1. Buffer
Buffer is one of the most widely used publishing software in the world. Its platform is very intuitive, it has an extension for Google Chrome and it has a mobile application that allows you to track your publications from anywhere you are.
In its free version, Buffer has a limit of up to 10 posts scheduled within 3 different social networks. You can choose between Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.
Among the most notable features of this platform for scheduling posts on social networks are:
Custom URL shortener. This is ideal for Twitter posts, where you can only make Tweets that are 280 characters long.
Content versatility and adaptability. Buffer makes it easy for you to publish the same content, such as an image, video, or link, on multiple social networks. It also allows you to configure the text to adapt it to the character limits of each one.
Ability to upload up to 4 images in a single post.
Buffer's paid plans are affordable. Here are their rates:
buffer social media scheduling tool
If you pay an additional $50 to the plan you choose, you can have access to the “analytics” version, which offers you the following benefits:
Metrics for your Instagram stories.
Social media strategy tips from Buffer experts.
PDF reports on the performance of your social media posts.
2. Hootsuite
Hootsuite was created by Ryan Holmes in 2008. The origin of this name comes from the French expression “tout de suite”, which means “right now”.
They are a global market leader in social media management. They have over millions of customers and employees in over 80% of Fortune 1000 companies.
Using their free plan, Buffer allows you to add 3 social networks, schedule 30 messages, and link 1 user.
Hootsuite Features and Benefits:
Overview dashboard to see all your scheduled posts at a glance.
Metrics system with integration to Google Analytics, Facebook Insights, Mailchimp, Google Drive, Asana, Slack.
Allows you to upload lists of up to hundreds of posts in CSV format files.
If you download their extension for Google Chrome, you can schedule web articles, images or content that you want to replicate on your social networks.
Offers discounted rates to non-profit organizations (NGOs) on its Professional or Team plans
Currently, this platform allows you to manage Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Youtube, and Pinterest accounts. Their paid plans include the following features:
hootsuite-social-media-scheduling-tool
3. SocialGest
SocialGest is an excellent platform for scheduling posts on social networks. However, unlike other platforms, in its free version you can only link 3 social networks and schedule only 3 posts.
It allows you to connect your Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn profiles. In addition to features for automating content posting, it offers features for tracking hashtags and creating Facebook ads.
The benefits of Social Gest are:
Team management.
Panic button in case you want to stop all scheduled posts
Calendar where you can see all your scheduled posts by date
Section to analyze the metrics of your publications
Scheduling Instagram stories and comments to accompany posts
Options for uploading posts in batches
Tools to create contests and manage the entire random selection process
The prices and attributes of their paid plans are:
socialgest-tool-for-programming-social-networks
4. Postcron
Postcron is a platform founded in Argentina by Alejandro Rigatuso. It has more than 400,000 registered users, 105 million posts, 900,000 connected social media accounts and clients in 88 countries, the main ones being the USA, Brazil, Mexico and Spain.
Postcron allows you to publish on Instagram (posts and stories), telegram free number philippines Facebook pages and groups, Twitter, LinkedIn and, soon, Pinterest boards. However, due to Facebook policies, you can only add Facebook groups connected with the Postcron app.
Advantages of Postcron
Watermark with your logo to identify your publications.
Add up to 15 users to use the platform simultaneously
Mass upload of posts.
Publication metrics analysis section.
Link generator to open conversations in WhatsApp with predefined messages.
Gallery of content to share on social networks.
Postcorn does not offer a free version for its users. However, like other social media scheduling tools, it does offer free trials for a limited time. Find out about the pricing of its plans here:
postcorn social media scheduling tool
Tips for scheduling social media posts
It is a mistake to believe that content management platforms will do all the work for you and are not vulnerable to errors.
While these tools are necessary for your automated marketing strategy, before and after scheduling your posts, you should make sure everything is set up properly.
Below, we will give you some concepts on this subject:
Check that your posts are set up correctly
If you schedule an image or video on a social network for a specific date and time, for example Monday, June 10 at 4:00 pm, check that everything is correct in your post, that is, that the image is in the appropriate format, the texts and hashtags have the corresponding separations, and the time is correct.
If something is not as you planned, you still have time to manually edit the post or, alternatively, delete it.
Make sure the platform is connected to your social networks
Social media management tools can crash or disconnect from your accounts, so be aware if this happens and reconnect your profiles.
This tip is in addition to the previous one, where it is important to constantly monitor your posts and ensure that each one has been published on the scheduled date and time.
If you don't pay attention to this detail, many important publications may be left off the calendar.
Change the time zone
We also recommend that you adjust the respective “time zone” in the platform settings according to the country in which your target audience or buyer personas (who will see the publication) are located.
The good news is that the option to configure time zones is present in all the social media account management platforms that we present to you.