The newest and most dominant frontier of marketing is social media. As the age of billboards and TV commercials comes to a close, anyone can tell you just how effective smart social media advertising can be.

However, with a reported 500 million new social media posts across the six largest platforms every day, standing out amongst the competition is easier said than done. That's where social media automation offers a solution. By automatically cross-posting, tracking analytics, and even brainstorming posts, thoughtful social media automation streamlines tasks, saving time and effort.

Hootsuite is one of the top choices for social media automation. It simplifies managing multiple platforms from one place. This allows you to maintain a consistent brand image and posting style across all social media apps.

With Hootsuite, you can schedule posts, track performance, and engage with your audience. It supports major networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, ensuring you reach your audience wherever they are.

It also just happens that Hootsuite is the newest tool to be added to IFTTT, our free and powerful automation platform that helps hundreds of thousands of social media marketers work smarter every day.

In this article, we'll explore how Hootsuite can transform your social media strategy. We'll talk about features, benefits, and practical applications, and see how integrating with IFTTT can bring your strategy to the next level.

What is social media automation?

At its core, social media automation is the practice of using tools to automate posting on social media, allowing you to focus more on strategy and creativity. Think of it like having a digital assistant who never sleeps.

Hootsuite facilitates a big part of this by using AI to suggest new content, determine the optimal time to post, and create schedules that will automatically send posts to your followers. For even more automation, such as cross posting to other platforms, funneling visual content from other posts, and alerting you of hashtag trends, you can pair Hootsuite with IFTTT.

We can also cover all of the tasks that make you sigh with boredom. Instead of manually logging into Instagram, Facebook, or X (Twitter) every few hours to post updates, reply to comments, or check analytics, automation platforms can do it for you. This doesn’t mean handing your entire brand voice over to an automated system. Social media management platforms such as Hootsuite let you make direct decisions about what should be posted and when it should be released.

Done thoughtfully, automation keeps your brand consistent and data-driven without burning you out.

Important aspects of social media automation include:

• - Scheduled posting: Plan content in advance.
• - Performance tracking: Monitor different metrics.
• - Engagement: Respond to comments and messages automatically.

Automation also helps in managing multiple platforms all at the same time. This is vital for brands targeting different demographics across vast networks.

For social media professionals, streamlining your work with Hootsuite and IFTTT offers numerous benefits that can boost productivity. First and most impactful, integrating with IFTTT saves time by taking care of routine tasks. This time savings can be allocated to more creative and worthwhile tasks.

Some more benefits of social media automation include:

• - Efficiency: Streamline scheduling and content management.
• - Consistency: Maintain a steady posting schedule.
• - Improved analytics: Access real-time data and insights.
• - Saving resources: Focus on strategy instead of scrolling.

A brief Hootsuite overview

Hootsuite is likely the most established name in the world of social media management. Launched back in 2008, it has grown into a tool trusted by millions of marketers, small businesses, and budding teams.

For individuals, Hootsuite provides a huge time-saving advantage by cutting down the need to manually log into multiple accounts. For businesses, it enables a more professional and strategic approach, making sure every post contributes to larger goals like brand visibility, lead generation, or customer loyalty.

Hootsuite offers a suite (see what we did there) of features aimed at optimizing social media automation. We'll cover the standout features next, perfect for those seeking efficiency and innovation in their digital quest for social media dominance.

Scheduling and bulk posting

The scheduling feature is a core component of Hootsuite's automation capabilities. Users can plan posts across multiple platforms in advance. There is also bulk scheduling, which allows the upload and scheduling of numerous posts simultaneously. This significantly reduces the time spent on manual postings.

AutoSchedule and calendar

AutoSchedule is another remarkable feature. It analyzes the best posting times to maximize engagement. Coupled with the content calendar, users can visualize and organize their posting strategy to a level never achievable before. This way, you can guarantee a consistent and timely social media presence.

Analytics and reporting

Analytics tools within Hootsuite provide insights into user engagement and campaign performance. Customizable reports help track metrics and return on investment (ROI). These insights are pivotal for refining strategies and enhancing results.

Social listening and monitoring

Hootsuite supports real-time monitoring of brand mentions and industry conversations. This feature can help in trend identification, no matter where they pop up, allowing businesses to stay responsive and informed.

We have to admit, when paired with IFTTT, Hootsuite goes from powerful to unstoppable. While Hootsuite handles scheduling and analytics, IFTTT can automate everything in between. Let's take a look at some of the more popular use cases with Hootsuite and IFTTT integration.

Use cases with Hootsuite + IFTTT

If this is your first time coming across IFTTT, we'd recommend you check out our full set up guide here to learn everything you need to know about building Applets. Here's a condensed review:

1. Select an existing Applet or click on "Create."
2. Choose the trigger; e.g., a new post is made.
3. Set the action; e.g., notify a team in Slack.
4. Configure specifics, like time delay or filter code.

Test your setup to confirm everything works correctly, and adjust settings as needed to optimize performance. To get started with any of the Applets featured in this section, simply click on the bubble.

Cross-posting across platforms

Instead of creating the same post multiple times for different platforms, you can set up an Applet to automatically share your Hootsuite posts to other networks. For example, schedule a post in Hootsuite for Instagram, and IFTTT can instantly republish it to Pinterest, Twitter, or LinkedIn, without any extra effort required.

Saving content for repurposing

Pairing IFTTT with services like Google Sheets or Dropbox lets you automatically save every post into a content library. This makes it easy to repurpose past content, track your messaging history, and build an archive for future campaigns. You can also get an email digest each week of exactly what was posted for later reference.

Team-based alerts

IFTTT can connect Hootsuite to tools like Asana, Trello, Slack, or email. You can use this connection to let teams know when a new post heads through the pipeline. With webhooks, you can also set up Applets such that when a trending hashtag or keyword relevant to your niche pops up, you’ll be notified instantly.

Streamlining customer engagement

With Hootsuite managing incoming messages, you can build a fast-response system with IFTTT. For example, if someone sends a direct message to your brand on Twitter, IFTTT can notify your team via Slack or SMS so you never miss a lead or urgent customer inquiry.

Choosing the right Hootsuite plan for your needs

Selecting the right Hootsuite plan is important for making sure you get all the features you need, and nothing you don't. A good start is assessing your current needs and budget constraints. Hootsuite offers a variety of plans to accommodate different business sizes.

There is no free option for Hootsuite, as their free plan was discontinued in favor of more expansive options. These paid plans can be suitable for an individual, but are more cost effective for larger teams or enterprises.

The lowest tier is Standard, starting at around $99/month when billed annually. It includes up to 5 social accounts, 1 user seat, unlimited scheduling, and access to AI tools for captions and hashtags. This plan is the best choice for individuals, freelancers, or small teams that only manage a handful of profiles.

The next level up is Advanced, priced around $249/month annually. This plan supports unlimited social accounts and multiple users.. It offers advanced features like approval workflows, bulk scheduling, saved replies, in-depth analytics, and enhanced collaboration tools. Small to mid-sized teams will benefit most here.

For organizations, Hootsuite offers Enterprise plans with custom pricing. Enterprise users gain access to advanced social listening, team role management, custom analytics, dedicated support, and security features like Single Sign-On (SSO).

Better social media tools with IFTTT

Social media is one of the most crucial marketing channels for your team (large or small) to take advantage of. With the world at your fingertips, finding a good solution to your social media marketing challenge is paramount.

Instead of juggling countless platforms, you can connect over 1000 of your favorite apps to handle repetitive tasks for you. Whether it’s posting content across multiple channels, sending instant notifications, or tracking brand mentions, IFTTT makes it easier to stay responsive and consistent without the heavy lifting. Sounds like a plan? Click the button below to get started.