Feeling overwhelmed managing your social media presence?
Hootsuite promises to be your one-stop shop for scheduling, monitoring, and analyzing your social media efforts.
But does it live up to the hype?
In this review, we’ll dive deep into the Hootsuite’s features, pricing, & user experience, helping you to decide if it’s the right tool for streamline your social media strategy.
Want to save time on social? Hootsuite helps you manage 35+ networks in one place. Try it free for 30 days!
What is Hootsuite?
Think of Hootsuite as your social media command center.
It’s a tool that lets you control multiple social media accounts from one place.
You can schedule posts, see what people are saying about you, and even check how well your posts are doing.
If you’re juggling a bunch of social media accounts, Hootsuite helps you stay organized and save time.
It’s like having a personal assistant for your social media, and that’s why you’ll find tons of positive Hootsuite reviews online.
If you’re serious about managing your social media accounts effectively, especially if you have multiple social media accounts, Hootsuite is the one of the most very popular social media management tools out there.
Who Created Hootsuite?
Hootsuite was built a day ago.
It started back in 2008 when Ryan Holmes was struggling to manage social media posts for his own company.
He realized there was no easy way to handle multiple social media platforms at once.
So, he and his team created Hootsuite.
Their vision was simple: make social media management easier for everyone.
They wanted to create a tool that would let people schedule posts, monitor conversations, and understand how their social media platform efforts were paying off, all in one place.
And that’s exactly what Hootsuite has become today.
Top benefits of Hootsuite
- Centralized social media dashboard: See everything in one place. Hootsuite gives you a central hub to manage all your social media channels. No more jumping between different apps!
- Effortless scheduling: Plan your content calendar in advance and schedule posts to go out at the perfect time, even across various social media accounts. Save yourself a ton of time!
- Real-time conversation tracking: Monitor what people are saying about your brand across the social network. Respond to comments and messages quickly to stay engaged with your audience.
- Data-driven insights: Use Hootsuite analytics to see how your social media efforts are performing. Track metrics like engagement, reach, and website clicks to understand what’s working and what’s not and improve your digital marketing strategy.
- Team collaboration: Assign different social media permissions and access to various team members. Perfect for agencies or businesses with multiple people managing social media.
- Content curation: Easily way to find & share relevant content from across the web to keep your social media feeds fresh and engaging.
- Social listening: Stay on top of industry trends and conversations with powerful social listening tools.
- Competitor analysis: Keep an eye on what your competitors are doing on social media.
- Customizable reports: Create detailed reports to share your good social media performance with your team or clients.
- Integrations: Connect Hootsuite with other tools you use, like Slack, Canva, and more.
While Hootsuite offers a powerful suite of features, it’s always a good idea to explore Hootsuite alternatives to ensure you’re choosing the best fit for your needs.
Best Features of Hootsuite
Hootsuite is packed with features that make managing your social media accounts easier & more effective. Let’s check out some of its best features:
1. Publish & Schedule
Imagine planning your social media posts like you plan your meals for the week.
That’s what Hootsuite’s Publish & Schedule feature lets you do.
You could create your posts ahead of time, set the dates and times you want them to go live, and let Hootsuite take care of the rest. It’s like having your own social media calendar.
2. Social Media Analytics
Want to know how your posts are performing?
Hootsuite’s analytics feature gives you the scoop. You’ll see which posts are getting the most likes, shares, and comments.
This helps you to understand what your audience likes so you can create more content they’ll enjoy.
3. AI Content Creation
Need a little inspiration for your next post?
Hootsuite’s AI Content Creation tool can help. It uses artificial intelligence to suggest captions, hashtags, and even images based on your topic. It’s like having a creative partner to brainstorm with.
4. Engagement Tools
Social media is all about conversations.
Hootsuite’s engagement tools let you manage those conversations easily.
You can reply to comments, answer messages, and even track mentions of your brand in one place. It’s like having a social media inbox that keeps everything organized.
5. Social Advertising
Want to reach more people with your posts?
Hootsuite lets you create & manage social media ads directly from the platform.
You could target specific audiences, set budgets, and track results.
It’s like having your own ad agency built into your social media management tool.
These are just a few of the features that make Hootsuite a powerful tool for managing your social accounts.
With its easy-to-use interface and comprehensive features, Hootsuite can help you take your social media marketing to the next level.
Pricing
| Plan NamePrice Key Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professional | $99/month | Unlimited post scheduling, Custom analytics and reports. |
| Team | $249/month | Link in bio tool, Suspend scheduled posts. |
| Enterprise | Custom Pricing | Content Library, Unlimited ad spend. |
Pros and Cons
Before making a decision, it’s important to weigh the good and the bad. Let’s take a quick look at what Hootsuite does well and where it could improve.
Pros
Cons
Alternatives of Hootsuite
If you’re looking for a social media management tool but Hootsuite isn’t quite the right fit, here are a few alternatives worth considering:
- Buffer: Known for its user-friendly interface and intuitive scheduling features. It’s a great option for individuals and small businesses looking for a simple solution.
- Sprout Social: Offers robust social listening and analytics capabilities. A good choice for businesses focused on data-driven decision-making.
- Later: Specializes in visual content scheduling, particularly for Instagram. Perfect for businesses and influencers who rely heavily on visual platforms.
- Agorapulse: Focuses on social media inbox management and engagement. If responding to comments and messages is a priority, Agorapulse might be a good fit.
- SocialPilot: A budget-friendly option with a wide range of features. A solid choice for businesses and agencies looking for a cost-effective solution.
Remember it, the best tool for you will depend on your specific needs and budget. It’s worth exploring a few different options to see which one aligns best with your social media goals.
Personal Experience with Hootsuite
My team and I have been using Hootsuite for over a year now, and it’s been a game-changer for our social media management.
We used to juggle multiple platforms and logins, which was a real headache.
Hootsuite brought everything under one roof, making our lives so much easier.
Here are some of the ways Hootsuite has helped us:
- Streamlined scheduling: We plan our social media content weeks in advance, and Hootsuite automatically posts it at the optimal times.
- Boosted engagement: We monitor conversations and respond to comments and messages quickly, right from the Hootsuite dashboard.
- Tracked our progress: The analytics feature helps us see what’s working and what’s not so we can refine our strategy.
- Improved collaboration: Our team members can easily access and manage social accounts without stepping on each other’s toes.
Overall, Hootsuite has helped us save time, stay organized, and get better results from our social media efforts. It’s become an essential tool for our team.
Final Thoughts
Hootsuite is a powerful tool that could help you manage your social media like a pro.
It’s great for scheduling posts, tracking results, and working together as a team.
But it can be pricey and tricky to learn at first.
If you’re serious about social media and need a tool to handle multiple accounts, Hootsuite is worth checking out.
But if you’re on a tight budget or just starting out, you should explore some of the alternatives.
Ready to give Hootsuite a try?
Sign up for their free trial and see if it’s the right fit for you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Hootsuite for free?
Yes, Hootsuite offers a limited free plan. It lets you manage up to 3 social media accounts & schedule up to 30 posts in advance. However, if you need more features or manage more accounts, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan.
Is Hootsuite easy to learn?
Hootsuite has a learning curve, especially if you’re new to social media management tools. However, they offer plenty of resources like tutorials and webinars to help you get started.
Can I schedule Instagram Reels and Stories with Hootsuite?
Yes, you can schedule Instagram Reels and Stories with Hootsuite. However, you’ll need to have a Hootsuite Professional plan or higher to access this feature.
Does Hootsuite offer social listening?
Yes, Hootsuite offers social listening features in its higher-tier plans. You can track mentions of your brand, keywords, or competitors across various social media platforms.
Can I manage my team’s social media workflow with Hootsuite?
Absolutely! Hootsuite has robust team collaboration features. You can assign tasks, set permissions, and review content before it’s published, all within the platform.
