It’s no secret that social media has grown into a force to be reckoned with. It’s estimated that close to 4 billion people use social media today. That’s a lot of people to reach if you have something important to say or sell.
But how do you know if your efforts are paying off? The answer is by using analytics tools to track your results across multiple platforms and providing actionable insights on how best to improve them over time. Use these tips to choose the best social media analytics tool.
1. Decide What You Want to Measure
Before choosing a tool, decide what you want to measure. Do you want to track the number of likes and comments on your posts? Or do you need more detailed data about specific types of content?
Data comes in many forms, from simple metrics such as impressions, clicks, and conversions to more complex data on topics like engagement rate or bounce rate. Consider how much detail is needed for your team’s needs.
You’ll also need to consider how often you want to collect data. Are you looking for real-time insight, or do you want to run historical reports? How often should the tool send reports and make recommendations?
2. Define Your Goals
Before shopping for a social analytics tool, it’s important to define your goals. If you don’t do this first and foremost, then it’s likely that any social tool you end up using will fall short of your expectations.
This is because many different types of metrics and data can be collected through social media analytics tools. Unless you have a clear idea of what type of information is most important to your business, it may be difficult or impossible for the right tool to suffice.
3. What Budget Are You Working with?
Before you evaluate your options, it’s important to consider how much money you’re willing to spend on a tool. The cost of the analytics software will depend on several factors. For instance, how many users need access to it, how much data you want to be able to import and export, and what kind of features are included.
4. Evaluate the Features of Different Tools
Before you commit to a new tool, you’ll want to ensure it has the features that will help your team with their social media efforts. Most importantly, the tool should be able to integrate with other tools so you can use them together.
The analytics reports will also be important. Is there one dashboard where all performance metrics are displayed, or do they need different dashboards? Are they customizable? What kind of KPIs does this solution include? All these factors can help you make an informed decision.
5. Ask About Integrations and Software Compatibility
You may wonder what types of integrations a tool can offer and why it matters. The answer is simple. The more integrations it has, the more data you can glean from the platform. Depending on your needs, this can include everything from social media analytics to email marketing automation software and CRM.
What type of integration are we talking about? Some tools allow you to pull data from social media monitoring platforms like Hootsuite or Sprout Social into your dashboard. In contrast, others offer direct access to certain types of third-party software providers like HubSpot or Salesforce.
In addition, some tools let users seamlessly export their results into Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets for further analysis. But this feature isn’t as common among social media analytics platforms as one might expect.
Try NetbaseQuid
NetbaseQuid is a digital tool that can help you achieve your social media analytics needs. It can meet all the metrics we’ve mentioned above. For instance, it’s easier to use than other tools and will also help you save money in the long run. You might want to engage their support team to learn how they can help you with your analytics today.
Final Thoughts
Before making your decision, it’s important to thoroughly evaluate the features and costs associated with each social media analytics tool. While there are many great options, it’s always best to have a clear idea of what you’re looking for to find the right one for your needs.