Social media is pivotal for any successful business, but juggling multiple platforms can be challenging, leading many to turn to social media management tools. Among the frontrunners are HubSpot and Hootsuite, both of which are revered by marketers and entrepreneurs worldwide. Both tools offer a wide array of features to help businesses streamline their social media efforts and reach their target audience effectively. So what’s the superior tool for your operations?
What's included in Hootsuite's package?
Hootsuite tailors its plans for diverse businesses—from startups to conglomerates. They set their pricing depending on the number of social profiles and users you're handling. Hootsuite doesn't just offer social media prowess; they pack their plans with tools to amplify your social media strategy.
- Small businesses can harness Hootsuite for post scheduling, content curation, basic analytics, and limited team collaboration—striking a balance without overwhelming users with advanced tools they might not require.
- Medium-sized enterprises can tap into Hootsuite's advanced analytics, team collaboration features, social listening and integrations with various marketing applications.
- Large corporations, with intricate online strategies, can leverage Hootsuite's enterprise package, boasting custom analytics, advanced security and permissions, dedicated account management and 24/7 support. These additional features ensure that large corporations can effectively manage their social media presence at scale.
Read more about Hootsuite’s plans here.
What's included in HubSpot's package?
In contrast, HubSpot integrates social media management within their all-in-one marketing platform. This encompasses customer relationship management (CRM), content management and email marketing alongside their social media tools.
HubSpot Marketing Hub pricing reflects usage and any additional functionalities you opt for. Their packages equip businesses of all sizes with the tools they need to effectively manage their marketing efforts. With them, it's not just about social media; it's about a unified marketing approach meant to streamline all processes.
- Emerging businesses can employ HubSpot's basic package for social media scheduling, basic analytics and fundamental CRM features. This allows them to establish their social media presence and manage their customer relationships in a simple and cost-effective way.
- As companies evolve, they might consider HubSpot's professional package, offering refined social media analytics, lead nurturing tools and advanced CRM functionalities.
- Large-scale enterprises with intricate marketing demands will find HubSpot's enterprise solutions beneficial, featuring advanced reporting, tailor-made workflows, and dedicated support.
Read more about HubSpot Marketing Hub here.
Social media management features comparison
While these features are dependent on the packages chosen, both Hootsuite and HubSpot offer a range of functionalities to help you manage your social media presence effectively.
Hootsuite enables users to schedule posts across multiple platforms, create social ads, engage with your audience through social listening and monitor key terms and hashtags. Its user-centric design ensures effortless planning and organization of social media content.
Their real-time analytics offer tangible insights into your campaigns. With its detailed reports and customizable dashboards, you can easily track key metrics such as engagement, reach and conversions. This data-driven approach allows you to make informed decisions and optimize your social media strategy.
On the other hand, HubSpot provides a well-rounded set of features, extending beyond social post scheduling. With HubSpot, you can also craft and oversee social ads, allowing you to reach a wider audience and drive targeted traffic to your website. By capitalizing on social advertising, you can increase brand awareness, generate leads and boost your sales.
Psst… need a more cost effective approach to social media advertising? Try out Meta (Facebook) ads!
In addition to ad management, HubSpot also enables you to track lead generation from social media—these tracking and attribution capabilities allow you to identify which social media channels are driving the most conversions and optimize your marketing efforts accordingly. By understanding the ROI of your social media campaigns, you can allocate your resources effectively and focus on the platforms that deliver the best results.
Moreover, HubSpot's CRM integration is a game-changer when it comes to social media management. By connecting your social media accounts with HubSpot's CRM, you can seamlessly align your social media efforts with your overall marketing and sales strategy. This integration allows you to track and nurture leads, personalize your social media interactions, and provide a seamless customer experience across all touchpoints.
Content scheduling and publishing
Efficient content scheduling and publishing are essential for maintaining a consistent social media presence. Both Hootsuite and HubSpot offer intuitive scheduling features that allow you to plan and organize your social media content in advance. Hootsuite's dashboard provides an easy-to-use interface where you can create and schedule posts for various social media platforms simultaneously. HubSpot's content calendar offers a visually appealing way to manage your social media content and ensure that your posts are published at the right time.
Social media analytics and reporting
Measuring the success of your social media efforts is crucial for making informed decisions and optimizing your strategy. Hootsuite provides a range of analytics tools to track engagement, follower growth, and audience demographics across different platforms. Their reports offer valuable insights that can help you identify trends and make data-driven decisions.
HubSpot takes social media analytics to the next level by offering advanced reporting features (you can check out some of our favorite ones for tech companies here). With HubSpot, you can track not only basic metrics like reach and engagement but also link clicks, conversion rates, and revenue generated from social media campaigns. HubSpot's reporting dashboard provides comprehensive data visualization and allows you to create custom reports to suit your specific needs.
Team collaboration and user interface
Efficient team collaboration is essential for successful social media management, especially if you have multiple team members working on different aspects of your social media strategy. Both Hootsuite and HubSpot offer collaboration features that allow team members to work together seamlessly.
Hootsuite's user interface is straightforward and easy to navigate, making it ideal for beginners. It offers features like team assignments, approval workflows, and content libraries to facilitate collaboration. HubSpot's user interface is more robust and designed to integrate with other marketing tools within the HubSpot ecosystem. This makes it an excellent choice if you are already using other HubSpot products.
Integrations and third-party tools
Integrating your social media management tool with other marketing tools and third-party applications can enhance your overall workflow. Both Hootsuite and HubSpot offer integrations with popular social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Hootsuite, being a dedicated social media management tool, provides a vast library of integrations with tools like Canva for graphic design, Google Drive for document management and Zendesk for customer support. On the other hand, HubSpot's integration capabilities extend beyond social media platforms. As a part of their all-in-one marketing platform, HubSpot integrates seamlessly with other marketing tools like email marketing software, CMS, and CRM.
Pricing plans and affordability
Pricing is often a crucial factor when choosing a social media management tool for your business. Hootsuite offers a range of pricing plans to cater to businesses of all sizes. Their plans start from a lower price point, making them more affordable for small businesses with limited budgets. However, as your business grows and you require additional features, the cost of Hootsuite's plans can increase significantly.
HubSpot's pricing is based on a tiered model that offers different levels of usage and additional features. While their pricing may be higher compared to Hootsuite, the additional features and capabilities make HubSpot a cost-effective solution for businesses looking for an all-in-one marketing platform.
Finding the best value for your business
Your choice hinges on your unique requirements and budget. If your focus is primarily social media, Hootsuite might be your go-to. However, if you're scouting for a comprehensive platform, HubSpot might be more fitting.
Consider factors like the number of profiles you oversee, the analytics depth you require, and integration needs. Test both platforms and gather team insights. The tool that aligns with your goals will be the linchpin in your digital marketing strategy. Whether you lean towards Hootsuite's specialized features or HubSpot's all-in-one marketing platform, both can elevate your online strategy and propel your business forward.
Choosing the future of your digital strategy
While both Hootsuite and HubSpot offer stellar functionalities, HubSpot's all-in-one marketing platform truly stands out as a comprehensive solution for businesses aiming to elevate their online presence, streamline their processes and drive sustainable growth—a choice that evolves with your needs.