As a gal on the go, my phone has to be close by. In today’s post, I’m sharing seven of the apps that allow me to rock my social media regardless of where I am and how they can help you — even if you’re not a blogger! Sharing powerful social media is so important in today’s business world.
7 Must-Have Apps for Powerful Social Media Click To Tweet{This post may contain affiliate and/or referral links. I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through a link in this post. Thank you for your support of What Nicole Wore.}
I’m not going to mention the actual social media sites, like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, since we all know they’re value, but I am going to share how I manage social shares and the like! So let’s get to it. When I first started What Nicole Wore, I {naively} thought that creating great content was all I needed to do to draw readers. These days, each blog post is shared to at least 10-15 other places. While at first this was super overwhelming, I’ve learned to streamline the process as much as I can.
Bloggers have to do WAY more than just create kickass content. Some of the tools that help: Click To Tweet1. Buffer – Buffer is a scheduling app that’s available on both desktop and with an app. The free plan lets you connect five social profiles and ten posts/tweets. The upgraded plan will let you connect ten profiles and up to 100 posts as well as Pinterest scheduling. I first started using the free plan to schedule tweets for blog posts. My main gripe against it is that there’s no way to tag people in photos you attach to the tweet. {I do this to help brands discover me. You can still mention the brand in your tweet.}
However, I like using Buffer to continue sharing older content and for non-blogging purposes. I volunteer as an advisor for my sorority and work directly with the sorority’s Public Relations and Webmaster chairwomen.
Buffer is perfect for this type of media management because it takes the social accounts, analyzes the best times to post and automatically pushes content at those times. I usually “suggest” {read: force} the Webmaster to use this during critical and busy times like recruitment. Being able to schedule out social media lets us focus more on selecting high quality media and less on timing.
Scheduling social media in advance let's creators focus more on creating high quality content. Click To TweetThe app’s interface is easy to use {switching between social accounts is simple} and you can link to groups to schedule posts there as well.
2. Pages Manager – Facebook does not exactly like third-party apps {like Buffer} so I stick to using Pages Manager for scheduling. What I like best about Pages Manager is that I can access & reply to messages sent to the pages I manager which is something you can’t do in the Facebook app. This app also automatically switches you to your page account when you respond to comments; I hate when I think I’m liking something from my personal account but end up doing it from a page a manage.
3. Tailwind – Pinterest is one of my favorite social sites but used to take so long to manage. Tailwind allows you to share everything you want to pin into the platform. When you first set up your account, you’ll input how many times a day you want pins to publish and then Tailwind will automatically queue up your pins. Tailwind analyzes your account, pinpoints the best times to pin and creates time slots around these based on how many times a day you want to pin. You can adjust these as wanted and even schedule a custom time to pin.
Pinterest can be time consuming, but doesn't have to be! Learn more here: Click To TweetThe app allows you to move drafts as you like and discover new content and add it to your queue. You can also sync your account with your Instagram account to pin from there. If you want to try a free trial, you can sign up here for a free month.
4. Snug – Tif put me onto this app a few months ago and I’ve really enjoyed it. This app lets you plan out your Instagram feed by showing you how future posts will fit into your grid without posting them. Recently, I switched to having a color theme for each block of photos so having Snug has been a lifesaver in terms of planning ahead and seeing where content fits best for upcoming posts. While this is a paid app, the 99cents has been well worth it for me.
My go to Instagram planning app helps me keep my grid on 100! Click To Tweet5. A Beautiful Mess {ABM} – While I don’t use this app much for editing and the like, I find myself constantly opening it so that I can forget photos for my IG Story. If you use InstaStories, you’ve probably noticed that you can’t upload photos that are older than 24 hours and that photos that aren’t full screen automatically refit to the screen. While you can get around the 24 hour rule by taking a screenshot, I always open the ABM app, change the crop size to a vertical rectangle and then open the photo, I want for my story.
This is super handy for me as I shoot collaborations more than 24 hours in advance, share sale alerts for items I own and even sometimes just to post a cute background for a text post. {I use the last one a TON when sharing photos to the sorority Instagram’s story!}
6. Dropbox – When I upgraded to my iPhone 7, I went up in storage because I always have SO many photos on my phone. Still even with more space, sometimes I get overwhelmed when trying to find a specific photo from my iPhone’s photo library. This year I uploaded to Dropbox Plus and added the app to my phone so that I can keep photos I may need throughout the course of a week off my phone but easily accessible on the go.
I love that I can put photo files into various files {I keep an Instagram folder as well as monthly blog posts} and share folders with friends. I shoot photos for a couple of local bloggers so DropBox makes it easy for me to share edited images and have them accessible to post on my photography IG.
7. Facetune – This app gets a bad rep as some of the features allow editing to be over the top. However, I like it for quick editing, specifically brightening photos that are too dark and emphasizing colorful backgrounds. For me, I’ve found it the best editing app to make colors show “true.” While I only used it to adjust lighting in flatlays in the beginning, I’ve started to use it instead of my other phone editing apps because it allows a little more control.
What are your favorite apps?
kara says
Great list! I use most of these already but I am totally checking out the ‘ABM’ app! I think I will use it for my IG stories too 🙂
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Thank you Kara! It’s amazing how the right apps can make things so much easier.
Nataly says
Thank you so much for sharing this post! Great apps and tips!
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Thank you Nataly!
Jenny says
So many great apps here! I love Facetune.
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Thanks so much Jenny!
Tiffany says
Swear by Snug and Facetune!!! Both are game changers!
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
They’re seriously so helpful!
Brandy says
Thank you for all the info! I hop you don’t mind if I share your article with a few business groups I am in! ~Brandy
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
I’m so glad to hear the info was helpful! ❤️
Tiffany Griffin says
I’m a big fan of Tailwind. It has made managing my Pinterest account so much easier by taking off the pressure to manually pin every single day.
Your photos are stunning Nicole! Pinning this post for sure! 🙂
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Tailwind is a real game changer! I recommend it to all my blogger friends 🙌🏽
Thank you so much for the kind words!
Cassie Rea says
Yes!! Love ALL of these apps! Although I haven’t used snug. Definitely need to check it out!
XOXO, Cassie Rea
http://www.cassierea.com
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Yes – check it out and let me know what you think!
Lindsay says
This is awesome! I’m always looking for better tools and you post some of the best Instagram photos!
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Aww that’s so sweet – thank you! Hope these are all helpful!
Kelssey Layton says
I swear by Dropbox! It is totally a lifesaver when it comes to saving computer and phone storage!
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Absolutely! I wish I’d started using it sooner!
Lee Anne says
Such valuable information to make life that little bit easier! So awesome.
XO
Lee Anne
http://www.lifebylee.com
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Every little bit definitely helps! Thanks for reading Lee Anne!
Dylan says
These are some great apps. I’ll have to check out the ones I’m not familiar with.
Dylan
http://www.lifebydylan.com
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Thanks Dylan!
Mary says
I’m going to give Facetune a try, I have heard some negative things. I used my free trial for Tailwind, but didnt see a benefit, maybe I need to revisit that one again. Thanks for your suggestions, I look forward to putting them to use.
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
I think Facetune can definitely be overdone but I like the adjustments you can make to lighting and that you can “target” where you filter! Thanks so much for reading!
Kristen says
Thank you for sharing these useful apps! I also use Buffer currently, mostly for my tweets and then use the Pages Manager for scheduling Facebook posts. I’m definitely going to check out the ABM and Facetune apps though!
Kristen | http://www.sophisticatedgal.com
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Thank you so much for reading Kristen!
Joscelyn says
I haven’t heard of several of these before so thanks for the great info! I have heard good things about tailwind though, so I’ll be getting that asap!
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
I’ve been LOVING tailwind! Thank you for reading ❤️❤️
Whitney says
Snug is definitely one of my faves!! It helps me visually see which photo I want to post next!!
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Absolutely! I don’t know how I went so long without it
Rachel R Ritlop says
Facetune is a game changer! Love getting rid of a blemish with it!
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Completely agree! I don’t like to over edit any features but I’m always down to cover up a breakout 😂
Anna English says
These are such great tips Nicole!
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Thank you so much for reading Anna! Happy Wednesday!
Sarah K Tripp says
I’m going to have to check these apps out!
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Thanks so much for stopping by Sarah!
Lauren says
This is such a great roundup! And I love all of your outfits!
Lauren | http://www.discodaydream.com
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Thank you Lauren!
Mandy Baker says
Nicole this was a great read! I downloaded most of these and can’t wait to start playing!
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Yay! Thanks so much for reading – hope they help!!
Carly says
You look so classy, lady! These are amazing tools.
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Aww thank you so much Carly!
Stephanie // A Sparkle Factor says
I love Tailwind! I just signed up yesterday and fell down a rabbit hole of learning how to use it… amazing! It really makes managing Pinterest SO much easier!
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Isn’t it amazing?! I wasn’t sure if paying for it was worth it when I signed up, but it’s made Pinterest a breeze.
Natasha Stoneking says
some of these are new finds for me… great roundup!!!!
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Thank you Natasha! Hope this helped 💙💙
Catherine says
Wow! Such a great list of ideas! Thanks so much for talking in such detail about what you loved & hated. It is so informative. Definitely making notes 😉
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Thank you for stopping by doll ❤️❤️
Zac @ The Kitchen Gent says
I love the colors in your photos, so I will DEFINITELY be checking out the photo editing app! I might even try Tailwind too, as Pinterest could be a much bigger source of traffic for me but I just don’t have time for it. Thanks for the roundup!
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Let me know what you think! If you end up trying Tailwind let me know, I’m in a few food and recipe tribes that would be GREAT fits for you!
Angel says
These are great suggestions and I’m definitely going to try the abm one! I hate when a photo doesn’t fit in my stories
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Thanks Angel! I hate that too!
Living in Color says
Great tips here, lady!
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Thanks so much for reading!