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Joseph Westrupp

7 Years Ago

Best Social Media Tools?

I'm considering using a scheduler for (at least) Twitter. Yo Pedro recommended Social Jukebox in Cynthia's Marketing thread, but a quick Google uncovers a ton of other options (Buffer and Hootsuite to name just two). I'm looking for input from anyone who's compared some different ones—please give recommendations, and maybe some strengths/weaknesses of what you've tested.

Also, please list any other useful tools you use.

I'm a neophyte really, but I've played a bit with Twitonomy & Hashtagify.me and would recommend checking them out. Even without paying anything, they yield useful information.

Further, CoPromote is also worth looking at, with the caveat that it's very clunky at this point. Again, even the free account will get you retweets on Twitter.


—
Joseph Westrupp, bestilled.com

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Dorothy Berry-Lound

7 Years Ago

Joseph as you know I use CoPromote. Yes to Twitonomy but there is also Tweetreach. I use Hootsuite for Twitter (free version) which I have found easy to use and I am just playing with Tailwind also free version and I am very new to it so can't comment on how good it is yet) for Pinterest and Instagram.

 

Judy Kay

7 Years Ago

I like Hoote Suite but it limits you to just three Social Media profiles . To import more you need to go premium and then you can import at least 19 different profile sites, Here are the plan options"
https://hootsuite.com/plans/upgrade?icn=upgradebutton&ici=startyourprotrial-launchbar_indash

 

Andrew Pacheco

7 Years Ago

I've played around with Hootsuite, it seemed to do the job.

I personally find that I get more mileage out of a social network when I get in and work it directly, and learn the culture of each particular network. I get the best results from a social network when I put time and effort into being part of the community, rather than updating all my profiles with links to my latest items for sale with one click.

 

Edward Fielding

7 Years Ago

I have my Wordpress blog set to populate Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr as well as another blog.

 

Yo Pedro

7 Years Ago

I use RoundTeam to help me post while I am distracted (we have squirrels).

CrowdFire is my choice for keeping track of my daily follow/unfollows, it was 73/43 this morning. It's also the tool I use to grow my Twitter account, (hint, hint). You can create search profiles using keywords and the app will make recommendations on who to follow.

I liked using Buffer and Hootsuite for a long time.

-YoPedro
Twitter@YoPedro

 

Zin Shades

7 Years Ago

Pedro, email me everything you use. (worth a try heh) :) Edward, you'd have to teach me how to do that as I just started wordpress.

I use:
Buffer (I like how you can put the picture in)
Hootsuite (rarely)
CoPromote (wich has an offer for $19.99 right now Pedro! I think it's for a year)

~Zin
www.ZinShades.com

 

Yo Pedro

7 Years Ago

Robert, If you want to learn what I use, or Edward or anyone with a Twitter handle, go to Twitonomy and scroll to the very bottom of the page to the section "Platforms most Tweeted from". None of us can hide what we are doing or using on Twitter.

Also, just because I say it's good, do your research and read the reviews about the SM tools and platforms. It may not be right for you.

I can get preachy, it doesn't mean I know what I am doing. I'm in the same boat as everyone else, and I swear one of my oars is shorter than the other because I keep going in circles!

-YoPedro
Twitter@YoPedro

 

Zin Shades

7 Years Ago

True YoPedro. I like to try just about everything and see what works. No sales on FAA yet (they'll come), but I've been gaining some traction lately especially since you introduced me to CoPromote (which offered me a deal of $19.99/m for a year but I didn't take them up on it yet).

~Zin
www.ZinShades.com

 

David Bridburg

7 Years Ago

Robert,

My two cents, if you are going to spend money there is an endless list of things to spend it on. Make sure you have a full game plan before spending a dime.

Dave

 

Mike Savad

7 Years Ago

i don't think twitter likes schedulers. i post now and then, a constant stream, even placed randomly over the day, i don't think will help that much. as far as which are the best? all of them. none of them, some of them, all of them again. you just want to be every place.

i get hits on all of them, sales on some of them. i'm starting instagram, i get a few hits now and then. but its mostly for recognition. and i have to post a bit more often. its boring, and i can only post about 3 at a time or it might be seen as spam.

after that place, i'll tacked linkedin. they now have a facebook format, and i think i can do a gallery. after that, probably flicker.


---Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

 

Zin Shades

7 Years Ago

Buffer I use the free because it inserts the image and I post with it unscheduled. I don't see the value in 100 tweets per day when I can have CoPromote take a well laid out tweet and have it sent by people to new people. CoPromote, I took their deal for $19.99/m as it is the mid-level $99/m discounted. Whoever can afford the $499 top tier must be making mad cash.

I'm not going to invest money in anything else. I don't do pay-per-click, twitter/facebook ads as I've never seen them be effective. I'm sure they are for some, but I'd like organic growth. For now, I'm at the start, so I tread lightly.

 

Mike Savad

7 Years Ago

the basic rule of thumb is - don't pay anything at all, and see how far it takes you.

thus far i haven't paid anything for advertising.


---Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

 

Yo Pedro

7 Years Ago

Zin, I'm glad to see you took the plunge with CoPromote, it will be interesting to see what we can learn from your venture. One of the features I feel they lack is a more robust analytics landscape, maybe with the paid accounts you'll have access to more detailed information. I was considering writing to some of the paid members to see what sort of return they felt they were getting, now I just have to wait and see what you will learn!

-YoPedro
Twitter@YoPedro

 

James McCormack

7 Years Ago

If you have any programming experience the Twitter and Google APIs allow you to control your tweets from a Google spreadsheet.

 

Zin Shades

7 Years Ago

YoPedro, I'll keep you updated. So far, out of 400,000 reach, I've seen 1200 visitors to the website. Bad ratio. Engagements barely hit double digits and link clicks in the low single.

I've read everything you've ever said. Also, I checked out Floyd and Dan's writings on the subject of selling. CoPromote is a nice tool and for $20 bucks, it's a help, but not the end-all-be all. It seems Mike Savad and Edward you can take a lot from building backlinks and such. I'm not expecting sales anytime soon, if one comes here, that's great. I believe I have a lot of work to do so that people know I exist and I'm willing to give it that time.

 

David Bridburg

7 Years Ago

1200 is very good. That also counts as engagement.

Dave

 

Mario Carta

7 Years Ago

I use GSA search engine ranker software, has a big learning curve cost $100 for license. It's very powerful and has many applications but requires hours and hours to understand all it's functionalities. I also consider "paid traffic" as the most effective social media tool, easy to roll out and immediate results (24hours or less) at a very low cost, further it allows for social media marketing of your choice using specific keys words from major sm search engines.

Mario Carta https://trafficserv.com/

 

Zin Shades

7 Years Ago

I didn't know you could add keywords to your Pixels domain... I must look into this.

 

Joseph Westrupp

7 Years Ago

Thanks for the replies, people.

ZS, how do you do that?


—
Joseph Westrupp, bestilled.com

 

Zin Shades

7 Years Ago

Joseph, I'm not sure yet. It was late when I replied, so I will have to look later. Best to email JC or Abbie for some tips on it in the meantime. Please pass on what you learn & I will do the same :)

~Zin
www.ZinShades.com

 

Yo Pedro

7 Years Ago

A common practice it to set up an anonymous sacrificial account to test out strategies and services.

Black Hat SEO should be avoided at any cost. If you can't be White Hat, don't be in the game.

Free services are awesome!

-YoPedro
Twitter@YoPedro

 

Mario Carta

7 Years Ago

You get what you pay for Pedro.

 

Joseph Westrupp

7 Years Ago

YP, it's a spectrum, though, huh. I mean, how many of us have followed people in the hope of them reciprocating—black or white hat? Probably in some gray zone.


—
Joseph Westrupp, bestilled.com

 

Georgiana Romanovna

7 Years Ago

SocialPilot and I've tried most of them. Social Pilot also pulls images from the links. I use Hootsuite for communicating on Twitter.

 

Joseph Westrupp

7 Years Ago

What does SocialPilot do, Georgiana?


—
Joseph Westrupp, bestilled.com

 

Georgiana Romanovna

7 Years Ago

Joseph, you can post to 10 social media profiles by uploading text or csv files (up to 1000) in a queue and 200 posts per day (I don't send out that many). I pay $9.00 pmth but there is a lower plan around $4:99 pmth. You upload text and it sends out your links, text and converts the text to images even on Twitter.

I even schedule other people's posts as a way of thanking them for comments.

I've done paid HS, Buffer, MeetEdgar and a few others, but SocialPilot is not only affordable, it's a time saver as well. The images it pulls are also a draw on Twitter. Just look at my twitter where I'm fairly active.

They also have a trial of 30 days free.

Whatever you try, I hope it's something that works for you. :)

 

Dora Hathazi Mendes

7 Years Ago

I am looking for a free something for scheduling for Pinterest . Anybody knows?

Something where not only the trial is free, but always.. can be limited, I dont mind :)

 

Dorothy Berry-Lound

7 Years Ago

Dora look at Tailwind.

 

David Bridburg

7 Years Ago

I need an app for Facebook groups?

Dave

 

Jenny Rainbow

7 Years Ago

Georgiana, would you please share your thoughts about Buffer please! Is it complicated? does it takes much time to prepare the posts to schedule? Anything what you did not like working with Buffer? I am going to get the payable Awesome plan with scheduled posts on all my social media including Pinterest. Now I really feel that marketing just eating my time, so going to try Buffer possibilities.

The one of the most important thing in such scheduled posts, that it will be working even in the night as I have active hours in European time, and for USA I can not afford myself to cover an active USA time.

 

Dora Hathazi Mendes

7 Years Ago

Dorothy I checked, I already filled it up, and it is sending the pins out, but it is only free for the first 100 pins? Only the trial is free I mean

 

Matthias Hauser

7 Years Ago

Dora there are some Tools that do Pinterest scheduling. Tailwind, BoardBooster and Viralwoot are some of them. I use Tailwind. Only the first 100 scheduled Pins are free, then you have to choose one of their plans. I don't think there is a scheduler for Pinterest that is really free.

 

Dora Hathazi Mendes

7 Years Ago

Thank You Matthias! it's a pity

 
 

Georgiana Romanovna

7 Years Ago

Joseph, apologies for my late reply but I've got a horrid virus at the moment. I'll PM you my email address and send you some screen shots to yours if you'd like. :)

 

Zin Shades

7 Years Ago

Don't take the plunge with paid CoPromote. The 500,000 Reach I had was gone in less than 24 hours, have to wait until next billing for 500,000 more. I always post others Boosts so, keeping up with some Reach. I do not know where these reposts go to, but engagement is low, clickthrough low. I have them targeted, but I can't figure out where its all going. Views are very low as well... out of 500,000? Stay free.

 

Mike Savad

7 Years Ago

any of these places that promise a certain amount of people - are all fake. there are services that will send random people through to you, that never had any intention of going there.

your much better off doing it the old fashioned way, building up an audience slowly. if you have petty cash, then try the paid method. let the art speak for itself.


---Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

 

Yo Pedro

7 Years Ago

Sorry to hear that Robert, I know how disappointing it can be to invest in something only to have it evaporate. I still have a positive view of the service, but as many have stated before, don't pay for what you can get for free.

My use of the (free) CoPromote service is to grow awareness of my brand. Clicks and sales are far down my list. I've built up a cache of 6.5 million points on CoPromote, and I did it by being diligent, although I am not sure of any intrinsic value yet.

In business, it's very costly to try and buy your way up. For art, it's nearly impossible to pay for a place at the table.

I'm not as cynical as Savad about the "fake" part of his perspective, but I can in no way argue his point of building your business the old fashioned way. He is after all, proof of concept.

Even with an available marketing budget or "petty cash", it's best to build traction and market value for your art through other efforts before you expend any capital.

You need to consider the opportunity cost of each decision you make. Unfortunately, hindsight is generally the only way to formulate that value.

-YoPedro
Twitter@YoPedro

 

David Bridburg

7 Years Ago

Robert,

I have spent money a few times over the last year. I have had results that were worthless. I face that squarely and experiment elsewhere with a better understanding of what I want out of spending money. I keep the budget low. Note I shut off failed experiments within a month. Why something failed is crtical to understand. It is okay to do this.
Dave

 

Zin Shades

7 Years Ago

Yeah, lesson learned. Thank you all :)

 

Mario Carta

7 Years Ago

I buy traffic from my own business, works pretty dang good!

Mario Carta https://trafficserv.com/

 

Joseph Westrupp

7 Years Ago

ZS—I'd have never paid for CP the way it is currently, even before reading of your experience. I find the platform really frustrating and buggy. Plus, there's very little unspammy stuff to retweet at this point.


—————
Joseph Westrupp
bestilled.com

 

Yo Pedro

7 Years Ago

After 7 months (28 Boosts) 1342 Shares, 7.8 Million Reach, I will continue to keep using only the FREE version of CoPromote. It's currently the longest evaluation of a service I have ever conducted.

I don't want to clog up JW's thread with my self indulgent yammering, if you want to, read more here…

-YoPedro
Twitter@YoPedro

 

Joseph Westrupp

7 Years Ago

Self-indulgent yammering is always welcome, but I'll read your post, too.

Read it, agree. It's definitely got it's issues, even aside from the buggy interface.


—————
Joseph Westrupp
bestilled.com

 

Joseph Westrupp

7 Years Ago

I'm finding Social Jukebox pretty invaluable. My Twitter posting/self-pimping was a bit patchy, now it's on autopilot. And my notifications reflect it, too—definitely seems to be more RTs and comments.


—————
Joseph Westrupp
bestilled.com

 

Yo Pedro

7 Years Ago

TIP: Social Jukebox "Options: Add to Posts"

For those of you using Social Jukebox, there is an indispensable feature you should be aware of under the tab "Options" for your jukebox.

There is a heading "Add to Posts" and below that is a text box where you can add just about anything globally to your entire jukebox of posts.

Why this matters, is that you can customize your posts all at once and have the same text go out on each post to your Twitter feed.

One week you might put the hashtag #HowDoYouPixels, #FineArt and the next week you could drop that and add the phrase, "Please Retweet".

As a general rule, when I add posts to my jukeboxes from FAA, I keep the text and hashtags to a minimum leaving 60 character spaces, so that I can customize the entire jukebox later in the "Options", adding up to 60 characters there.

I started a FB group for Social Jukebox, still trying to make sense of that:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1064383060372438/

-YoPedro
Twitter@YoPedro

 

Joseph Westrupp

6 Years Ago

Anyone know of any schedulers like Social Jukebox that post to Twitter more than five times a day on a free account?


β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”
Joseph Westrupp
bestilled.com

 

Yo Pedro

6 Years Ago

I believe SocialOomph has some sort of free scheduler, however if you want something that can load up a queue and repeat, I haven't found it.

There is an FAA member who was blasting Twitter last year to the tune of 2000 posts a day (not me!), and they were using SocialOomph. That account has calmed down as of late and is quietly posting at a more reasonable rate these days, although the account is tone deaf.

A strategy I have noticed with some Tweeps is to RT their own posts at intervals. I've seen posts with over 375 rt's, but then I notice that the post is over two years old, which means they are artificially keeping it afloat.

I use Twitonomy to figure out what apps people are using on Twitter.

-YoPedro
Twitter@YoPedro

 

Joseph Westrupp

6 Years Ago

Hey man, cheers for the reply.

The repeat aspect of Social Jukebox is nice, huh. I like that a lot.

My god, 2000 per day? Did they have a single follower?


β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”
Joseph Westrupp
bestilled.com

 

James McCormack

6 Years Ago

"Anyone know of any schedulers like Social Jukebox that post to Twitter more than five times a day on a free account? " Joseph W

If you can get your head around some programming you can tweet from a google spreadsheet at intervals from every minute to every 24 hours. Then all you need to do is ad new work links to the spreadsheet.

 

Joseph Westrupp

6 Years Ago

That's interesting, James. Any resources you'd recommend for an abject neophyte to accomplish such a thing?


β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”
Joseph Westrupp
bestilled.com

 

Georgiana Romanovna

6 Years Ago

Jenny, I am so sorry I didn't see your question before (I had a high fever)

You said ""Georgiana, would you please share your thoughts about Buffer please! Is it complicated? does it takes much time to prepare the posts to schedule? Anything what you did not like working with Buffer? I am going to get the payable Awesome plan with scheduled posts on all my social media including Pinterest. Now I really feel that marketing just eating my time, so going to try Buffer possibilities.
The one of the most important thing in such scheduled posts, that it will be working even in the night as I have active hours in European time, and for USA I can not afford myself to cover an active USA time.""

Buffer can increase their pricing anytime they feel like it and it's not a small hike in price. When I joined you could share over 4 networks 200 posts per day for $9.99 (with 2000) in cue - and now look at it. Buffer lost a LOT of customers over that.

I'm staying with SocialPilot - they stick with what they say and they have fast replies to questions - and they sure aren't stingy. You can post to G+ G+Business G+ Group, Facebook Page+Business,Twitter, Pinterest,and many others.

 

James McCormack

6 Years Ago

Joseph,
You need to look up the Application Programming Interface (API) for both Google and Twitter.
I think authorisation on the Google side (sending from your spreadsheet) is automatic . From the Twitter side you need an authorisation key to allow posting from an external app , (your Google Spreadsheet).

 

Yo Pedro

6 Years Ago

Had to bring this back for a peruse, because there is a lot of good information in here…

-YoPedro
Twitter@YoPedro

 

Arletta Cwalina

6 Years Ago

Thank you Pedro! I was looking for that thread and couldn't find it... and here you go! :p

 

Joseph Westrupp

6 Years Ago

All very well, but now we have to see the repulsive face of the OP again. Why must you punish us, YP? :p


β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”
Joseph Westrupp
bestilled.com

 

Yo Pedro

6 Years Ago

Clearly I wasn't thinking Joseph, and you were right to be concerned. I just assumed that everyone covered that part of their screens with their hand like I do.

Maybe we should issue a public health warning?

-YoPedro
Twitter@YoPedro

 

Matthias Hauser

6 Years Ago

No problem at all, I don't see faces any more on Jospehs profile pics. Only skulls. Pink ones.

Maybe time to get some sleep.

Pinterest Marketing for Artists

 

Dora Hathazi Mendes

6 Years Ago

Lol Matthias don't give him ideas or he will change his profile to a pinky πŸ’€ ... I prefer some flesh on those bones :D

 

Joseph Westrupp

6 Years Ago

YP, your sagacity knows no bounds. I shall adopt your procedure henceforth.

Matthias, I'm heartened by that evidence of my dastardly master plan working.

Dora, I'm genuinely wondering if that'd be a good idea.


β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”
Joseph Westrupp
bestilled.com

 

Matthias Hauser

6 Years Ago

Joseph: always at your service, my evil friend ;-)

Pinterest Marketing for Artists

 

Dorothy Berry-Lound

6 Years Ago

I confess to being rather partial to the pink skull...

 

This discussion is closed.