Event season is here and we all know how important social media buzz is. Social media management platforms make handling this aspect of marketing a breeze, but there are so many options out there. Who knows where to start? One thing we can all agree on is that these tools are most helpful when they save you time on posting and allow you to track and attribute success from various platforms and campaigns. We’ve gone ahead and done the hard work for you and compared three of the major players in the social media management space so you can see which is the best platform to manage your social needs.
Buffer has a simple, streamlined interface and helps social media marketing teams work more efficiently on major social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, ad Pinterest. Buffer also has a browser extension, RSS feed, social analytics, Pablo Image Creator, and a video and GIF uploader. They offer products for all facets of social media marketing, including: publishing, engagement, analytics, and team collaboration. Buffer will simplify your social media strategy, putting all of your platforms in one place, so you can easily schedule, draft, post, and track your content. Buffer is a lighter product than some of the other options, so if you’re looking for an easy to use, intuitive social media management platform without all the extra bells and whistles, Buffer would be perfect for you. Buffer offers a limited free plan, a $15 single user plan, and team plans starting at $99 a month for 5 users and has plans to accommodate up to 25 users.
Hootsuite calls themselves the most widely used social media management platform. Hootsuite has core features focused on scheduling posts, content curation, analytics, monitoring hot topics, team management, security, and app integrations with 250 partners. They also have other, more advanced, features that dive into everything from revenue results to optimized Facebook and Instagram ads. This platform allows you to post to Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, WordPress, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest. Hootsuite offers something in depth for every part of the social media marketing team, if your team is looking for a product that will do everything you wanted and more that you never even considered, Hootsuite may be the platform for you. Hootsuite offers a 30-day free trial, a limited free plan, an individual user plan for $29 a month, and team plans starting at $129. They offer pre-packaged plans for up to 5 users and past that have custom enterprise solutions.
Sprout Social is more mission-based and focused on utilizing social media to increase real connection with the social audience your brand has curated. This platform helps with engagement, scheduling and publishing and reporting and analyzing. Much like Hootsuite, it also has a variety of add-ons to dive into trends, important social conversations, and tap into social selling and amplifying. Sprout Social is set up to allow you to post to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google+, and Pinterest. It also has additional integrations with Bitly, Google Analytics, UserVoice, and Feedly. If your team really cares about lasting relationships and real-life engagement and is also looking for a product with multiple capabilities, Sprout Social may be the best choice for you. Sprout Social offers a 30-day free trial and then charges per user starting at $99 a month.
Louise Stone