Firstly, I'd like to state that I have no affiliation with Hootsuite whatsoever. If you're like me, and you consult or manage clients social media endeavors, chances are that you've encountered Hootsuite's super simple, super powerful platform. I'm a fan because it works. Last week I signed in and was prompted to automate my tweet that I was posting on behalf of a client. Don't confuse this with "scheduling" a post. Hootsuite took scheduling a step further and are distributing at the most optimal time to post. While I knew the exact type of tweet to create, and the perfect time for this client I found myself acquiescing to their suggestion. I also realized that this simple upgrade would be hugely powerful for those small marketers that may have not hired a social media marketing firm like mine to help with their social media endeavors. This is the whole idea behind the platform we're building to support small business social CRM, and I was thrilled to see Hootsuite's execution. To me, this simple adjustment is revolutionary, and at the tip of the spear for new social media CRM and social media marketing for small business.
Here's why:
1. Simple: It's been my experience that small business does not mean that they are not sophisticated marketers. The difference is that they don't have a team that can manage an enterprise platform. They are desperate for simple, and powerful solutions. Hootsuite has made this powerful add on as simple as it gets. They just ask you if you'd like to hold off on posting immediately and allow them to post at the most optimal time for your business. YES PLEASE.
2. Distribution: Hootsuite already has a huge user based because of their fantastic freemium. They don't have to sell this feature. If you're already using the platform, then you already know how much sense this makes. It also gets you excited about executing more complicated social media marketing techniques. They are truly pushing the social media marketing envelope by encouraging more than just arbitrarily pushing content from their platform. A benefit to their clients, and a huge benefit to the end user (consumer). They've arguably just made social media marketing better.
3. Simple. Did I mention that it's simple?
Hootsuite has done something so simple, so elegant and oh so powerful (in my mind), that I really do believe it to be revolutionary. They have brought advanced social media marketing to the masses. When I work with my clients, advising them on how to post, what to post - the day part of posting is essential. They have automated this major step. I'm assuming that the act of automating will make the time the post is distributed better. That has yet to be seen, but if they can pull it off - BOOM. Game changer.
I understand that there is a place for powerful enterprise software in social media. Closing the branded viral loop of your customers as they bounce from Facebook to your site, to a competitor's site and back is important. I'm excited to see how Salesforce integrates Buddy Media into their service offering. Similarly I can't wait to see what Oracle does with Involver and Vitrue, and Google with Wildfire. Frankly the technology today is scary good, and it's an exciting time for sure. Just look at what Lithium is doing and you'll see what I mean (Again no affiliation), I just love social CRM and I'm fascinated by the advanced technologies powering this stuff. If you're not familiar with Lithium, check them out.
Kudos to Hootsuite, and I'm excited to welcome small business marketers to the social CRM table. It's about time that they could use some tools to do more than just posting and tracking. It's an exciting time for sure. I'm thrilled to call Silverback Social part of this revolution and pumped to see that Hootsuite is leading the charge.