Introduction
Definition of a Twitter Client
A Twitter client is a third-party application that provides users with enhanced ways to access, manage, and analyze their Twitter accounts and activity. Twitter clients provide features beyond what is available on twitter.com or in Twitter’s mobile apps.
Overview of Twitter Scheduling Needs
One of the key reasons social media marketers use Twitter clients is for scheduling tweets. Scheduling tweets in advance allows you to plan out content, spread it out over time, and automate posting so you don’t have to manually tweet throughout the day. Scheduling can also help you tweet at optimal high-traffic times.
Factors for Evaluating Twitter Clients
When choosing a Twitter client for scheduling purposes, here are some key factors to evaluate:
Ease of Use
The interface should make it simple to draft, schedule, and manage your queued tweets. You want something intuitive that won’t have a steep learning curve.
Scheduling Capabilities
At a minimum, a robust scheduling tool will allow you to pick dates/times for tweets to be sent out and queue them. More advanced options include repeat scheduling, scheduling threads, social listening triggers, and more.
Analytics and Reporting
The best scheduling clients will provide detailed analytics on how your tweets are performing. You want to be able to see impressions, engagement, clicks, retweets, and more.
Cost
Pricing can range from free to hundreds of dollars per month. Think about your budget and volume needs when evaluating cost.
Top Twitter Clients for Scheduling
Based on ease of use, scheduling capabilities, and other key factors, here are the top Twitter clients for scheduling:
Buffer
Buffer provides an easy drag-and-drop interface to queue tweets and schedule them for one-time sends or as part of a recurring series. Plans range from free to $99/month.
Hootsuite
Hootsuite is hugely popular for social media management. Its Twitter scheduler is web-based, easy to use, and supports bulk uploads. Plans range from free to $599/month.
Sprout Social
Sprout Social is a social media management platform with robust Twitter scheduling. It has powerful analytics and reporting, along with options to schedule threads. Plans start at $99/month.
TweetDeck
Owned by Twitter, TweetDeck is a longtime favorite of power Twitter users. You can schedule tweets and manage multiple accounts from its intuitive interface. It has some limitations but is free.
Sendible
Sendible is a social media marketing platform with Twitter scheduling built in. It focuses on analytics to help you find the best times to tweet. Plans start at $29/month.
Key Considerations When Choosing a Scheduling Client
Here are some other key features to look at when evaluating Twitter scheduling clients:
Platforms Supported
Some tools are Twitter-only while others support Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and more. Choose based on your needs.
Number of Accounts
If managing multiple accounts, make sure the tool can support them. Some limit the number of accounts on lower-priced plans.
Queue Management Features
Look for options to reorder tweets in the queue, add tags or categories, and have an overview of upcoming schedules.
Image and Video Posting
Built-in features to easily add images, GIFs, and videos to your tweets can boost engagement.
Smart Scheduling Based on Data
Some clients will use your audience data and engagement patterns to recommend optimal times to schedule content.
Audience Targeting Options
More advanced tools will allow you to target specific tweets to certain followers based on interests, location, behaviors, and more.
Reporting Capabilities
Robust analytics tools will provide insight into engagement, clicks, followers gained/lost, etc. for continuous optimization.
Customer Support
Look for responsiveness if you need help- via email, phone, support docs, forums, etc.
Pricing Tiers
Evaluate pricing tiers based on features offered and number of users/accounts needed. Many have free trial periods.
Recommendations for New Twitter Users
If you’re just starting out on Twitter, here are some tips:
Focus on In-Platform Analytics
Make the most of Twitter’s free built-in analytics to see tweet impressions, engagements, top tweets, etc. to optimize efforts.
Start with Free Tools
Tools like TweetDeck give you a good taste of scheduling without a costly investment. Get your bearings before upgrading.
Prioritize Usability
Choose tools with interfaces that make it as easy as possible to draft, schedule, and queue content without a learning curve.
Recommendations for Experienced Twitter Marketers
For experienced, high-volume Twitter users:
Integrate with Other Platforms
Choose a tool that integrates with your other marketing platforms like email marketing, CRM, e-commerce, etc.
Automate Interactions
Look for a tool with robust options for automating likes, retweets, follows, and Twitter chat interactions.
Monitor Competitors
Select a tool that helps you benchmark competitors’ engagement and learn from their top-performing content styles and timing.
Conclusion
Main Takeaways
- Numerous third-party Twitter clients exist to help schedule and queue tweets for optimal timing and convenience.
- When evaluating scheduling tools, look at the ease of use, scheduling and queue management features, analytics, cost, integrations, automation, and more.
- High-volume Twitter users will require more advanced functionality than those just starting out on the platform. Assess your needs and choose the right solution accordingly.
Evaluate Your Specific Needs
There is no one-size-fits-all “best” Twitter scheduling tool. Take time to thoroughly evaluate your specific use case, workload, and goals to determine the right solution for you.
Try Before You Buy
Take advantage of free trials from Twitter scheduling apps to get hands-on and evaluate if it’s user-friendly for your needs before committing.
Scheduling Is Key to Twitter Success
While scheduling alone won’t guarantee Twitter’s success, it is a critical component to save time, plan engaging content, and tweet at optimal times. An investment in the right scheduling tool will pay dividends.
FAQs
What is the best free Twitter scheduling tool?
TweetDeck is arguably the best free Twitter scheduling tool. Owned by Twitter, it provides robust scheduling capabilities even though it caps you at 200 scheduled tweets on its free tier.
Is TweetDeck better than Hootsuite?
There is no definitive “better” between TweetDeck and Hootsuite. TweetDeck has the advantage of being free and arguably more intuitive but is light on analytics. Hootsuite has more features but comes at a cost. Assess your needs.
Can I schedule Twitter posts without an outside app?
Unfortunately, Twitter does not yet offer native scheduling capabilities. You need to use a third-party client or social media management platform to schedule tweets.
What happens if I schedule Tweets and then delete the app?
If you delete a third-party app you used to schedule Tweets, any tweets still in the queue will not be sent out. Always use caution when deleting any apps linked to your social accounts.
How far in advance can I schedule Tweets?
Most tools limit you to scheduling tweets up to 6-9 months in advance, with some capping at shorter windows. Verify the limits of any tool you choose to ensure it works for your needs.