Looking for the latest social media tools and resources to research, plan, execute, monitor, report and optimize your social media strategy? Below is a list with links to over 300 sites and apps to improve your social media efforts and knowledge. All links have been checked and updated with new tools included, old ones removed and new short descriptions of each have been added. Links are divided into 10 categories: Social Media Monitoring & Metrics; Online Data Collection & Analytics; Social Media Content Creation & Data Visualization; Social Content Scheduling & Automation; Social Media and Digital Media Research; Trade Associations, Awards, Conference; Social Media News & Insights; Social Media Podcasts; Social Media/Digital Training & Certification; and Social Media Channels.

Click here for an updated list of free tools & resources.

Social Media Monitoring & Metrics

Agora Pulse (social media management tool): www.agorapulse.com

Agora Pulse Free Tools (Facebook barometer, Twitter report card, Facebook page contests): agorapulse.com/free-social-media-marketing-tools

Audiense (Twitter analytics): audiense.com/twitter-analytics

Brandwatch (social listening and analytics): brandwatch.com

Brand24 (social media monitoring): brand24.com

Buzzsumo (content analytics): buzzsumo.com

Cision (social monitoring and analytics): cision.com/us/products/ps-social-software

Clarabridge (customer experience management and analytics): www.clarabridge.com

Crimson Hexagon (social media analytics): crimsonhexagon.com

Critical Mention (media monitoring): www.criticalmention.com

Google Alerts (monitoring): google.com/alerts

Hootsuite (social dashboard, scheduling, reporting): hootsuite.com

How Socialble (social media monitoring): howsociable.com

HYP3R (location based social listening): hyp3r.com

Iconosquare (analytics and management): iconosquare.com

Klear (influencer marketing platform): klear.com

Likealyzer (Facebook page analysis): likealyzer.com

Lithium (social media management): lithium.com

Meltwater (social media monitoring): meltwater.com/

Meltwater Impact (free content report): impact.meltwater.com

Mention (social media monitoring): mention.com/en/media-monitoring/social-media-monitoring-tools

Netbase (social analytics): netbase.com

Nielsen Social (social content ratings): www.nielsensocial.com

NUVI (monitoring, analysis, reporting): www.nuvi.com

Oktopost (B2B social media management): oktopost.com

Oracle Social Cloud (listening, analytics, engagement): www.oracle.com/us/solutions/social

ReviewTrackers (online review management): reviewtrackers.com

Rival IQ (social media analytics: rivaliq.com

Salesforce: Social Studio (listening, publishing, engagement): marketingcloud.com/products/social-media-marketing/social-studio

Social Bakers (social media management): socialbakers.com

Social Blade (social media statistics): socialblade.com

Sprout Social (social media management): sproutsocial.com

Simply Measured (social analytics): simplymeasured.com

Social Mention (real-time search and analysis): socialmention.com

Social Searcher (real-time social search): social-searcher.com

Socially Devoted Meter (analyze response rate): socialbakers.com/resources/socially-devoted

Social Studio (enterprise social media management): salesforce.com/products/marketing-cloud/social-media-marketing

Spredfast (enterprise social media management): spredfast.com

Sprinklr (unified customer experience mangement): www.sprinklr.com

SumoRank (analyze best Facebook page content): sumorank.com

Sysomos (social media management, analytics): www.sysomos.com

Talkwalker (social analytics and monitoring): talkwalker.com

Talkwalker Social Analytics Search (track campaigns and hashtags): talkwalker.com/social-media-analytics-search

Trackur (social monitoring and sentiment analysis): www.trackur.com

TrueSocialMetrics (social media analytics): truesocialmetrics.com

Twitonomy (Twitter analytics and monitoring): twitonomy.com

Viralwoot (social scheduler and analytics): viralwoot.com

Visible Measures (video monitoring and analytics): visiblemeasures.com

Unruly (social video insight): unruly.co

Yext Free Location Scan (location data analysis): yext.com/blog/2016/05/grow-business-free-location-scan-app

Zoho Social (social media management): zoho.com/social

Unmetric (social intelligence and analytics): unmetric.com

Online Data Collection & Analytics

Alexa (website statistics and analysis): alexa.com

Bottlenose (data analysis): bottlenose.com

Chartbeat (content intelligence and analytics): chartbeat.com

Comscore (cross-platform measurement): comscore.com

Conversion Fly (online tracking): conversionfly.com

Cyfe (all-in-one dashboard): www.cyfe.com

Delmondo (Snapchat analytics): delmondo.co/snapchat-analytics-software

Drip (e-commerce marketing automation): drip.co

Facebook Insights (Facebook analytics): facebook.com/help/search/?q=insights

Facebook Page Cost Calculator (Facebook ad cost tool): shiftcomm.com/facebook-page-cost-calculator

Foursquare Analytics: enterprise.foursquare.com/solutions/analytics

Google Analytics (website analytics): www.google.com/analytics

Google Analytics UTM Tracking URL Builder (online tracking): chrome.google.com/webstore

Google Tag Manager (tracking): www.google.com/analytics/tag-manager

Google Tools (online data analysis): www.thinkwithgoogle.com/tools

Google Trends (real-time online search analysis): www.google.com/trends

GRYTICS (Facebook Group analytics): grytics.com

IBM Watson Analytics (data AI): ibm.com/analytics/watson-analytics

Instagram Insights (Instagram analytics): blog.business.instagram.com/post/145212269021/new-business-tools

iSpionage (online competitor research): ispionage.com

Keyhole (real-time hashtag tracker): keyhole.co

Keyword Tool (keyword research): keywordtool.io

Kiss Metrics (behavioral analytics and engagement): www.kissmetrics.com

Klout (social sharing and impact measurement): klout.com

Kred (influence score and platform): kred.com

Leadpages (landing page creator, opt-in tools): leadpages.net

LinkedIn Analytics: linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/4499

ManageFlitter (Twitter tools and analytics): manageflitter.co

Moz Open Site Explorer (Inbound link tool): moz.com/researchtools/ose

New Share Counts (Twitter share counts tool): newsharecounts.com

Nexalogy (discover social conversations): nexalogy.com

Omgili (discussion, news, blog search): omgili.com

Pinterest Analytics: analytics.pinterest.com

Quantcast (website audience measurement): quantcast.com

RiteTag (trending hashtags): ritetag.com/hashtag-search

Ruzzit (trending videos, stories, and images): ruzzit.com

SearchMetrics (enterprise content marketing): searchmetrics.com

SEMrush (online competitive intelligence): www.semrush.com

SharedCount (track URL shares and likes): www.sharedcount.com

Shopping Insights (online shopping trends): shopping.thinkwithgoogle.com

SimilarWeb (website stats and analytics comparison): similarweb.com

Snaplytics (automated story publishing and analytics): snaplytics.io

Social Searcher (social media search): social-searcher.com

Soovle (search suggestions): soovle.co

TrendKite (PR analytics): trendkite.com

Trendspottr (real-time viral content, influencers): trendspottr.com

Tweetreach (Twitter analytics): tweetreach.com

Twitter Advanced Search: twitter.com/search-advanced

Twitter Analytics: analytics.twitter.com

Ubersuggest (keyword suggestion tool): ubersuggest.io

UVRX (social search): uvrx.com/social.html

WordStream (keyword tool): wordstream.com/keywords

Yoast (SEO tool): yoast.com

YouGovProfiles (media planning, audience segmentation – UK): yougov.co.uk/profiler#

YouTube Analytics: www.youtube.com/analytics

YouTube Trending: www.youtube.com/feed/trending

Visio Sparks (Social media counts checker): visiospark.com/shared-counter

Social Media Content Creation & Data Visualization

Accelerated Mobile Pages Project (create fast web pages): www.ampproject.org

Adobe Kuler (color tool): color.adobe.com/create.color–wheel

Animaker (animated video tool): animaker.com

ANIMOTO (video creation tool): animoto.com

BIGVU (video creation tool): bigvu.tv

Botletter (create Messenger newsletters): botletter.com

Canva (design tool): www.canva.com

Chartbuilder (create charts): quartz.github.io/Chartbuilder

Chhirp (record audio for Twitter): cordproject.co/chhirp

Compressor by Pitchengine (automated social post creation): c.tiny.pr

Crello (design tool for social posts): crello.com

Curalate (visual commerce platform): curalate.com

Datawrapper (create charts and maps): datawrapper.de

DesignEvo (create custom logo designs): designevo.com

DesignWizard (online graphic design software): designwizard.com

Easelly (infographic tool): www.easel.ly

Emotional Marketing Analyzer (headline improvement): aminstitute.com/headline

Enhance (social image creation): hootsuite.com/products/mobile-apps

Facebook Creative Hub (create Facebook ads): facebook.com/ads/creativehub

Fastory (social story creation): fastory.io

Free Stock Photo Sites (updated list of free social images): blog.Hootsuite.com

Gifs (gif maker): gifs.com

Good Data (business intelligence tool): gooddata.com

Google Data Studio (data visualization): datastudio.google.com

Google Fonts: www.google.com/fonts

Google Image: images.google.com

Grammarly (proofreading and editing): grammarly.com

Headline Analyzer (optimize headlines): coschedule.com/headline-analyzer

Hemingway Editor (improve writing): hemingwayapp.com

Infogram (create charts, maps, graphics): infogram.com

Knowem (username and trademark database): knowem.com

LibreStock (free stock image search): librestock.com

Lumen5 (social video creation): lumen5.com

MetaShort (custom social links): metashort.co

Namechk (check usernames and URLs): namechk.com

NodeXL (social analysis and visualization): nodexl.codeplex.com

Opal (marketing collaboration platform): workwithopal.com

Over (social image, type, graphic tool): madewithover.com

Pexels (CC0 photos): pexels.com

Phonto (add text to photos): phon.to

PicPlayPost (multiple media story creation): www.mixcord.co/partners/picplaypost.html

Pictaculous (color pallet generator): pictaculous.com

PicMonkey (photo editing, design): picmonkey.com

Piktochart (infographic maker): piktochart.com

Pixlr (photo editing): pixlr.com

Placeit (create mockups): placeit.net

Content Idea Generator (title maker): portent.com/tools/title-maker

Power BI (business intelligence): powerbi.microsoft.com

Promo (video creation): slide.ly/promo

Recite (visual quote creator): recite.com

Relay (resize, remix designs across social): relaythat.com

Ripl (animated video creation): ripl.com

Rocketium (create Buzzfeed style videos): rocketium.com

Screncast-O-Matic (screen recording): screencast-o-matic.com

Smartmockups (create product/post screen shots): smartmockups.com

Socialab (LinkedIn network visualization and analysis): socilab.com

Spark (create graphics, web pages, stories): spark.adobe.com

Stencil (social media image creation): getstencil.com

Story Slicer (edit social video): storyslicer.us

Studio (add layers to photos): madewithstudio.com

Tiny PNG (image compression): tinypng.com

TwistedWave (audio editor): twistedwave.com

Tweetroot (create Twitter word clouds): rubbledev.com/app/tweetroot-for-twitter

Typito (video creation): typito.com/go

Typorama (social graphic creation): apperto.com/typorama

Unsplash (free license photos): unsplash.com

Videolicious (automatic video creation): videolicious.com

Word Swag (add text to photos): wordswag.co

Social Content Scheduling & Automation

Adobe Experience Manager (cross-channel content management): adobe.com/marketing-cloud/enterprise-content-management.html

AdStage (paid marketing reporting and automation): www.adstage.io

Alltop (news and information aggregator): alltop.com

Bitly (link management platform): bitly.com

Buffer (schedule and track social posts): bufferapp.com

Contentgems (content discovery): contentgems.com

ContentStudio (content discovery and management): contentstudio.io

CoSchedule (cross-channel marketing calendar): coschedule.com

dlvr.it (automated social posting): dlvr.it

DrumUp (content curation tool): drumup.io

Edgar (social media automation and scheduler): meetedgar.com

Flipboard (content curation tool): flipboard.com

Google Programmatic (automatic online ad buying): thinkwithgoogle.com/programmatic-guide

Google Photos (free photo storage): google.com/photos

IFTTT (cross-app task automation): ifttt.com

Later (schedule Instagram posts): later.com

List-O-Matic (list management): accessify.com/tools-and-wizards/developer-tools/list-o-matic

MissingLett_r (automated social campaigns): missinglettr.com

Nuzzel (newsfeed, curation): nuzzel.com

OptinMonster (auto lead generation): optinmonster.com

Outbrain (native ad platform): outbrain.com

PixelMe (URL shortener and retargeting): pixelme.me

Post Planner (content recommendations): www.postplanner.com

Scoop It Content Director (content marketing automation): scoop.it

Short Stack (create contests, giveaways, landing pages): www.shortstack.com

Slack (team collaboration): slack.com

SocialOomph (social discovery and automation): www.socialoomph.com

Social Warefare (WordPress social sharing automation): warfareplugins.com

Tailwind (Pinterest/Instagram discovery and scheduling): tailwindapp.com

Thunderclap (synchronize crowd social): thunderclap.it

Tint (social content aggregator): tintup.com

Twittimer (schedule cross-platform social posts): twittimer.com

TweetBot (Twitter client): tapbots.com/tweetbot

TweetDeck (Twitter client): tweetdeck.en.softonic.com

Uberflip (B2B content creation): uberflip.com

Woodbox (create contests, giveaways, campaigns): woobox.com

Zapier (automate workflows across apps): zapier.com

Zendesk (social customer service system): www.zendesk.com

Social Media & Digital Media Research

Adobe Digital Index (research on digital marketing): cmo.com/adobe-digital-index.html

Affinio (audience interest analysis): www.affin.io

Facebook IQ (consumer and ad insights): facebook.com/iq

Forrester (social media research findings): www.forrester.com/Social-Media

Gallup (social media research reports): www.gallup.com

Global Web Index (consumer survey data insights): www.globalwebindex.net

IBM Watson Analytics for Social Media (holistic view of consumers, market, competitors from millions of online sources): ibm.com/marketplace/cloud/social-media-data-analysis/us/en-us

Interbrand Best Brands (global ranking of brands): interbrand.com

Kantar Media SRDS (insights for media planners and buyers): srds.com

Millward Brown BrandZ Reports (global brand equity ranking): millwardbrown.com/brandz

Nielsen Social Media Reports (social media research reports): www.nielsensocial.com

Pew Research Center (US social research reports): www.pewinternet.org

Roper Center (public opinion research): www.ropercenter.uconn.edu

Simmons (consumer survey research): simmonssurvey.com

Social Explorer (easy access to US demographic data): www.socialexplorer.com

Social Media Collective (social media research reporting): socialmediacollective.org

Statista (research statistics portal): www.statista.com

Think With Google (online consumer research insights): thinkwithgoogle.com

YouGov BrandIndex (brand perception ranking): brandindex.com

Trade Associations, Awards, Conferences

Brand Innovators (marketer conference): brand-innovators.com/events

Content Marketing World (content marketing conference): www.contentmarketingworld.com

INBOUND (content marketing conference): www.inbound.com

INTEGRATE (IMC conference): imc.wvu.edu/integrate

Online Media Marketing Awards (online marketing awards): www.mediapost.com/ommaawards

Social Media Marketing World (social media conference): www.socialmediaexaminer.com/smmworld

Social Media Strategies Summit (social media conference): socialmediastrategiessummit.com

Social Media Week (social media conference): socialmediaweek.org

Summit (customer experience conference): summit.adobe.com/na

SXSW (new media/technology conference): sxsw.com

SXSWedu (conference and competition): sxswedu.com

The Webby Awards (Internet awards): www.webbyawards.com

The Shorty Awards (social media awards): shortyawards.com

The Mashies (digital awards): mashable.com/mashies

Word of Mouth Marketing Association: womma.org

Social Media News & Insights

Amy Porterfield (online marketing expert): amyporterfield.com

Australia ACCC (social media regulation – Australia): accc.gov.au/business/advertising-promoting-your-business/social-media

Chris Brogan (online marketing expert): chrisbrogan.com/blog

Christopher S. Penn(online marketing expert): christopherspenn.com

Jeff Bullas (online marketing expert): jeffbullas.com

Canadian Competition Bureau Guides (social media regulation – Canada): www.competitionbureau.gc.ca

Content Marketing Institute (content marketing experts): contentmarketinginstitute.com/blog

Convince & Convert (social media experts): www.convinceandconvert.com

FTC Disclosures (social media regulation – U.S.): www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/ftcs-endorsement-guides-what-people-are-asking

Gartner Digital Marketing (digital marketing experts): blogs.gartner.com/digital-marketing

Grow (social media expert – Mark Schaefer: www.businessesgrow.com

Hubspot’s Inbound Hub (content marketing experts): blog.hubspot.com

ICPEN Guidance (social media regulation – international): icpen.org/initiatives

Marketing Profs (digital marketing experts): www.marketingprofs.com

Mashable Social Media (digital marketing news): mashable.com/social-media

RazorSocial (social media experts): www.razorsocial.com/blog

Scott Monty (digital marketing expert): scottmonty.com

Social Media Examiner (social media experts): www.socialmediaexaminer.com

Social Media Explorer (social media news): www.socialmediaexplorer.com

Social Media Marketing Magazine (social media news): www.smmmagazine.com

Social Media Today (social media news): socialmediatoday.com

Social Mouths (social media experts): socialmouths.com/blog

Social Media Law Bulletin (social media law insights): www.socialmedialawbulletin.com

The Digital Garage (online learning): digitalgarage.withgoogle.com

UK CMA Guidance (social media regulation – UK): gov.uk/government/publications/online-reviews-and-endorsements-advice-for-businesses

YouTube Video Creators (YouTube video expert): www.youtube.com/videocreators

WOMMA Code of Ethics (social media ethical guidelines): womma.org/ethics

WOMMA Free Resources (social media regulation guidelines): womma.org/free-womm-resources

Social Media/Marketing Podcasts

Amy Porterfield: amyporterfield.com/category/podcast

Behind the Numbers: An eMarketer Podcast: emarketer.com/Article/Behind-Numbers-eMarketer-Podcast

Buffer Podcast: buffer.com/podcast

Content Inc.: contentmarketinginstitute.com/content-inc-podcast

The Content Experience: convinceandconvert.com/podcasts/shows/content-experience-show

Experience This!: convinceandconvert.com/podcasts/shows/experience-this

Influence Pros: convinceandconvert.com/podcasts/shows/influence-pros-podcast

Marketing Marvels: convinceandconvert.com/podcasts/shows/marketing-marvels-podcast

Marketing Smarts Podcast: www.marketingprofs.com/podcasts

Social Media Examiner: www.socialmediaexaminer.com/tag/podcast

Social Pros Podcast: convinceandconvert.com/podcasts/shows/social-pros-podcast

The Art of Paid Traffic Podcast: rickmulready.com/category/aoptpodcast

The Business of Story: convinceandconvert.com/podcasts/shows/business-of-story-podcast

The Full Monty: scottmonty.com/p/podcast.html

The Marketing Book Podcast: www.artillerymarketing.com/marketing-book-podcast

The Marketing Companion: businessesgrow.com/podcast-the-marketing-companion-2

This Old Marketing: contentmarketinginstitute.com/pnr-with-this-old-marketing-podcast

Social Media/Digital Marketing Training & Certification

Adobe Software (Certifications): training.adobe.com/training/courses

Bing/Yahoo! Ads (Certification): advertise.bingads.microsoft.com/en-us/resources/training

Blogging University (WordPress): dailypost.wordpress.com/blogging-university

Cision (Certification & Accreditation): cision.com/us/resources/university-program

Code Academy: codecademy.com

Constant Contact Social Media 101: blogs.constantcontact.com/social-media-quickstarter

Conversion Marketing (Certification): Leadpages: convertedu.com/courses

Facebook Blueprint (Certification): facebook.com/blueprint

Google Partners (Adwords Certification): support.google.com/partners

Google Analytics Academy (Certification): analyticsacademy.withgoogle.com

Hootsuite Academy (Certification): hootsuite.com/education

HubSpot Academy (Certification): academy.hubspot.com

Meltwater (Certification): Coming Soon … www.meltwater.com

Microsoft Dynamics 365 (Certification): microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365

Professional Certified Marketer – Digital Marketing (Certification): ama.org/events-training/Certification/Pages/digital-marketing-certification.aspx

Salesforce Trailhead (Badges and Certification): trailhead.salesforce.com Or academic-alliance.salesforce.com/business-specialist

Snapchat Explore (Certification): forbusiness.snapchat.com/blog/introducing-explore/

The Trade Desk Trading Academy (Certification): thetradedesk.com/products/thetradingacademy

For an continuously updated list visit: postcontrolmarketing.com/links

For the latest changes in social media strategy consider Asking These Questions To Ensure You Have The Right Social Media Strategy and its a good idea to Perform A Social Media Audit at least once a year.