Free Social Media Management Tools for your Salon or Spa
There are a myriad of free social media management tools out there that can help you save time and money. Let’s take a look at some of the best!
Social Media Management Tools for Web
The pieces of software below have their own mobile apps as well, but you’ll get the most out of these social media management tools on your laptop or desktop.
Canva
Canva is a drag and drop design tool lets you create infographics, collages, or social media posts with its simple and easy to use interface. Canva is one of the most versatile tools out there. It’s easy enough for someone with no design or computer skills to use, and its powerful enough for professional use too.
You can upload your own images to Canva and download the finished product. It has thousands of free icons and images that you can use for your graphics, and thousands more that cost $1.00 each. You only pay for what you’ve used once you’ve downloaded your image.
Buffer
Buffer is an excellent tool for social media management. It’ll let you schedule content across all of your social media channels through a variety of apps and extensions. The Chrome extension for desktop will let you take any page you’re reading and schedule it into your social media feed with one click. The Buffer app on iPhone, iPad, and Android, will let you share pages that you’re reading on your browser straight to buffer.
Alternatively, you can use the web app on your desktop or mobile device to share and schedule your content. Buffer will also give you insight into how many people are clicking, seeing, and sharing your posts.
Another great Buffer feature is its “Suggestions” tab, which will give you content that you can post out from your Buffer dashboard to always keep something interesting flowing through your social media channels.
With its price, mobile apps, easy to use interface, and multiple integrations, Buffer is a social media tool must have.
It’s not exactly a social media management tool, but does act as a great source to find beautiful imagery to add to your Instagram feed.
It’s difficult to only post your own content, so borrowed content is a great way of filling the gaps and developing the mood and tone of your feed.
Remember to credit the photo if possible and/or acknowledge that it isn’t your image. Trying to pass off plagiarised content as your own is sure to backfire eventually.
Social Media Management Tools for Mobile
Although all the services listed above come with their own mobile apps, here are a few mobile specific social media tools that will make a huge difference to business owners and their social media management.
VSCO iOS + Android
The best free app to edit your photos from your mobile.
Most of you have very visual businesses. From day spas to salons, you will always have something worthy of sharing through your smartphone’s camera lens.
It’s crucial to maintain a steady colour scheme, so the easiest way to do that is with VSCO. Simply select two or three filters that fit your desired colour scheme, and rotate through these when editing your photos.
This way you will develop your brand image without the stress of desktop editing software.
Facebook Pages iOS + Android
This app from Facebook is brilliant for updating your page status, replying to customer messages, and viewing your Facebook insights on the go. It’ll give you access to most of the features available on the desktop version of Facebook in the palm of your hand.
Instagram iOS + Android
If you’re not on Instagram, you should be. Check out our instagram guide for your salon or spa business.
The only way to post images to Instagram is through their mobile app, so if you want to get started on the social network, it’s a must have!
Twitter iOS + Android
Your clients might not have Twitter, and your salon might not be tweeting to them, but Twitter is a great way to communicate with other businesses. Follow your favourite thought leaders, blogs, and news sources. You’ll help your business by staying in touch with what’s happening in the industry. It’s also a great place to find content to share with your audience elsewhere.
This list is by no means exhaustive, but you also don’t want to commit to using a whole bunch of apps to manage your social media. You’ll never have the time to use them all to their full potential, and they’ll just take up space on your devices. Focus your efforts on a few of these very effective social media management tools, and watch how they change your business for the better.
