Social media is meant to be mobile but sometimes it can feel quite difficult to manage a business page or profile on the go. If you can relate, I have some simple solutions to share with you that work just as well in the office as they do on the soccer field — or wherever you may be!
From creating content to checking up on your ads, there are 5 apps in heavy rotation on my own phone (which I recommend downloading) that can help you manage your business’ social media.
Pro tip for my fellow parents: be sure to stash these apps in a folder on your phone away from your kids’ game apps, if you have any. Because…“Mommy, I’m playing the monkey game” (AKA Mailchimp) is probably the scariest phrase to come out of a 3-year-old’s mouth when social media is your biz.
1. Facebook Pages Manager App: Did you know there is another Facebook app specifically for business page admins? Many people don't! Facebook Pages Manager allows you to post and respond to comments as your page(s), view and reply to direct messages, and keep tabs on your insights. While it does offer some great features that allow you to manage your page on the go, there are still some settings you will need to access from desktop. Most importantly, though, this will help you keep comments from your personal profile and business page separate — the number one rookie mistake!
2. Facebook Ads Manager App: A must have for anyone running or managing ads on Facebook and Instagram! This app gives real time updates on your ads and their performance. You can easily create ads here too, in many cases (for example, carousel ads) it is much faster!
3. Hashtag Expert: I have been using this one for a couple of years and it was a game changer for me when it comes to saving time on hashtag research. Basically, you get to choose up to five hashtags that are relevant to your post and the app will generate up to thirty hashtags that are similar to the five you entered. However, it's not always perfect and should not replace your own critical thought when selecting hashtags. When using Hashtag Expert, my advice is to always review the tags and delete tags that don’t make sense!
4. Canva App: While I use Photoshop for most things, Canva is often a lifesaver for graphic design. The Canva mobile app is surprisingly user friendly and has saved me a lot of stress when graphics are needed in a pinch and I'm not in front of the computer. Canva is also great for those who are not familiar with graphic design programs such as Photoshop and Illustrator. Their customizable social media templates and design elements make creating fun content easy and enjoyable for everyone!
5. Sprout Social/Hootsuite: If you’re like me and manage multiple accounts/platforms, using a planning app such as Sprout Social or Hootsuite (there are many others as well, such as Unum, Planoly, and Preview) can simplify and streamline your social media game. Sprout Social, my personal favorite, allows you to see all of your social media messages in one place, quickly post, schedule, or draft new content, and monitor engagement on your social platforms. While their mobile app is great for quick adjustments, it can be faster to schedule your content on desktop.
Pretty cool, right? While not everything can be done on a mobile device, I assure you that these apps will transform the way you handle your social media business while out of the office.
