Social media is a powerful tool for businesses of all sizes and it can also be a lot of work. That’s where social media scheduling tools, like MeetEdgar, come in.
Using tools can help you save time and effort by scheduling your posts in advance. Choosing the right social media scheduling tool can be overwhelming. So here is some guidance on how to select the ‘right’ social media scheduler for you. Let’s dive in, shall we?
Table of Contents
What is a social media scheduling tool?
Content scheduling is the act of scheduling your posts to be published at a specific time and date on your social media accounts, such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter. Therefore, a social media scheduling tool is a tool that assists in managing and automating tasks related to social media, such as scheduling posts, data analysis, monitoring mentions, managing multiple accounts, and other functionalities.
Did you know that a marketer spends, on average, at least six or more hours per week on social media marketing activities?1
Say goodbye to manual scheduling and hello to effortless automation: with scheduling, you not only ensure that your posts go out at the right time by preparing in advance, but you can do it for multiple channels simultaneously.
What are the benefits of using a scheduling tool?
Preparing updates to be published on profiles across different channels in advance prevents the confusion that arises when managing multiple accounts and also allows you to create a schedule that aligns with other activities and important dates. That means you don’t need to be logging in on holidays to post your content!
The benefits of using this kind of tool include:
- Save time: Automate the posting process.
- Increase efficiency: Plan and schedule content in advance.
- Improve consistency: Create a steady stream of content.
- Get more insights: Analyze your social media performance.
- Work with a team: Collaborate on content and schedules.
- Track results: Measure the success of your social media campaigns.
With all the features available for content management, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t make use of social media post-scheduling! To make your shopping experience even easier, I have created a list of tips to help guide you.
Where to start?
First of all, consider what your needs are for this type of tool. What are your needs? What size of social media team do you have? How much content do you post? Do you have more than one brand?
There are many options to choose from that suit all different customer profiles. The most important is to identify your needs and which tool can meet them. Here are some important factors to consider when making this decision:
Factors to consider
Budget
Before we start, let’s talk about your budget. I understand the importance of managing your resources wisely. Before setting sail, make sure you know what you’re willing to spend to ensure your investment aligns with your long-term goals. Whether you’re a small business or a larger enterprise organization, finding a tool that fits your financial plan is essential.
Don’t forget to watch out for hidden charges and extra fees! Lots of tools have a very low monthly price but charge extra for features and add-ons. Make sure to ask what your total monthly charges are with all the features you need, not just the base amount.
Features
Now let’s talk about features! Take a moment and think about everything you need a social media scheduling tool to do. A robust set of features can transform the way you manage your online presence, saving you time and money and ensuring your content reaches the right audience at the right time. This way, you don’t need to rely on multiple tools to do everything you need.
Platform integration
another key feature to look for is the ability to schedule posts across multiple platforms. Keeping up with your Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest and other social media sites might be too much work. Look for a social media management system that centralizes all your social media accounts within a single dashboard, streamlining your efforts so that you can maintain a consistent brand presence.
Integration with URL shorteners
Are you going to use links in your content? If so, an option that provides integration with services like Bitly for creating trackable and cleaner links can be a game-changer.
Evergreen content
Advanced features like post recycling and evergreen content management can significantly extend the lifespan of your posts and maximize impact with your audience. I don’t like to brag but… evergreen content is my specialty! My flow is perfect to load evergreen content, organize into categories and create time slots.
Data analysis
Analytics and reporting capabilities are also essential, as they empower you to track, monitor, and refine your strategy over time. Consider what kind of analytics you need. Will a weekly snapshot or overview do, or do you need to get really granular and see everything?
Keyword monitoring
Keyword monitoring allows you to find all the conversations where your brand is mentioned so you can join the dialogue if you choose.
Carefully evaluate each factor to ensure the tool you choose has the functionality you need.
User interface
You don’t want a tool that requires a Havard degree to use it, right? An intuitive and well-designed user interface can make or break your experience, shaping how seamlessly you navigate through the tool’s functionalities.
With a user-friendly interface, you and your team can quickly adapt to the tool’s features, saving time and frustration with the learning curve.
Customer support
Having access to reliable, friendly and responsive customer support can be a game-changer in your content management journey. As you begin using a fresh social media tool, assistance becomes important. Consider a few things: How promptly do they address customer queries? Is their support accessible through easily reachable channels? Do they provide customer training?
Users/Team
If you’re not sailing solo, collaboration is key. Just as a crew operates in harmony aboard a ship, your tool should accommodate your team’s dynamics. How many people will be using the tool? Make sure to look at how many users you can add to the plan you are choosing from.
Also, look for options that allow team members to easily contribute content, review schedules, and provide feedback. A tool that aligns with your team’s size empowers you to navigate social media with precision and efficiency, ensuring every post is a success.
Now that you know a few important factors to consider, let’s have a look at some options!
Options
Best for agencies
Sendible markets itself as the must-have social media tool for agencies. Its toolkit boasts a range of resources to amplify companies’ audience, customer outreach, and marketing objectives. The solution provides features for corporate teams and digital agencies to promote, analyze, and track their brands across all social media platforms.
Pricing: Plans start from $29/mo.
Best for analytics
Sprout Social is a great option for businesses that want to track their social media analytics. It offers a wide range of features, including post-performance tracking, audience insights, and competitor analysis.
Pricing: Plans start from $249/mo.
Best for enterprise level
Hootsuite is a great option for businesses with large social media followings. It offers a lot of features, including the ability to manage multiple social media accounts, collaborate with team members, and schedule posts across multiple platforms.
Pricing: Plans start from $99/mo.
Best for evergreen content:
If you’re looking for a social media scheduling tool that can help you save time and effort on evergreen content, then MeetEdgar might be your best option. I was designed with the evergreen content strategy in mind. Just load and schedule your content, and Edgar will take care of the rest! You can publish your evergreen content using Categories, Content, Schedule and Queue.
Pricing: Plans start from $25/mo.
Best all-in-one:
HubSpot is a marketing suite that offers a variety of features, including social media scheduling, analytics, and collaboration. It’s a good option for businesses that are looking for a comprehensive marketing suite that includes social media scheduling. It offers a variety of features that can help businesses manage their social media presence, including: social media scheduling, analytics, lead generation, email marketing, customer relationship management (CRM), and sales features.
Pricing: Plans start from $40/mo.
Book a demo
Booking a demo when you’re on the hunt for the perfect social media scheduling tool is an essential part of your shopping process. Being able to see how the tool and features work will show you if it aligns with your needs. And don’t forget to ask questions!
If you are wondering about all the amazing things that I can do, you can book a demo with one of my customer happiness pals and hear exactly how the platform works.
Try before you buy
A great way to find the right tool for you without committing your money is exploring it through a free trial. These trial periods provide you with hands-on experience, allowing you to test the tool’s functionalities, user interface, and compatibility with your workflow. It’s like test-driving a car before purchasing: you get to feel how it handles, whether it suits your style, and if it delivers what it promises.
You can try all my features and see how it works before you buy it with my 7 days free trial (PS no credit card required).
Final thoughts
Choosing a social media scheduling tool doesn’t have to be a headache. No matter which tool you choose, scheduling your social media posts can help you save time, increase efficiency, and improve your social media marketing.
So take some time to consider your needs and choose the best tool for you. By following these tips, you can choose a tool that will make your social media marketing life easier and more effective.
So there you have it, brave sailors!
And remember to tell your pals…
Stop doing social media. Let Edgar do it for you.
References
12020 Social Media Marketing Industry Report, by Social Media Examiner, 2023.
