Social media has completely changed how companies communicate with their clientele. Keeping an eye on a company’s social media presence has become crucial to contemporary marketing strategy.
By active customer engagement and building community on various social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (Twitter) brands can improve their relationships with customers and achieve record business growth. Nonetheless, it takes a significant amount of work to manage several social media accounts.
That’s where social media management tools come in.
Often called customer relationship management (social CRM) software, these platforms make it easier for brands of all sizes to efficiently coordinate their social publishing, directly respond to customer inquiries, analyze engagement, and measure the ROI of social campaigns.
What is social media management?
Social media management is simply planning and executing a strategic approach to your company’s presence on social networks.
The goal is to establish your brand as an authoritative and helpful voice while also promoting your products/services. It comprises below mentioned tasks:
- Creating and scheduling social content like images, videos, links and text updates
- Monitoring all brand mentions and conversations
- Engaging with customers by responding to comments and messages
- Repurposing popular posts for different networks
- Tracking key metrics like followers, likes, shares, and click-throughs
- Analyzing qualitative feedback and sentiment
- Adjusting tactics based on performance
Social media management software streamlines these daily tasks so marketers can focus energy on creativity and customer experience.
Integrated tools provide a centralized dashboard for publishing uniformly across profiles while also handling customer care responsibilities.
Top 5 Social Media Management Tools
To effectively oversee these diverse tasks, social media management platforms and software have become indispensable for businesses of all sizes.
Some best social media management tools for small businesses as well as large businesses are detailed below:
- Hubspot
One of the most popular tools for planning, publishing, and analyzing social posts. It offers helpful features like analytics, team collaboration, and, integrated third-party apps along with supporting major networks.
Pricing: 3500$ per month
Free Option: No
Supported Platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, LinkedIn and more
- Sprout Social
It is an excellent choice for a business that is customer-centric. It offers an intuitive dashboard for organic and paid social campaigns. It is proficient in reporting, social listening, and, customer service tools.
Pricing: $249 to $499 per month
Free Option: 30-day trial
Supported Platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn and more
- CrmOne
Simple yet powerful app to schedule posts in advance and track their performance later. Affordable plans make it suitable for small teams. Integrates with Google Analytics.
Pricing: $12 to $25 per month per channel
Free Option: 21-day trial
Supported Platforms: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn
- Engagebay
It is an all-in-one solution for social publishing, advertising, analytics, and more. Zoho supports major networks. Its free plan offers only limited and fundamental capabilities.
Pricing: $10 to $40 per month
Free Option: Yes
Supported Platforms: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google Business Profile
- Zoho Social
It is an all-in-one solution for social publishing, advertising, analytics, and more. Zoho supports major networks. Its free plan offers only limited and fundamental capabilities.
Pricing: $10 to $40 per month
Free Option: Yes
Supported Platforms: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google Business Profile
How to Select the Best Social Media Management Tool for Small Businesses
Here are some key factors a small business should consider when evaluating and selecting the best social media management tool:
Budget – Assess costs and available plans or features at various price points. For many small businesses, affordable free or entry-level paid tiers are most suitable.
Supported Platforms – Determine which networks are priorities, e.g. Facebook, Instagram, and ensure the tool supports major relevant platforms plus room to grow.
Features – Compare features like publishing, engagement/insights analytics, scheduling, and customer support tools and see which aligns best with goals and strategy.
Ease of Use – User interface and learning curve are important for small teams. Seek intuitive onboarding and workflows for non-experts.
Scalability – Consider future growth needs. Will the tool easily scale with increased network usage and team members over time?
Integration – Check if the tool integrates with other marketing/CRM software already in use for simplified data sharing.
Reviews – Research peer reviews on platforms being evaluated to aid comparison and buyer confidence.
Trial Version – Take advantage of free trials of hands-on test software before committing.
Support – Inquire about customer support availability, response times, and self-service learning resources.
Evaluating tools against these critical dimensions while prioritizing ones addressing key initial goals and budgets should help small businesses zero in on the most appropriate social media management solution.
Benefits of CRM Software
Effective social CRM ensures all online touchpoints consistently deliver a great customer experience. It maximizes the opportunities social platforms provide to drive meaningful business goals like:
- Growing brand awareness through the organic reach of engaging posts and campaigns. Supports other marketing plans.
- Generating qualified leads and boosting conversions by better understanding target audiences and their journeys. Nurturing leads across social reinforces messaging.
- Strengthening customer relationships and advocacy by addressing concerns quickly. This fosters long-term loyalty and positive word-of-mouth.
- Uncovering deeper insights about products and customer preferences through ongoing conversation and feedback. This knowledge aids product innovation.
- Measuring the true impact of SMM spend by tracking ROI leading metrics like leads, sales, and website visits back to specific campaigns and channels.
- Competitive analysis through social media monitoring to stay ahead of changes in the industry or competitor strategies.
Therefore, establishing an effective social media management process supported by the right CRM software is indispensable for companies seeking to maximize their online presence and foster customer connections in today’s digital environment. It helps augment other marketing efforts very cost-effectively.
Conclusion
Social media has completely transformed the working of businesses today. While it creates abundant opportunities, it also requires careful oversight and measurement.
Social media management addresses this need through strategic planning, execution of tactical tasks, monitoring, and reporting.
Leveraging capable CRM software aids in simplifying the process and scaling efforts over time. Brands can genuinely unleash the power of interacting with consumers and fostering relationships on social media with the right strategy.
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