One of the most unique aspects of working at a digital marketing agency is being on top of EVERYTHING that is happening on the web and social spaces. There are many social media tools that make this task easier – but these are my favorite.
1. HootSuite
HootSuite is a social media management and analytics platform that enables brands and agencies to manage multiple social accounts with ease. You can monitor social streams for mentions of your brand, engage with users in real-time, report on the performance of your accounts and even pre-schedule content for posting.
HootSuite really is an all-in-one tool for managing multiple accounts. An added bonus of HootSuite is the availability of mobile apps, which is especially useful when you don’t have access to a computer.
2. Topsy
Topsy is a social search engine, of sorts. Topsy searches content posted on Twitter and the web and sorts the results by relevance. Topsy is a great addition to monitoring features found in HootSuite. Simply input your search query in the Topsy search bar and go – it’s that easy. Topsy searches and analyzes the social web, allowing you to search for and respond to mentions of your brand.
3. Muck Rack
Muck Rack is a social search engine that aggregates the top social posts and articles from influential journalists. Muck Rack is a great place to start if you want to build social relationships with journalists and other media influences. Along the side of the pages, the top news publications are listed and linked – making it hub to search for the latest hot stories.
4. Statigr.am
Statigr.am is one of the only places on the web where you can monitor, engage and report on the performance of an Instagram account. Statigr.am delivers key metrics about an Instagram account directly to your inbox. After signing in with Instagram credentials, Statigr.am allows you to view photos and videos, like photos and videos, post comments and more. Statigr.am also has a giveaway feature, available for a fee.
5. Browser Extensions
Even more so than the digital marketing tools mentioned above, browser extensions are something that makes a marketing professional’s life much easier. Browser extensions are like the “easy button” of the Internet. Depending on your browser, there are multitudes of plugins that assert themselves up there next to your navigation bar. I’m going to be talking about Chrome extensions here.
HootSuite Hootlet
The Hootlet allows you to quickly and easily share web pages to any of the social networks connected to your account. See a page you like? Press the Hootlet icon on your browser and let HootSuite work its magic. You can even schedule posts through the Hootlet.
Pinterest has a nifty browser extension that allows you to pin directly from a webpage and it doesn’t require that you have Pinterest open. Be sure you are signed into your account, visit your favorite page and then hit the Pinterest logo on your toolbar.
WebRank Toolbar
The WebRank Toolbar is great tool that gives you tons of information about a given web page. WebRank will help you identify unique visitors, Google page rank and social media stats. This browser extension is for the digital marketing specialist inside of us all! (See #SEOcial).
Working in the digital space is fast-paced, nonstop and ‘all the time’. The longer you work in digital, the tools and tricks you assemble, making you a 21st century wizard. Now that you’ve started to fill your integrated marketing toolbox, check out my Digital Marketing Survival Guide for tips on how to piece it all together and stay sane.
What are your favorite social media marketing tools? Share with us in the comments below or reach out to lotus823 on Facebook or Twitter!