Social media may be a business tool or avenue for some but if you’re like me then it’s a lifestyle really. One of the main reasons that I bought my iPhone was because of its capabilities and how it would fit within my lifestyle and business model for that matter. The fact that there are over 300,000 apps in the iTunes Store with some of the most popular available on the market was important for me when I was looking at getting my iPhone. I’m a geek, flat out who is constantly connected to the web and likes to stay on top of news and social media conversations. So if you’re as crazy about your iPhone and social media hand-in-hand then you’ll probably find this article valuable.
Social Media Management Tools for Your iPhone
Social Media has become a large part of my Life. Therefore I take it wherever I go and stay plugged in as often as possible. There are a handful of apps that I use on my iPhone to remain connected. It helps me communicate with the web, friends, coworkers, clients, and such. Furthermore i’m at the tip of breaking news and trends as they emerge onto the social media space. One thing I have to say before hand is that if you don’t know how to use your iPhone then you shouldn’t own one. It’s as simple as that. So without further ado here are a few apps that you can too use to stay connected with your favorite social media platforms.
- IM+ PRO – instant messaging power to the fullest. This little app offers instant connect to MSN Messenger, Facebook Chat, Twitter, Skype, and more. Even over 3G speeds although preferably on Wi-Fi it will instantly connect you with your friends on the go with the ability to conduct sms style conversations in real-time. It will cost you a few bucks but to be honest it’s well worth it if you ask me.
- HootSuite/TweetDeck/Twitter – i’m addicted to these two particular apps which give me the ability to stay in touch with all of my Twitter accounts. Yep, that’s a total of five of them! The best thing about that HootSuite app for iPhone is it gives you the ability to schedule tweets in the feature while tapping away on your mobile. TweetDeck is FREE and we all love that but it doesn’t have this feature on the iPhone. Perhaps something that’s in the works for feature releases. It also doesn’t have Analytics features like HootSuite does which I simply can’t do without. Now the Twitter app itself, well that’s pretty much good for sending me notifications directly onto the screen to notify me of who’s bugging me. HootSuite will cost you about $4.99 (last time I checked) but it’s money well spent especially if you’re interested in collecting data on your activity and performance.
- Facebook – even though some of the tools I already mentioned have the abilities to integrate with your Facebook Feed it’s always nice to have the standalone app. You can log in and browse your feed in real-time along with other cool things which let you keep tabs on what’s happening inside your own social bubble. I’ve heard that some folks prefer to use the Facebook App for iPhone over other third party apps simply due to preference. Whatever floats your boat.
- FourSquare – location based apps have become extremely popular. As of recently there are over 10 million using FourSquare either for personal or business purposes. People are checking in everywhere and connecting with new people in an attempt to build a solid network of personas to interact with. Based upon the social buzz on the web these types of apps are only becoming more popular and gaining momentum with small to medium sized businesses.
- Skype – take your contacts on the go with the Skype application for iPhone. You would be amazed at how well it actually works over 3G. It’s a handy little application that will keep you connected with your online contacts. Don’t worry, it’s free! If you’re in a Wi-Fi zone it will let you make free calls as well. Just about all of its web features are available on your iPhone as well therefore giving you reach to your network and the ability to communicate.
These are just some of the apps I use to stay connected. There are others out there that I’m sure you’ll find useful as well although these are the ones that I found to have met my needs. Running a business is a challenging task alone and in part requires you to monitor your brand online. Some of the strategies that you should be utilizing within your marketing plan are managing your brand on the web, monitoring conversations, and engaging with new prospects. Hopefully these tools will assist you with your social media marketing strategies and give you the ability to be more efficient and productive.