Five Resources Every Social Media Manager Needs
Working with social media is a lot of fun. As someone who’s always been drawn to careers that allow me to creatively express myself, there are so many wonderful aspects about getting to work with a medium as broad and diverse as the world of digital marketing.
From writing copy to planning the perfectly curated Instagram feed, to getting to meet and work with incredible clients, there are so many things that I love about working with social media.
However, there is definitely truth to the realities of social media burnout. And, while trends like social media detoxes are becoming more and more popular, for someone who not only manages their own profiles (and loves doing it) but also manages the profiles and pages of clients (and loves doing that too) I’ve quickly learned that the risk of burnout can sneak up on you quicker than you can say “which GIF should I use?”
Over the last year and a half, I’ve discovered so many incredible resources that have made my life so much easier and helped me stay organized and avoid burnout as a social media manager. From streamlining productivity to providing me with a sense of community, these resources have not only helped to save my sanity but have allowed me to do what I do so much better for the clients that I work with on a daily basis.
So now I want to share a few of my favourites with YOU.
The Top Five Social Media Management Resources in my Freelancing Toolkit
1. Later
No resource has saved my sanity and boosted productivity quite like Later has. Their preview feature allows me to easily send Instagram feeds to clients and quickly exchange feedback on what works and what needs to be adjusted. Being able to make sure we get content right in advance has not only helped me to feel prepared but also gives my clients a clear idea of what their online marketing will look like over the course of the month.
Later also has a hashtag search engine that’s been a lifesaver when it comes to finding the perfect tags to include with content. Everything from broad to really specialized and targeted tags come up in the search, allowing you to really hone in on reaching the niche audiences you’re looking to engage with.
2. Tailwind
Tailwind is another scheduling app, this time for Pinterest, that has quickly become a must in my social media toolkit. Besides being able to plan out content in advance, Tailwind’s ability to schedule pins around each accounts optimal posting times is a great way to ensure reach is maximized and your pins are getting out there for the right people to see.
3. Google Analytics
While I know Google Analytics isn’t necessarily a productivity app, it’s still become a pretty indispensable tool for me when it comes to running an independent social media agency. Not only is it a great measure of blog traffic and how certain posts are performing, but the ability to see which sources are driving the most traffic has become an indispensable resource in analyzing where marketing efforts should best be focussed and developing a social media strategy with my clients.
4. Sprout Social
A huge element of creating online communities is actually engaging with those communities. Interacting with the people that love the brands I work with as much as I do is a huge part of managing a lot of my client’s portfolios. Sprout Social has been a real game changer in helping to make that process as efficient and thorough as possible.
Sprout’s conversation management function offers such an easy way to bring all your incoming comments and messages together. With larger communities, it can be easy to miss comments amidst all the likes and shares. By being able to bring those conversations into one streamlined place where messages can be prioritized, Sprout has made my job of building customer relationships so much easier.
5. Facebook Groups
Okay, so Facebook Groups might not necessarily be part of my social media manager toolkit BUT they have helped to connect me with so many amazing freelancers around the world pursuing a similar line of work.
From talking about how to figure out what you should be charging your clients, to sharing tips and tricks, Facebook Groups have definitely helped me to bring a sense of community to a work-from-anywhere career that can sometimes be a little isolating.
So, there you have it. My five resources that as a social media manager I just can’t live without. Got any social media secrets of your own? Any tips on how you keep organized and productive? I’d love to know! Shoot me a message or leave a comment down below and let’s chat!