Comparing Top Social Media Marketing and Management Tools
In the rapidly evolving landscape of digital marketing, social media management tools play a pivotal role in helping businesses streamline their online presence, engage with audiences effectively, and analyze performance metrics. Among the myriad of options available, several platforms stand out for their comprehensive features and user-friendly interfaces. Here, we delve into the capabilities of five prominent tools: Hootsuite, Social Pilot, Sprout Social, Loomly and Social Champs.
All five platforms reviewed in this article support nine of the most popular social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Threads, and Google Business. Similarly, all five platforms offer essential functions such as post scheduling, analytics, and social media engagement management. Despite these shared capabilities, each tool distinguishes itself through unique approaches and functionalities tailored to meet diverse user needs.
Hootsuite
Hootsuite is one of the pioneers in social media management, offering a centralized dashboard for scheduling posts, monitoring mentions, and analyzing social media performance across various platforms.
Key Features
- Build in AI Integration: Providing in platform AI content generation and hashtag generation.
- Content Library: Allows users access to many free stock photos and videos that can be used in post.
- Team Collaboration: Facilitates teamwork with features like assignment workflows and approval processes.
- App Integrations: Integrates with a wide range of third-party apps to extend functionality.
- Social Listening: Hootsuite purchased “Talkwalker” to quickly integrate a Social Listening tool into Hootsuite. Hootsuite says the new Social Listening tool will soon be added to the dashboard at the time of publication, this feature had not yet been released.
Best For
Large enterprises and agencies needing robust analytics and team collaboration features.
Benefits of Outsourcing Social Media Management
Outsourcing social media management has become a popular trend in recent years. With the rise of social media platforms and the increasing importance of having a strong online presence, many businesses are turning to third-party companies to create their social media...
Professional
-
- $99.00 Per Month
- 1 User
- 10 Social Media Accounts
- Unlimited post scheduling
Team
-
- $249.00 Per Month
- 3 Users
- 20 Social Media Accounts
Sprout Social
Sprout Social is a comprehensive platform designed to streamline social media publishing, engagement, and analytics for businesses of all sizes.
Key Features
- Content Library: Allows users access to many free stock photos and videos that can be used in post.
- CRM Integration: Integrates with CRM systems to track customer interactions and manage relationships.
- Advanced Analytics: Provides in-depth analytics and reporting for measuring campaign performance.
- Social Listening: Monitors brand mentions and industry trends to inform content strategy.
- Review Management: Connect to Google My Business, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Facebook, Apple App Store, Google Play Store, Trustpilot and Glassdoor to monitor client reviews.
Best For
Businesses looking for advanced social listening capabilities and integrated CRM functionality.
Standard
-
- $199.00 Per Month / Per User
- 1 User
- 5 Social Media Accounts
Professional
-
- $299.00 Per Month / Per User
- 1 User
- Unlimited Social Media Accounts
- Content Library
Advanced
-
- $399.00 Per Month / Per User
- 1 Users
- Unlimited Social Media Accounts
- Content Library
- AI automations and rules
Loomly
Loomly focuses on simplicity and collaboration, offering tools to streamline the creation, approval, and publishing of social media content.
Key Features
- Post Ideas: Offers suggestions and inspiration for content creation.
- Snapchat: The only management platform reviewed that connects to Snapchat.
- Approval Workflow: Facilitates collaboration between team members and clients with approval processes.
- Content Library: Allows users access to many free stock photos and videos that can be used in post.
- White Labeling: This feature is ideal for agencies looking to provide a consistent and polished image for their clients.
Best For
Teams and agencies seeking an intuitive platform for content creation and approval workflows.
Base
- $32.00 Per Month
- 2 User
- 10 Social Media Accounts
Standard
- $60.00 Per Month
- 6 User
- 20 Social Media Accounts
Advanced
- $131.00 Per Month
- 14 Users
- 35 Social Media Accounts
Premium
-
- $277 Per Month
- 30 Users
- 50 Social Accounts
- White Labeling
Social Champs
Social Champs focuses on providing tailored solutions for social media marketing and content management, with a strong emphasis on creative and data-driven strategies.
Key Features
- Simplicity: With a simple user interface, it’s easy to get setup and working quickly with little to no training.
- Content Calendar: Helps in planning and visualizing content schedules effectively.
- Campaign Management: Facilitates the creation and tracking of marketing campaigns.
- Custom Reporting: Offers customizable reports to analyze campaign effectiveness.
- Future Feature Releases: Social Champs currently has plans to update the platform with all the following updates Bulk Upload, Team Collaboration, Chrome Extension, Recycled Content, Auto RSS, Mobile Application, Best Time to Post and Social Listening.
Best For
Businesses looking for customizable campaign management and detailed reporting capabilities.
Free
- $0.00 Per Month
- 1 User
- 3 Social Media Accounts
- 15 scheduled posts
Champion
- $26.00 Per Month
- 2 User
- 12 Social Media Accounts
- Unlimited post scheduling
Business
- $50.00 Per Month
- 6 Users
- 40 Social Media Accounts
- Social Listening (Beta)
- Unlimited post scheduling
Agency
-
- $120 Per Month
- 10 Users
- 100 Social Accounts
- Social Listening (Beta)
- Unlimited post scheduling
- Priority Email and chat support
Conclusion
I have personally utilized all five of these Social Media Marketing and Management Tools in various roles. Initially, I employed Hootsuite for approximately two years. Subsequently, I transitioned to Social Champs, where I have been actively engaged for the past year. Additionally, through my work with a marketing agency, I gained experience with Sprout Social. Both Social Pilot and Loomley were tested during their respective free trial periods. In each instance, I found alternative solutions that better aligned with my specific requirements at the time.
In addition to the five platforms reviewed above it’s very easy to find many more options. A quick google search will lead you to HubSpot, Khoros, Bugger, CoSchedule, Emplifi, Reputation, Sprinklr, Brandwatch, Cloud Campaign, Marketing 360 and Agorapulse just to name a few.
Each of these social media management tools brings unique strengths to the table, catering to different business needs and preferences. Choosing the right tool depends on factors such as budget, team size, required features, and specific marketing objectives. Whether you prioritize analytics, collaboration, ease of use, or advanced functionality like social listening, there is a tool on this list that can meet your requirements. Evaluate your business needs carefully and leverage the features offered by these platforms to enhance your social media marketing efforts effectively.
If you’re ready to take the next step and improve your organizations social media presents by outsourcing your social media management send us a message to get started.
Justin Rickenbaugh
Technically minded and innovative professional with 18 years of experience working with an IT managed service company. A Proven record of developing and supporting successful projects and solutions with a diverse range of applications, environments, and technologies. Extensive experience in everything from infrastructure and security to digital marketing. Obtaining certifications from a variety of organizations including Acronis, CompTIA, EnGenius, Ring Central, SonicWall, Star2Star and Trend Micro.
I recently started a new chapter in my career, leveraging my previous experience while embracing fresh challenges with a nationwide eCommerce’s company. I hold the title of Technology Director.