Alan Miller, social media account manager at The Crocodile, reveals six apps that can help you create and manage social media content on the go
Tablets and smartphones aren’t just for passively consuming content: the number of whizzy apps designed to help users create and manage their own content is growing all the time.
This is good news for marketers looking to reinvigorate their social media strategies with visual content.
Since Instagram arrived on the scene in 2010, with its suite of filters to transform average pictures into evocative moments, millions of people have started sharing their photos with the world.
Since then, a raft of photography and video apps containing similar editing features to those found in professional software have become available, making high quality production on the go accessible to anyone.
With the increasing emphasis on image and video content on networks like Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest and Instagram, it’s never been more important for your brand to use photos, graphics and other visual elements. The good news is you no longer have to rely solely on your design studio to create powerful visual content.
So, here’s a roundup of six apps that will help you unlock your creativity and manage your visual social media content on the move:
1. Instagram
Instagram is a mobile photo and video-sharing social network with 300 million active monthly users. Facebook acquired Instagram in April 2012 for $1 billion and it’s no surprise that when used together, they create a powerful tool to extend the organic reach of your content and save you time in the process.
Including an Instagram gallery on one of your Facebook tabs and encouraging followers to contribute using a unique hashtag is a dynamic way of creating user generated content. Here’s a great example from 3Dconnexion, a manufacturer of advanced input devices for engineering and design professionals.
Instagram doesn’t scale well on an iPad, so for a better user experience, download Flow for Instagram. Throw in the Repost app and start ‘re-gramming’ other people’s Instagrams for variation and greater engagement. Don’t forget to credit the original source with @mentions and include brand specific hashtags as well as more commonly used hashtags to extend the reach of your posts.
2. Periscope
Periscope is a live-streaming video app and part of Twitter’s big push to position itself as a broadcasting platform. The app allows you to broadcast live video from your iPhone to Twitter for all to see. The benefit for marketers is that you can provide your followers with instant access to live events, interviews or real-time moments at the touch of a button.
Once you’ve downloaded Periscope from the App Store (it’s only available on iOS at the moment), you’re given the option to subscribe to the Periscope broadcasts of those you follow on Twitter. You also have the option to be notified every time one of them starts streaming.
Live streaming has been around for a while but the integration with social media via apps like Periscope and Meerkat makes it more accessible and fun. The opportunities for real-time, live video marketing are vast.
3. Flipagram
According to Brainshark, from 2017, 74 per cent of all internet traffic in will be video. As the popularity of video content grows, it’s important that you build it into your marketing strategy without blowing the budget.
Apps like Flipagram let you create short-form videos from multiple still images. Flipagram is so simple and easy to use, you can create one while you’re hotfooting it from one meeting to the next. It’s a great way of making your still images work harder and increasing reach and engagement. No additional budget required.
4. YouTube Capture
YouTube Capture enables you to record videos and then enhance them with editing, stabilisation and music. You can then upload and share via the usual social networks.
With engagement rates for video content far outweighing those of text-based content, it’s clear that video is the preferred communication medium for the majority of people. Adding this into your marketing mix is a great way to share video testimonials, customer case studies or footage from events.
5. Hootsuite
Hootsuite is a social media dashboard that lets you monitor your social media channels and manage your posts. It also allows you to measure the reach of your content to help you understand how it has performed.
The Hootsuite app allows you to react to trending topics, publish content, schedule posts and engage in conversations that are happening across multiple social profiles. Once you have the desktop version set up, you can transition seamlessly to the mobile app.
6. Google Drive
A final tip for efficient content management on the go is to use Google Drive’s cloud-based storage to automatically sync files for a smooth transition between your mobile and desktop.
So there you have it: six free apps that will help you reinvigorate your social media marketing strategy to include visually rich and engaging content, which you can create and manage on the move.
