Schedule Facebook Posts
Hootsuite's interface to schedule Facebook posts
For small businesses, we recommend Hootsuite, Sprout Social or PostPlanner to schedule Facebook posts, also called status updates. Hootsuite and Sprout Social are social media management dashboards that enable scheduling for not only Facebook but also Twitter and Linkedin. They have broad reporting, analysis and management features. PostPlanner is specifically designed to schedule Facebook posts. I have used all three and believe any are appropriate for a small business.
Hootsuite is online software that enables you to schedule status updates for up to 5 Facebook profiles or pages (as well as other social media services like Twitter and Linkedin.) With its scheduling features, you can:
- Monitor and post to multiple profiles and social networks
- Create custom reports to track brand sentiment, follower growth, incorporate Facebook Insights and Google Analytics (Pro version)
- Take advantage of team collaboration (Pro version)
- Draft and schedule messages. With HootSuite Pro and Enterprise plans, batch-schedule up to 50 unique messages
- Get the dashboard for your iPhone/ iPad, BlackBerry or Android mobile device
Paid versions offers broader reporting, group task management, monitoring and other functions.
I use the basic, ad-supported version of Hootsuite to monitor and manage my multiple Facebook pages and Twitter accounts. The Pro and Enterprise versions are the most economical software to manage multiple social media activities with a team. If you are in my shoes, or need team software to schedule Facebook posts, this is the software for you.
Hootsuite’s basic, ad-supported version is free. The Pro version, without ads and with an additional team member, is $5.99 per month. I am proud to recommend it (and use an affiliate link.) If you want an economical solution to scheduling posts on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin, start your free trial by clicking
HERE.
Sprout Social is powerful and comprehensive software for social media management. The software is available in pro and business versions, with a free 30-day trial.
With Sprout Social, you can:
- Manage all of your social networks with ease
- Discover new targeted customers
- Monitor your brand across the web
- Schedule your messages for optimal delivery
- Analyze your performance and metrics
- Manage up to 5 identities
Sprout Social is a premium social media management tool, affordable by small businesses, but full-featured enough for larger companies.
I have used Sprout Social analyze my social media presences. I have taken advantage of its capabilities to identify potential Twitter followers in my niche. I am proud to recommend it (and use my affiliate link).
Social Sprout Small Business Version is $39 per month for up to 40 profiles, the Deluxe Version $59 for 60 profiles and the Premium Version $899 per month for unlimited profiles. If you plan to schedule posts on numerous social media profiles and pages on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin, and if you want sophisticated analytics and features, and you need this full-featured software. Sign up for a free 30 day trial of Sprout Social.
PostPlanner is a Facebook app, not separate online software. It allows you to schedule future posts to your page or profile without leaving Facebook. You can:
- Schedule posts for multiple pages at once
- Schedule posts that repeat at specified intervals
- Choose different time zones for different posts
- Get email notifications when your posts publish
- Schedule photo and video links.
I use PostPlanner to schedule weekly questions and re-occuring invitations to join this blog’s email newsletter and our free Facebook Business Pages Directory. It’s simple and convenient. If your social media activities are concentrated in Facebook, this product excels at scheduling.
PostPlanner costs $4.95 per month. They also offer a 30-day free trial. I am using this and am proud to recommend it with an affiliate link. If you just want to schedule Facebook posts, get PostPlanner by clicking HERE. If you want your own branded version, try HERE.
Caveats about Software to Schedule Facebook Posts
Using third party software helps page administrators organize and run their Facebook pages. Unfortunately, it may also reduce somewhat the visibility of those posts in the news feeds of your Fans. To learn about Facebook scheduling software’s pros and cons, click HERE.
If you are interested in Facebook business marketing, I invite you to sign up to get new posts from my blog on Using Facebook for Business Marketing BY EMAIL or in its RSS FEED.
Please also add your Facebook business page to the free FACEBOOK BUSINESS PAGES DIRECTORY.
Copyright Peg Corwin. All Rights Reserved
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Dear Blogmaster, I appreciated your posting here at Schedule Facebook Posts but I am really not loving the motif. Is it a common theme or something? Best regards though and keep posting!
There is Facebook Schedule App at Codecanyon for $14 codecanyon.net/item/schedule-facebook-app/1693897?ref=HQscripts
Thanks for the suggestion, Mina. Peg
Thanks for mentioning Sprout Social, Peg! Just wanted to clarify that we now offer four pricing plans with options to add additional users and team members. All of our plan and pricing information can be found at sproutsocial.com/pricing.
Thanks again for your review!
Brittany Morse
Social Marketing Manager
Sprout Social, Inc.
I have looked at all three options and not one clearly explains how to make a post from the ADMIN PANEL and NOT my personal wall. Obviously this is the engagement. If you could answer that and/or help me out by pointing me to the right FAQ page we will consider using your solution because we need it badly. Thanks,
Asaf Weinstein, CRM Manager
Asaf, These services allow you to select individual profiles and pages in the setup process, and post to them separately.