Top Social Media Tools: A Performance Measuring Guide

Published on 1 August 2023 8 min read

What are social media tools?
How to select the best social media tools
Top social media tools for content creation
Top social media tools for scheduling posts
Top social media tools for engagement tracking
Top social media tools for analytics and reporting
How to measure performance with social media tools
Why performance measuring matters in social media marketing

Welcome to the in-depth guide on top social media tools and how they can help you measure performance. In this digital era, a strong online presence is a must-have for businesses and individuals alike. With an array of social media tools available, it can be tricky to navigate and find the ones that best suit your needs. But don't worry, we've got you covered! We've curated a list of top 10 social media tools for measuring performance, and in this guide, you'll learn not just what they are, but also how to select the best ones, and why measuring performance matters in social media marketing.

Think of social media tools as your digital helpers. They assist in creating content, scheduling posts, tracking engagement, and providing analytics and reporting. In other words, they make your social media management smoother and more effective. Let's break it down:

Content Creation Tools: These tools help you create engaging and visually appealing content. They come equipped with features like templates, image and video editing, and text overlay.
Scheduling Tools: To ensure your posts reach your audience at the right time, scheduling tools come into play. They allow you to plan and schedule your content in advance.
Engagement Tracking Tools: Tracking user engagement is key to understanding your audience. These tools let you track likes, shares, comments, and other forms of engagement on your posts.
Analytics and Reporting Tools: To measure the success of your social media strategy, these tools provide detailed reports and insights about your social media performance.

Now that we've defined what social media tools are, you might wonder how to choose the best ones. In the next section, we'll delve into how to select the best social media tools that align with your goals and needs.

Selecting the right social media tools can be a game-changer for your online presence. But, with tons of options out there, how do you pick the ones that are right for you? Fear not, here are a few things you might want to consider:

Identify Your Needs: Are you looking for tools to create eye-catching content or to schedule posts effectively? Or maybe you need something to track engagement or provide detailed analytics? Pinpointing your needs is the first step in choosing the right tools.
Compare Features: Once you've identified your needs, compare the features of different tools. For instance, if you're looking for a content creation tool, does it offer templates? Can it edit images and videos? Does it allow text overlay? You want to choose a tool that checks all your boxes.
Consider Pricing: While some social media tools are free, others come with a price tag. Consider your budget and whether the tool offers value for your money. Remember, the most expensive tool isn't necessarily the best!
Check User-Friendliness: A tool could have all the features you need, but if it's not user-friendly, it can be more of a headache than a help. Make sure the tools you select are easy to navigate and understand.
User Reviews: Lastly, don't forget to check user reviews. They can give you a real-world perspective on the tool's performance and reliability.

Choosing the top social media tools for measuring performance relies heavily on your specific needs and goals. So, don't rush, take your time and pick the tools that truly enhance your social media efforts.

Creating content that is dynamic, engaging, and share-worthy can be a tough task. Fortunately, we've got an array of tools that can aid in creating stand-out content. Let's take a look at some of the best ones.

Canva: Canva is a favorite among content creators for a reason. It's easy to use, offers a broad array of templates, and allows you to create stunning visuals with minimal effort.
Adobe Spark: Adobe Spark is another great tool for content creation. It allows you to create videos, web pages, and graphics, all in a user-friendly interface.
Pixabay: Looking for royalty-free images and videos? Pixabay is the place to go. It offers thousands of high-quality visuals that you can use in your content.
Giphy: Want to add a fun, animated twist to your content? Giphy allows you to search and embed a vast array of GIFs.
Grammarly: Good content isn't just about visuals, it's also about well-written text. Grammarly helps by checking your text for grammar and spelling mistakes, making sure your content is polished and professional.

Remember, the key to successful content creation isn't just about using the right tools, it's about using them creatively. So, don't be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you!

Scheduling posts in advance can save you a lot of time and ensure that you're consistent with your social media presence. Here's a list of top-notch tools that you can use to schedule and manage your posts efficiently.

Hootsuite: Hootsuite is a popular tool that lets you schedule posts across multiple platforms. You can manage and schedule your posts all in one place, which can be a real time-saver.
Buffer: Buffer is another great tool for scheduling posts. It offers an easy-to-use interface and analytics that help you track the performance of your posts.
Later: If you're focusing a lot on visual content, especially for Instagram, Later is a tool worth considering. You can visually plan and schedule your Instagram posts, ensuring your feed looks cohesive and engaging.
CoSchedule: CoSchedule is not just a social media scheduler, it's an all-in-one marketing calendar that helps you organize your entire marketing strategy in one place.
Sprout Social: Sprout Social is a comprehensive tool that covers scheduling, monitoring, and reporting. It's a powerful tool for businesses looking to streamline their social media efforts.

While these tools can help you plan ahead and stay organized, remember to keep an eye on your engagement and adjust your scheduling as needed. After all, social media is all about engaging with your audience in real-time!

Now that we've covered scheduling, let's shift gears and talk about tracking engagement. Engagement is a key metric in social media marketing—after all, what's the point of posting if no one interacts with your content? Here are five top tools to help you measure engagement effectively.

Agorapulse: Agorapulse offers a range of features including engagement tracking. It provides detailed reports that break down likes, shares, comments, and more, so you can see what's working and what isn't.
Brandwatch: Brandwatch is a powerful tool that lets you monitor and analyze your social media engagement. It can help you understand your audience's sentiments and trends in engagement.
Audiense: Audiense is a tool focused on understanding your audience. It provides insights into your followers, helping you create content that truly resonates with them.
Mention: Mention does exactly what you might expect—it lets you monitor mentions of your brand across social media platforms. This can be a great way to track engagement and respond to any mentions promptly.
Quintly: Quintly is a professional social media analytics tool that provides a wealth of data on your engagement performance. It allows you to track, benchmark, and optimize your social media performance.

Remember, tracking engagement is about more than just counting likes and shares. It's about understanding how your audience interacts with your content, and using that information to create more of what they love. So, which tool will you choose to track your engagement?

Once you've crafted your content, scheduled your posts and monitored engagement, it's time to delve into the world of analytics and reporting. This is where you can really start to understand the performance of your social media efforts. Let's explore five of the top tools for analytics and reporting.

Google Analytics: Google Analytics is a staple in any marketer's toolkit. It offers an in-depth look at your social media traffic, helping you understand where your visitors are coming from and what they're doing once they land on your site.
Sprout Social: Sprout Social is a comprehensive social media management tool that includes powerful analytics features. It provides detailed reports and presentation-ready visuals that can help you demonstrate the value of your social media efforts.
Buffer Analyze: Buffer Analyze, as part of the Buffer platform, provides insightful reports that help you understand your audience and improve your performance. It tracks key metrics like engagement, reach, and impressions.
Socialbakers: Socialbakers uses artificial intelligence to provide you with detailed analytics on your social media performance. It offers competitive benchmarking and audience analysis, among other features.
Keyhole: Keyhole is a real-time analytics tool that provides insights into hashtag performance, user engagement, and sentiment analysis. It's particularly useful for tracking campaigns and events.

Remember, data is your friend when it comes to social media marketing. With these analytics and reporting tools, you can make data-driven decisions to boost your performance. So, are you ready to dive into the data?

Now that you're familiar with some of the top 10 social media tools for measuring performance, let's talk about how you can actually put these tools to work. Measuring performance with social media tools isn't just about crunching numbers—it's about understanding what those numbers mean and how you can use them to improve your strategy.

Set clear goals: Before you start measuring anything, you need to know what you're aiming for. Are you trying to increase your follower count, boost engagement, or drive more traffic to your website? Different goals will require different metrics, so it's important to define what success looks like for you.
Choose your metrics: Depending on your goals, you'll want to focus on certain metrics. For example, if your goal is to increase engagement, you'll likely want to track likes, comments, and shares. If you're looking to drive traffic to your website, you'll want to look at click-through rates.
Use the right tools: As we've already discussed, there are plenty of social media tools out there that can help you measure performance. Choose the ones that align with your goals and offer the metrics you're interested in.
Analyze and adjust: Once you've gathered some data, take the time to analyze it. Look for patterns, identify what's working and what's not, and then adjust your strategy accordingly. Remember, social media marketing is a constant process of trial and error, so don't be afraid to mix things up.

Measuring performance with social media tools can seem daunting, but it's a crucial part of any successful social media strategy. So, don't shy away from the numbers—embrace them! After all, they're here to help you succeed.

For some, the idea of measuring performance in social media marketing might seem like a daunting task. Numbers, graphs, percentages—oh my! But, have you ever stopped to think about why it really matters? Let's break it down.

Understanding Your Audience: By keeping an eye on your social media metrics, you can get a better understanding of who your audience is. What kind of content do they like? When are they most active? These insights can help you tailor your strategy to better meet the needs and interests of your followers.
Improving Your Content: Performance measuring can also shed light on the effectiveness of your content. Are certain posts getting more engagement than others? Use your top 10 social media tools to figure out why and use this information to create more of what your audience wants to see.
Boosting Your ROI: One of the main reasons businesses use social media is to drive traffic and sales. By measuring performance, you can see which strategies are working, which aren’t, and adjust accordingly. This can ultimately help you to get the most bang for your buck.
Staying Ahead of the Game: Social media is always changing, and what worked yesterday might not work today. Regularly measuring performance allows you to stay on top of trends and keep your strategy fresh.

So, while it might involve a bit more work upfront, the benefits of measuring performance in social media marketing are clear. It’s time to roll up your sleeves, dive into those metrics, and start making data-driven decisions. After all, your social media success depends on it!

If you're looking to improve your social media performance and take your strategy to the next level, don't miss the workshop 'Social Media Marketing 101' by Faira. This workshop will provide you with essential tips and tools to effectively measure your social media performance and increase your reach and engagement.