There are some days where I feel that our BuzzPlant office looks a lot like the control room the guys in the above picture are working out of. Just digitize it all, and we’re dealing with the same number of gadgets, gizmos, and widgets.
If you need a recommendation for social media tools or content management tools, feel free to shoot us an email with your question. Chances are we’ve tried it. We’ve used dozens of platforms, and found what works and what doesn’t. This post is a quick round-up of a few of our findings – including some platforms we’re curious about ourselves. Take a look below, and get ready to become a streamlined, content publishing king.
PODIO
Podio isn’t a “social media tool,” per se, but my team uses this platform for organizing, tasking, and completing a lot of the essential work we do for ourselves and our clients. Podio has it all: you can store all your necessary documents, see the edit/revision process, create multiple workspaces (useful for separating out your different clients), add customizable apps, task assignments to team members, and more. You can even use Podio for free if you have 5 employees or fewer. Check it out.
TWEETDECK
Several members on my team use TweetDeck for managing their own personal Twitter accounts, as well as our clients’. This platform makes it easy to schedule posts for multiple accounts, and even lets you customize what you want to see in your control panel (favorites, lists, trending, etc.). And one other perk – it’s free to use. Check it out.
ICONTACT
This is another tool we personally use with our clients. iContact is an incredibly easy-to-use platform that allows you to create email lists and eblasts for all of your different channels. The program comes with its own intuitive content editor, but you also have unlimited options when working with its HTML editor. The robust analytics software is also informative. Check it out.
SPROUT SOCIAL
Sprout is a paid program that can help with engagement, publishing, and analytics across multiple channels. Plus, the fact that it features a unified inbox – allowing you to respond to all your social messages in one place – makes it one of the kings of social media tools! They offer a free trial, too. Check it out.
CROWD BOOSTER
Crowd Booster shares many features with Sprout Social, but has an added benefit: custom recommendations, based on your publishing habits and engagement rates. This is a great way to stay accountable and on-track with your goals. The Los Angeles Times, Ben & Jerry’s, and jetBlue use the content management tool. Take advantage of their free 30-day trial. Check it out.
BITLY
Okay, in 2014, Bitly isn’t exactly earth-shattering. But if you’re still not using a dedicated link-shortener, then you might find this little tool to completely change your social media publishing experience. Bitly allows you to see who is checking out your content (if it’s linked through their tool, of course) in real-time. Some of the biggest brands in the U.S. and around the world are using this tool (Ford, GE, Heineken, etc.). Why aren’t you? Check it out.
What platform could you not live without?
Let us know in the comments!