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Social Media Tools:

The 2023 Definitive Guide

With Bonus List of 500+ Tools

The majority of the world is on social media which means if you have a service or product to sell, you need the best social social tools to reach your targeted audience. Businesses report an increase in engagement, followers, and production when social media was implemented into their online marketing strategy.

You have the power to boost your social media presence and improve sales when you tune into the right tools that social media has to offer. Continue reading to discover the tools your business needs to successfully compete with competitors and become the authority in your industry.

Social Media Tools

What are Social Media Tools?

So just what are social media tools? Social media tools are designed to help businesses generate leads, increase their brand awareness, maintain a bond with repeat customers, and attract new customers. Using these tools involves time-consuming tasks such as designing graphics, creating content, and tracking analytics. The right media tools make this process easy, affordable, organized, and saves you time.

Table of Contents

Using Social Media Marketing Tools

Creating content, graphics, and new ideas for social media can be time-consuming and repetitive. That’s why you will want to use social media marketing tools. Specialized media tools allow you to automate manual and repetitive tasks which help save time and make you more productive.

Some technology is programmed to remove redundancies and information that is not needed in specific posts. This helpful option makes your posts seem like new information every time! Efficiency is improved due to the use of media tools and resources that reduce costs, improve competitiveness and productivity.

Social Media Marketing Tools

Popular Types of Social Media Tools Used for Marketing

Social media automation tools are designed to handle time-consuming tasks. Popular types of social media tools produce analytics reports, schedule posts, curate content, plus flag urgent and important customer queries. The automation tools do a lot of the work so you can focus on being creative.

The following list contains tasks automation tools do for you and help you save time:

Determining these many aspects of your target buyers isn’t easy.

Hence, you can either conduct online surveys or dig out your competitors’ techniques to grab valuable insights about your ideal buyers.

Explore niche-specific forums and communities and collaborate with your sales/customer support teams to understand the issues your existing customers are facing based on which you can refine your content marketing efforts and attract potential leads.

Social media automation tools are designed to handle time-consuming tasks. Typically, automation tools produce analytics reports, schedule posts, curate content, plus flag urgent and important customer queries. The automation tools do a lot of the work so you can focus on being creative.

The following list contains tasks automation tools do for you and help you save time:

Social Media
Scheduling Tools

Social media scheduling tools are designed to distribute, post, and schedule social media posts for several accounts. It saves time and acts as a scheduling assistant so you can focus be proactive.

The following list reveals the tasks social media scheduling tools offer.

Social Media Scheduling Tools

Social Media Image Tools

According to reports from contentmarketinginstitute.com, 23% of posts that contain visual content get more clicks compared to text-only posts. That’s why you will want to use social media image tools.

Photo editing tools like the ones listed below make your social media posts look professional and attract the attention of followers and potential new customers.

Social Media Image Tools

Canva

This innovative image tool helps you design and create professional-quality images for your social media platforms. You have access to premium custom templates, fonts, animator pro, unlimited folders, magic resize, and a background remover.

Instasize

This imaging tool has features such as layering, filters, resizing, video editing, overlays, text editing, backgrounds, stock library, touch-up tools, magic fill, web stories, and editing tools.

Stencil

This social media imaging tool allows you to design and create graphics for your posts. It’s easy to use and features a large photo library, templates, logos, quotes, fonts, resizing, image filters, color picker, and more!

Canva

This innovative image tool helps you design and create professional-quality images for your social media platforms. You have access to premium custom templates, fonts, animator pro, unlimited folders, magic resize, and a background remover.

Instasize

This imaging tool has features such as layering, filters, resizing, video editing, overlays, text editing, backgrounds, stock library, touch-up tools, magic fill, web stories, and editing tools.

Stencil

This social media imaging tool allows you to design and create graphics for your posts. It’s easy to use and features a large photo library, templates, logos, quotes, fonts, resizing, image filters, color picker, and more!

Social Media
Monitoring Tools

Social media monitoring tools allow you to monitor your audience and their comments about your business as well as monitor your services and products along with your competitors. The data and information monitoring tools provide you is essential to maintaining a good reputation among your industry and your audience while gaining the respect of your competitors.

Social Media Monitoring Tools

Social Media Analytics Tools

Social Media Analytics Tools

According to SproutSocial,  63% of marketers reveal measuring ROI is difficult to track and social media analytic tools are extremely helpful. These tools provide powerful analytics that helps you grow your business with insight and focus.

This helpful tool collects data from all of your social media platforms and/or blogs. It evaluates the data which makes business decisions precise and easy.

Social Media
Engagement Tools

Creating 2 to 3 posts for your social media platforms per day is ideal when engaging and building an audience. Social media engagement tools give you the upper hand at maintaining your presence while building your reputation as an authority in your industry. These tools help you increase productivity, remove engagement blocks, build relationships, elevate social strategy, and take control of your online presence.

Social Media Engagement Tools

The most popular social media Tools platforms

  • Facebook

    This social media platform allows you to have access to a targeted audience and age range. It also offers advertising options and useful ways to build your presence among your audience.

  • Instagram

    This platform is where all of your creative designs and images shine. Instagram is designed for posting images that catch the eye of followers and attract new leads. It also has an advertising program that allows you to boost your appearance on the platform and gain new customers.

  • LinkedIn

    This business platform helps you build your reputation as an authority in your industry. You have the opportunity to post articles, blogs, videos, and images that help you gain respect among your colleagues and competitors.

  • Pinterest

    This image-driven platform is a gem when it comes to selling products. This is where your social media imaging tools do their best work. Pinterest also has an advertising program to help push your visibility through the roof.

  • Twitter

    This is a content-driven social media platform that utilizes your evergreen posts the best. Your business has the chance to appear as a trusted authority in your industry that is the go-to source for all things related to your business.

Of course your social channel focus will be influenced by your audience. If your business falls within one of these categories, you can have a good idea of where your competitors are focusing their social marketing efforts. You might choose to develop a presence on channels where your competitors are, which can be done with one of the many available social media tools for businesses to use. Or perhaps, you take a contrarian approach and go after a less saturated social media channel.

No matter what social channels you want to be active on, to get the most out of your initiatives you will probably want consider a social media tool or two that will help you be more efficient. This is true whether you are exploring organic social media or various advertising options.

Ideal Candidates for Social Tools

B2B Businesses

Since most B2B sales don’t usually happen online, social media is often used to develop relationships, nurture bonds, and appeal to prospects. Using tools to maintain monitor and maintain social media accounts provides a huge benefit for B2B operations.

Individuals With Blogs

People who have blogs need to use social media to promote and drive traffic to their website/blog. Social media helps individuals attract new followers and build relationships. Social tools help target a specific audience and attract the right kind of traffic for the blog niche.

B2B Businesses

Since most B2B sales don’t usually happen online, social media is often used to develop relationships, nurture bonds, and appeal to prospects. Using tools to maintain monitor and maintain social media accounts provides a huge benefit for B2B operations.

Individuals With Blogs

People who have blogs need to use social media to promote and drive traffic to their website/blog. Social media helps individuals attract new followers and build relationships. Social tools help target a specific audience and attract the right kind of traffic for the blog niche.

B2C Businesses

B2C businesses highly benefit from social tools because it drives brand awareness, sales, traffic, and it’s essential to generating leads.

Non-profits

Non-profits use social tools to help build a bond with followers, engage their audience, and highlight their cause.

Frequently Asked Questions About Social Media Tools

What social media management tool is best for my business?

As already established earlier, all businesses need to have a social media presence to thrive in their industry. Social media management tools offer guidance and insight that you wouldn’t have otherwise. These tools save time, reduce stress, and produce accurate information that helps you make the best decisions for your business and social media reputation.

 

The best social media management tools for your business use analytics to accurately produce reports and data that help your business strive and stand strong against competitors.

What makes a good social media management tool?

Since there are a variety of social media management tools available for businesses and individuals, it might be difficult to choose the best one. Good social media management tools provide assistance, save time, produce reports, schedule postings, and work as a strong structure for all your social media accounts.

 

Every business is different and requires a wide range of tools to be successful on social media. However, tools that provide marketing, scheduling, imaging, monitoring, and analytics are recommended. You have the power to decide which tools suit your business the best.

What can social media scheduling tools do to help my business?

Social media scheduling tools work as a support system to help keep your platforms working continuously and successfully. Scheduling tools take control of your posts by updating evergreen content and posting new content in a specific way that benefits your business.

 

Some scheduling tools will even alert you to when new posts are scheduled so you can look at the preview and approve it before going public. This helpful feature keeps you in control and prevents any unforeseen surprises down the road.

What are the best social tools to consider for my business?

Using a variety of social tools is your best option when it comes to maintaining your platforms. Imaging tools help you create and design unique photos and ads for your posts. This tool helps you bring your posts from newby to professional quickly.

 

Every business needs a scheduling tool to ensure the posts are consistent and on time. Many followers on social media get accustomed to seeing posts from their favorite businesses on a daily basis. A scheduling tool will keep your audience engaged while at the same time anticipating the next exciting post you have to offer.

Social tools that provide analytics and reports keep you in the moment and help you achieve long term goals. The data gives you an insight into where improvements and changes are needed so you can adjust your social media posts to attract more followers and leads.

Social media marketing tools are also a must-have because it helps your business compete with competitors and earn your place in your industry.

Why should I use social tools for my business?

Tools for social media are designed to help your business thrive while maintaining a competitive, trustworthy online reputation that makes your business the top choice for consumers. Your goal is to sell your product or service and social media tools allow you to access a worldwide audience.

 

Using social tools for your business is an excellent way to maintain your media platforms, maintain bonds with your followers, and attract new leads that can convert into long term customers.

Are social tools useful for my business?

Yes. Social tools are useful for your business because they provide analytics, data, information, scheduling, marketing, monitoring, and imaging assistance that keeps your social media accounts looking professional as well as profitable.

When should I start using tools for social media?

You should start using tools for social media from the very beginning of your online presence. Once you set up your accounts on the most popular platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Twitter you need to start using tools for social media. This way you have direct insight from the very beginning on growing your social media platforms and utilizing the tools that will drive your business forward by attracting new customers.

 

New businesses will gradually grow their audience and using tools for social media marketing will help you achieve your audience goals faster compared to doing it on your own.

I’m the only one who runs my social media accounts, should I hire a new staff member?

The great news is, tools for social media handles tasks so you have more time in your workday to accomplish other projects. Depending on the size of your business and the amount of time you spend on social media postings and marketing, it’s your decision whether you need a new employee or not.

 

Since the social tools do most of the work, many business owners who are working with a strict budget usually depend on the social tools to do the job and delegate other tasks that need a human touch to their team or staff that is already established.

Are tools for social media free?

Tools for social media are valuable assets to every business whether it’s big or small. Generally, marketing, scheduling, imaging, monitoring, and analytic social tools offer a free trial period or a portion of their service for free. However, if you want the full benefit of the tools a subscription is required. Most subscriptions are affordable and billed on a monthly or yearly basis.

Are tools for social media difficult to use?

Most business owners, bloggers, and social media influencers find it easy to use the tools. The social tools are also created and designed for easy use by all levels of computer users. They are usually set up to guide you through the process automatically and most tools offer instructional videos and helpful advice.

Do I have to create images or do the social tools do it for me?

While social tools are set up to handle a variety of tasks, there is not one designed yet that automatically predicts the type of post or image needed unless human intelligence guides it by inputting data. Currently, using imaging tools is your best option since it offers a large photo library and makes the process quick and easy. However, with Artificial Intelligence (AI) increasingly becoming more advanced the future of hands-off social media posts might come to fruition.

How much time does using tools for social media take?

As a busy owner of your company, your time is valuable and often restricted with meetings, projects, responsibilities, and obligations. Time management is essential when running a successful business.

 

Since social media management tools handle many tasks, it actually cuts your time down when it comes to your social media accounts. Social management tools allow you to put your focus on other projects and ultimately save you time in your busy work schedule.
However, the amount of time you spend reviewing the analytics and creating images for your posts is up to you.

 

Creating and designing images and content for social media posts is a part of the job that most professionals enjoy and are able to fit the task into their work schedules. If you have a busy schedule that limits the time you get to spend on social media posts, keep in mind that social tools lessen the time you spend and often complete many time consuming tasks.

 

Overall, as a business or blogger, accessing tools for social media needs to be your top priority. The extreme benefits it provides can’t compete with manual work done by your staff. Utilizing tools for social media frees up time for your team. This allows them to focus on other tasks and projects that lead to a more productive day. Which tools for social media do you plan to use for your business?

The Best Social Media Tools

There are a variety of social tools to be used that will generate new leads, maintain bonds with current customers, and keep you a step above the competition. Generally, the best tools for social media have multiple uses that allow you to utilize analytics and drive your social media platforms to their optimal usage and levels.

Best Social Media Tools

Tools for social media that solve problems and save time are beneficial. Without time-saving tools, you and your team will spend a large amount of your workday doing the tasks the tools can do for you.

And it’s not surprising that there are countless social media tools for you to choose from.

In fact, I’ve put together a pretty solid list below to help you find a social media tool that meets your needs.

Many of these tools work across multiple social networks.

Out of this social media list of tools, we can see that the majority of them will work on Twitter and the fewest being Pinterest. Twitter has had an API open to developers for years, while Pinterest is just starting to roll out access to their API.

Cost to use these tools vary. There will be some free social media tools, some are paid, and some offer both free and paid options.

The majority of tools listed here do cost something to use. It takes a lot of time, resources, and money to put together many of these tools. And it’s typically a small price to pay for the benefits they offer.

Here’s the pricing breakdown:

As you can imagine, there are no doubt more tools that I have yet to find. So I can definitely use your help. If you know of a tool that is worth using and not on this list, please tell me about it here. I’ll be sure to check out the tool/service and update this list accordingly.

If you happen to come across an item in the list that is inaccurate or incorrect, please let me know so that I can fix it. Many of these tools require paid access to use, and unfortunately I don’t have access to some of them to really know the ins and outs of them. So if you are a user of a particular tool, let me know if I described one incorrectly.

I’d like to ask for your help in maintaining this list. Various social media tools come and go, and there’s nothing more annoying that clicking on a link to a tool to find out it is no longer available.

So, if you come across a tool that has seen better days, leave a comment below and I’ll update the list.

Don’t forget to leave a comment below about your favorite social media tools!

Current List Of the Best Social Media Tools For 2023