How to Pick the Right Social Media Management Tool

Social media isn’t going away. In fact, it’s becoming more important than ever for brands. Brands need a social media marketing tool to keep up with the constant flow of posts. While I’ve been an avid user of Sprout Social, that doesn’t mean I haven’t tried other social media tools. There are reasons I’ve always come back to Sprout Social though; it’s best for what Netvantage needs. Now it’s time for your business to decide the best social media management tool for you:

How many social media profiles will you be managing with the tool?

A lot of social media management tools are split up into plans based on the number of social media profiles you need to manage. As the total number of profiles goes up, so does the price and some tools can get pricey. So first, figure out a ballpark figure for the number of profiles you must manage.

Furthermore, make sure the social media tool offers integration for all the social media networks or profiles you plan to use. It wasn’t until recently that Sprout Social started offering Instagram integration.

How many people can use the tool?

Depending on your plan, you might only be able to have one person using the account at a time. This is something to consider and may go hand-in-hand with how many social media profiles you’re adding. If there are a lot of social media profiles, you might need more than one person managing them.

What is the primary use of the tool?

Different tools are beneficial for different reasons. Most will focus on scheduling and monitoring but look beyond that to see what perks you’ll get with the different tools you will use.

If scheduling is your primary use, check and see how many posts you can schedule out. Not all plans off unlimited scheduling. Again, if scheduling is your primary use, is it easy to schedule posts? I personally love Sprout Socials extension which makes it a breeze to schedule posts right from a website.

Does the tool have a mobile app?

Social media never sleeps, making it vital to monitor social media accounts on the go. Double check that the social media tool you’re going to pick has an app for you to keep up when you’re not at the office.

What does reporting look like?

Everyone has their own way of doing reports. The tool you use should work in line with the reporting you have set up or should enhance what you are already doing.

How much do you want to spend on a social media management tool?

Prices can range drastically for social media management tools. Keep that in mind and have a set budget in mind so you’re not in sticker shock.