If your job title contains the word ‘digital’ then change and stress is something you are quite familiar with. Being immersed in the digital age means that no two days are ever the same. Facebook tonight is probably different to Facebook tomorrow, new platforms pop up overnight and the rules of the game are constantly evolving.
Managing digital platforms is no longer as easy as updating your Facebook status. Now you need to worry about which messages are relevant to which platforms. Is your message on Twitter the same on LinkedIn? When did you last add a new pin or grow your Google+ circles?
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Asking for help
Everyone needs a bit of help from time to time, and in the digital world there’s no time to be shy about asking for it. Luckily no one really needs to know you’re not as much of a pro at multitasking as you would have them believe.
The bottom line is that managing social media platforms is now a full-time job, yet managing them from different internet browser tabs or windows becomes quite frustrating not to mention time-consuming.
To alleviate the stress there are a number of desktop and mobile applications available which help organize multiple social media platforms and information sharing across a variety networks. Each tool offers something different — from the layout, features to the interface, but the common denominator is that they all enable you to keep tabs on your different platforms effectively and efficiently.
As there is so much choice out there, here are five great tools that will help you manage all your social media platforms, without having to blink or think twice.
1. HootSuite
Possibly one of the most popular tools (and a personal favourite of mine) simply because it has so many options, settings and features. HootSuite allows you to monitor and post to numerous networks from personal and business perspectives. The easy to use interface lets you see all the activity on each platform at a simple glance. A built-in custom analytics system, the ability to monitor selected keywords and the option to conveniently schedule posts makes HootSuite a force to be reckoned with in the social media game. And best of all, it’s free!
2. TweetDeck
Although it’s a runner-up to Hootsuite, TweetDeck isn’t far off the mark. One of the benefits of this application is that it is not limited to the web and can be installed as a separate program on your hard drive as a desktop application. Allowing for real-time post streaming, this management system also offers greater flexibility in that it is compatible across multiple platforms and comes without a cover charge.
3. SocialOomph
As many social media strategists will know, your blog plays a big role in any digital strategy. SocialOomph not only allows you to manage your Facebook and Twitter accounts, but it also allows you to manage and schedule posts to your blog.
With a free and premium service available SocialOomph lets you schedule tweets whilst you track keywords, promote social media platform profiles, shorten URLs, and manage your direct message inboxes all from one place. Now that’s what I call multitasking. It must have been the invention of a woman!
4. CoTweet
Before the days of HootSuite, CoTweet was the app to use and very popular amongst corporates and small business. CoTweet allows you to keep track of your profile information and threaded conversations whilst still keeping your content schedules in check. Track and analyse all conversations across different networks, keep track of your thoughts by adding notes to conversations and view their influence on your overall social media presence.
5. Seesmic
The great thing about Seesmic is that it is integrated to work across pretty much every major platform you can think of, mobile and web-based. Monitor and manage your various social media network streams through an easy to use interface resembling that of a typical email based platform… something we’re all familiar with. Besides managing your major social networks, the application also offers more than 90 third-party integration options including sites like Klout, Zendesk, Salesforce Chatter, Yammer and Stocktwits.
