5 Tools Everyone on Twitter Should Be Using
Once you get past the basics of Twitter, there are many different types of apps and programs that you can use to boost your Twitter activity. These are five tools I feel everyone on Twitter should be using that will help give you more time to tweet and make your tweets more effective.
1. Buffer – Organize your tweets
“Tweets that are spaced appropriately get higher CTRs, according to Zarrella's research. Buffer recommends putting a space of 30 minutes before and after the tweets for which you want high engagement.” from Neil Patel.
Buffer will help you stay organized and analyze your tweets to send out when you want them to go. I like to look at the analytics each week to see what was popular and if a certain style tweet got more retweets and favorites. If I have something that did well, I can rebuffer it to go out again.
Honorable mentions
HootSuite – Many of the same features as Buffer but with additional features like bulk upload for great scheduling. Hootsuite is also for social media engagement and listening – not just posting as Buffer is. There's lots of built in apps and other bells and whistles.
Sprout Social – The best for social media planning, listening, and engagement for teams. I love the analytics in Sprout and they have live chat when you get stuck and need help.
2. TweetDeck – Catch all the activity
I've loved TweetDeck for years and it continues to be my favorite place to catch tweet chats and follow Twitter lists. I have columns set up for mentions, notifications, and lists I like to follow. It's easy to update these with a few clicks and create a great Twitter hub of activity. I also like using the updated Twitter website with all the updates they've made but for following a Twitter chat you need a bigger view with more columns.
3. Topsy – Find the conversation
Topsy is great for following trends and monitoring your brand on Twitter.
4. Social Bro – Maximize your Interactions
I love Social Bro's best times to tweet report and I run this once a week and send it to Buffer to optimize my tweets.
I also use Social Bro to unfollow people who don't follow me back, follow back new followers, and to find out what my followers are talking about. There's many different types of reports that you can set up to monitor hashtags or add people to lists.
The SocialBro dashboard is the heart and soul of the platform, providing users with a clear summary and holistic view of what’s going on in their Twitter community with statistics, graphs and features, including:
- Community stats
- Engagement stats
- New followers and recent unfollows
- Influencers and who is being influenced
5. Canva – Create visuals for your Tweets
Tweets with visuals get a much higher rate of engagement. In fact, if you use images in your tweet, you will receive higher clickthrough rates — as much as 18%, 89% more favorites, and 150% more retweets. Totally worth the time it takes to create one!
How to Use Hashtags on Every #SocialMedia Network http://t.co/BXUxbrj24K via @SproutSocial pic.twitter.com/hwg4gaaTN9
— Peg Fitzpatrick (@PegFitzpatrick) April 25, 2015
I use Canva to create graphics for Twitter and it's pretty quick once you get the hang of it. You can create the images, download them, and add them to tweets straight in Twitter or in Buffer. Use Sprout Social if you want to schedule the same tweet multiple times with the image. Runners-up for Twitter visuals Pablo by Buffer Word Swag for your phone Please check out my Twitter Tips Pinterest resource board for more information about Twitter. Follow Peg Fitzpatrick's board Twitter Tips on Pinterest.
I love to get my images from Big Stock Photos – I have a plan where I get five photos per day and it works really well for me.
I hope these five tools give you some ideas to spice up your tweets on Twitter, share them at the best time, and to find who you can connect with on Twitter. What are your favorite Twitter tools and how do you use them? I'd love to hear about them in the comments below.
Hey Peg,
Great list of tools you have here. I use buffer, Revive Old Post and just stared using Hootsuite. I like to check out some of the other tools you mentioned. Anything that will make it more convenient as far as time and shares will make a big difference.
Thanks for sharing and I hope you have a great rest of the week!
Peg, great list! I love using the Buffer – it’s my all time favorite. People think I tweet all day but I don’t, I just Buffer it up. I haven’t tried Tweetdeck since they have changed it but I’m hearing good things about the recent changes. I will have to check it out.
I used to use Social Bro til they no longer offered the free version. It was a great program.
I have heard of Canava but haven’t tried yet, I love the images you showed so that is another thing I’ll be checking out soon.
Thank you so much for sharing these with us Peg.
Hi, Peg,
I’m also a big lover of Tweetdeck and Canva.
It seems I spend the majority of my social media time on Twitter. Is there a good way to speed up Twitter answering? I appreciate any and all help!
Sue
Check out @Meshfire which creates task cards for tweets you may want to respond too so you don’t miss great opportunities to entage! Their AI is really powerful!
Okay… so this is about the fourth recommendation I’ve seen this week for TweetDeck.
I’ve got to get on that. 😉
Great post, Peg.
Hi Peg,
I use HootSuite and Canva from this list. I’ve used Buffer too but somehow liked HootSuite better. Great list! Would love to give the other tools that you’ve mentioned a try!
this is just ON TIME! can’t wait to use this…
a HUGE huge FAN of Canva 🙂
thanks for this Peg!
Currently I am using Buffer & snip.ly these are the best free tools for the twitter marketing. I am thinking to buy social oomph professional version also because they have very good features for social media.
Same for me on Snip.ly
I couldn’t agree more with this more – I use all of these religiously apart from Social Bro – Tried it but it didn’t fit – maybe I should try again.
All good Twitter tools Peg. A couple of additional “honorable mentions” I would throw into the hat would be SocialOomph and Commun.it.
Being on social media for 4 years, I thought I was supposed to know it all 🙂
I’m really liking this Topsy deal Peg. I’ve never heard of this one before and I love it! Great post.
Hi Peg,
I absolutely love your blog, it’s very informative and inspiring. I just tried out Pablo by Buffer and it’s so easy to use. I will 100% start incorporating this into into my social media strategy.
Keep up the good work, I will continue to share your posts.
Fiona.
Super little summary Peg, thank you!
While I use Buffer, I have not used the other 4 tools. A couple seem to overlap so I will have to check them out in more detail. Peg, great stuff here. But, Peg, can we talk about your Twitter face. Just love that grimace!
As usual, A+ Peg! I use Hootsuite and love it. I started out using Tweetdeck tho found it slowed computer, didn’t like ding sound. I’ve used Social Bro for businesses tho not personally. I’ve never thought to cross-use platforms. I *love* Canva tho have only used hat for business too, not to incorporate into tweets. Honestly, I find it a challenge to keep up with content changes. I appreciate your guidance/tips, mostly, your amazing energy and positive karma! e.
Great list! For me, I also use Followerwonk and TweetJukebox. Follwerwonk is a tool from Moz and it lets you compare/analyse followers. You can also integrate it with Buffer to optimize when your tweets go out. TweetJukebox is handy because it lets you schedule your tweets very easily — you write your tweet and set the frequency with which you want it posted.
I would have put Copromote on that list – It’s a cross promoting site
Unfollowers – helps you maintain your followers
Great list Peg! I’ve been searching for months for a Twitter tool. I’m a new blogger and need all the productivity tools I can find. Recently I found Buffer and it’s been ok so far. I’m also a huge Canva fan. It is extremely useful.
Thanks to you Peg, I’ve just had the most awesome experience! I decided I was going to research Tweetdeck. Guess what? I’m hooked. It showed me all the messages I’ve got to reply to.
Peg you are a true #GirlBoss.
Thanks a million :-). I’m off to respond to my messages…no blogging today:-).