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Managing a community can be a daunting task without the right tools in place. With the rise of social media, communities have grown and become more active. As a community manager, it’s essential to keep track of conversations, respond to inquiries, and ensure that the community’s needs are met. Community Manager software comes in handy to help you achieve all these and more. It’s no wonder that software companies are developing specialized tools tailored to your specific needs.
In this article, we will explore the best 8 Community Manager software for Windows that will unlock success for your community.
Video Tutorial:
What is Community Manager Software?
Community Manager software helps you manage and organize your online community, whether it’s on social media platforms, forums, or other community-based sites. It streamlines communication with members, tracks metrics, and provides detailed reports to help you improve your community’s performance. With the right tool, you can monitor conversations, track engagement, and analyze trends to understand your community better.
Top 8 Best Community Manager Software Recommendations
1. Hootsuite
Hootsuite is an all-in-one social media management tool that enables you to manage and schedule your social media accounts, track keywords, and schedule posts all from one dashboard. With Hootsuite, you can manage multiple social media accounts and assign tasks to members of your team. It has a user-friendly interface that allows you to see all your social media accounts in one place.
Pros:
– User-friendly and easy to use.
– Affordable pricing for small businesses
– In-depth reports and analytics
– Supports all popular social media platforms
Cons:
– Limited customer support
– Some features are only available in the Enterprise version.
2. Buffer
Buffer is another excellent social media management tool for managing and scheduling your social media posts. It provides simple and intuitive dashboards that enable you to post quickly and easily across multiple channels. With Buffer, you can do more than post. You can monitor user engagement, optimize content, and use analytics to track your community’s growth.
Pros:
– User-friendly interface
– Affordable for small businesses
– Comprehensive analytics reports
– 24/7 customer support
Cons:
– Limitations in the number of social media accounts you can manage
– Some features are only available in the more expensive, Business Plus plan
3. Sprout Social
Sprout Social is a comprehensive social media management and marketing toolkit that allows you to manage your social media channels, monitor audience engagement, and optimize content performance. It has an intuitive dashboard with a variety of features like a unified inbox, social messaging, message tagging, and replies. Sprout Social makes it easy to manage all your social media accounts from one platform.
Pros:
– Comprehensive social media management features
– 24/7 customer support
– Advanced analytics and reporting
– Streamlined workflows with automation tools
Cons:
– Expensive for small businesses
– Limited features in the Standard plan
4. Agorapulse
Agorapulse is an all-in-one social media management tool that enables you to manage multiple social media accounts, schedule content, and track analytics. You can also manage Facebook and Instagram ads with Agorapulse. Its user-friendly interface allows you to create reports, respond to comments across multiple platforms, and execute a variety of social media tasks easily.
Pros:
– Affordable pricing
– Comprehensive team collaboration features
– Advanced analytics and reporting
– User-friendly interface
Cons:
– Limited features in the Starter plan
– Only supports Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn
5. MeetEdgar
MeetEdgar is a social media management tool that enables you to schedule and publish posts, create a content library, and integrate with popular social media platforms. It helps you to recycle old content and automatically shares it with your audience. MeetEdgar has a user-friendly interface that allows you to manage your social accounts and create a content scheduler easily.
Pros:
– Affordable pricing
– User-friendly interface
– Automated content scheduling
– Evergreen content recycling
Cons:
– Limited social media platform support
– Not ideal for businesses that require detailed analytics
6. Later
Later is an excellent social media scheduling tool, primarily focused on Instagram. It enables you to visually plan and preview your content in an easy-to-use calendar interface. You can also preview posts on Instagram to see how they will look on your feed before scheduling. Later also provides analytics reports that allow you to track engagement, refine your social media presence, and optimize your content marketing strategy.
Pros:
– User-friendly interface
– Comprehensive analytics and reporting
– Instagram-focused scheduling and previewing tools
– Advanced marketing integration with Linkin.bio
Cons:
– Limited support for other social media platforms
– Expensive for small businesses
7. Zoho Social
Zoho Social is a comprehensive social media management tool that enables you to manage and schedule your social media posts, track engagement metrics, and manage your team’s tasks. It supports all major social media platforms and provides detailed analytics reports that help you learn about your community’s behavior. Zoho Social is also supportive of CRM and other integration with other Zoho apps.
Pros:
– Affordable pricing
– Comprehensive social media management features
– In-depth analytics and reporting
– Integrates with CRM
Cons:
– Limited customer support
– Fewer features than some competitors
8. Sprinklr
Sprinklr is an Enterprise social media management tool that provides end-to-end solutions for social media management. With Sprinklr, you can manage multiple social media accounts, track engagement, publish content, and create detailed analytics reports related to your community performance. Sprinklr also works well for businesses that need a comprehensive marketing solution to manage all aspects of their social media presence.
Pros:
– Comprehensive social media management features
– Advanced reporting and analytics
– Integrates with customer experience platform
– Scalable for large enterprise operations
Cons:
– Expensive pricing
– Require specialized training
– Some of the features can take longer to learn than with other software.
Comprehensive Comparison of Each Software
Here’s a side-by-side comparison table of the eight community manager software discussed above, highlighting their essential features and attributes.
| Software | Free Trial | Price | Ease-of-Use | Value for Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hootsuite | 30-day free trial | Starting at $19/month | User-friendly | Excellent value for small businesses |
| Buffer | 14-day free trial (no credit card required) | Starting at $15/month | User-friendly | Good value for money for small businesses |
| Sprout Social | 30-day free trial | Starting at $99/month | Easy to navigate but complicated | Great value for businesses looking for comprehensive features |
| Agorepulse | 14-day free trial | Starting at $89/month | Intuitive and user-friendly | Excellent value for small businesses with modest social media needs |
| MeetEdgar | 14-day free trial (no credit card required) | Starting at $19/month | Easy to Use | Great for small businesses or individuals with limited social media channels |
| Later | Forever Free plan | Starting at $12.50/month (paid annually) | Easy to Use | Great value for Instagram-focused marketing teams |
| Zoho Social | 15-day free trial | Starting at $10/month | User-friendly | Great value for money for small businesses with modest social media needs |
| Sprinklr | Contact sales for specific details | Custom pricing, starting at $20,000 annually | Extensive and complex | Ideal for large enterprises with significant social media operations |
Our Thoughts on Community Manager Software
Community Manager software comes in different shapes and sizes, depending on your specific needs. The best software to choose will depend on your business needs, the size of your online community, and your budget. After weighing the pros and cons of each of the eight software discussed above, we recommend Hootsuite and Buffer for small businesses with modest social media needs, AgoraPulse offers most of the features with affordable pricing. Larger businesses with more extensive social media operations may require a more robust solution, such as Sprout social or Sprinklr.
5 FAQs about Community Manager Software
Q1: What kind of business or organization needs Community Manager software?
A: Any business or organization that manages an online community can benefit from community manager software. Whether you run a social media page, manage a forum, or operate a customer service platform, community manager software can help you manage your community more efficiently.
Q2: Can I schedule my posts on multiple social media platforms using one software?
A: Yes, most community manager software allows you to schedule posts on multiple social media platforms.
Q3: Do I need to have a social media account to use community manager software?
A: While it is recommended to have social media accounts, most Community Manager software allows you to create and manage social media accounts within their platform.
Q4: What kind of social media platforms does Community Manager software support?
A: Most Community Manager software supports all major social media platforms, such as Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Q5: How much does Community Manager Software cost?
A: Community Manager Software pricing varies depending on the software’s features and the vendor’s pricing models. Generally, you can expect to pay between $10 and $300 per month, depending on the tool’s overall capability.
In Conclusion
Managing an online community involves more than sending Tweets or posting updates on Facebook. It’s essential to provide a space that fosters genuine relationships with members while leveraging those relationships for business. Community Manager software helps you manage your community effectively and efficiently. The eight software discussed above offer different features and capabilities, making it possible to find software that fits your specific needs, budget, and business size. Overall, Hootsuite and Buffer are great starter options for Small and medium businesses. AgoraPulse offers an excellent mix of features and affordability compared to the other options while Sprout Social and Sprinklr are more suited for larger businesses or enterprises that have extensive social media operations.