MKTG 347/Week 13: Scheduling Posts using Hootsuite

Whether you're in college, work a full time job, or maybe even do both, it can be hard to find the time to do everything that needs to be done throughout the day. Remembering to stay up to date with social media accounts is just another task added to the many that need to be completed. Hootsuite makes the issue of not having the time to sit, create, and post content to social media accounts disappear.

By scheduling posts you can save time and are able to think about the content you are posting ahead of time, which will only help to improve your social media presence.

Scheduling posts using Hootsuie is simple, but if you have never had any experience  with this tool before, it could be confusing at first. Below are some basics so that you can get started with scheduling your content to multiple social media platforms.

Compose Message: 

When you first login to Hootsuite, you will see something like the picture shown above. In order to start the process of scheduling your first post, drag your mouse over where it says "compose message" and this screen will appear:

Choose a Network: 

Once you see an image like the one above, you can start to compose your message. After you add the text you want everyone to see, you can look over to the left and choose which networks you want the post to be published to. You can schedule the same posts to multiple networks. If you want the same message to be posted to your Facebook and LinkedIn accounts, that can easily be accomplished. 

Set the Time and Date: 

After choosing the networks you want to post to, you need to schedule the time at which you want the content to be posted. 

Once you have set a date and time, you have the option to receive an email when the message is set, and you can also double check the date by looking at the date in publisher. 

After entering all of the information above, simply click save and your post will be ready to be uploaded!

MKTG 347/Week 12: Hootsuite Basics

Most companies today have a Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and other accounts to keep up with their social media presence. While it is great to have multiple accounts, it can become a hassle to keep posting new content on a continuous basis. This is where Hootsuite is extremely useful.

What is it? 

Hootsuite is a website that allows you to post content to multiple social media sites. Not only can you post to more than one site, but you can also schedule the time and dates of when you want the content to be posted. So, Hootsuite is a time saver. Within just a few hours you can have a months worth of content planned out and ready to be posted.

How to Get started:
Getting started is very easy. If you are just using Hootsuite to gain some experience, I would suggest registering for the free account. Once you create an account, you will go through the process of adding social media networks. Even if you do not have official accounts you can practice with your Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn accounts.

Using Hootsuite: 
After adding your social media sites, Hootsuite gives you the option to add streams and go through steps to get you started. If you have never used Hootsuite before this can be helpful to watch and it doesn't hurt to go through because you can exit the wizard set up process at any time.

If you are not sure where to start, Hootsuite University could be a helpful tool for you. This online section allows you to explore Hootsuite a little more and become more comfortable with the process of uploading content. You can view videos, webinars, and even on demand webinars through this section.

If you are trying to manage multiple social media platforms, you should take the time to become familiar with Hootsuite. Through this site, you are able to post scheduled content on a regular basis to multiple social media sites, which will save you time and help increase your ROI.