Week 14: Social Media Management Tools

 My Review of Social Media Management Tools for Coco Shuffles

As someone managing content for a personal brand across multiple platforms, I know how time-consuming it can be to post consistently, plan campaigns, and engage with my audience. I looked into several social media management tools this week to see what might help me stay more organized and save time as I scale Coco Shuffles. Here’s what I found after comparing four popular options:

1. Later

• Free Plan:

  • 1 social set (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, TikTok, LinkedIn)

  • 10 posts per profile per month

  • Visual content calendar

  • Basic analytics (limited)

• Paid Plans:

  • Starter ($25/month): 1 social set, 30 posts/profile, analytics, and Instagram hashtag suggestions

  • Growth ($45/month): Includes team collaboration, more posts, and full analytics

Thoughts: Later’s interface is really user-friendly and visual, which is great for someone like me who focuses heavily on dance and aesthetic branding. I love the drag-and-drop calendar and the ability to preview how the grid will look on Instagram. However, the free plan is very limited, and if you're posting to Reels or TikTok often, you’ll run into caps quickly. For visual brands, the paid plan is worth considering.

2. Buffer

• Free Plan:

  • 3 social channels

  • 10 scheduled posts per channel

  • Basic publishing tools

• Paid Plans:

  • Essentials ($6/month per channel): Unlimited posts, analytics, and engagement tools

  • Team ($12/month per channel): Adds user permissions and collaboration tools

Thoughts: Buffer is simple and efficient. If I were managing fewer accounts or just starting out, I’d consider the free version. I liked how clean the dashboard was, and it’s perfect for someone who just wants to schedule without a ton of bells and whistles. It’s a great low-cost option if you only need a handful of social platforms.

3. Hootsuite

• Free Plan: (No longer available as of late 2023)

  • They now offer only a 30-day free trial

• Paid Plans:

  • Professional ($99/month): 1 user, 10 social accounts, full publishing tools, inbox, analytics

  • Team ($249/month): 3 users, 20 social accounts, collaborative tools

Thoughts: Hootsuite is robust and built for agencies or large businesses. It has everything from scheduling and analytics to social listening and ad integration. But for an individual creator or small business like mine, it’s honestly way too expensive unless I’m scaling up with a team. The trial is helpful, but I don’t see it being worth the ongoing cost right now.

4. Metricool

• Free Plan:

  • 1 brand (includes all linked platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, etc.)

  • 50 scheduled posts/month

  • Basic analytics and competitor tracking

• Paid Plans:

  • Starter ($22/month): Unlimited posts, more platforms, team sharing, and bulk scheduling

  • Advanced ($45/month): More detailed reporting and additional features for agencies

Thoughts: I hadn’t heard of Metricool before, but I was impressed. It covers more platforms than most free plans—including TikTok and YouTube Shorts—and has useful analytics even at the free level. This might be the best value for solo creators like me who want to manage both long- and short-form video content without breaking the bank.

Final Thoughts: What I’d Choose

Based on my needs for Coco Shuffles—where I create short-form dance content, manage Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and need to stay consistent—Metricool or Later seem like the best options. I’ll likely test Metricool first since its free version is generous and it allows more cross-platform support.

I’m not using a social media management tool yet, but this research convinced me it’s time to start. Scheduling content ahead of time and reviewing analytics in one place will definitely help me stay focused and avoid burnout. Once I test Metricool for a few weeks, I’ll consider upgrading to the Starter plan if it helps streamline my workflow and increase engagement.