We might be biased, but we think using a scheduling tool for social media management literally saves lives.
We all know social media marketing is a key driver of brand awareness, customer engagement, and business growth. Yet, managing multiple social platforms effectively can be a challenging and time-consuming task, especially for marketers juggling content planning, posting, social listening, and performance tracking across channels.
This is where social media scheduling tools, like Sendible come in.
Social media scheduling tools have become essential for marketers, so we're exploring what tools are invaluable for modern marketers and some of the must-have features to look for in a scheduling tool.
Save time and jump to:
- What is a social media scheduling tool?
- Why should I use a scheduling tool?
- Basic features a scheduling tool must have
- The 7 best social media scheduling tools to try
What is a social media scheduling tool?
A social media scheduling tool is a software solution designed to streamline the publishing of social media content management across multiple platforms. It enables users to plan, organise, and schedule posts in advance, ensuring consistent engagement without the need for manual posting.
But these tools are often much more than just schedulers. They’re also typically referred to as social media management tools that help marketers automate posting and monitor engagement, analyse performance, and manage all social media interactions in one place. By combining scheduling, content planning, and analytics, these tools make it easier to execute and oversee a cohesive social media strategy.
Why should I use a scheduling tool?
Social media scheduling tools offer powerful solutions that go beyond simply scheduling posts. They help marketers, social media managers, and business owners save time and stay organised to drive better engagement and results.
Let's have a closer look at the key reasons to use a social media scheduling tool:
1. Save time
One key benefit of a scheduling tool is the time it saves. Rather than logging in to each platform separately to publish posts to a social profile, users can set up and schedule content all at once. By batching or bulk scheduling this task, marketers free up weekly hours to focus on other critical tasks, like social media strategy development, content creation, and audience engagement.
2. Consistency in posting
Consistent posting is vital to maintaining a strong social media presence. Using a social media scheduler makes it easy to maintain this consistency by allowing users to plan and schedule posts as far as they'd like. This enables brands to maintain visibility—even during weekends, holidays, or busy periods—without the need for manual posting.
3. Data-driven decision making
Most scheduling tools offer built-in analytics and insights that help marketers understand what social channel content is performing well. By analysing these metrics, users can make data-driven adjustments to their content strategy, optimising for engagement, reach, and follower growth. This approach ensures that each post contributes effectively to overall marketing goals.
4. Multi social network management
Social media scheduling tools centralise the management of multiple platforms, which is crucial for brands that have a presence across different channels like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and TikTok. Rather than switching between platforms, marketers can schedule content and monitor all accounts from a single dashboard, saving time and ensuring consistent messaging.
5. Improved collaboration
For teams, social media scheduling tools can help streamline collaboration. Many tools come with features that allow multiple users to work together, approve posts, leave feedback, and maintain an organised workflow. This is especially useful for brands with larger teams or those that rely on a content creator, designer, and social media manager to execute their social strategy.
6. Peak time posting
Social media scheduling tools often allow for advanced scheduling options like using optimal post-timing recommendations (best time to post) based on audience behaviour. These features help marketers reach their audience at the most effective times, increasing the likelihood of engagement and response.
Basic features a scheduling tool must have
When in search of a social media scheduler, there are some key, non-negotiable features you should be looking out for.
We've outlined them here for you:
1. Scheduling and auto-posting
A quality scheduling tool should enable you to plan and automatically publish a social media post at chosen times. This feature ensures your social media content is delivered consistently and reaches your audience when they’re most active, to help maintain a steady online presence.
2. Integration with key social media channels
A great scheduling tool should integrate seamlessly with major social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok. This cross-platform integration enables you to manage all your social posts in one place, providing consistent messages and saving time switching between platforms.
3. Analytics and reporting
Robust social media analytics and reporting capabilities are crucial for a post planner to have. The scheduling tool should offer insights into basic metrics such as engagement, reach, and audience growth, helping you understand what resonates and informing future social media campaigns.
4. Team collaboration
For teams working together in social media marketing, collaboration features are a must. Look for scheduling tools that support multi-user access, role assignments, and content approval workflows. These features streamline teamwork, maintain brand consistency, and simplify the content review process.
5. Engagement management
Effective engagement management, in the form of a social inbox, allows you to monitor and respond to comments, direct messages and mentions across social accounts from a single dashboard. This feature makes it easier to connect with your audience in real-time and manage your online community efficiently, fostering better relationships and engagement.
Now that we know what to look for in a social media scheduling tool let's explore some of the best tools on the market, including one of our favourites.
The 7 best social media scheduling tools to try
An automated tool with smart scheduling features takes your social media management a step further. These tools analyse the best times to post, eliminating guesswork and boosting the visibility and impact of your content.
Here, we list seven of the best social media scheduling tools. We won’t go into detail about how scheduling works on every tool. Instead, we’ll just highlight the main features and what users typically love about each tool.
1. Sendible
We'll admit we may have a favourite in the mix… but we think Sendible is the best social media scheduling tool for agencies, franchises, and other big businesses handling high volumes of content.
It offers the most robust platform for managing multiple social media accounts. It includes a comprehensive content calendar view, powerful analytics, and customisation options that scale with your brand. Its intuitive social media calendar and integration capabilities with every major social media platform make it a top choice for every social media manager.
Advantages:
- Intuitive interface with easy scheduling and post-customisation.
- Integrates with popular tools like Canva, Pexels, GIPHY, Google Drive, and Dropbox.
- Suitable for teams of all sizes, from solo to full brand teams.
- The most budget-friendly option available, offering all the essential features
- Offers AI caption generation, and advanced tagging options.
- Robust analytics and reporting for performance insights.
Keep in mind:
- Some advanced features are only available on higher-tier plans.
A little extra: You can bulk import your posts, tailor them to multiple social media channels, enjoy in-app image editor to ensure your image is the right size, add hashtags you saved in Content Library, add Custom Tags, UTM links, assign campaigns, and generate captions with AI Assist.
2. Hootsuite
One of the most popular tools on the market, Hootsuite allows for scheduling posts across multiple social media platforms. It offers a user-friendly dashboard, analytics, and team collaboration features, making it ideal for larger teams.
Advantages:
- User-friendly dashboard and a wide range of integrations.
- Ideal for larger teams needing robust collaboration tools.
- Comprehensive analytics for tracking engagement and ROI.
Keep in mind:
A costly option compared to simpler scheduling tools.
3. Canva
Known for its design capabilities, Canva also offers a social media scheduling feature. Its intuitive interface and rich visual content creation tools make it a go-to choice for scheduling visually appealing posts across platforms.
If you use Canva Pro, Sendible offers an integration to help you create engaging, pre-made designs for social media.
Advantages:
- Seamless design and scheduling on one platform, especially great for visual content.
- Offers a rich library of templates and design elements.
- Sendible integration for added flexibility in scheduling.
Keep in mind:
- Limited scheduling and analytics features compared to dedicated scheduling tools.
- Only available with a Canva Pro subscription.
4. Sprout Social
Sprout Social combines social media scheduling with powerful analytics and CRM features. It’s an excellent tool for brands looking to integrate their social media efforts with broader marketing and customer service strategies.
Advantages:
- Offers detailed analytics and CRM capabilities.
- Great for larger brands with a focus on customer engagement.
- Team collaboration features with approval workflows.
Keep in mind:
- Higher price point, which may not be ideal for small businesses.
- Some users find the interface less intuitive than other tools.
5. Buffer
Buffer is known for its simplicity. It supports multiple social media accounts and offers features like post-scheduling, analytics, and a content calendar. Buffer’s clean interface makes it a favourite among individual users and small teams.
Advantages:
- Simple, clean interface ideal for small teams or individual users.
- Free social media scheduler options, though with limited capabilities.
- Offers a content calendar and basic analytics.
- Affordable pricing compared to other tools on this list.
Keep in mind:
- Limited advanced features, particularly around analytics and team collaboration.
- Some users report slower support response times.
6. SocialPilot
SocialPilot has a user-friendly interface and comprehensive features that simplify the process of scheduling and publishing content on any social platform. Like the other tools listed, you can plan your posts, collaborate with your team, and track performance metrics to refine your strategy.
Advantages:
- Easy-to-use interface with content calendar and bulk scheduling options.
- Team collaboration and performance metrics for strategy refinement.
- Affordable pricing for small businesses and solo entrepreneurs.
Keep in mind:
- Limited advanced features compared to more robust tools like Sendible and Hootsuite.
- Some users report occasional bugs in the platform.
7. Agorapulse
Known for its comprehensive social media management features, Agorapulse offer advanced scheduling capabilities, in-depth analytics, and reporting tools. Its user-friendly interface and collaboration features make it a preferred choice for social media managers looking to streamline their marketing efforts.
Advantages:
- Comprehensive scheduling, analytics, and engagement tools.
- User-friendly interface with strong team collaboration options.
- In-depth reporting tools to track performance metrics.
Keep in mind:
- Higher cost, which may be less suitable for small businesses.
Whoo-hoo! You made it to the end
Choosing the right social media scheduling tool can make a significant difference in your overall social media marketing strategy.
Helping you save time, improve collaboration, and maximize engagement. Each tool on this list offers unique features, from comprehensive analytics to user-friendly interfaces and creative integrations.
Whether you're a large agency, a small business, or an individual creator, there’s a tool to meet your specific needs. By exploring these options and finding the best fit, you can streamline your social media efforts, connect with your audience more effectively, and ultimately drive your brand’s success forward.
So, dive in, experiment, and discover how a scheduling tool (like Sendible) can elevate your social media game.
