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.
