Social media is a game-changer for nonprofits, offering endless opportunities to spread awareness, build communities, and fundraise effectively. Yet, with so many social media management tools out there, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. That's why we’ve created this guide to help you pick the best social media management tools for nonprofits in 2024.
These tools not only assist in managing content across multiple platforms but also help enhance an organization’s overall strategy through analytics and audience engagement features. Let’s dive into the details!
Features to Look For in Social Media Management Tools
When selecting a social media management tool, consider your nonprofit's unique needs and budget. At a minimum, the tool you choose should offer:
- Management of Multiple Accounts: Having a single dashboard to manage accounts on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter can save significant time.
- Scheduling Posts: It should allow you to plan and schedule posts in advance to maintain a consistent social presence.
- Monitoring Engagement: The tool should let you reply to comments and monitor hashtag conversations.
- Data Analysis: Measuring and tracking results is essential for understanding what's working and what isn’t.
- User-Friendliness: You shouldn’t need an IT degree to figure out how it works!
Ultimately, a good tool should streamline your social media processes and make the task of posting and engagement less intimidating, not more.
Top Social Media Tools for Nonprofits
1. Best for Multi-Platform Content Scheduling: Planly
Planly is the social media management tool your nonprofit needs if you’re looking for simplicity with a robust feature set. It supports multi-account management, making it easy to post across platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook, all from one place. Planly’s clean interface is perfect for those who want a no-fuss scheduling tool that’s both affordable and user-friendly.
Pricing: Starts with a free 15 day trial, and offers discounted rates as low as 10$/month — perfect for those just starting out or expanding.
2. Best for Social Media Specific Approach: Hootsuite
Hootsuite remains a favorite for its comprehensive features, including multi-platform management, post scheduling, and AI-driven content suggestions through OwlyWriter. Its integrations with CRM platforms help nonprofits keep track of donor interactions directly from social feeds.
Pricing: Free for individuals; paid plans start from $19/month, with a 50% discount for nonprofits.
Buffer offers an intuitive solution for nonprofits just getting started. It breaks its features into Publish, Reply, and Analyze, making the whole process more digestible for newcomers.
Pricing: Free for individual users, paid plans starting at $5/month, with a 50% discount for nonprofits.
3. Best for Instagram-Centric Nonprofits: Later
Later focuses on making Instagram marketing easier, providing features like a visual content calendar, hashtag suggestions, and AI-driven caption ideas.
Pricing: Free plan available; nonprofits get 50% off premium plans.
Pricing: Starts with a generous free plan, and offers discounted rates for nonprofits—perfect for those just starting out or expanding.
5. Best for Nonprofits Focusing on Twitter: SocialOomph
If Twitter is your nonprofit’s main platform, SocialOomph offers features like unlimited tweet scheduling, keyword tracking, and easy draft saving.
Pricing: Free plan with full Twitter features, $25/month for the Professional plan.
6. Best for Analytics & Monitoring: BuzzSumo
BuzzSumo excels at providing in-depth insights into audience behavior, content performance, and web listening. Nonprofits can track which content gets the most shares, identify key influencers, and understand which topics are trending in their niche.
Pricing: Starts at $199/month; nonprofit discounts are available.
Crowdfire is perfect for nonprofits that want to understand their audience better through account parsing, web listening, and RSS integration. Monitoring mentions across platforms can help build a better response strategy.
Pricing: Starts at $9.99/month; 50% discount for nonprofits.
7. Best for Collaborative Teams: Sprout Social
Sprout Social stands out for nonprofits with larger teams that need a collaborative platform. For those wanting to upskill, a digital marketing course could also be a great resource to understand and leverage these tools more effectively. Features like multi-user access, advanced analytics, and a unified social inbox help teams stay in sync.
Pricing: Starts at $249/month—ideal for organizations with more ambitious social media goals.
Wrapping Up: Picking the Ideal Tool
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but selecting the right tool will have a huge impact on how effectively your nonprofit reaches its goals. Whether you’re aiming for in-depth analytics, managing multiple accounts, or simply looking for an easy way to schedule posts, these tools can streamline your efforts and help you focus on what truly matters—advancing your mission.
Give these tools a try, leverage their free trials, and see what fits your nonprofit's unique style and audience.