Finding a Social Media Scheduler That Doesn’t Suck: Tools That Work
Posting consistently across today’s top social platforms is crucial but extremely time-consuming for brands and marketers. While social media schedulers promise to streamline the process, many users complain about frustrating limitations with the tools.
However, there are quality scheduler options available that minimize major shortcomings found in other platforms. This guide will explore top recommended tools that get the job done, must-have features to look for, optimized usage tips, troubleshooting problems, and key questions answered. Let’s find a scheduler tailored to your needs that doesn’t suck.
Introduction
Common complaints with social media schedulers include:
- Difficulty scheduling across multiple platforms
- Complex interfaces and workflows
- Rigid and restrictive posting options
- Lackluster analytics that don’t provide insights
- Bugs or reliability issues leading posts not to publish
- Poor customer support, unresponsive to issues
- Unexpected costs and complex pricing
The right tool avoids these pitfalls that leave users frustrated.
Common Scheduler Complaints
Look for a platform that avoids:
- Fragmented multi-network scheduling
- Overly complex interfaces cluttered with too many options
- Rigid scheduling options without flexibility
- Analytics lacking actionable insights
- Unreliable publishing bugs prevent posting
- Unresponsive customer support
- Unexpected costs and complex pricing
Must-Have Scheduler Features
The best social media schedulers offer:
- Unified support for scheduling key networks
- Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- Flexible posting options for future and recurring posts
- In-depth analytics and engagement insights
- Reliable publishing without posts failing randomly
- Responsive customer support resources
- Transparent and fair pricing/plans
Top Recommended Schedulers
Based on research, the top no-hassle scheduler options include:
Hootsuite – A very intuitive interface and robust free plan make this a top choice.
Buffer – Extremely user-friendly web and mobile apps with a generous free tier.
Sprout Social – Simplified scheduling paired with powerful analytics insights.
Sendible – Made for agencies with a straightforward workflow focused on reliability.
Agorapulse: All-in-one simplicity yet great analytics make this tool stand out.
Setup Tips for the Tools
When getting started with your chosen platform:
- Carefully connect only the key social accounts you actively manage.
- Set up any team members, roles, and permissions if collaborating.
- Establish an organized content ideation and approval workflow.
- Set sensible default schedules and frequencies as starting points.
- Select post notifications so you never miss an engagement.
- Use the tool’s browser extensions or mobile apps for easy access.
Creating Shareable Multi-Platform Content
Some tips for great cross-network content:
- Identify each audience to craft tailored value-driven posts.
- Maintain a consistent brand voice and tone throughout messaging.
- Leverage different content formats like videos, images, quote graphics, etc.
- Balance educational and promotional content.
- Localize messaging where appropriate, like local store openings.
- Curate and repurpose evergreen content.
Optimizing Your Approach
Ways to optimize scheduling efforts:
- Analyze past performance to determine ideal posting times.
- Gradually refine schedules and frequency based on engagement.
- Set up saved templates for common post types to save time.
- Collaborate across teams to develop a content library.
- Use the tool’s automation features thoughtfully to simplify efforts.
- Monitor conversations and interact personally where appropriate.
Usage Best Practices
Some top tips:
- Maintain consistent activity but avoid overly promotional cadence.
- Schedule a healthy mix of varied content like quotes, advice, and multimedia.
- Respond promptly to comments and conversations.
- Analyze tool analytics routinely and act on insights.
- Have a plan for timely updates like holidays or current events.
- Leverage scheduling, but only rely on it partially 24/7.
Troubleshooting Problems
If issues emerge:
- Check the tool status page and confirm outages.
- Review workflow for gaps causing problems.
- Enable advanced debug/troubleshooting mode if available.
- Temporarily reduce scheduled volume while resolving.
- Leverage the tool’s help documentation.
- Contact customer support and provide screenshots.
FAQs
What are common complaints about social media schedulers?
Common complaints include fragmented multi-network scheduling, complex interfaces, rigid posting options, poor analytics, unreliable publishing, bad support, and unexpected costs.
What features should a good scheduler have?
Important features are unified multi-network support, an intuitive interface, flexible posting options, robust analytics, reliable publishing, responsive support, and fair pricing.
What are some top recommended no-hassle schedulers?
The top options without major limitations are Hootsuite, Buffer, Sprout Social, Sendible, and Agorapulse, based on reviews.
What best practices help optimize scheduler usage?
Best practices include:
- Analyzing performance data.
- Refining schedules based on engagement.
- Saving templates to save time.
- Collaborating on content.
- Thoughtful automation use.
- Monitoring conversations.
How do you troubleshoot scheduler problems?
Check tool status, review workflow gaps, enable advanced troubleshooting modes, reduce volume temporarily, use help docs, and contact customer support.
Conclusion
Using the recommendations in this guide, find a social media scheduler matched to your needs that avoids common frustrating limitations. Set the tool up optimally, develop shareable content, analyze data routinely, and troubleshoot diligently. Save time and streamline your efforts.