23 Best Social Media Marketing Tools for Success

Every brand wants to go viral on social media. But with millions of posts going live every day, identifying what’s trending and creating content that aligns with those preferences before they change is a challenge. But, how to find social media trends?

That’s where a social media trend tracker comes in. This guide will review the best social media marketing tools to help you identify viral trends and create share-worthy posts to get your brand noticed.

One tool that can help you achieve your viral goals is Virlo’s solution, the virality analysis tool. This tool enables you to identify social media trends and understand what makes them tick so you can create content that aligns with your brand and goes viral. 

Table of Contents

• Importance of Social Media Marketing

• 11 Tips for Efficient Social Media Marketing

• 23 Best Social Media Marketing Tools for Success

• Social Media Marketing Strategies

• Go Viral with Virlo's Virality Analysis Tool

Importance of Social Media Marketing

1. How Social Media Marketing Builds Brand Reputation and Loyalty

Social media is vital for building brand reputation and loyalty. In fact, 94% of business leaders agree that social data and insights help improve brand reputation and loyalty. Reputation is everything, especially in a challenging economic environment. According to The 2023 State of Social Media Report, building brand reputation and loyalty is a top priority for business leaders across industries, especially as they weather fluctuating market conditions. It’s widely accepted that social media plays an increasingly important role in reputation management. 94% of leaders acknowledge that it positively impacts brand loyalty. Social media allows brands to connect with their audience more personally, creating authentic and lasting connections that can withstand both good and bad.

2. Social Media Data Helps Brands Keep Tabs on the Competition

Social media data informs stronger competitive positioning. 92% of business leaders agree social insights positively impact improving competitive positioning. Getting an edge on the competition today can inform more substantial business decisions tomorrow. However, you're missing out if you’re not using social media to keep tabs on what your competitors (and their customers) are prioritizing. The real-time nature of social media offers an unrivaled opportunity to observe and analyze competitor strategies. If you’re unfamiliar with it, here’s what social media marketing’s role in competitive intelligence can look like: Aggregate data on customer care interactions reveals the strengths and weaknesses of competitor products or services. Content themes provide insights into the unique value props that competitors are highlighting and opportunities to differentiate your brand further. Share of voice data measures the market your brand owns online compared to your competitors. Of course, doing this work manually is time-consuming, even for the most well-resourced teams. Luckily, Sprout’s AI-driven social listening tool allows teams to uncover critical insights quickly through automated, presentation-ready competitive analysis reports.

3. Social Media Data Creates a More Customer-centric Business Strategy

Data from social listening allows brands to keep up with the trends and conversations that impact their audience in real time. These insights, in turn, inform stronger, more customer-centric business strategies. A stat call-out says, "91% of business leaders say social data helps them better understand customers." 

4. How Social Media Marketing Supports Better Public Relations Outcomes 

Social media marketing supports better public relations outcomes. 91% of business leaders agree that social insights positively impact their PR function. The 24-hour news cycle has done away with old methods of public relations. Today, it’s not enough to simply pitch some journalists a press release. You need to establish a compelling brand narrative that proactively generates media interest. Otherwise, you’ll get lost in the crowd. Social helps brands stand out by offering a variety of engaging ways to present a steady drumbeat of thought leadership and brand storytelling. The channel is increasingly significant in executive communication strategies, providing business leaders new opportunities to share insights and showcase their expertise. Building your brand’s social presence, including that of your CEO and executives, leaves you with more than just followers and likes—it provides you with an owned channel for PR amplification, enabling you to influence narratives, engage with your audience directly, and drive positive media coverage.

5. Social Media Marketing Plays a Critical Role in Crisis Management 

Social media marketing plays a critical role in crisis management. 84% of business leaders agree that social data and insights positively impact risk management. Crises are no longer reserved for major brands. Social media opens businesses big and small up to a new level of scrutiny. Social media crises can unfold on various scales, whether an insensitive employee comment amplified by an outraged audience or a surge of customer complaints after a service slip-up. A social media crisis plan is the most effective way to manage these risks. The importance of social media marketing in crisis management is two-fold. Firstly, you can proactively manage risks by monitoring and listening to social media. Secondly, adopting a social-first crisis management strategy allows brands to address issues before they escalate into a more significant problem.

6. How Social Commerce Helps Introduce Customers to Your Brand’s Offerings

Why invest in social media marketing? Because social media marketing is an investment in your business’s future. According to The 2023 Sprout Social Index™, 68% of consumers follow brands on social media to stay informed about new products or services. Going for the hard sell on social media used to be a faux pas, but attitudes have shifted. The channel has become the new shopping catalog for the always-on consumer. You're missing out on a significant potential revenue source without investing in a data-driven social commerce strategy. You must be social if you want to be where your customers are.

7. Social Media Marketing Supports Wow-Worthy Customer Experiences

A stat call-out says, “88% of leaders say social data and insights are critical to delivering exceptional customer care.” More consumer-brand interactions are going digital, creating a massive opportunity for businesses looking to make an impression with their target audiences. One-on-one interactions now occur on a public stage, with their impacts being one-to-many. That’s why it’s so essential for brands to create social media customer care strategies that support proactive and reactive community engagement. It’s not enough to simply respond to service requests. To get the most out of social, you need to actively seek and join the conversations that move the needle for your brand, whether you’re tagged or not.

Related Reading

• How to Keep Up with TikTok Trends
• How to Find Trending Topics on YouTube
• How to Find Trending Topics on Instagram
• How to Find Trending Topics on TikTok
• How to Use Google Trends for YouTube

11 Tips for Efficient Social Media Marketing

1. Use Virlo: The Tool That Will Help You Understand How to Go Viral Social Media

Virlo helps short-form content creators crack the code of virality through AI-powered trend analysis. Our platform combines creator insights with advanced analytics to identify winning content patterns, optimal posting times, and successful audio/video combinations that help your content stand out in today's fast-moving social landscape. Perfect for independent creators looking to build a sustainable side business, Virlo takes the guesswork out of content strategy. We analyze the latest viral trends and help you understand when to post and what combinations of elements drive engagement. Whether you're just starting or looking to optimize your existing content, Virlo enables you to navigate the ever-changing algorithms to increase your chances of going viral. Go viral with Virlo's virality analysis tool.  

2. Know Your Audience

Understanding your target audience is the first step to a successful social media marketing strategy. Identify your target audience, and think about culture and stereotypes – for example, young men are stereotypically interested in sports, but older men are less physically active. This might influence other aspects of your social media presence. For instance, even if you offer products not connected to sports, creating a social media post during a vital ball game might not be prudent! You can use buyer personas for this purpose – fictional customers whom you will consider as browsing your social media profile. Tailor your content to their preferences and needs. Think about how, for example, a “23-year-old fashion designer” will use your site and social media and whether my social media platform is a good choice for her. Different groups of people use various media – for example, young people rarely use Facebook these days. If you want to reach broad groups, use other social media channels.

3. Pick the Right Platforms

Not all social media platforms are created equal. LinkedIn is aimed at professionals, while TikTok is aimed at young people who want short videos. Consider where you want to advertise or promote your content. Your social media strategy should involve various sites and platforms to showcase your brand voice. Research the platforms where your target audience spends the most time. Research and see where you can find the right group of social media users. 

For example, if you sell graphic design software, you might find customers on professional groups like DeviantArt and Behance – but don’t rule out less specialized social media platforms, such as Facebook or LinkedIn. Focus on platforms where your content will likely resonate with your target audience. Consider using a combination of social media platforms to reach a wider audience. Few people use only X or only Instagram. This way, you’ll get a narrower audience – someone might see your post on Twitter, for example, and then see more details about my product in a post on Behance. You can run a blog on LinkedIn and use Twitter for instant contact with my social media followers.

4. Create Engaging Content 

Your social media content should be fresh, engaging, and relevant to your audience. The more interesting they are, the better the chances they will draw and hold the reader’s attention. The more minutes a user spends reading, the greater the chances that he or she will make a purchase. Your social media marketing goals should involve a minimal retention rate! To keep your audience engaged, use a variety of multimedia formats, such as images, videos, and text. Combining them into an interactive Publuu flipbook will allow you to create engaging content available on multiple social media. Combining video with text creates a one-of-a-kind experience that will keep customers coming back for more. You can see various social media examples using our example flipbooks. 

5. Create a Content Calendar 

Consistency is key in social media marketing. Plan your posts using a social media content calendar. You might make plans based on the holidays and festivals and predict essential events. For instance, you post a funny meme each Friday to help people unwind after work. However, don’t overdo it and approve each social media post before you post. Major events might happen that will make your posts look bad. Your social media marketing strategy can’t be completely automated, lest you lose that human touch!

6. Leverage Video Content 

You should include YouTube videos in your social media marketing strategy. Video content is an effective way to attract attention and engage your audience. Any post can benefit significantly from video, and it’s easy to post on all major social media networks. Incorporating short, engaging videos showcasing your products or services into a post is easy. You can use social media videos to present how to use your products or use them to explain the most interesting elements of your products. You can easily use videos to tell stories, explain complex topics, and build relationships with your audience. A good social media marketer knows videos are crucial for your brand identity.

7. Engage With Your Audience 

Social media allows you to connect with your audience. You can converse with everyone using your social media sites – if you can, hire an employee to handle this full-time. Respond immediately to comments, valuable insights, and messages to keep in touch with your potential customers and ensure you are present in my customers’ imagination. Another good social media marketing strategy is holding contests and giveaways to generate excitement among your fans and followers. Remember to give precise and transparent rules. Otherwise, fans will start to protest – you want publicity, not hate-mongering! Such contests have the potential to go viral and attract attention. You can also encourage my audience to share my content and use relevant hashtags. Build relationships with other companies and influencers in your industry. Influencers can get tens of thousands of people to see your post – you just need to know who to rely on. That’s why it’s a good idea to hire someone who knows your industry and environment well – so that they can base your social media marketing strategy around important people who can deliver quality content!

8. Tell a Story 

Storytelling can be a powerful tool in your social media strategy. Your social media channel should always involve stories about your brand, products, or customers to create an emotional connection with your audience. This can increase brand loyalty and customer engagement on your social platform. All kinds of marketing, not just social media marketing, should rely on stories – people connect through stories and think in story-telling terms, identifying with other people. That’s why compelling content must use storytelling to connect with your audience emotionally. In this way, you will make the customer think of the hero of the story who succeeded with the help of your product: “That could have been me.” Share customer testimonials and success stories to build trust and credibility. The more evidence you have of my brand’s effectiveness, the better. This way, you create a brand narrative that resonates with your audience. You can ask influencers or industry leaders to promote my product to position yourself as a market leader – and influencer marketing strategy should involve this idea.

9. Use Visuals Effectively 

Visual elements are essential in drawing attention and conveying information using social media. Infographics, visual presentations, high-quality videos – today, people don’t like to read or listen, prefer to watch, and social media marketing must adapt. Use high-quality images and videos that match your content. 

Thanks to programs like Canva, creating presentations and infographics that you can publish in Publuu flipbooks is easy. Consider hiring a professional photographer or videographer to create high-quality visual content. If you are presenting my products, beware of stock images! Generic visual content is easily recognizable, especially in social media advertising. Use only original content and rely on your brand image. 

10. Monitor Analytics 

Use social media analytics tools to track your progress. Tools like Facebook Meta Analytics or Google Analytics will help you track follower growth on respective social platforms, see how many hits have been received from relevant media, and determine what’s working and what’s not. Thanks to them, you’ll know my target audience and increase your social media game! Use this data to optimize your social media strategy. 

You can tighten your knowledge and make you focus on a new group. You may initially want to focus on newcomers. Still, the largest group using your social media are older professionals. In this case, I will consider whether to change my social media profile, create a new one, or change the appearance of my brand online to appear more sophisticated. This is a crucial part of your social media marketing strategy.

11. Stay Updated With Trends 

Social media trends change quickly. You can overlook new ideas, mainly if you rely on a prepared content calendar. To boost your strategy, you must be active on social media apps and monitor what’s happening online. Use social media analytics and experience to focus on essential phrases or ideas. Stay on top of the latest social media trends to stay relevant and engage your audience. 

Keep an eye on your competition and other crucial changes in the industry so that your social media strategy remains versatile. Small businesses can use two social media profiles – one as a popular entrepreneur and another as a company. Use popular hashtags and participate in relevant conversations – whether as a person or a company. Don’t be afraid to promote my company profile in everyday conversations. This always brings good results.

 12. Run Targeted Ads 

Targeted ads can help you reach your ideal audience. Your social media marketing strategy can focus on a specific group to help them find you online and draw their attention. For example, your ads can appear in the search results of young males below 25 living in large cities. Use demographic, interest, and behavior targeting to reach users most likely interested in my product or service. Don’t be afraid to notice trends in digital marketing – if you want to appeal to the female share, at least start preparing a social media strategy involving women.

23 Best Social Media Marketing Tools for Success

1. Virlo

Virlo is designed for short-form content creators to improve their chances of going viral on social media. It tracks viral trends and performs AI-powered analysis to help users identify winning content patterns, optimal posting times, and successful audio/video combinations.  

2. BuzzSumo

BuzzSumo is a flexible content marketing platform that helps with everything from research and discovery to monitoring and outreach. It’s especially great for identifying viral content and trends and discovering niche audiences to target.   

Pros  

• AI-powered writing tool to create relevant pitch content  

• Access to over 8 billion articles for content ideas and inspiration  

• Tracks mentions and trends to measure content performance  

Cons  

• Steep pricing structure  

• Some tools lack accuracy  

3. Treendly 

Treendly is a trend analysis tool that helps users discover, analyze, and track trends. The platform provides valuable insights about trends to support content marketing strategies.  

Pros  

• Create and manage exclusive collections of relevant trends  

• Identify opportunities and threats within specific industries   

• Predictive algorithms to help accurately forecast trends  

Cons  

• Limited features for the starting plan  

• No custom reports for basic users  

4. SimilarWeb

SimilarWeb analyzes website performance to help businesses discover opportunities to improve online visibility and discover potential threats. With these insights, brands can refine their strategies and make informed, data-driven decisions.  

Pros    

• Extensive website traffic data  

• Multi-platform breakdowns for traffic analysis  

• Chrome extension for quick insights on the go  

Cons   

• The free version has a limited data window  

• Accuracy could be better  

5. Mention

Mention is a media monitoring tool that tracks specific keywords across various platforms in real-time, including social media, blogs, and news sites. Users can monitor brand health, track engagement, and connect with audiences to improve their social media presence.  

Pros  

• Real-time tracking of keyword mentions across the web  

• Detailed competitive analysis to understand the strategies of rivals  

• Social media management features to connect with audiences  

Cons  

• Some standard features are missing  

• Can have limited search configurations  

6. Loomly

Loomly is a social media management platform that helps teams organize and collaborate on content. It features built-in calendars, workflows, and deadlines to streamline the scheduling process. Loomly even suggests fresh content ideas based on trending topics.  

Pros  

• Exceptional customer service  

• Advanced scheduling capabilities  

• User-friendly interface  

Cons  

• Some users want the ability to hide unused features  

• Cannot publish directly to Instagram  

7. Hootsuite

Hootsuite is one of the most comprehensive social media management tools built for enterprises. It is packed to the hilt with features. For instance, it can tell you when your audience is the most active, allowing you to optimize your post timing for maximum engagement. Its integrated AI can assist in crafting copy for your posts and the inclusion of Canva within the platform also speeds up the creation of eye-catching visuals for your content.   

Pros  

• Multi-profile scheduling dashboard.  

• Social listening feature.  

• 30-day free trial.  

Cons  

• Higher-tier features start at €99 per month.  

• The free trial requires credit card details.  

8. SocialPilot

SocialPilot is one of the best marketing tools for planning, creating, scheduling, and publishing social media posts in advance. It allows you to automate and manage multiple platforms. SocialPilot will enable you to schedule bulk posts with images (up to 500 posts and pictures). One of its popular features is an editorial calendar, which allows the user to review and drag the posts to the dates and reshuffle them as required. You can collate data from multiple platforms and create a report for the client. SocialPilot is a social media tool that helps you monitor and improve your team's performance.   

Pros  

• Excellent value for money  

• Canva integration makes creating beautiful posts simple  

• Easy-to-navigate dashboard  

Cons  

• No automated TikTok posting  

9. Buffer

Buffer is a comprehensive social media toolkit primarily for small businesses. As a small business owner, this is a great option for saving time and money on campaigns by scheduling posts across various platforms from a single place. You can also analyze performance and engage with your audience with this tool.   

Pros  

• Generous free plan: Offers a valuable free tier with basic features, making it accessible to new users.  

• Chrome extension: Convenient way to quickly add content to your Buffer queue directly from webpages.  

• Cross-platform posting: Schedule posts to various social media platforms from one dashboard.  

Cons  

• Limited analytics: Compared to other social media management tools, Buffer's analytics features are less comprehensive, lacking detailed insights into engagement and audience demographics.  

10. UpContent

UpContent is a fantastic platform that is a content curation social media marketing tool. It has reduced the time for content search by 65% and is a very sought-after tool. It integrates data from multiple social media platforms to discover and supply fresh material. It provides access to Shutterstock images, which users can combine with customized articles using UpContent. The platform curates more than 1.5 million monthly articles and posts for its clients.   

Pros  

• Cuts down content search time by 65%  

• Allows users to customize curated articles  

• Integrates with various social media platforms  

Cons  

• No free plan is available  

• Users have reported issues with the search functionality  

11. Brandwatch

Brandwatch is a social media tool for Data Analytics. It provides social listening, sentiment analysis and reporting, and AI-powered insights into your customers and audiences. This is an invaluable tool when the user deals with brands and handles all their marketing. It helps you find micro-influencers in your core target area, find relevant data, and create visual data reports while working with various filters.    

Pros  

• Customizable dashboards: Allows users to create tailored dashboards with relevant metrics and visualizations to track key performance indicators.    

• Influencer identification: Powerful tools to identify and analyze key influencers related to your brand.  

• Large data capacity: Can handle large volumes of data efficiently without significant performance slowdown.  

Cons  

• Cost: Considered expensive, particularly for smaller businesses, with a complex pricing structure.  

• Learning curve: Interface can be complex and requires significant time for new users to master it.  

12. Twinword

Twinword Ideas is an AI keyword research tool designed to search trends and bring you only the best keywords. Instead of manually reviewing long lists of keywords, use this AI keyword generator to get a more relevant selection of potential phrases to target.  

Pros  

• See accurate keyword data, including search volume, organic traffic, and cost per click (CPC)  

• Save time building your list of related keywords with automatic keyword grouping.  

• View keyword scores and build your campaign around your best SEO ranking opportunities.

Cons  

• This is purely a keyword research tool, so teams looking for a platform with other content or SEO features may need to consider an alternative  

• The keyword search tool feels more essential compared to some of the other keyword research tools available  

13. Audiense

We’ve talked time and time again about the importance of social listening for identifying trends and potential customers. Tools like Audiense take listening to the next level by helping companies identify and segment their social media audiences. Doing so makes it easier to run laser-targeted ad campaigns and dive deeper into your customer personas. Digging into demographics, personality traits, and beyond, you’d be surprised at what you can learn from social alone. Audiense’s platform focuses primarily on Twitter, making it great for B2B brands interested in prospecting and B2C companies looking to understand more about their target audience.   

Pros  

• Influencer discovery: The platform helps identify relevant influencers based on audience demographics and interests, facilitating effective influencer marketing campaigns.  

• Community building tools: Audiense Connect feature allows for direct engagement with your Twitter audience, facilitating community building and interaction.  

• User-friendly interface: The platform is designed to be intuitive, with clear dashboards and reports, making it accessible to a range of users.  

Cons  

• Cost: Compared to other social listening tools, Audiense can be relatively expensive, especially for smaller businesses.  

• Limited platform focus: While powerful on Twitter, Audiense primarily focuses on Twitter data, limiting its application to other social media platforms.  

14. Reputation

Reputation Social Suite lets you cross-post and respond to comments across major social networks (but it doesn't offer the same extensive channel coverage as Sprinklr). Its integrated scheduling capabilities let you automate publishing your social posts like clockwork. Besides, the centralized repository and built-in approval workflows make your job easier. In addition, you can set alerts for brand mentions and trending keywords so you can be on top of your customer grievances and avert any looming crisis.   

Pros  

• Response templates  

• Good customer service, especially the account representatives  

• NLP and analysis features  

Cons  

• Review responses aren’t a focus of the platform  

• Some users complain of bugs  

• Lacks customization and personalization options  

15. Meltwater

In social media marketing (SMM), closely monitoring brand mentions and industry discussions is key. Meltwater stands out for its extensive media monitoring, enabling businesses to track their brand, competitors, and key terms across various online platforms. This wealth of data facilitates engagement in relevant conversations, measures the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, and enhances strategy. By analyzing mentions and sentiment, companies can refine their approaches, connect more meaningfully with audiences, and position themselves as industry leaders. Thus, Meltwater is an invaluable tool for boosting marketing efforts.   

Pros  

• Extremely powerful media monitoring: One of the best media monitoring tools. This key feature of Meltwater allows you to monitor unlimited keywords and gives you access to deeper features like sentiment analysis, volume spike detection, and custom mention scoring.  

• Thorough reporting: Offers custom PR reporting on all areas related to your PR KPIs. From the app, you can make interactive dashboards. They also have a team of analysts you can hire for help if you need something extra complex.  

• All-in-one PR platform: If you buy their full suite, Meltwater can act as an all-in-one PR platform for your team. Enabling you to manage all of your PR work from one place.  

Cons  

• Steep learning curve: While familiar with complex solutions, Meltwater’s learning curve is known to be specifically steep. Often, getting set up won’t be possible without some initial hand-holding from their onboarding team.  

• Hidden pricing: No matter how hard you search their site, you will not find a concrete price for Meltwater. Instead, you need to contact them for a quote. A dated practice that we don’t believe in or follow ourselves at Prezly.  

16. Lumen5

Lumen5 is a social media marketing tool for designing. It helps you create a short video format very easily and quickly. Lumen5 can convert your content into a text video with customized font, color, and style based on your brand. Its extensive library of GIFs, videos, photos, music, and short videos can be easily dragged and added to your video.   

Pros  

• AI can automatically turn text or web pages into videos.  

• It comes with a substantial collection of media assets and pre-made layouts.  

• Users can add music, voiceover, captions, branding, and more to their videos.  

• Users will find it helpful to make interesting videos to post on websites, blogs, and social media.  

Cons  

• It does not come for free and offers various pricing options dependent on the features and usage.  

• Users who prefer more advanced video editing tools may find creative control and versatility lacking.  

17. Keyhole

Keyhole is an excellent tool, specifically for social media listening. Its fundamental social media management features (like scheduling, storing ideas, creating graphics, and team collaboration) aren’t as strong as Hootsuite, but the social listening feature is better.   

Pros  

• Comprehensive dashboards and reporting  

• Straightforward interface  

• Multiple price points  

Cons  

• PDF exports of reports miss information  

• Customer support can be slow  

• Lack of tracking options  

18. SendGrid

SendGrid offers a full suite of email marketing services, many of which are friendly to novices and email veterans alike. For example, the platform offers flexible design options via visual, drag-and-drop editing, coding, or combining both. In-depth deliverability and performance analytics are also built into SendGrid, cluing marketers in on which messages are performing and what needs work. We know more email marketing solutions are out there than we can count. That said, a significant upside of SendGrid is the forever-free plan for up-and-coming businesses and scalable pricing that matches your needs as you grow your list.   

Pros  

• Good reporting tools  

• Easy integration  

• Free tier available  

• Intuitive user interface  

Cons  

• Slow customer service  

• Automation needs improvement  

19. Zoho Social

Zoho is a well-known name in the tech industry. It offers CRM solutions, emailing services, payroll processing, customer service software, and many other products that knowledge workers use. If you work in a company that already uses Zoho for various purposes, Zoho Social is a great social media management tool you should consider.   

Pros  

• Even with many integrations, Zoho Social is easy to use.   

• The AI-powered content generator in the platform makes the process of post creation much faster.  

• An advantage of using Zoho Social is the ability to monitor comments and engage with users.  

• Zoho Social has an efficient content approval process that saves a lot of time from back-and-forth communication when working with a team.  

Cons  

• The learning curve for new users in Zoho Social can be steep initially.  

• The mobile app version of Zoho Social is not as proficient as the web version.  

20. SEMrush

Semrush is a digital marketing and search engine optimization (SEO) platform with SEO-focused tools and features, including keyword research and competitive analysis. Semrush’s keyword research tools allow you to spot keyword gaps, research competitor keywords, and build keyword lists in no time.   

Pros  

• Build lists of thousands of long-tail keywords from one initial seed keyword.  

• Find competitive keyword opportunities and content gaps with competitor analysis. 

• Get valuable insights into the search algorithm, keyword rankings, and cross-reference data with Google Analytics.  

Cons  

• Semrush’s pricing plans may put it out of reach of smaller businesses and agencies  

• Some users suggest that the range of features means there’s a learning curve to understand how to use the software effectively  

21. Hubspot

Although HubSpot is renowned for its CRM capabilities, it also offers robust social media management tools as part of its marketing suite. These tools combine all your social media accounts and content into a central platform, simplifying your social media efforts. This allows for easy post-scheduling, audience engagement, and in-depth performance analysis. Ultimately, it saves you time and enhances your social media marketing strategy. And here’s the best part: you can set up keywords to track trends and post content directly from the CRM to your social accounts. Additionally, HubSpot provides a comprehensive summary of clicks, visits, leads, and more to help you assess your overall performance.  

Pros  

• The platform is easy to use:  

• Educating their users:  

• A place for all your tools:  

Cons  

• Requires a 12-month contract:  

• No A/B testing in their basic or PRO package:  

22. Canva

Canva boosts social media content creation with its intuitive interface, appealing to newcomers and those aiming to refine their posts. Distinguished by its simplicity and efficiency, Canva offers many resources, including an extensive collection of templates, high-quality stock photos, and diverse design elements. These resources are accessible at no cost, allowing users to craft compelling and visually striking posts effortlessly. This blend of accessibility and variety positions Canva as a pivotal tool for enhancing social media engagement and aesthetics.  

Pros  

• Affordable pricing: A free version is available with the option to upgrade to a paid plan for additional features.  

• Collaborative features: Allows multiple users to work on a design simultaneously.  

• Extensive media library: Access to a vast collection of images, icons, fonts, and other design elements.  

• Multiple file formats: Export designs in various formats like JPEG, PNG, and PDF.  

Cons  

• Limited customization:  

• Less control over design elements than professional design software, potentially leading to generic designs.  

• Template reliance: Over-reliance on templates can result in designs that look similar to others.  

23. MeetEdgar

MeetEdgar focuses on helping users recycle old posts to get more mileage out of their best-performing content. The tool also has basic social media management software features like scheduling posts, tracking performance, etc.   

Pros  

• Easy post-recycling options  

• "Best time to publish" feature  

Cons  

• Expensive price points  

• The user interface can be challenging to use

Related Reading

• How to Find Trending Hashtags on Instagram
• What Hashtags Are Trending on YouTube
• TikTok Trend Discovery
• Instagram Reels Trends
• Social Media Trend Tracker
• Brandwatch Alternatives
• Google Trends Alternative

Social Media Marketing Strategies

1. Get Found by the Right People

Social media is a crowded marketplace. Generic logos and a few product photos won't differentiate you in the arena. So, how do you get your business in front of the right people? Well, here's how you can boost your discoverability:

Define your brand's personality  

Think of your brand as a living entity. What qualities does this entity have? Is it fun, down-to-earth, or knowledgeable? Once you've answered those questions, choose a visual style that matches that personality — minimalistic, bold, classic, or whatever fits.

Consistency is key when you're developing your brand's personality. Keep the same visual style across all your social media communications. Use the same fonts, colors, and logo so people instantly recognize and recall your brand. Like Coca-Cola's famous red and white logo, having distinctive visuals can help people quickly recognize and identify your company.

Get strategic with hashtags  

Once your brand personality and visual language are established and identifiable, it's time to spread the word. Hashtags are a great way to expand your reach across social media platforms. Check out our dedicated guide on how to use hashtags effectively. Brand-related hashtags can act as an exclusive, members-only club where you can track and curate conversations around your brand. On the other hand, non-brand hashtags, which are related to your target audience's areas of interest, help like-minded people find you. Hashtags serve as little billboards that connect you to potential customers. Studies show that posts with three to four hashtags garner the most impressions, with an average impression rate of 3.41%.

So, be creative, be specific, and don't be afraid to invent your hashtags. Take Coca-Cola's phenomenal "Share a Coke" campaign, for example. They replaced their logo with common names, encouraging people to find their personalized Coke bottles and share them online using the #ShareACoke hashtag. This simple yet impactful strategy fueled massive engagement and led to a staggering 250 million personalized bottles and cans sold in Australia within three months of its launch. Today, the hashtag continues to be popular, with over 614k uses in posts on Instagram.

The conversation must be two-way.  

Treat social media as an interactive platform to build on your ongoing conversations. It is not a one-way broadcast. Comments, questions, and DMs provide opportunities to build relationships. Be quick, helpful, and responsive. This turns casual followers into loyal fans and makes a real difference in brand perception. 47% of US consumers view brands that respond promptly to customer concerns on social media more favorably.

2. Collaborate on Content with Influencers

Influencer marketing is a social media strategy where brands collaborate with popular individuals or organizations to promote their products or services. These influencers have established credibility and trust within their particular niche. They already have a sizable and dedicated social media following. Partnering with them gives you instant access to a new audience ready to discover your brand. Here's why it works:

Brand awareness boost

Influencers put your brand in the spotlight for their loyal crowds — like a trusted friend giving you a recommendation. Unsurprisingly, surveys suggest that at least 24.2% of marketers plan to allocate over 40% of their marketing budget to influencer campaigns.  

Budget-friendly

Influencer campaigns allow you to stretch your marketing dollars further than some other channels. They can be up to 30% cheaper than traditional advertising.  

Targeted reach

The right influencers connect you directly with your ideal customer, no matter how niche your product is. From fitness enthusiasts to tech experts, there's an influencer for everyone. Even in B2B social media marketing, industry leaders and influencers can bring your brand to the notice of key decision-makers, increasing brand awareness and building trust in your brand.

But how do you find the right influencer? Here are some tips to get started:

The right fit

Think beyond follower count. Do the influencers you want to rope in connect with the people you want to reach?  

Clear goals

Are you aiming for awareness, website visits, or sales? Establish your objective before kick-off. Look for influencers with broad reach and engagement if you want brand awareness. If you wish to do website visits, look for influencers who drive clicks effectively. If your goal is to increase sales, look for influencers with proven conversion track records.  

Play to their strengths.

Influencers have their style. Trust them to put their spin on your message for maximum impact.  

Track the stats

Metrics don't lie. Track which influencer's style and marketing messages are working and where you can improve in your next campaign. Take Tinder, for instance. To connect with Gen-Z, it partnered with popular Instagram influencers. These creators understood Tinder's brand and smoothly wove it into relatable lifestyle content, resonating with their young audience.

3. Partner with Other Brands to Amplify Product Usability

Partnering with well-known brands can motivate you to improve your performance. The challenge of creating something outstanding for both audiences can spark some seriously innovative campaigns. Here's why it's a smart move:

Expands your reach

Tap into your partner's audience and introduce your brand to a new audience ready to discover what you offer.  

Shares the load

It lets you pool your resources — budget, manpower and expertise — turning those ambitious marketing campaigns into a reality.  

Boosts your credibility

Partnering with a respected brand validates your credibility, increasing customer trust. Now, let's look at a few iconic brand team-ups that prove the potential of brand partnerships:

Gucci and Vans  

Fashion giants Gucci and Vans teamed up for a unique collaboration in the popular game Roblox. They created connected virtual worlds where players could go on scavenger hunts and earn special digital items for their Roblox characters. This innovative partnership showcased how brands can work together in new ways, expanding their reach and offering fun experiences for their fans.

Balenciaga and Crocs  

High fashion meets everyday comfort in this unexpected (and successful) collaboration. It pushes boundaries, sparks conversations, and boldly expands both brands' reach.

Amazon and American Express  

The e-commerce giant and renowned financial institution teamed up to offer the Amazon Business American Express Card. This gives small businesses streamlined purchasing tools while building loyalty for both brands.

4. Plan Giveaways and Contests

Social media contests and giveaways appeal to people's competitive nature and love of freebies. Running contests and giveaways on social media is a great way to add excitement to your online presence. Here are some of the benefits of incorporating this form of customer engagement into your social media strategy, with examples:

Follower boost

If your contest requires likes or follows as entry points, this can help expand your reach organically.  

Lead generation

Use entry forms to gather valuable customer data for future marketing.  

Brand awareness boost

Partnering with brands/influencers helps you tap into new demographics, but it doesn't have to be a complex partnership. Take Lay's — it cleverly used a packaging redesign as the springboard for a selfie-taking contest. The selfie requirement generated tons of user content featuring its new look, spreading awareness organically.

Loyalty building

Exciting prizes keep followers returning for more. Contests with recurring reward systems or exclusive experiences can turn casual followers into devoted fans.

Before you launch your contest, here are some points to remember:

Goals first

New followers, leads, or brand awareness? Pick your goal. This will shape the entire contest.  

Budget and prizes

Use your budget wisely and pick a prize your audience will genuinely appreciate.  

Know your audience

Pick the right platform and tailor the contest to the platform and your audience. For example, a creative photo contest on Instagram showcasing your product could boost engagement organically.

Planning is key

Setting clear timelines and rules and having a social media content calendar keep you organized and on track. Your audience also knows what to expect and when.  

Measure and learn

Track results to make your next giveaway even better.

5. Seek Audience Feedback Through Polling

Getting your audience to interact with you can be difficult. But sometimes, it takes a simple question to get them buzzing. Polls are the unsung engagement heroes — they're easy to generate and provide valuable customer insights.

Here's why you need to add them to your social media strategy:

Industry-relevant discussions  

Every industry has unique requirements, trends, debates, and pain points. Polls are a fantastic way to tap into what your target audience is interested in. It's a direct line to the questions they want answered and their opinions.

Promotes real-time engagement  

Polls are the ultimate snackable content. Your audience can participate through split-second decision-making. For instance, when MLB asked who'd win Game 5, instant predictions and online debates followed their post. If you've ever wondered what your audience thinks, online polls cut through the guesswork. Like Chapters Bookstore Dublin's polls, you can ask audiences directly about their preferences. This lets you tailor your content to their requirements, making your posts personalized and relatable.

6. Create Video Content

Are those social media video features just for fun? Think again! Platforms know the deal — video is where the magic happens. Check the latest social media video stats for more information. It's your chance to bypass the polished perfection of photos and get real with your audience. YouTube, Instagram (with Live and IGTV), and TikTok are more than content-sharing platforms; they are communities waiting to welcome you. A remarkable 64% of consumers make purchases after viewing videos. Moreover, videos effectively convey brand messages, as viewers retain 95% of information compared to just 10% through text.

7. Go Live

Move over text and images — video is the king of content now, and live video content reigns supreme. A whopping 48% of video marketers are already focused on creating live-action videos, which include live tutorials, proving it's one of the most popular content creation methods.

Here's why it's a powerful tool to boost your brand:

Your audience craves it

People love the immediacy of live videos. It's more exciting and intimate, and it feels like an insider experience.  

Build relationships in real-time

Live streaming turns your video into a two-way communication channel, allowing you to instantly respond to comments and react to feedback. It's closest to online face-to-face conversation, strengthening bonds with your audience.  

Get top billing

Social media platforms love live content, pushing it to the top of news feeds. It's prime real estate, giving you instant visibility.  

Show your human side

Live streaming has a very authentic feel. No fancy editing and no retakes. This authenticity is what makes it engaging. Your audience peeks behind the curtains, which humanizes your brand.  Live videos are about creating fun, engaging experiences that draw people in. And research suggests that if you do it right, sales will follow. McKinsey & Company found that live commerce converts viewers into buyers at a rate of almost 30%, crushing traditional e-commerce.

Go Viral with Virlo's Virality Analysis Tool

Virlo helps short-form content creators crack the code of virality through AI-powered trend analysis. Our platform combines creator insights with advanced analytics to identify winning content patterns, optimal posting times, and successful audio/video combinations that help your content stand out in today's fast-moving social landscape.

Perfect for independent creators looking to build a sustainable side business, Virlo takes the guesswork out of content strategy. We analyze the latest viral trends and help you understand when to post and what combinations of elements drive engagement. Whether you're just starting or looking to optimize your existing content, Virlo enables you to navigate the ever-changing algorithms to increase your chances of going viral. Go viral with Virlo's virality analysis tool.  

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