Finding the best social media management tool for your needs can feel like a full-time job. You have to weigh features, usability, quality of support, and cost. With so many options available, how do you confidently choose the right one?
In this article, we’ll walk through a clear, three-step process to help you research, evaluate, and compare tools. We’ve also included three free resources for each step. By the end, you’ll have a clear path to choosing the right tool for your needs—without getting overwhelmed.
3 Steps to Finding the Best Social Media Management Tool
1. Define your goals
Start by clearly defining your goals and what you want to achieve with a social media management tool. You don’t need a tool that does everything, just one that solves your biggest pain points.
Here are a few common pain points social media teams face:
- Inconsistent publishing schedule that hurts engagement and overall performance
- Team collaboration issues that cause delays and bottlenecks
- Difficulty proving ROI and showing the impact of your efforts
- Time-consuming manual reporting that holds you back from making data-driven decisions
Whether you’re switching from an existing tool or making the leap from native publishing, pinpointing your biggest challenges will put you in a better position to find a tool that can help you move the needle.
Want help defining your needs? [Free Checklist]
We’ve created a checklist that guides you through what questions to consider when researching social media management platforms. Inside you’ll find common pain points and thoughtful questions to help you assess your needs.
Download Do You Need to Change Your Social Media Management Tool checklist
Do You Need to Change Your Social Media Management Tool checklist
2. Research the best social media management tools with help from AI
Once your goals are clear, it’s time to explore specific tools that match your needs. While your first instinct might be to turn to Google, combing through websites and user reviews can get overwhelming fast.
To skip the endless scrolling, try using AI as your own personal research assistant. With the right prompt, AI tools can offer curated recommendations in seconds, saving you hours of manual research.
Best practices for writing an AI prompt
- Give a clear objective: Be specific about what you’re asking AI to provide (e.g., a top 3 list of tools, a comparison table).
- Provide context: Give details about your company size, industry, number of users, and specific use cases.
- Set constraints: Include any key information that’s essential to your search—number of users, what social networks you use, any tools you’re already considering, etc.
Your shortcut to personalized recommendations [Free AI prompt]
To help you in your search, we’ve written customizable prompts that you can use to simplify your search—no AI expertise needed. Copy and paste them into your AI tool of choice and get personalized recommendations in seconds.
Download How to Find the Best Social Media Management Tool for Your Needs AI prompt
How to Find the Best Social Media Management Tool AI prompt
3. Compare your top picks for the right social media management tool
By now, you should have a shortlist. It’s time to take a closer look at your top contenders. This is the stage of the process when a side-by-side comparison can help you see which platform best aligns with your goals and needs.
Here are a few key things to evaluate:
- Specific features: Does the tool offer what you need most? If better reporting is your goal, focus on how each platform supports it and what value that brings to your team.
- Pricing and plans: Consider what’s included in each plan. It’s not just about the number of users or social profiles included. Is customer support included? Are there hidden fees associated with onboarding? Is there an annual discount?
- User reviews: Read how each platform performs in key categories like usability, support, and value for money.
Need a place to organize your research? [Interactive workbook]
Complete a needs assessment, rate and compare the platforms you’re considering, and dig into pricing considerations. You’ll even get a score to show which option is the best fit for you.
Get our FREE the Social Media Management Tool Comparison Workbook
Social Media Management Tool Comparison Workbook
Try Before You Buy
No tool is perfect, but these steps will help you find one that supports your goals, fits your budget, and aligns with your priorities. Remember, most tools offer a free trial or demo. This is a great way to see for yourself if it’s the right option for you.
If you want to see how Agorapulse can support your team in reaching their goals, schedule a demo today.
