16 Social Media Marketing Tools You Need in 2024

You’re probably managing social media and looking to find out which tools are the latest and most useful. As we head into 2024, things are moving fast and it’s important to keep up. These new tools can help you level up your campaigns, make them more effective, and save you time. The best part? Some of them won’t even cost you a dime! Let’s explore what’s out there.

Social Media Management and Scheduling

Hootsuite

Imagine managing all your social media accounts from one place, sounds convenient, right? That’s what Hootsuite does. You can schedule posts, chat with your audience, and see how your posts are doing across different platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X Twitter, and LinkedIn. Businesses use it to keep everything organized and save time, everything from one easy dashboard.

Buffer

If you prefer something simple and straightforward, Buffer’s the choice. It’s super popular among small businesses and solo marketers because it’s easy to use. You can schedule posts, keep an eye on engagement, and check out how well your content is performing. Plus, it has a content calendar that makes planning ahead a breeze.

Sprout Social

For those who need more than just scheduling posts, Sprout Social offers everything from performance tracking to audience engagement in one place. Think of it as the ultimate multitool for social media. Companies use it to monitor brand mentions, handle customer questions, and see how their social media campaigns are performing.

Loomly

Loomly is perfect for teams that need to collaborate on social media content. It offers a visual calendar, helps with content ideas, and even lets you manage the approval process for posts. Teams use it to keep their workflow smooth and make sure everything’s perfect before they hit publish.

Later

If Instagram is your jam, Later has you covered. It’s a tool designed specifically for Instagram, letting you plan and schedule your posts with an easy-to-use visual calendar. Influencers and brands use Later to keep their Instagram feed looking sleek and consistent.

Content Creation and Design

Canva

Canva is the go-to tool for anyone who needs to create eye-catching visuals but isn’t a graphic design pro. With a huge selection of templates, photos, and fonts, Canva lets you create professional-looking social media graphics, posters, and presentations in no time. Small businesses appreciate Canva for its simplicity and the way it allows team members to work together on designs effortlessly.

Crello

Crello is similar to Canva but with a focus on creating animated content. It’s perfect for businesses and individuals who want to add a bit of flair to their social media posts without needing advanced design skills. The drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to create eye-catching visuals that stand out.

Copy.ai

If writing a copy is a challenge, Copy.ai has your back. This AI tool makes it easy to quickly generate marketing copy, blog posts, and social media content. It’s especially useful for small businesses and marketers who need to create engaging content without spending hours on it.

Content Research and Analytics

BuzzSumo

Curious about the latest trends or finding influencers who can elevate your brand? Marketers use BuzzSumo to find hot topics, see what content is getting the most shares, and discover influencers who can help amplify their message. It’s a great tool for staying on top of what’s buzzing online.

Brandwatch

Understanding what people are saying about your brand online is crucial, and that’s where Brandwatch comes in. It’s a tool for listening to social conversations, tracking trends, and analyzing how your brand is performing. Marketers use it to fine-tune their content strategy based on real-time insights.

Socialbakers

Socialbakers boosts your social media analytics with smart AI-driven insights. It helps marketers track performance, optimize content, and understand their audience better. Businesses use it to improve their social media strategies and get a competitive edge.

Collaborative Tools

CoSchedule

Need to keep your social media calendar organized? CoSchedule is a comprehensive tool designed for businesses to plan, schedule, and review their social media and content. It’s a favorite among content marketers who need a seamless way to manage everything from blog posts to social media campaigns.

Sendible

For agencies juggling multiple clients, Sendible is a great tool that simplifies social media management. It offers content scheduling, social listening, detailed analytics, and even team collaboration tools. Agencies love it because it’s customizable and helps deliver top-notch services to clients.

Platform-Specific Tools

Meta Business Suite

Managing Facebook and Instagram is now a breeze with Meta Business Suite. This tool lets you schedule posts, handle messages, and monitor performance for both platforms all in one place. It’s ideal for businesses that want to streamline their social media management and get better insights into their activities.

Falcon.io

Falcon.io is another all-in-one tool that helps with everything from content scheduling to customer engagement. It’s a favorite among brands that need a full picture of their social media performance and want tools to handle their content strategy and engage with their audience.

Monitoring and Reputation Management

Mention

Mention is great for tracking when your brand gets mentioned and staying updated on industry trends. It provides real-time alerts and analytics so businesses can manage their online reputation and stay informed about what’s happening in their niche. Marketers use it to stay ahead of the curve and respond to customer feedback quickly.

8 Tool Combinations to Use for Your Social Media Strategy

Content Planning and Scheduling

• Hootsuite + Canva: Schedule your posts with Hootsuite and create stunning visuals with Canva. This combo lets you easily plan, design, and share sleek and professional content.
• Buffer + BuzzSumo: Schedule your posts with Buffer and discover trending topics with BuzzSumo. This ensures your content is timely, relevant, and engaging.
• CoSchedule + Canva: Use CoSchedule to plan your content and social media calendar, and Canva to design eye-catching visuals. This duo keeps your content organized and visually appealing.

Content Creation and Design

• Loomly + Crello: Loomly’s content calendar and approval process keep your team organized, while Crello helps you create eye-catching visuals and animations. Ideal for collaborative environments.
• Sendible + Copy.ai: For agencies, Sendible’s management features combined with Copy.ai’s content generation capabilities streamline content creation and client management.

Social Media Management and Insights

• Sprout Social + Brandwatch: Sprout Social manages your social media presence, and Brandwatch provides deep insights through social listening. This pairing helps you engage with your audience and monitor your brand’s online reputation.
• Socialbakers + Falcon.io: Socialbakers offers advanced analytics for content optimization, while Falcon.io provides a comprehensive view of performance and audience engagement. Together, they refine your social media strategy.
• Later + Meta Business Suite: Plan and manage Instagram posts with Later, and handle both Facebook and Instagram accounts with Meta Business Suite. This combo ensures consistent and efficient management across platforms.

If you’re a beginner, you can start with this simple combination to keep things manageable:

• Buffer + Canva: Use Buffer to schedule and manage your posts across different platforms, and Canva to create eye-catching visuals and graphics. This pair is simple and makes managing your social media and creating designs a breeze, so you won’t feel overwhelmed.

Final Thoughts

Picking the right tools can really simplify your social media efforts and make a big impact. Think about what you need, like if you want to schedule posts, create cool visuals, or track performance. If you’re unsure which tools to choose or need a hand with managing your social media, just let us know. SW Marketing and Consulting is here to help you sort it out and make sure your social media efforts hit the mark. Get a free consultation today!