Social Media can be overwhelming.  It can be difficult to know which platforms are right for your business, which type of content to post to each platform, and when you should be posting. For a quick description of each platform, check out of Social Media Guide infographic.

There are several ways to help make social media less stressful, including creating a simple content calendar to plan posts ahead of time, and using Content Management Software. Forbes created a list of the top social media management tools. We are breaking down the list for you and your small business.

1) Hootsuite

Cost:Free plan, $19, $99, $499 per month, and enterprise pricing (with a 14-day free trial)

Description: Hootsuite is one of the biggest social media tools and is used by over 15 million people. Users are able to connect to 35 social networks and manage them all in one place.  It is easy to add accounts, monitor your feeds, stay up to date on your social media, and schedule posts across all platforms.

2) Hubspot

Cost: Free plan, $200, $800, $2,400 per month

Description:  Hubspot allows you to monitor and publish to social accounts, as well as CRM (customer relationship management) tools. You can also track further down the funnel to see what posts and channels drive actual leads and sales

3) MeetEdgar

Cost: $49/month (with a 14-day free trial)

Description: MeetEdgar is unique in that you don’t schedule specific content at specific times. Instead, you create content with various categories and time slots with that category in mind and MeetEdgar will automatically fill the time slots with the content. It schedules in a very clever way.

3) IFTTT

Cost: Free

Description:IFTTT (If This Then That) is an automation tool that links social media platforms, apps, and websites. It is based on a trigger and action system, meaning if you publish a blog (trigger), it will create a social media post (action).

5) Buffer

Cost: Free plan, $10, $99, $199, and $399 per month (with a 14-day free trial)

Description: Buffer lets you manage SM across channels with customized posts for each platform. It shares posts based on the optimal times for your audience and tracks what content is performing the best.

6) Sprout Social

Cost: $99, $169, $249, and $399 per month (with a 14-day free trial)

Description: Sprout Social is similar to Hootsuite in that it is simple to monitor many social networks. It allows you to monitor social mentions, schedule content, engage with customers, and utilize reporting tools. It provides CRM features and has in-depth reporting.

7) Google Analytics

Cost: Free

Description: Google Analytics is beneficial for social media management because it allows you to see which social platforms are performing well. It doesn’t manage content in the way the other options do, but it offers valuable insight into which social platforms are running smoothly and which need some additional attention.

8) Raven

Cost: $99, $169, $249, and $399 per month (with a 14-day free trial)

Description: Raven is more than a social media management tool. It offers in-depth reporting on Pay Per Click (PPC), search engine optimization (SEO), and social media channels. You can also use it to schedule posts on many digital channels.

9) TweetDeck

Cost: Free

Description:  Tweetdeck is specifically for managing multiple Twitter accounts in a single platform. It provides reporting and analysis that helps users track interactions and topics for campaigns.

10) Iconosquare

Cost: Free $29, $59 per month (with a 14-day free trial)

Description: Iconsquare offers in-depth analytics for Instagram, as well as the ability to monitor multiple Instagram accounts at once and schedule posts.

11) Sprinklr

Cost:$5,000 per month

Description: Sprinklr is an all-in-one service that helps you with posting, approval of content, and metrics reporting. It is one of the most expensive Social media management tools, and all pricing is custom based on number of profiles.

Honorable Mentions:

These are some additional social media content management tools that the Forbes article did not mention but we think are helpful and deserve a spot on our list of amazing management tools.

1) Agora Pulse

Cost: $49, $99, $199, and $299 per month (with a 15-day free trial)

Description:  Agora Pulse is an all-in-one social media platform with scheduling, responding, and reporting features.

2) Everypost

Cost: $9.99, $29.99, $49.99, $99.99 per month, and enterprise pricing (with a 14-day free trial)

Description:  Everypost makes it easy to curate content, customize, and schedule your social media posts.

3) Sendible

Cost: $49, $199, $499 per month, and enterprise pricing (with a 30-day free trial)

Description: Sendible is a social media management tool built specifically for agencies with several clients.

4) Social Pilot

Cost: Free plan, $10, $20, $30 per month, and enterprise pricing (with a 14-day free trial)

Description: Social Pilot is a Social media marketing & scheduling tool for agencies & social media professionals.

5) CoSchedule

Cost: $30, $60, $300, and up to $1,600 per month (with a 14-day free trial)

Description: CoSchedule is a social media management tool and a shareable calendar that allows you to work together with your team to create posts, events, tasks, and more.

What is your preferred social media management tool? Every company and every marketer has a preferred social media management tool. It varies greatly based on needs and goals as well as your personal experience with various tools.

I personally love using Hootsuite, but every tool on this list is very helpful for social media management. What tool is your favorite? If it isn’t on our list, let us know. We would love to check it out!

Marketing Influence creates marketing programs that are customized to your goals and budget. Connect with us now to learn more about how we can help you customize your digital marketing plan.