You’ve got your social profiles set up and a stellar content calendar lined up for the year.
There’s only one more thing (er, things) you need for success: the right tools for the job. Get started with this list of essential social media tools for every content creator.
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1. Social Media Management: Buffer and Hootsuite
Are you managing several social media profiles? Manually logging in and out of each app gets old fast. That’s where a good social media management tool comes in.
Tools like Buffer and Hootsuite let you schedule posts ahead of time, monitor hashtags, and respond to comments all from an integrated dashboard. Plus, they offer analytics so you can see when your posts are getting the most engagement (see Buffer, pictured below). Buffer’s free plan covers up to three channels, while HootSuite’s pricing starts at $49/month.
2. Web Analytics: Google Analytics
All the social platforms and social media management tools come with analytics baked in. These tools can reveal demographic information about your followers, the best time to post, and your most popular posts.
But you also want to know how all that social media activity is translating to your website. Enter Google Analytics. With this free tool, you can see which social networks are driving the most traffic (and conversions) to your website:
3. Content Brainstorming: Google Trends and BuzzSumo
Make writer’s block a thing of the past with Google Trends and BuzzSumo (pictured below). Whether it’s a social media holiday or a trending news story, these content discovery tools can help you tune in to what topics are popular right now.
BuzzSumo can help you find popular influencers as well, and Google Trends can help with your keyword research. Google Trends is always free, while BuzzSumo has a limited free plan.
4. Image Creation: Canva and Unsplash
Canva is a social media manager’s best friend. Whether you’re designing an Instagram post, a LinkedIn banner, or a YouTube thumbnail, this free social media tool has a template you can use. There’s even one for Instagram Story highlights!
Canva’s drag-and-drop interface will have you feeling like a graphic design pro. With millions of graphics, icons, and designs to choose from, you can create something wholly original.
For those who just want a professional lifestyle graphic, you’ll love Unsplash. This photo directory offers millions of high-quality images for free.
5. Photo Editing: Lightroom and Retouchup
If you have an iPhone and Instagram account, you already have access to a decent photo editing toolkit. But, sometimes you want more functionality. Check out Lightroom and Retouchup.
Lightroom (pictured below) is a professional photo editing tool from Adobe that costs only $9.99/month. You can edit photos on your phone or transition seamlessly to your desktop while your phone’s charging. Plus, you can download and save your favorite presets.
When you’re a content creator, you are busy with a capital B. Sometimes you don’t have time to edit photos. So, let the experts at Retouchup do it for you. Starting at $0.25 per image, they’ll professionally edit your photo within 24 hours.
6. Video Editing: Animoto
Over 90% of marketers say video is a key part of their marketing strategy, helping them generate leads, boost sales, and improve brand awareness and engagement.
The ones enjoying the most success are using video editing tools like Animoto. This popular social media tool features intuitive drag-and-drop functionality, with the ability to easily add colors, transitions, fonts, and music to your video. It also includes ready-made video templates:
7. Audio Promotion: Headliner
Now that you’ve got a tool for video promotion, you need one for audio promotion as well.
Meet Headliner. Headliner is a free app you can use to create short soundbites of podcasts, interviews, and webinars for promotion on social media and your website. You can add GIFs, animations, captions, and more. The free plan includes up to 5 videos per month.
Getting started with social media?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, we get it — and we’re here to help. Let our social pros design a custom strategy for your business. Contact Your Marketing People now.
