With over 1.4 billion worldwide users, running a campaign on Instagram will do more good than harm for your business. Instagram allows you to reach a wider audience, meet new prospects, and generate sales on a single platform.
More and more marketers value Instagram as a powerful channel to drive people to take action. 87% agree that Instagram convinces them to follow brands, visit websites, or make online purchases.
Even though running a campaign on Instagram seems easy to pull off, you can still go the wrong way. The platform‘s in-built features won’t do you much, so you need third-party tools to support your campaign.
You can get 16 Instagram marketing tools to boost your campaign in the following discussion. Whether you create high-quality videos or images, add hashtags, analyze content, or study competitors, we have them covered below!
What is an Instagram Marketing Tool?
Image via Pexels
Instagram marketing tools are third-party tools that aim to assist you in leveraging Instagram to the fullest. You can manage multiple platforms, schedule posts, create content, analyze performance, etc. They can help you boost your campaign to drive the most results.
A variety of Instagram marketing tools are available today. They have different focuses on helping users to build a significant online presence. You can also get insights to make your post thrive in the sea of content.
You can find many types of Instagram marketing tools on the market. Some of the most crucial ones include content management tools, content sharing tools, content optimizations, content creation, analytics, competitor analysis, hashtag analysis, and more.
Why You Need Instagram Marketing Tools
Instagram, by far, leads the way when it comes to engagement. The median engagement rate of Instagram is 1,6%. It seems like a few, but it’s 17 times higher than Facebook and 33 times higher than Twitter.
Image via Rival IQ
Running a brand campaign on Instagram can take time and effort, especially for smaller businesses. If you’re part of them, you need more than just leveraging Instagram’s in-built features to boost your campaign.
At least you need a third-party marketing tool to boost your campaign discoverability and performance. Before giving you the best recommendations, below are some reasons you need Instagram marketing tools to boost campaigns.
Social monitoring
Some Instagram marketing tools are designed to help you monitor your campaign, posts, and profile. You can manage multiple accounts and social platforms in a single dashboard.
You don’t have to open many tabs that can slow down your work. With social monitoring tools, you can track your campaign more efficiently.
Content sharing
You can also find many marketing tools that assist you in sharing content. With various social platform integration, you can schedule content in advance and do bulk sharing.
Digital marketers and business owners must be aware of this marketing tool. They help cut repetitive work and make content flow faster.
Content creation and editing
Campaigns without captivating visual aids won’t thrive well on Instagram. That’s why using the proper content creation and editing tools is vital to generate high-quality visuals.
You can find many editing platforms nowadays. Many even offer a free plan you can use without spending a single dime.
Top 16 Instagram Marketing Tools to Boost Campaigns
As there are many options in the market, it can be overwhelming for you to choose one. Below, we narrow down some recommendations for Instagram marketing tools to help you boost campaigns and get fruitful results.
#1. Bulk.ly
Bulkly is one of the top list for marketing automation tools. It can help you handle campaigns on any social platforms, including Instagram. You can integrate multiple social platforms, add images to status updates, schedule posts, and change order of your post instantly.
Bulkly offers three main features that include content upload, content curation, and RSS automation. You can upload a CVS file with multiple status updates to publish and share on your social media later.
You can leverage RSS feeds to automate social media updates. On top of that, it also lets you to recycle your updates. Bulky helps you create hashtags and add multiple tags.
Price:
Other features:
Image via Bulk.ly
Bulk.ly is one of the top lists for marketing automation tools. It helps you handle campaigns on any social platform, including Instagram. You can instantly integrate multiple social media, add images to status updates, schedule posts, and change post orders.
Bulk.ly offers three main features: content upload, content curation, and RSS automation. You can upload a CSV file consisting of multiple status updates to publish and share on your social media later.
On top of that, you can leverage RSS feeds to automate social media updates. The platform also lets you recycle your updates and import your previous posts.
Price: starts at $19 per month
Other features:
Automated update
Posts recycle
Import previous posts
Flexible account management
Randomize hashtags usage
Drag and drop post ordering
#2. Sprout Social
Image via Sprout Social
Sprout Social is an all-in-one Instagram marketing tool. With various features, Sprout Social is more suitable for bigger marketing teams.
The platform helps you manage your Instagram account effectively. You can create a posting schedule, manage comments, track hashtags performance, and generate reports.
It also allows you to connect and manage more than one Instagram account. Moreover, it has a team content calendar, so you have better collaborations within your marketing teams.
Price: start at $249 per month (billed annually)
Other features:
Keyword filtering
Customer Targeting
Content management
Automated publishing
Analytics/reports
Multi-account management
#3. Later
Image via Later
Later claims its platform as the world’s favorite Instagram marketing tool. Its main features help you boost Instagram performance. Some key features include analytics, scheduling, hashtags, photo resizing, etc.
You can also manage other platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok. However, Later is best for Instagram use as it focuses on helping you optimize visual content. All in all, Later is one of the top choices for scheduling tools.
Price: Free and paid plans that start at $18 per month.
Other features:
Analytic dashboard
Automated publishing
Content management
Multi-account management
Hashtag analytics
Instagram training
#4. Buffer
Image via Buffer
Buffer is an efficient Instagram marketing tool to try. You can schedule posts in advance to create a consistent Instagram presence. It also lets you integrate other social platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
Buffer is suitable even for solopreneurs. With post-scheduling, solopreneurs can be time-efficient in promoting their campaigns. It’s also suitable for smaller marketing teams.
Price: starts at $10 per month for one social channel only
Other features:
Multiple social media integrations
Post scheduling
Analytics
Comprehensive reports
#5. LinkTree
Image via LinkTree
LinkTree is a marketing tool that allows you to create a single link referring to multiple social accounts or pages. In a single link, you can include your site link, social media accounts, video links, product links, etc.
Over eight million users have used LinkTree to make their content and profile discoverable on Instagram. That’s why LinkTree can be a great help for you to promote your campaign on Instagram and across platforms online.
Price: upon request, but a free plan is available with limitations.
Other features:
Custom fonts, colors, and images
Insights and analytics
The easy drag-and-drop editor interface
Third-party integration
Content management
Monetization
#6. Combin Growth
Image via Combin
Combin growth is an Instagram marketing tool suitable for small to medium-sized businesses. More importantly, it is free and easy to use, with a bunch of helpful features to boost your online campaign.
It allows you to see follower growth and campaign reports. You can get more quality and genuine followers using its feature. Combin Growth’s machine learning technology helps you perform accurate analysis and notice inefficient posts to improve them further.
Price: Free
Other features:
Growth tool to see who doesn’t follow you back
Influencers finder
Audience monitoring
Post scheduling
Multiple account management
#7. Vsco
Image via Vsco
If you’re looking for an app to enhance your content visually, VSCO should be on your list. Your content visuals must be attractive and captivating to reach a broader audience.
As an editing tool, Vsco offers a variety of features for you to try. You can get basic features to tweak elements like sharpness, brightness, contrast, and color balance. Simultaneously, you can also enjoy a wide selection of ready-to-use filters.
It offers more valuable features if you subscribe to its paid plan. You can get insights to create visually appealing posts and watch creative tutorials. On top of that, you can join weekly photo challenges to hone your skills and get more benefits.
Price: Free (paid subscription upon request)
Other features:
A comprehensive option of preset library
Basic and advanced video/photo editing tools
Vintage film filters
#8. Canva
Image via Canva
If you need a more comprehensive editing tool, Canva is the place to go. It offers essential editing tools for you to edit photos and videos. Moreover, Canva also has massive templates for various purposes.
You can choose between 90,000 templates for Instagram stories and 164,000 for Instagram posts. Even if you only join the free plan, you can still enjoy a variety of templates for Instagram stories and posts.
Pricing: Free, but paid subscriptions start at $12.99
Other features:
Free stock photos/videos
Free stock audio files
Text animations
Speech bubbles
Video editing tools
Online video recorder
#9. Iconosquare
Image via Iconosquare
Iconosquare is a well-known Instagram marketing tool that helps you manage many things. You can schedule content, track performance, and monitor engagement in real time.
The platform can also analyze trends that can help you create a more targeted campaign. You can gain valuable insights from real-time analytics to know what content your audiences want to see.
Price: $179
Other features:
Real-time analytics
Engagement monitoring
Conversations (to see what people say about your brand/campaign)
Feeds customizations
Competitors analysis
#10. Instagram Influencer Sponsored Post Money Calculator
Image via Dailymail
Instagram money calculator is free to use. This marketing tool is suitable for individual influencers to businesses of all scales.
You can see a recap of your profile, including your followers, average likes, and engagement rate. Best of all, it allows you to see the estimated earnings you can get per post.
It only requires you some simple steps to run the tool. You only need to add your Instagram username and follow the next steps to see your profile rates.
Price: Free
#11. Awario
Image via Awario
Another Instagram marketing tool to boost your campaign is Awrio. It’s a hashtag-monitoring tool that helps you to track your hashtag campaign.
You can get a real-time notification if someone comments or mentions your business on Instagram. You can also mention history to see your campaign’s growth and measure its success.
Price: starts at $25 per month
Other features:
Hashtags analytics
Sentiment analytics
Campaign report
White-label report
#12. Social Insider
Image via Social Insider
If you need comprehensive analytics and reporting, look no further than Social Insider. It helps optimize and track your campaign on Instagram with data-driven reports. Even big companies like Volvo and Honda use it to support their marketing efforts.
Social Insider allows you to monitor Instagram stories and run hashtag analytics for a wider reach. Do you want to see how your competitor is doing? Social Insider also lets you keep a close eye on competitors and help you stay ahead of the curve.
Price: starts at $83 per month
Other features:
Social media reporting and analysis
Campaign reporting
Competitor analysis
#13. Phlanx
Image via Phlanx
If you aim to increase engagement rates, you can try Phlanx. As an Instagram marketing tool, Phlanx can assist you in running your campaign, primarily if you work with influencers.
Phalanx has comprehensive audit features to help you find the most suitable influencers to promote your campaign. Also, you can filter active and inactive followers to create a targeted campaign.
Price: starts at $50
Other features:
Engagement calculators
Comprehensive search tools
Search Filters
Influencers finder
#14. ShortStack
Image via ShortStack
Running an Instagram contest can be a way to boost your campaign. ShortStack can help you create Instagram contests in easy steps. You can start voting contests, spin candidates to find giveaway winners, and so on.
You can also disallow repeat entries, validate email addresses, and limit total entries. If you need to find winners randomly, ShortStack can also help you do that. So, you can save countless times running a contest and promoting your campaign.
Price: starts at $99 per month
Other features:
Automated winners finder
Video upload contest
Hashtag contest
White-label campaigns
#15. Adobe Lightroom
Image via Adobe Lightroom
Among many photo editing tool options, Adobe Lightroom is on the top list. It offers a wide range of photo editing tools that you can access easily on a PC. You can also upload your content on Instagram directly.
Lightroom has a steeper learning curve. If you’re new to the tool, it may take time to explore its features to the fullest. You can create captivating Instagram posts for your campaigns.
Pricing: starts at $9.19 per month
Other features:
Image editing tools
Instagram Integration
#16. Hootsuite
Image via HootSuite
Hootsuite has been a well-known social media marketing tool for a while. It helps you track and manage multiple social media platforms or accounts in a single dashboard. You can simultaneously manage your Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube accounts.
Moreover, Hootsuite also offers Synapview app that lets you keep tabs on your competitors activity. It also enables you to track performing and trending hashtags.
Pricing: starts at $29 per month
Other feature:
Posts calendar
Bulk scheduling
Post times recommendations
Visual reports/analysis
Customer engagement
Brand tracking
Takeaway
You may find more options on the market, but those that made it to the above list are some of the best Instagram marketing tools to try. They can help you boost a campaign and achieve your business goals.
Depending on your goals, you can use social media marketing tools to create and edit content, track campaigns, analyze competitors, and more. You can work more efficiently and garner results optimally.
On top of that, some Instagram marketing tools mentioned above are free to use. Even though you need to spend money on some, it will be a good investment for your business in the long run.
