in delivering efficiency and precision, Sendible provides a central platform to plan, collaborate, and measure the success of your social media content.
Most Suitable For:
Sendible is an excellent choice for agencies in need of a powerful social media management tool.
Sendible offers a centralised platform for post-scheduling and an innovative content suggestion tool. It is best suited for agencies looking for a tool that can support multiple accounts on multiple channels on one platform.
Pros:
- Interactive Content Calender: Sendible's interactive content calendar and optimal posting times features make it great for agencies. These allow efficient management of multiple clients' accounts, with the opportunity to identify the most effective time slots for posting.
- Robust Reporting: Its robust reporting features also provide valuable insights into campaign performance.
Cons:
- Not Suitable For All Businesses: While Sendible boasts a range of impressive features, they are predominantly designed for agency use. Consequently, businesses outside of the agency realm might find the toolless applicable to their specific needs.
Price:
Sendible's 'Traction' plan, aimed at agencies, starts at $89 USD per month.
Based on G2's Best Social Media Management Tools:
|
|
HubSpot |
Sprout Social |
Buffer |
Hootsuite |
Sendible |
|
Robust Analytics |
✅ |
✅ |
❌* |
❌* |
✅ |
|
Social Media Scheduling |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
|
Social Listening |
✅ |
✅ |
❌* |
❌* |
✅ |
|
Social Ads Management |
✅ |
❌ |
❌ |
✅ |
❌ |
* Not available on the free version.
So, should your business use the number 1 ranking HubSpot for your social media management needs? The answer to this question depends on your specific business needs. While each tool presents its own set of benefits, effective social media management goes beyond the tool itself. It's about how these tools are used — the strategies employed, the insights gained, and the adjustments made in response to these insights. For smaller businesses with smaller-scale digital marketing strategies, free tools might be more valuable. For medium to large enterprises looking to scale up their overall marketing efforts, HubSpot would be the best solution.
Furthermore, without professional expertise, navigating these platforms can be overwhelming and time-consuming. Leveraging social media management services to pair with your chosen platform can help ensure that your investment in a social media management tool is optimised, bringing significant benefits to your brand.
Interested in transforming your social media strategy with HubSpot?
