An increasing number of people are spending time on social media. According to Statista, there are over 4.2 billion people on social media. In addition, users are prompted to use specific platforms by observing new trends in social media. However, for businesses, social media offers an ideal opportunity to connect with their target audience in creative ways. This guide will discuss how to use Buffer – one of the best social media management tools.
Digital marketers need a social media strategy to help them effectively manage their social media content. Buffer is a great social media management tool that enables users to manage multiple social media accounts, using the same platform. This article serves as a step-by-step guide to Buffer and offers various Buffer tips.
What Is Buffer?
Buffer is a social media management application that allows users to plan and schedule their social media posts. With this tool, you can schedule posts to platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. Buffer drives businesses growth through social media.
It also allows users to track their progress with analytics, analyze the results, and engage with their community. This app is designed for small businesses and marketers who might lack the resources to effectively manage their online social media presence.
Why Do You Need Buffer?
You need Buffer to enable you to manage multiple social media accounts. Managing social accounts is a fairly daunting and complex task, especially when considering the sheer volume of social media apps. As a business, knowing how to use Buffer will enable you to consolidate everything into one place.
Organizing conversations, scheduling posts ahead of time, monitoring keywords for leads, and analyzing results for key information are some of the reasons you need a great social media management tool such as Buffer.
Buffer Use Cases
- Connect to all major social media profiles: The most basic use of this tool is to connect and manage your social media channels in one place. This tool offers excellent flexibility within social media platforms.
- Customize and schedule posts for each platform: Buffer makes it easy to customize each post for a particular platform, whether you want to post the same content for all your social media channels or different content across your profiles.
- Measure your social media performance: Buffer offers social media analytics designed to measure your social media performance with ease. You can see what’s working and what’s not, which enables you to create better and more engaging content.
- Respond to comments fast: Staying connected to your audience is critical to the success of your social media campaigns. Buffer allows users to skip to the important comments using labels and hotkeys.
- Review and contribute through Buffer teams: Businesses handling a lot of requests for dozens of clients use Buffer’s teams to oversee up to 150 social media accounts and can send an invitation to 26 users to review and contribute to scheduled posts.
Key Terms You Need to Know to Use Buffer
Buffer Queue
The Buffer queue refers to all the scheduled posts listed or queued under the publishing tab. Buffer allows users to schedule social media posts for days or months.
Content Curation Tools
Content curation tools are applications or programs that allow you to find and share valuable content. An ideal content curation tool allows you to search for content based on relevant topics or discover influencers who’ve shared similar content.
Buffer Drafts
Drafts refer to content that has been created but is yet to be published. In this case, drafts are in the Publishing tab and allow users to write down ideas for posts. Regarding Teams, drafts allow users to create posts and wait for the approval of other social media team members or clients before they can be published.
Browser Extension
A browser extension is a small app or program designed to add more functions to a browser. Chrome, Safari, Opera, and Mozilla are some of the most popular browsers that allow users to add extensions or plugins. Buffer has a Chrome extension that lets users create and schedule posts faster from anywhere on the web.
RSS Feed
An RSS feed is a file that’s easily readable by a computer and automatically updates information. Buffer allows publishers to pull RSS feeds onto their dashboards.
Equipment You’ll Need for Buffer
- A desktop or smartphone: You’ll need a laptop or desktop with a reliable browser such as Chrome to access the Buffer browser extension. Mobile phones can also be used as there is a Buffer app and a web-based app.
- Reliable Internet connection: You’ll need a reliable Internet connection to access this tool as it can’t run offline.
- Social media management skills: You’ll also need knowledge of how to manage social media channels. If you are a beginner and you are not familiar with how to use Buffer, consider taking online social media marketing classes.
How to Set Up and Start Using Buffer
Step 1: Choose a Plan
Before you get started, it would be best to first understand the pricing plans for Buffer’s different packages. There are two options, including a free option and a paid option, also known as the Essentials package. Although the Free plan has limited options, it entitles users to basic publishing tools and a landing page builder.
The Essentials option requires users to pay $5 per month for a single channel for a year. This option entitles users to planning and publishing tools, engagement tools, analytic tools, and a landing page builder. Should you choose to use the Team option, you’ll need to pay $10 per month. However, the Team option includes unlimited members and clients, approval work tools, and exportable reports.
Step 2: Create an Account
To use Buffer, you must create an account. Follow the set of instructions on the website to successfully sign up for Buffer. Afterward, you’ll need to link a social media profile from the options given by Buffer. You’ll need to authorize Buffer to access it.
Under the Settings tab, you’ll see different options, including your account, billing information, and social media channels. The Channels section indicates the number of social media profiles that you’ve connected to this platform. For instance, if you’ve only connected Facebook, the Channels tab will indicate the number “one.”
Step 3: Familiarize Yourself with the Buffer Dashboard
After linking your social media channels, you’ll be directed to the Buffer dashboard that includes information about publishing activities, analytics data, and audience engagement. All these tabs have different functions.
Step 4: Publish Content
Click the Publishing button at the top left of the navigation pane. You’ll see three different options listed beneath this button, including your social media calendar, campaigns you have created, and your queues. Clicking the Calendar button allows you to schedule your posts. You can choose a specific day and time when your post will be published to your linked social media page.
To schedule a post for publication on this platform, go to a specific date and click “Add post.” Edit or add your preferred time. On the blank box, add the content you wish to be posted and hit the “Add to queue” button. You can also add images, videos, or emojis to your scheduled posts.
You can queue monthly posts under the Schedule tab, and you have the choice to schedule posts months ahead if you want.
Step 5: Check the Performance of Your Social Media Channels
Click the Analytics tab located next to the Publishing tab on the top right corner. You’ll see the overall performance of your social media channels. This option is available to those using the Essentials plan.
Step 6: Develop Your Website or Landing Page
Buffer allows users to create websites and landing pages. Head over to the “Start page” option on the dashboard, and this will open up a simple website template. This option is best suited for businesses or individual users looking to create a simple landing page. Larger organizations might be better suited with other website creation tools.
Step 7: Use Buffer Teams
On the top right, you should see your email address. Clicking on it releases a dropdown menu with a list of options, including your account, preferences, your channels, and the team you are part of. Clicking on the “Team” button gives you the option to add different teammates to your account, enabling you to manage your page with a larger team. However, this option is only for the Essentials package users who have subscribed to the Team option.
The Importance of Buffer for Business
Buffer offers small businesses an ideal opportunity to connect with their target audience through effective management of social media posts. Businesses take on many responsibilities, including managing multiple social media profiles. Businesses that know how to use Buffer can handle multiple social media channels with ease, schedule posts, and offer insights into analytics and audience engagement.
Top Buffer Tips: Use Buffer Like a Pro
- Use Buffer’s browser extensions to share faster: According to Buffer, browser extensions offer a wide range of productivity hacks, such as sharing directly regardless of the web page that you’ll be on. The extensions are free on Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Safari.
- View, track and reuse your top-performing posts: By using analytics, you’ll be able to view and track posts that are performing well. Buffer recommends reposting for better results.
- Integrate this tool with some of your most-used apps: Buffer allows users to connect to up to 45 different services. For instance, it recommends connecting to Pocket and Feedly to save stories you find relevant to your social media campaign.
- Import RSS feeds: After many requests from social media managers, Buffer finally released an update that allows users to add Buffer from an RSS feed. This is especially useful to those who have subscribed to the Business plan as links and titles appear automatically.
- Schedule tweets for the perfect time: Buffer recommends using Followerwonk to get Twitter analysis to gauge the most active hours for your followers. Further, this tool syncs well with Buffer.
Buffer for Different Professions
| Profession | Applications |
|---|---|
| Social media specialist | Customize and schedule single posts for each platform |
| Digital marketer | Interact with customers by using digital channels |
| Social media manager | Measure social media performance, manage online presence |
| Brand strategist | Post publications, assess analytics and engagement data |
| Market analyst | Research data, use social media analytics to evaluate performance |
Should You Use Buffer?
Yes, you should use Buffer, especially if you are a small or developing business with growing social media management needs, or in need of enhancing your social media strategy. Most businesses will find Buffer affordable while offering sustainable social media management tools. Buffer can play a crucial role in measuring your social media performance, creating a posting schedule, and responding to comments twice as fast.
How to Use Buffer FAQ
Yes, Buffer is an excellent option for social media management, especially for small firms that want to increase their social media activity. Additionally, businesses that offer a lot of customer support through social media channels will find Buffer significantly useful, so it is essential for their social media teams to learn how to use Buffer.
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Social media managers use Buffer to effectively connect with their audiences, increase brand awareness, drive website leads, and enhance sales. This tool allows social media managers to schedule posts for multiple social media accounts, analyze social media performance, and keep track of engagement levels.
Yes, Buffer posts social media content for you. Depending on your preferred plan, Buffer can schedule and post your chosen social media content from different social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
The platforms that Buffer uses include Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google +, Instagram, Instagram Stories, and TikTok. The number of social media channels that Buffer can support will depend on your chosen plan.
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