Reviews and expert opinion Hootsuite

The Ultimate in Social Media Management

Hootsuite is a social media management tool that allows you to manage and track all of your social media activity under one dashboard. The flexibility of Hootsuite is second to none in the niche. Hootsuite are constantly on the incline with staff figures increasing year-on-year as well as a user-base which is well on its way to 7 million worldwide.

HootSuite is a powerhouse when it comes to social media network integration, compatible with nearly every social network out there.

With a free version readily available with no credit card required, Hootsuite is definitely worth a try.

Why Choose Hootsuite?

• Schedule Posts in Bulk
• Track Conversions In Customized Tabs
• Install Third Party Apps

Wondering if Hootsuite is the best option for your social media strategy?
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One Dashboard to Manage Everything

The ability manage multiple social accounts on a single dashboard, whilst tracking custom searches, setting up streams and installing a variety of apps really makes Hoosuit worth a try.

One of the best monitoring features that Hootsuite offers is the ability to create a customizable search query, which you can then create a stream for. This stream is designed to help you watch, listen and then engage your followers with content that’s interesting for them.

For example, if we wanted to monitor any mention of the words “create a website” we could easily set this up as a stream (tabbed column) in Hootsuite, then watch the conversations roll in, share and engage, and use the analytics tool to analyze and measure performance.

If you use Google Analytics, or the OW.LY URL shortener then you can also create your own fully customizable reports in the reports section of the tool. You could either use these to see which areas need improvement or maybe even send them to your clients for some bragging rights.

The only 2 downsides we found on Hootsuite are it’s mobile app, which has many glitches and doesn’t work very well, and the Instagram feature, which doesn’t work very well with the free plan.

Bulk Scheduling Future Messages

The biggest feature with HootSuite, and perhaps the most appealing, is the bulk schedule feature which allows you to setup a list of scheduled posts in a CSV file, and then upload it to the interface. This ability takes the weight of having to manually post messages every day and it makes sure that you never forget to post.

The second unique feature which makes this tool so popular is the fabled App Directory. In the app directory, you can add more social networks and marketing tools, but of course, this feature will cost you an additional charge.

Another great feature is the potential behind the search facility. Firstly, you can setup a search stream quite easily, but if you want to take it to the next level you can actually use Twitter parameters to place geo-targeting to the end of your search term. By doing this, you can focus your attention on a specific area.

Great for desktop, but lacks on mobile

When it comes to usability, Hootsuite’s desktop interface is crystal clear. Once logged in, you will see a navigation bar located down the left hand side which houses all the important sections. However, this does not apply to the Hootsuite mobile app, which has a long way to go to become an actual working tool.

So, going back to the desktop version, the main buttons you want to be looking at are right at the top, and these are “Add Stream” and “Add Social Network”. These buttons will allow you to add any social network platform, and create your custom streams.

Each social network you add will create a new top tab which you can then click between. So, if you want to post an update to a certain social network, you can type your message at the top of the screen, and then select the network you want to post to.

Covering All Aspects of Hootsuite

Hootsuite covers a good range of support options for its customers, and they currently run a dedicated Twitter account for all the main languages. They also operate a knowledge base section packed full of video tutorials and written guides, to help you make the best out of this tool.

The only slight drawback is that there’s no phone support. However, HootSuite almost makes up for it with their live chat option, so you can get just the same service without the cost of making a phone call.

When you sign up for your package, you also have the ability to check a few boxes for the HootCare and University options. HootCare gives you priority support 24/5, and you can usually expect a reply within 4 hours when you submit a ticket. HootSuite University is an educational training program that is self-directed and will earn you an industry recognized certification.

• Email Support
• Community Forum
• Knowledge Base
• Video Tutorials
• Support Center
• Live Chat
• No Phone Support

Good value for money- But with lot's of extra charges

Upon sign up, Hootsuite gives you the option to try any one of the 2 plans available, or go for a forever free account. Even if you wanted to use the service for free, there are a host of features to play with before you actually need to upgrade.

After you’ve had a chance to test out the basic package, you can either continue using it for free, or upgrade to the Professional plan to enjoy bulk message scheduling, as well as sweepstakes and unlimited RSS feeds.

With each upgrade, the number of social profiles and users goes up. If you want, you can add another user for $9, followed by an extra $13.50 for any additional users thereafter.

Whilst signing up to your payment plan you can also enroll in the HootSuite University program (with extra charges), which will help you become a Hootsuite Pro in no time.