Did you miss #ContentWritingChat this week? There’s no need to worry, friends! We have you covered with a recap of this Tuesday’s chat. If you want to learn how to create great content online, just keep reading!
#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Decide What to Write About & Create Great Content Online with Carrie Morgan
Our guest host this week was Carrie Morgan. Carrie is an author and an expert when it comes to public relations, content marketing, SEO, and social media.
It’s her second time joining us as a guest host (her first #ContentWritingChat hosting session with us was back in February about rising above the noise), and we were thrilled to have her back sharing her expertise!
Q1: Share a few qualities that make up outstanding online content.
What makes a piece of online content amazing? There are a few specific qualities it needs to have! Check out some of these answers from Tuesday’s chat:
A1. Great content doesn’t echo what everyone else is talking about, but dives deeper. THINKS harder. #contentwritingchat
As Carrie said, great content doesn’t just echo what everyone else is saying. You need to dive deeper and think harder with the content you’re creating. It needs to be unique in order to stand out from the crowd.
She also said it reflects a strong understanding of its customer and audience. The content you create is about them, not you!
@writingchat A1: Quality and VALUE. Content that solves the readers problem and is easy to digest will always win out #ContentWritingChat
When creating content, it needs to be high quality and valuable for your audience. Top-notch content that solves a problem your audience is facing will always yield results.
A1: Easily readable such as using headlines or lists. People want to be able to find things easily. Also, pictures! #contentwritingchat
Lexie from Netvantage Marketing knows readability is essential when it comes to creating great content online. To make your content readable to visitors of your website, use headlines and format text into lists when appropriate. It makes your content easy to scan. Pictures are great, too!
a1: Trustworthy, accuracy, entertaining, intriguing, informative. It depends on your audience, always cater to them. #contentwritingchat
You should always cater to your audience when writing content. You want to be trustworthy, accurate, entertaining, intriguing, and informative depending on what you’re writing.
A1 The best online content makes use of visual and emotional storytelling hooks–and leads with value to the audience. #contentwritingchat
As Bill said, the best online content makes use of visual and emotional storytelling. It’s the best way to hook your audience and establish a connection with them.
A1A: And for the love of all things language, please proofread your content or hire a skilled editor. (Why hello there!) #contentwritingchat
What’s one thing you should never forget when creating content? Proofreading! Make sure you proofread everything before you hit publish. Alternatively, Tara suggests hiring a skilled editor to do the job for you.
A1 Don’t put out content that isn’t your best. A few qualities: incredibly useful. Audience-focused. You’re proud of it. #ContentWritingChat
As Julia said, you should never put out content that isn’t your best. Your audience deserves better than that and you want to make sure you’re proud of the work you’re publishing. When striving to create great online content, you want to be useful and focused on your audience.
Q2: How do you figure out what topics to write about online?
Considering there are so many things you can write about, it can be hard to choose which topics are right for you. Here are a few tips from the chat:
A2. Don’t rely too heavily on online tools – get out and talk to your audience, customers, prospects. #contentwritingchat
Carrie feels you shouldn’t rely too heavily on online tools. Instead, the best way to figure out what you should write about is to ask your audience. Ask your current and prospective customers what they’d like to see. You can address their biggest concerns with your content.
She also suggests keeping a specific file that holds all of your topic ideas. This makes it easy to refer to when you’re searching for ideas.
Tara knows that online tools can still be handy when it comes to choosing topics to write about. She likes to use Answer the Public and SEMrush to find questions from her audience. She also searches categories and competition and evaluates keywords.
A2 A good indicator is knowing what content your audience likes/responds to & then creating your own original pieces. #ContentWritingChat
It’s a good idea to keep track of what your audience is responding to. Which of your blog posts have been the most popular so far? That’s good indication of what your audience is interested in.
@writingchat A2: Learn what your customers and buyers are reading, what problems they have-use this as a starting place #contentwritingchat
Jacob’s advice is to learn what your customers and buyers are reading. What problems are they dealing with? This can help you come up with great content topics.
There are three main questions Jenn asks when deciding what to write about. What are my consumers engaging with? What’s relevant in the news? Where’s a gap in coverage? Try asking these questions the next time you’re stuck for ideas.
Q3: How can you learn more about your audience and what they want you to share with them?
If it wasn’t already obvious, it’s important to know and understand your audience if you want to create great online content. However, you may be asking how you can possibly learn this information about them. If you’re not sure how to find out what they want, keep these tips in mind:
A3. Dive into where your audience hangs out, listen. Don’t write until you listen. They’ll tell you what to write. #contentwritingchat
Listen, listen, listen! You need to pay attention to your audience and truly listen to what they have to say. If you do, you’ll come up with plenty of great ideas.
Carrie also suggests turning to your customer service or sales teams. Find out what customers are asking so you can address those issues with your content.
A3: Keep tabs on hot topics via discussion areas online. ASK people what they want to see/learn about. #contentwritingchat
Tara suggests keeping tabs on hot topics your audience is discussing online. You can find this through social media, online forums, and even Facebook groups. All you have to do is ask people what they want to see and create content accordingly.
A3: Again, ask them. You can also learn a lot from product reviews. What info should you have shared for a buyer. #contentwritingchat
Lexie agrees that all you have to do is ask. People will tell you what you want if you just ask and listen to what they have to say. She also said you can learn a lot from product reviews, so keep an eye on those if you receive them.
A3: Analytics, engagement, and/or just point blank asking them through forums or surveys. *cough* Twitter polls *cough* #contentwritingchat
Take advantage of online forums and Twitter polls as ways to ask your audience what they want to see. You should also keep an eye on your site analytics, plus engagement you receive from your audience.
Debi said you should become your target audience. When you understand them, you’ll know what you should write about. Aim to address their pain points and provide a solution for them.
A3: Make a genuine connection. Get to know the reader/viewer on a human level. #ContentWritingChat
Zachary said you should make a genuine connection with your audience. Get to know who your readers are so you can write the content they’re looking for.
A3: Talk to them… Survey, face-to-face, sales, customer service, trade show – anywhere, anytime. #ContentWritingChat
As Zlatka said, there are a variety of ways you can reach out to your audience. You can create surveys, ask them face-to-face, reach out to sales or customer service, engage at trade shows, and more.
Don’t forget an effective headline! If you want to get people clicking over to your website, you have to grab them with an enticing, but accurate, headline. No clickbait.
A4. Make it readable. Write in a real, relatable way. Use headlines, bullet points to make it easy to read. #contentwritingchat
As Brittany said, it needs to be readable. You should write your content in a way that your audience can relate to. Use headings and bullet points to make your posts skimmable.
A4: I’ve become a big fan of H2 and H3 subheads to improve skimability (is that a word?)–helps SEO, too, I believe. #contentwritingchat
If you want people to share your content, you need to make sure it’s shareable. Lex and the Digital Natives Cast team suggest making sharing options available so it’s easy for your readers to use.
Don’t be afraid to ask for the share, too. Provide your audience with a call to action, requesting they share your content. Tell them what you want them to do and you’re more likely to see results.
Q5: Discuss how to create visuals to help boost the success of your written content.
It’s no secret that visuals are essential to pair with your online content. To help you make complementary visuals that grab the attention of your audience, check out these tips:
A5. I love, love, love tools like @Canva to create branded quote images to promote content. #contentwritingchat
Carrie feels content reflects the writer’s level of experience. If you aren’t looking to write your own content, hire someone who is experienced to do the job.
A6 Don’t underestimate audience intelligence. Don’t put out mediocre just to get something out – take time to create. #ContentWritingChat
Julia said you should never underestimate the intelligence of your audience. Make sure you’re taking time to create quality content instead of putting out something that’s mediocre.
A6: Don’t: keyword stuff, sound like a non-native speaker, fail to provide new insights or information. #contentwritingchat
Tara knows keyword stuffing just isn’t cool. Make sure you aren’t guilty of doing this with your content. She also said you should aim to provide new insights or information for your audience.
A6 Don’t write for search engines, and don’t assume you’re too good for one last proof-read. 😉 #ContentWritingChat
Great advice from Shannon: be passion and have fun with the content you create. It really shows through in your writing and your audience will resonate with that.
Q7: What are tools you love that assist you in writing great online content?
There are a ton of great tools available to use that help us create great online content. Here are some suggestions on tools you should try out:
A7. What tools do I use daily? WordPress, Canva, Google, Word, Later, Photoshop, nothing too exciting. #contentwritingchat
Some of the tools Carrie uses on a daily basis include WordPress, Canva, Google, Word, Later, and Photoshop. However, she knows that practice and passion are more important than any tools you may use.
HubSpot, Buffer, Huffington Post, and more! These are some of our favorite content creators, too. We look forward to seeing you at the next #ContentWritingChat! Mark your calendars weekly for Tuesday at 10 AM CDT for great chats centered around content writing and marketing. Follow @ExpWriters to stay updated on our new topics and guests!
Brian knows content is king! He said upcycling means taking great content, shaping it, and customizing it for other formats. Some examples he shared with us include turning a blog post into an infographic or a SlideShare.
A1 One piece of content gets molded and recreated for various other platforms. SO many traction opps! #ContentWritingChat
As Varun said, you can repurpose your best or evergreen content. Evergreen content is great for upcycling because it will always be relevant to your audience.
A1: Upcycling is reusing & revamping your material for a different purpose or to relate to a specific niche audience #ContentWritingChat
Tracy is spot-on with her answer. If you were to recycle content, you would simply be sharing it without making any improvements. When upcycling content, you aim to make it new again.
A2. Upcycling is an improvement on the original material. Recycling keeps it the same, i.e. warming up leftovers. #ContentWritingChat
When recycling your content, you want to be careful it doesn’t come off as spammy. Instead, go for upcycling and recreate your content. Then, you can tailor it for the platform you’re sharing it on and to your audience.
Q3: How can you expand your content reach by upcycling what you create?
Do you want to expand your reach via upcycling content? Here’s how to do it:
One great idea is to take your written content, incorporate it into a visual, and then sharing it on social media. It’s a great way to reach a new audience and to grab their attention with an eye-catching image.
A3: You must research to see what is required by your readers. You don’t want to create something that never gets read #contentwritingchat
Videos are incredibly powerful because they provide a great way for your audience to connect with you. Turning your blog posts into video content is the perfect way to upcycle!
A4: Blogs can easily be grouped into e-book guides, video concepts or graphic slides. Take the best, make it better. #contentwritingchat
Brian knows it’s important to understand your audience. The content format you choose should be dictated by the community you want to reach. Provide them with what they want to see.
Kristen suggests using Google Analytics to figure out which posts are your most popular. She said you could turn those posts into an awesome email autoresponder.
A5a Video! Evergreen on YouTube, then clips for your IG/FB/etc. I did this when my book launched, LOTS of traction #ContentWritingChat
Brian knows it’s important to use analytics as a way to see what your audience likes and doesn’t like. He also shared some great tools everyone should check out.
When it comes to live video, you don’t have to be focused on perfection. Brian said you should pay more attention to the conversation.
We look forward to seeing you at the next #ContentWritingChat! Mark your calendars weekly for Tuesday at 10 AM CDT for great chats centered around content writing and marketing. Follow @ExpWriters to stay updated on our new topics and guests!
Did you miss #ContentWritingChat this week? You can catch up with all of the amazing tips shared during the chat with our recap. Keep reading to learn about content writing for B2B and B2C!
#ContentWritingChat Recap: B2B vs. B2C Content Writing: Best Practices & Strategies with Sparxoo
Our guest host this week was Emily Culclasure from Sparxoo. Emily is their Content Marketing Specialist and had tons of knowledge to share with us!
Q1: What are the main differences between creating content for B2B and B2C?
If you aren’t already aware, let’s first talk about what B2B and B2C stands for. B2B means Business to Business. B2C means Business to Consumer. There are a few differences for creating content for each of these that you want to be aware of! Here are some tips from Tuesday’s chat:
A1:B2B content has a heavier focus on thought leadership to establish authority and trust. #ContentWritingChat
As Emily said, B2B content often has a heavier focus on thought leadership to help establish both authority and trust. She said B2C content emphasizes benefits to the consumer.
A1: It’s about their audience. Everything should start with your audience, and they are different btwn B2B & B2C. #contentwritingchat
Lexie agrees that one of the main differences is the audience you’re creating for. It can change the tone in which you write, the type of content you share, and more.
A1: B2B usually focuses on educational content and industry knowledge. B2C can focus more on emotion, etc. #contentwritingchat
When it comes to B2B, the content is usually focused on education content and industry knowledge. When creating content for B2C, it’s often more focused on emotion to draw in your audience.
@writingchat Understanding the needs of both audiences and adapting your content to provide value for each #ContentWritingChat
Keystone Click knows you need to understand the needs of your audience and adapt your content accordingly. You should always focus on providing value, no matter who your audience is.
A1 Different tones, more intensive research. Talk to the audience in their language. Use the right voice (fun vs. dry) #ContentWritingChat
Our CEO, Julia, said the tone is often different when creating content for each. You want to make sure you’re speaking to your audience in a language that resonates with them.
Q2: How does user into factor in B2B and B2C content? What are the differences?
What are the differences between the two? Find out what some of the participants in this week’s chat had to say:
A1:B2B buyers are often further along the buyer’s journey and seek data or statistics that prove a brand’s authority. #ContentWritingChat
Emily said B2B buyers often seek data or statistics to prove a brand’s authority. Because a B2C buyer can be at any stage in the journey, brand awareness and relationship building is essential.
Lexie knows that both are looking for information, but they’re often looking for different kinds of information. B2B wants more in-depth information while B2C is more about awareness.
A2. a) B2B needs to be more direct- a reader often lands on your page looking for a solution for an existing problem. #ContentWritingChat
Cheryl feels B2B needs to be more direct. She said a reader will often land on your website looking for a solution for an existing problem. You need to be able to provide that solution for them.
A2. b) The ‘B’ doesn’t stand for ‘boring’ in B2B. However, the need to inform & educate overrides entertainment in B2B. #ContentWritingChat
You also want to keep in mind that the sales cycle for B2B is often longer. Make sure you’ve created content for your customer at every step of their journey.
Q3: What are some tips for creating an effective editorial calendar for your content?
We all know an editorial calendar is important. To help you create one that’s effective, keep these tips in mind:
A:Account for seasonality and timeliness. Balance content creation and curation, and always keep the user in mind. #ContentWritingChat
Emily said to make sure you account for seasonality and timeliness. Consider what’s coming up and adapt your content accordingly. She also recommends balancing creation with curation and keeping your audience in mind.
Annaliese’s advice is to plan for the upcoming month. Don’t leave your editorial calendar until the last minute. When you have your content planned in advance, it makes content creation so much easier.
A3. Know which dates impact your customers the most and plan ~1 month in advance if you can. #contentwritingchat
Lexie knows consistency is key! You want to stick to a schedule that works for you so your audience knows when to expect new content. It gives them something to look forward to.
@writingchat A3: Testing, testing, testing. Be sure to test different forms of content to find out what works #ContentWritingChat
Testing is a must! As Tracy said, you need to test to see which kinds of content resonate with your audience. It’ll let you know what you should create more of and less of.
a3: We love @trello!!! The boards make it too easy to move things around and make everyone aware of changes. #ContentWritingChat
With B2B content, Emily said to demonstrate your industry expertise and use industry jargon. She also said to make sure your USP is direct and clear to your audience.
For B2C content, she said to focus on building a relationship with your audience. She recommends focusing on aspirations, positive emotions, and storytelling.
Annaliese said to make sure you know what content you’re going to create for each stage of the customer’s journey when it comes to a B2B. You want to make sure they don’t get lost or abandon you.
@ExpWriters A4: Write what you would want to read. If you know it is boring, ask why you are doing it #ContentWritingChat
Jacob’s advice is to write what you want to read. If it’s something you’d enjoy, your audience might enjoy it as well. If you don’t enjoy it, they won’t either.
.@ExpWriters#ContentWritingChat A4b. Once you know your audience, craft relevant, persuasive and sticky content. Become a pro at that.
Emily said goals for a B2B include increasing lead generation, lead nurturing, brand awareness, and engagement. Goals for a B2B include increasing sales, audience engagement, brand awareness, and customer retention.
Lexie said your goals will vary based on your industry. However, she believes the overall goal is to create a relationship with your audience that ultimately turns into a conversion.
A5 Tailor your end goals to content + audience expectations. Tie in relevant CTAs, look for ROI/conversion from clicks #ContentWritingChat
As Julia said, you should tailor your end goals to your content and audience expectations. You should be sure to add relevant CTAs and track your ROI/conversions from the clicks you receive.
A5: Know you goal eg) get mailing list sign-ups, enquiries, online sales etc. The content can work to achieve said goal. #ContentWritingChat
Justine said your goal might be to get more sign-ups to your email list, more business inquiries, sales, etc. Make sure you just tailor your content to help you achieve those goals.
@writingchat A5: Know what you want to do with your content – brand awareness, sales, etc. Then you can measure success #ContentWritingChat
Julia’s advice is to take the time to make sure it’s your best work. You don’t need to rush. It’s more important to take your time to create something that’s valuable and high quality. Before you hit publish on anything, ask yourself if you are happy with your work. Would you want to read it? If the answer to those questions is yes, then you’re good to go.
A6: You can test in the background (Your CTA, offer value, etc) or simply ask your audience for their input. #contentwritingchat
Annaliese said to test in the background. Measure results from your CTA and more to see how well it’s performing. You can even ask your audience for their input.
A6. Your content should always prompt someone to take action. #contentwritingchat
Emily’s advice is to share case studies, webinars, white papers, and blog posts for B2B. For a B2C, she said to go for branded and user-generated social media content. She also said photos, videos, and infographics work well.
A7: For B2B: white papers, infographics, webinars. For B2C: Fun blog posts, social posts, etc. Blogs are great for both! #contentwritingchat
When it comes to B2B, Emily said HubSpot does a great job. She said they offering certifications, best practices, and more that add value to their audience. For B2C, she said Taco Bell’s humor and bold branding are effective in attracting their younger audience.
A8: I think @HubSpot is great at producing marketing content of value. I’m a marketer, so I like companies that help me. #contentwritingchat
Cheryl shared an amazing list of brands that are all worth checking out!
We look forward to seeing you at the next #ContentWritingChat! Mark your calendars weekly for Tuesday at 10 AM CDT for great chats centered around content writing and marketing. Follow @ExpWriters to stay updated on our new topics and guests!
Need help with better blog content, monthly topic planning, web copy and more? Visit the Content Shop!
As Ross said, data-driven content curation ensures the work you’re doing is targeted and driving your business goals. That’s a must! When you utilize the data and analytics that are available to you, you can maximize your results with less time and money.
Data can help build your authority and credibility through the content you share. Ultimately, it can encourage others to view you as a thought leader in your industry.
A1 Data-driven content is based on something – analytics, metrics, ROI – and is not pulled out of thin air. #contentwritingchat
Ross is spot-on with his answer! Sharing random content just because you like it doesn’t necessarily make sense for your business. It won’t help you achieve your goals and can lead to attracting the wrong audience.
He also said it’s hard to drive consistent results with random efforts, so it’s important to be strategic about the content you’re sharing.
A2. Everything you share should be content you like AND be useful to your audience. #contentwritingchat
Kristen knows you should think about your audience with everything you share online. Your content should be useful to your audience and you should like it as well.
A2: There is little point in sharing just for sharings sake if you are hoping to gain benefits #ContentWritingChat
Cheryl believes the formula is all about identifying your audience, knowing what they’re looking for online, and finding a way to make yourself interesting.
Ross recommends using tools that do the work for you with algorithms, targeting, and filtering. It makes content curation much easier! You can also learn a lot from the influencers in your industry. See what they’re sharing and how people are responding to it.
A4: An easy way is to craft twitter users that share quality/relevant content into a list and pool from that list #contentwritingchat
Twitter lists can be a great way to find valuable and relevant content to share online. Create a list with your favorite sources and check it whenever you’re looking for amazing content.
A4: I highly recommend these approaches to finding curate-worthy content: Twitter lists, email subscriptions, @feedly. #contentwritingchat
Annaliese also recommends using Twitter lists, but she also suggested turning to email subscriptions and Feedly. Feedly is a great way to easily keep up with posts on your favorite websites.
Here at Express Writers, we’re also big fans of BuzzSumo. You can use this tool to see which posts are getting the most shares on content in your industry. It gives you a good idea of what your audience is interested in. Google Alerts is another great tool as well!
A4. Reading a lot of blogs, looking for the trends and don´t forget the influencers #ContentWritingChat
Ask yourself if you personally love a specific piece of content. Julia knows it’s important that what you share resonates with you as well. You can then align it to your audience and analyze the results you get.
Q5: How can I use data in the sharing aspect of content curation?
Are you unsure how to use data when sharing content online? Check out these tips:
Data can be assembled and used to find out the top times to post for the platform and for your audience. #contentwritingchat
Ross recommends using data to find the best times to post for the platforms you use and for your audience. This will help you maximize your results when sharing.
A5: Use data to inform you about what content your audience wants to see and what might not work. Also, timing is key. #contentwritingchat
You can also turn to data to see which types of content your audience is truly interested in. What are they responding to? What are they not enjoying so much? Use this information to craft posts accordingly.
A5a: Data can help you find what’s trending on individual social platforms. This presents a big opportunity. #contentwritingchat
Edanry suggested using data to figure out what is trending on specific social media platforms. You can use this to your advantage when creating content.
Q6: How do I use analytics for data-driven curation?
How can you use analytics to maximize your results? Find out:
Analytics give you a ton of information but you have to think about what each point means. #contentwritingchat
Ross knows that your analytics will give you a ton of valuable information. You just need to be able to undersand those metrics and know how to use them.
Sarah likes to measure conversions. How many people are actually converting from your content? What works and what doesn’t? It’s important to figure this out so you can create more of the content that’s working for you and your audience.
Keep in mind that conversions can mean different things. It isn’t always about making a sale. As Sarah said, you need to know the goals of your content so you can create and measure appropriately.
A6: Take the numbers out of the equation & question what’s in it for my audience, then you’ll get it right. #contentwritingchat
As Ross said, testing and adjustments are the difference between trying and succeeding. You need to tune into your audience first if you want to be successful. Once you’ve done this, Ross said you can move and grow with them.
A7: Testing is everything. If you aren’t constantly optimizing your work you aren’t maximizing your potential. #ContentWritingChat
When you test and analyze your results, you can adapt your plan based on what you find out. As Andy said, you should continue to test as well. You can always learn something and create a better strategy.
A7: Adjustments and testing allow you to create a new pool of data, refining and maximizing results. Explore your data! #contentwritingchat
It’s just important! Brittany said it will help you see which content is working for your audience. When you know what they like, you can deliver more of the same.
.@ExpWriters#ContentWritingChat A7. Consistent testing and experimentation makes sure your content and strategies keep improving.
If you’re growing at a fast rate, it’s a good sign you’re on the right track. You need to keep in mind that success on social media won’t happen all at once though. As Ross said, it comes in phases and gains momentum. You just have to remain consistent.
Having a smart, agile strategy will set you up for great results. You need to make sure you’re staying relevant and growing alongside a digital world that’s constantly changing.
A8: By the # of views, visitors, growth in reference points (google, facebook, etc.). Any growing analytics! #contentwritingchat
Christie likes to track engagement on her posts. Are people liking, retweeting, and sharing what you’re posting? If not, you might want to revisit your strategy and the types of content you’re sharing online.
A8 if you’re reaching or exceeding your goals, you know you’re heading in the right direction #ContentWritingChat
It all goes back to setting goals for your content. If you meet or exceed those goals, you’re heading in the right direction.
We look forward to seeing you at the next #ContentWritingChat! Mark your calendars weekly for Tuesday at 10 AM CDT for great chats centered around content writing and marketing. Follow @ExpWriters to stay updated on our new topics and guests!
Let’s face it. With all the platforms available today, social media can sometimes feel a little overwhelming.
After all, you have to create content for Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn – and don’t forget Pinterest and Instagram.
Managing all of your social media accounts can be a lot of work.
The good news is, social media management doesn’t have to be hard.
With so many tools available at our fingertips, it’s never been easier to create and schedule amazing social media content. You just have to choose the right apps for you!
And to make it a little easier, we’ve put together a break down of some of the best social media management apps.
The Benefits of Scheduling Out Your Social Media Using Tools
In case you needed a little convincing to get on-board with the social media management apps, here are a few benefits of scheduling in advance:
It creates consistency. One of the most important things when it comes to social media is consistency. You don’t want to pull a disappearing act by forgetting to post. You want to make sure you stay top-of-mind for your followers by posting on a regular basis. By scheduling your social media posts in advance, you’re able to do this.
You create better content. When you plan your updates in advance, you’re more likely to put thought into the updates you’re creating as opposed to the ones you craft on the fly. Your audiences expects to see the best and they deserve it, too. Make time to schedule so you can plan posts that your audience will enjoy and that your brand will benefit from.
Your Best Social Media Management Apps
To help you decide which app is right for you, we’ve rounded-up some of the best social media management apps to help you take control of your Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram profiles.
1. Buffer
Here at Express Writers, our go-to tool is Buffer. We use it to manage our many Twitter accounts, plus Facebook, Google+, and LinkedIn. That’s not all it does! It also handles scheduling for Pinterest and Instagram.
The great thing about Buffer is that it’s incredibly easy to use. There’s really nothing complex about it! Both their website and mobile app (for Android and iOS) make it a breeze to schedule updates for any platform.
Check out our scheduled social media feed on Buffer (we have a lot of posts and profiles):
While you can use Buffer absolutely free of charge, you’d be missing out on some of the main features this social media scheduler has to offer.
The free plan limits you to scheduling only 10 updates at a time per account and you’re unable to add multiple accounts for each type of platform. (This means that two Twitter profiles or two Facebook pages would be out of the question.)
The good news is, Buffer’s “Awesome” plan is pretty affordable at only $10/month.
Buffer provides built-in analytics that give you insight into how well your posts are performing. You’re able to see which posts are actually resonating with your audience and which ones aren’t. This is essential so you can adapt your social media strategy for maximum results.
To make scheduling even easier, Buffer also offers an extension for your web browser. If you see a blog post you’d love to share with your followers, all you have to do is use the extension to quickly and easily add it to your Buffer queue without ever opening their website.
And finally, another great option on Buffer is their Optimal Timing Tool. What will this do for you? Well, you’ve probably seen all kinds of studies that show the best times to post on Twitter, Facebook, etc. While those studies are helpful, those times aren’t unique to your social media profiles. Buffer’s Optimal Timing Tool calculates the best times for you to post based on your own audience.
From its features and affordability to how easy it is to use, it should come as no surprise that Buffer made our list of the best social media management apps. It’s definitely one to check out if you haven’t already tried it.
Note: Buffer also provides plans for Teams & Agencies ranging from $99/month to $399/month, depending on your needs.
2. Hootsuite
When it comes to scheduling tools, Hootsuite is comparable to Buffer when it comes to price. Hootsuite offers a free plan that allows you to add three social media profiles. If you need a little more, you can upgrade to their Pro account for just $9.99/month, which allows you to add up to 50 social media profiles. It’s another great option if you want something that will get the job done without breaking the bank.
Here’s what a dashboard in Hootsuite would look like:
Courtesy of matthewfarmer.com.au
Hootsuite provides scheduling for a variety of platforms, including: Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
However, one thing they do differently is that they offer support for YouTube scheduling. By linking your Hootsuite account with YouTube, you’re able to schedule and share your YouTube videos right from Hootsuite. This is definitely convenient for video creators.
One of the great features about Hootsuite is that it’s more than just a social media scheduler. You’re actually able to monitor and engage in conversations with your followers directly from the Hootsuite website. Their engagement tools ensure you’ll never miss an important reply from someone.
Like Buffer, you also receive access to analytics on Hootsuite. You can use this information to see which posts are performing well on each of your platforms. With a Pro account, you’re able to go even more in-depth to improve ROI and analyze campaign performance through your analytics.
Note: Hootsuite also provides plans for small businesses and agencies. You can sign-up on their website to learn more about pricing.
3. Edgar
You can’t talk about the best social media management apps without mentioning the powerhouse that is Edgar.
Courtesy of Problogger.net (Darren Rowse)
While Edgar is certainly pricier than Buffer and Hootsuite, coming in at $49/month, it comes packed with features the other two platforms are lacking. It’s the only tool that will back you up in case your post queue goes empty.
Edgar is designed so that you add updates to your “library.” You can choose which platforms you want each post to be shared on, plus you’re able to save each one in a certain category. For example, you could create a category for “Blog Posts,” where you’d save any posts that link back to your blog. If you’re a big fan of sharing cat photos, you could even create a category for that, too.
Then, your next step is to create a posting schedule. You get to tell Edgar which types of posts you want to share and at what time. So, if you want to share a link to a blog post every Tuesday at 10 AM, you can do that no problem. Edgar will pull a post from your “Blog Posts” category and share it for you.
Edgar pulls your social media content straight from the library you’ve created. Whenever something has been posted, it goes back into your library at the bottom of the list. When Edgar runs out of content, he starts all over by pulling from your library. You’ll never have to worry about your queue going empty and not having something to share with your followers. Talk about making social media easier!
If Edgar sounds like one of the best social media management apps for you, you can give it a go with a free trial. Edgar currently works with Twitter profiles, Facebook profiles, Facebook pages, Facebook groups, LinkedIn profiles, and LinkedIn pages. It may not provide scheduling for as many platforms as Buffer and Hootsuite, but it sure packs a ton of value with its library feature.
Bonus: Tools That Manage Pinterest & Instagram
Now that we’ve given you scheduling tools for Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and LinkedIn, let’s talk about Pinterest and Instagram. First up, Pinterest!
4. Pinterest Scheduling: BoardBooster & Tailwind
First, you can use Buffer to schedule posts to your Pinterest boards (for paid accounts only). This is quite handy if you’re already using Buffer as your primary scheduling tool. You wouldn’t have to pay for something else and you’d have everything right in one place. However, if you’re looking for a tool with a few more features, you have a couple great options.
BoardBooster and Tailwind are both powerful tools for scheduling your Pinterest content. They each offer a free trial so you can see which one fits your needs and purchase from there. Both tools allow you to schedule your pins and have them post at optimal times for your account. If you’ve been seeing lackluster results on Pinterest, one of these tools could be just what you need to step up your presence there.
With Tailwind, you’re able to see a visual representation of your Pinterest queue before it posts. It makes it easy to see how many pins are in your queue and what’s coming up next. You can also schedule certain pins to be shared at specific times, which is quite convenient if you want to time a pin for the same time your latest blog post goes live.
To use BoardBooster, the application sets up a secret board on your current Pinterest profile. You pin to that secret board, then BoardBooster moves your pins from there to the public board throughout the day. In your “Board Performance Report,” you’ll be able to see exactly what BoardBooster has posted for you, plus a few stats on each pin. You’re also able to “loop” old pins by reposting them and you can pull popular pins from another user’s board.
Tailwind’s most affordable plan is for bloggers and small businesses. It comes in at jut $9.99/month. BoardBooster’s plans are set up differently in that they’re based on how much you pin per month. If you pin only 500 pins each month, you’d end up paying only $5/month, which is quite a bargain.
Instagram Scheduling
The tricky thing about Instagram scheduling is that the platform doesn’t allow third-party applications to access its API. What does that mean? None of the scheduling apps can actually post for you. Instead, you can schedule posts within the tool of your choice, which then sends a notification to your phone as a reminder to post. There are applications that post to Instagram for you, however they technically go against Instagram’s rules and we’d advise not using them. There are a few great options to consider for your Instagram scheduling that are absolutely safe to use.
5. Later
Later (formerly Latergramme) is a nice tool for scheduling your Instagram content. You can easily upload images and captions via desktop or through the mobile app for Android or iOS. One of the handy things about scheduling with Later is that you can actually upload multiple images and save them in your library. So, you don’t need to have your post planned out right away. You can save images and move them from your library to your queue later on.
6. Buffer or Hootsuite
Both Buffer and Hootsuite provide scheduling for Instagram. If you’re already using one of these tools for scheduling on other platforms, you may want to stick with them just to keep everything in one place. It’ll make things much easier for you!
Using The Best Social Media Management Apps To Your Success
By putting your social media management under one application umbrella, you save yourself a great deal of time, management, and trouble.
It’s a necessary step for the modern content marketer!
Take that a step further and hire a social media manager expert from our hand-picked, expert team! We’ll manage your profiles, create custom imagery, and write original, creative posts.Visit the Content Shop.
