Alice Parsons /
Copywriter
Being active on social media is key to boosting your online visibility, but managing multiple accounts can be a major headache. Luckily, there are plenty of social media management tools available to simplify your workflow and help you optimise your strategy, no matter how big or small your business is.
At b4b, we always strive to keep on top of the latest social media tools and trends. Read on for 3 tools that could be game-changers for your social media management!
1. Hootsuite
Best for: Medium-to-large businesses managing multiple accounts.
Price: Professional plan starts at £89/month for one user, Team plan starts at £249/month for three users.
Hootsuite is one of the most popular social media management platforms, and for good reason! It’s packed with features like post scheduling, conversion monitoring, analytics and reporting, task assignment, social listening, and much more, making it an excellent all-in-one resource.
Pros of Hootsuite
- Hootsuite supports a huge range of social media platforms, including Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Google My Business.
- Hootsuite doesn’t just track your social media performance; it also benchmarks your results against industry competitors, so you can see how you’re doing compared to the competition.
- Hootsuite is integrating AI in its platform with its OwlyWriter AI, which can create fresh social media content by repurposing your best posts, offer writing inspiration, and even generate entirely new posts.
Cons of Hootsuite
- Hootsuite’s pricing starts at £89 monthly, putting it on the higher end of the social media management tool spectrum. This could make it a less attractive choice for smaller teams and individuals.
- Hootsuite can be complex to navigate, especially for those new to social media management.
2. Buffer
Best for: Individuals and small businesses looking for straightforward social media scheduling.
Price: Basic plan for free, Essentials plan for £5/month, Team plan for £10/month, and Agency plan for £100/month.
Buffer is a straightforward tool that helps you plan and schedule content, track post performance, and gain insights into your audience’s behaviour and preferences.
Pros of Buffer
- Buffer lets you schedule posts across various social media platforms, including Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, Mastodon, Pinterest, and Google Business Profile.
- Its free plan lets you connect up to three social accounts, though scheduling is limited to 10 posts per channel.
- Buffer integrates with Shopify, allowing you to track how your social media posts impact your store.
- Buffer offers a “link in bio” service called Start Page, which lets you easily create and update a small, mobile-friendly website featuring your latest content or products for sale.
- Buffer now includes an AI Assistant that can generate posts and handle other AI-driven content creation tasks.
Cons of Buffer
- Buffer offers a good starting point for analytics, but if you’re looking for deep dives into your social media performance, it might not provide the level of detail you need.
- While Buffer excels at scheduling posts, there can be limitations for more complex features like carousel posts on Instagram or posting to multiple platforms at once.
- Buffer primarily focuses on scheduling posts. If you’re looking for a tool to engage with your audience, such as responding to comments or messages, you might need to supplement Buffer with other tools.
- Buffer’s free trial period is only 14 days, compared to Hootsuite and Sprout Social’s 30.
3. Sprout Social
Best for: Large enterprises that require in-depth analytics.
Price: £199/month for the Standard plan, £299/month for the Professional plan, and £399/month for the Advanced plan.
Sprout Social is a powerful social media management platform that includes tools for scheduling posts, monitoring conversations, analysing performance, collaborating with team members, and much more.
Pros of Sprout Social
- Sprout Social supports a wide variety of social media tools, including Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, Google My Business, and Trip Advisor.
- Sprout Social offers some of the most detailed analytics and reporting available in any management tool, including ROI measurement, hashtag tracking, separate trackers for paid and organic performance, and more.
- The platform is designed to be intuitive to use, with a clean, uncluttered interface that can be picked up easily.
- Sprout Social offers strong social listening capabilities, including sentiment analysis and competitive tracking, making it especially useful if you require in-depth insights into your audience and competitors.
- Sprout Social has a reputation for providing excellent customer support, including (unlike Hootsuite) phone support.
- Sprout Social also has an integrated AI tool, offering automated content suggestions, intelligent inbox management, and advanced analytics.
Cons of Sprout Social
- Sprout Social is one of the most expensive social media management platforms on the market, with pricing starting at £199 per month. This makes it too costly for most individuals and SMEs.
Accelerate your social media growth with b4b
Tired of your social media feeling stale? At b4b Marketing, we’re all about breathing new life into your brand. Our team of social media experts always stay on top of the latest trends, using innovative tools and strategies to help you reach new heights. Whether you’re looking to boost brand awareness, drive growth, or simply make a bigger impact, we’ve got you covered.
Ready to take the next step? Let’s chat about how our customised social media solutions can help your business thrive. Get in touch today!
