Tools
15 mins to read

Master Social Intelligence With 17 Essential Tools

Branko Gapo
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In today's digital age, social intelligence plays a vital role in the success of any agency's marketing efforts. Understanding your audience, analyzing trends, and engaging with users are just some of the essential tasks that can be greatly enhanced with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

In this review-style article, we will explore 17 cutting-edge AI tools that can elevate your agency's social intelligence game to new heights. Whether you're a small startup or an established organization, these tools are designed to empower your social media strategies and deliver remarkable results.

Hootsuite

Hootsuite has firmly established itself as a leading social media management platform, and rightfully so. With its user-friendly interface and robust features, Hootsuite allows agencies to efficiently manage multiple social media channels all from one centralized dashboard. The ability to schedule and publish content across various platforms in advance is a huge time-saver, especially for agencies handling multiple clients with diverse content calendars.

Despite its strengths, Hootsuite's pricing structure may be a downside for some agencies. While the basic plan offers a decent range of features, agencies with more extensive needs, such as advanced analytics or team collaboration, might find themselves having to opt for the higher-tier plans, which can be quite costly.

Pros:
  • Comprehensive social media management platform.
  • Supports scheduling and publishing across multiple channels.
  • Offers basic analytics for performance tracking.
Cons:
  • Pricing can be expensive for larger agencies.
  • Advanced features may require additional costs.
Pricing:

Plans start at $99/month, with higher-tier plans reaching up to $739/month.

Buffer

Buffer is a fantastic tool for agencies looking for a simple and streamlined social media scheduling solution. Its intuitive interface makes it easy for teams to quickly schedule posts and manage content across multiple social media platforms effortlessly. Moreover, Buffer's collaborative features enable team members to work together efficiently, ensuring a seamless content creation process.

On the downside, Buffer's analytics capabilities are somewhat limited compared to more comprehensive social media management tools. While it provides basic performance tracking, agencies seeking in-depth analytics and detailed insights might need to explore other options or consider integrating Buffer with additional analytics tools.

As we delve deeper into the remaining tools on our list, remember that each one serves a unique purpose and caters to different agency needs. Whether you're seeking robust social media listening, influencer marketing, or audience segmentation, these AI-powered tools are here to take your agency's social intelligence to the next level. Analyze your requirements, explore the pros and cons, and make informed decisions to optimize your social media strategies and propel your agency toward unparalleled success.

Pros:
  • Simple and intuitive interface.
  • Excellent for scheduling posts in advance.
  • Allows team collaboration on content creation.
Cons:
  • Lacks more in-depth analytics features.
  • Limited customer support on lower-tier plans.
Pricing:

There’s a free plan available, while the cheapest plan starts at $6/month for individuals, and $120/month for agencies.

Sprout Social

Sprout Social is an all-in-one social media management and listening tool that has gained popularity among agencies for good reason. Its comprehensive features cover everything from scheduling and publishing content to in-depth reporting and analytics. Agencies can gain valuable insights into their social media performance, audience engagement, and campaign success through Sprout Social's robust analytics tools. Additionally, the platform offers excellent customer support, ensuring that agencies can get the help they need promptly.

On the downside, Sprout Social's pricing might be a limiting factor for some smaller agencies or startups. While it provides a powerful suite of features, the cost of the higher-tier plans could be prohibitive for agencies with limited budgets or minimal social media needs. Smaller agencies might find it more cost-effective to explore other options with more basic plans.

Pros:
  • Robust social media management and listening features.
  • In-depth reporting and analytics.
  • Excellent customer support.
Cons:
  • Higher pricing for advanced plans.
  • Might be overwhelming for smaller agencies with basic needs.
Pricing:

Plans start at $249/month and an extra $199/month for every additional user.

Brandwatch

Brandwatch is a heavyweight when it comes to social media listening and analytics. Its AI-driven platform excels at collecting and analyzing vast amounts of social data, providing agencies with deep insights into their brand's online presence and audience sentiment. With advanced sentiment analysis, trend detection, and competitor benchmarking, Brandwatch empowers agencies to make data-driven decisions and craft impactful social media strategies.

However, this level of power and sophistication comes at a cost. Brandwatch's pricing is tailored to individual agency needs, making it a significant investment for most businesses. For smaller agencies or those just starting, the pricing might be out of reach. Additionally, Brandwatch's complexity could pose a learning curve for new users, requiring additional time and effort to fully utilize the platform's capabilities.

Pros:
  • Powerful social listening and analytics tool.
  • Advanced sentiment analysis for better insights.
  • AI-driven recommendations for optimizing campaigns.
Cons:
  • Expensive for small agencies or startups.
  • Learning curve for new users due to its complexity.
Pricing:

Custom pricing based on individual needs.

BuzzSumo

BuzzSumo is a go-to tool for agencies seeking to identify popular content and trending topics. Its content discovery features enable agencies to find relevant and engaging content to share with their audience. Additionally, BuzzSumo's influencer search function helps agencies connect with key influencers for potential collaborations, expanding their brand reach even further.

Despite its usefulness, BuzzSumo's free plan has limitations, restricting users to only five searches per day. For agencies that heavily rely on content discovery and influencer research, this could be a hindrance. To access more advanced features and increase usage limits, agencies will need to consider upgrading to higher-tier plans, which may come with additional costs.

Pros:
  • Identify popular content and trending topics.
  • Find key influencers for collaboration.
  • Basic features are available for free.
Cons:
  • Limited access on the free plan (only 5 searches per day).
  • Some advanced features require a higher-tier plan.
Pricing:

Starts at $119/month for Basic plan, up to $999/month for Agency plan.

Awario

Awario is a real-time social media monitoring tool that excels at tracking brand mentions and relevant conversations across various online platforms. With its effective sentiment analysis and keyword tracking, agencies can gain valuable insights into how their brand is perceived by their audience. Awario's user-friendly interface makes it easy for teams to navigate and utilize the platform efficiently, enhancing collaboration and streamlining the monitoring process.

One drawback of Awario is that some of its more advanced features are limited to higher-tier plans. Agencies with more extensive monitoring and reporting needs may find themselves having to opt for the costlier plans to access these features. However, considering its competitive pricing, Awario remains an attractive option for agencies looking for reliable and affordable social media monitoring.

Pros:
  • Real-time social media monitoring.
  • Effective sentiment analysis and keyword tracking.
  • Competitive pricing.
Cons:
  • The interface could use some improvement.
  • Some features are limited to higher-tier plans.
Pricing:

Plans start at $29/month, with higher-tier plans up to $249+/month.

Mention

Mention is another powerful social media monitoring tool that goes beyond tracking brand mentions on social networks. It provides real-time monitoring across social media, web, and more, giving agencies a comprehensive overview of their brand's online presence. Mention's collaboration features allow agencies to assign tasks, facilitating efficient teamwork and ensuring timely responses to customer interactions.

While Mention offers a basic plan at an affordable price, it does come with some limitations, such as the number of alerts and mentions allowed. For agencies with more substantial monitoring needs or multiple clients to manage, the basic plan might not be sufficient. To fully unlock Mention's capabilities and access more advanced features, agencies may need to consider customizing their plan, which can lead to higher costs.

Pros:
  • Real-time monitoring across social media, web, and more.
  • User-friendly interface.
  • Allows collaboration and assignment of tasks.
Cons:
  • Basic plan has limitations on the number of alerts and mentions.
  • More advanced features require a custom plan.
Pricing:

Starts at $41/month for Solo plan, with custom pricing for higher-tier plans.

Talkwalker

Talkwalker is a comprehensive social listening and analytics platform that caters to agencies with high-level social intelligence needs. Its AI-powered insights provide agencies with data-driven decisions, enabling them to craft successful social media strategies. Talkwalker's ability to monitor and analyze vast amounts of social data in real-time is a significant advantage for agencies seeking to stay on top of trends and understand audience sentiments.

The main drawback of Talkwalker is its high entry-level pricing, which might be challenging for smaller agencies or startups to justify. Due to its complexity and extensive features, Talkwalker is better suited for larger agencies with more significant social media monitoring requirements. Smaller agencies might find more budget-friendly options that cater to their specific needs.

Pros:
  • Comprehensive social listening and analytics platform.
  • AI-powered insights for data-driven decisions.
  • Excellent customer support.
Cons:
  • High entry-level pricing.
  • Complexity might be overwhelming for small agencies.
Pricing:

Custom pricing based on individual needs.

Keyhole

Keyhole is a powerful and user-friendly tool designed to track hashtags and keywords in real-time across various social media platforms. Its main focus is on hashtag analytics, allowing agencies to monitor the performance of specific hashtags and track their popularity and reach.

With Keyhole, agencies can gain valuable insights into hashtag trends, identify influencers using specific hashtags, and measure the success of hashtag campaigns.

The platform's interactive dashboards provide easy-to-understand visualizations, making it simple for agencies to analyze data and make data-driven decisions for their social media strategies. Additionally, Keyhole offers competitive analysis features, enabling agencies to benchmark their hashtag campaigns against those of their competitors.

This valuable information helps agencies stay ahead of their competition and refine their social media tactics for maximum impact.

Pros:
  • Real-time hashtag and keyword tracking.
  • Competitor analysis for better strategy planning.
  • Affordable for smaller agencies.
Cons:
  • Some features limited to higher-tier plans.
  • Can be more focused on Twitter and Instagram than other platforms.
Pricing:

Starts at $99/month for the Freelancers plan, up to $599+/month ($479/mo annually) for Agency plan.

Socialbakers

Socialbakers is an all-in-one social media marketing platform equipped with a wide range of AI-powered tools to elevate agencies' social media efforts. The platform covers every aspect of social media management, from content creation and publishing to performance analysis and reporting.

Socialbakers leverages AI to offer content recommendations that optimize engagement and boost reach. By analyzing data and user behavior, the platform suggests the best times to post, the most effective content types, and the ideal audience targeting strategies. This valuable insight empowers agencies to deliver content that resonates with their audience and drives meaningful interactions.

Moreover, Socialbakers provides performance benchmarks against competitors, allowing agencies to assess their standing in the market and adjust their strategies accordingly. By understanding their strengths and weaknesses compared to competitors, agencies can fine-tune their social media campaigns for optimal results.

The platform's intuitive interface simplifies the process of analyzing and interpreting data, enabling agencies to focus on creating compelling content and fostering stronger connections with their audience. Socialbakers' AI-driven insights and comprehensive features make it a valuable ally for agencies looking to achieve impressive social media performance and drive business growth.

Pros:
  • All-in-one social media marketing platform.
  • AI-driven content recommendations.
  • Performance benchmarks against competitors.
Cons:
  • Expensive for smaller agencies.
  • Advanced features might not be fully utilized by all users.
Pricing:

Custom pricing based on individual needs.

Oktopost

Oktopost is a social media management platform designed specifically for B2B companies and agencies with a focus on lead generation and ROI tracking.

The platform allows agencies to manage their social media presence, schedule content, and engage with their audience across various B2B-focused social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. Oktopost's unique feature lies in its ability to track social media leads and attribute them to specific marketing campaigns, helping agencies measure the impact of their social media efforts on revenue generation.

Pros:
  • B2B-focused features surrounding LinkedIn publishing, employee advocacy, and more.
  • Advanced analytics can help agencies make data-driven decisions.
  • Tracks which social media campaigns bring the most valuable leads and conversions.
Cons:
  • It has limited support for social media platforms, focusing mostly on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
  • Has a steep learning curve.
Pricing:

Custom pricing based on individual needs.

Quintly

Quintly is a robust social media analytics tool that caters to agencies managing multiple clients and numerous social media profiles. The platform offers multi-channel social media analytics, providing agencies with a comprehensive overview of their clients' social media performance.

Quintly's customizable dashboards allow agencies to visualize data according to their specific requirements, making it easier to track KPIs and showcase the most relevant metrics to clients. Additionally, Quintly's competitive benchmarking feature allows agencies to compare their clients' social media metrics against industry competitors, enabling them to identify areas for improvement and set realistic performance goals.

While Quintly is a powerful tool for in-depth social media analysis, smaller agencies or those with limited budgets might find its pricing to be on the higher side, especially when compared to more affordable alternatives with similar features.

Pros:
  • Multi-channel social media analytics.
  • Customizable dashboards for data visualization.
  • Suitable for agencies managing multiple clients.
  • Customizable pricing.
Cons:
  • High starting price.
  • Steeper learning curve compared to simpler tools.
Pricing:

Starts at $315/month for analyzing 3 profiles and 1 user. But, pricing is very customizable.

TapInfluence

TapInfluence is an influencer marketing platform that streamlines the process of finding, connecting, and collaborating with influencers for impactful marketing campaigns. The platform uses AI-powered influencer search to identify relevant influencers based on specific criteria, such as niche, audience demographics, and engagement rates.

Agencies can then communicate and manage collaborations directly within the platform, simplifying the entire influencer marketing workflow. TapInfluence also offers fraud detection features to ensure that agencies partner with authentic and reputable influencers, safeguarding their brand reputation. With TapInfluence, agencies can execute successful influencer campaigns that resonate with their target audience and drive brand awareness and loyalty.

However, while TapInfluence is a robust influencer marketing solution, it might be more suitable for agencies with larger influencer campaigns and budgets, as its pricing can be higher for smaller agencies with limited influencer marketing needs.

Pros:
  • Influencer marketing platform with AI-powered influencer search.
  • End-to-end campaign management.
  • Fraud detection for authentic collaborations.
Cons:
  • Expensive for smaller agencies with limited influencer campaigns.
  • Some features may require additional fees.
Pricing:

Custom pricing based on individual needs.

SocialPilot

SocialPilot is a versatile social media management tool that offers agencies an array of features to streamline their social media activities. The platform allows agencies to schedule and publish posts across various social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest, all from one unified dashboard.

SocialPilot's bulk scheduling feature is especially useful for agencies managing multiple clients and requiring a consistent posting schedule. Moreover, SocialPilot enables agencies to collaborate efficiently by providing team members with access to the platform, making it easier to work together on content creation and social media strategies.

While SocialPilot provides an excellent scheduling solution, its reporting features might be a drawback for some agencies. The reporting capabilities are limited on the lower-tier plans, and agencies seeking in-depth analytics and performance insights may find them insufficient.

However, SocialPilot does offer white-label reports on its Agency plan, which allows agencies to brand the reports with their logo and present them professionally to their clients. Overall, SocialPilot's affordable pricing and intuitive interface make it a suitable choice for agencies looking to manage their social media presence effectively.

Pros:
  • Affordable social media management tool.
  • Supports bulk scheduling for efficient content management.
  • White-label reports for branding purposes.
Cons:
  • Reporting features are limited on lower-tier plans.
  • Advanced analytics require higher-tier subscriptions.
Pricing:

Starts at $30/month ($25/mo if billed annually) for Professional plan, up to $170/month for Agency plan.

Falcon.io

Falcon.io is a unified social media management platform that provides agencies with a comprehensive suite of tools for managing their social media presence. The platform includes features for social media listening, content scheduling, audience engagement, and social media analytics.

Falcon.io's content calendar allows agencies to plan and schedule posts ahead of time, making it easy to maintain a consistent posting schedule across multiple platforms. Its social media listening capabilities enable agencies to monitor brand mentions, track relevant keywords, and stay on top of industry trends, ensuring that they can respond promptly to customer inquiries and participate in relevant conversations.

On the other hand, Falcon.io's pricing might be a drawback for smaller agencies or startups with limited budgets. While the platform offers a range of features, the cost may be higher than what some agencies are willing to invest in social media management.

Additionally, Falcon.io's robust set of tools might be overwhelming for agencies with more basic social media needs, as they may not utilize all of the available features to their full potential. Nonetheless, for larger agencies looking for an all-in-one solution to manage their social media presence, Falcon.io remains a powerful choice.

Pros:
  • Unified social media management platform.
  • Collaborative content planning and scheduling.
  • Advanced audience segmentation for targeted campaigns.
Cons:
  • Expensive for smaller agencies or businesses.
  • Some features may not be fully utilized by all users.
Pricing:

Custom pricing based on individual needs.

Revealbot

Revealbot is an AI-powered social media ad management tool that streamlines the process of running effective advertising campaigns on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Google Ads. The platform offers automated ad management features, including rule-based optimizations that automatically adjust ad bids and budgets based on performance metrics.

This automation saves agencies valuable time and ensures that their ads are continuously optimized for the best results. Revealbot also allows agencies to perform A/B testing on their ad creatives, enabling them to identify which versions drive better engagement and conversions. By using data-driven insights, agencies can refine their ad strategies and achieve higher returns on ad spend (ROAS).

One limitation of Revealbot is that it focuses solely on social media ad management, making it less suitable for agencies that require a broader range of social media management features. Agencies seeking a comprehensive solution for content scheduling, audience engagement, and social media monitoring might need to integrate Revealbot with other tools.

Additionally, as agencies scale up their advertising efforts, the pricing for Revealbot may increase as well, which can be a consideration for budget-conscious agencies. Despite these potential drawbacks, Revealbot remains a powerful tool for agencies aiming to maximize the performance of their social media ad campaigns through automated and data-driven optimizations.

Pros:
  • Automated social media ad management.
  • Rule-based optimization for ad performance.
  • A/B testing for better campaign insights.
Cons:
  • Limited to social media ad management only.
  • Pricing may increase as ad spend rises.
Pricing:

Starts at $99/month for Pro plan, while pricing for agencies is customized based on needs.

Agorapulse

Agorapulse is a user-friendly social media management tool designed for agencies looking to simplify their social media workflow. The platform offers features for content scheduling, audience engagement, social listening, and analytics, making it a comprehensive solution for managing social media presence across major platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Agorapulse's unified dashboard allows agencies to monitor and respond to messages, comments, and mentions from all their social media accounts in one centralized location. This streamlines the communication process and ensures that agencies can stay on top of customer interactions and brand mentions efficiently.

Pros:
  • Easy for agencies to navigate the platform and manage their social media activities effectively.
  • Allows agencies to monitor brand mentions and track relevant keywords, helping them stay informed about customer sentiments and industry trends.
Cons:
  • Limited reporting on lower-tier plans
  • No direct support for Pinterest and TikTok
Pricing:

Agorapulse plans start at $49/month and can go up $119+/month for business.

Conclusion

With these 17 essential AI tools at your agency's disposal, you can supercharge your social intelligence and transform your social media strategies. While each tool has its strengths and weaknesses, they all contribute to making informed decisions, engaging with your audience effectively, and staying ahead of the competition.

Before making a final decision, consider the specific needs of your agency and choose the tools that align best with your objectives and budget. Embrace the power of AI, and watch as your agency's social intelligence reaches new heights!