Most business owners want to know how social listening tools work and help their businesses.
Why? Because knowing what your audience thinks is key in digital marketing.
Yet, many business owners find themselves lost, unable to grasp what their customers truly say or want.
Social media listening tools bridge this gap. Without these tools, businesses risk being disconnected to the trending topics.
If you are a business owner looking for tips top boost your digital marketing strategy, this blog aims to help you.
We will explore what social media listening tools are and their critical role in your digital marketing strategy.
You’ll learn about the key advantages of using these tools and exactly how they operate to give your brand a competitive edge.
What is social listening tool?
A social listening tool is software designed to help individuals and businesses monitor and analyse online conversations and mentions about them or relevant topics across social media and forums.
This tool collects data on people’s opinions, interests, and the overall sentiment towards certain subjects, enabling a deeper understanding of the audience.
It’s crucial for enhancing customer service by promptly addressing queries or complaints, gathering valuable product feedback for improvements, identifying industry trends to remain competitive, and managing potential crises efficiently.
Essentially, social listening plays a key role in staying informed about online discussions concerning your brand, improving customer satisfaction, and maintaining a positive reputation.
Why do business owners need to know how social listening tools work?
Social listening tools are highly relevant for businesses, especially in enhancing their marketing efforts.
63% of social media marketers think that listening will grow in importance in the upcoming years.
Why is that?
By providing real-time insights into what customers are saying about their products, services, and brand as a whole, these tools empower businesses to tailor their marketing strategies more effectively.
For instance, understanding customers’ feedback allows businesses to create marketing campaigns that resonate deeply with their target audience, potentially leading to higher engagement rates and increased sales.
This direct alignment with customer preferences and trends can significantly boost a company’s revenue by attracting more customers and fostering loyalty among existing ones.
Moreover, social listening tools streamline the process of gathering market intelligence.
Traditionally, businesses would spend considerable time and resources on market research to gather customer opinions and industry trends.
Social listening automates much of this process, scanning vast amounts of data from social media and other online platforms in real time.
This not only speeds up the research process but also reduces the need for extensive manual efforts and the costs associated with them.
As a result, businesses can quickly adapt to market changes, address customer concerns promptly, and refine their marketing strategies without the extensive time investment that traditional research methods require.
10 Social Listening Tools: How Do They Work for Your Business?
1. Brand24
Brand24 is a powerful tool made for companies that want to keep an eye on their online image.
It uses artificial intelligence to search through the online world, giving useful information and automatic reports.
This tool is great at tracking online discussions, analysing emotions, and finding key influencers in certain areas.
It’s easy to use, even for marketers who are still learning how does social listening tools work, because of its simple design and many features.
The customer service is also a big plus, offering help when needed.
However, its price might be too high for those on a tight budget, and the free version’s limitations might turn away some interested users.
Brand24 is a mix of advanced technology and user-friendly design, perfect for those who value deep insights more than saving money.
2. Digimind
It is known for being great at gathering competitive information and studying the market.
It provides detailed analytics and access to past data, which are very important for companies that want to lead in their field.
The platform is praised for giving thorough insights and it works in many languages, making it good for users worldwide.
But, it might be difficult to use and expensive for new users and small organisations with tight budgets.
Yes. Digimind is a good choice for those who need deep market knowledge and are ready to spend time learning how to use it for long-term benefits.
3. Talkwalker
Are you looking for a tool that excels in analysing images and videos, perfect for visual content-driven campaigns?
Talkwalker is your go-to solution, offering top-notch trend forecasting to help your business stay ahead.
Specialising in visual analytics and trend prediction, it sets itself apart.
However, it may be a bit complex for beginners and isn’t the cheapest option available.
It’s ideal for those who emphasise visual content analysis and trend spotting in their digital strategy.
4. Sprout Social
Sprout Social is great at combining social media management with the ability to listen in on social conversations.
Its easy-to-use interface is perfect for teams and agencies, no matter their skill level.
Although it has lots of features, it might not go as deep into listening as some specialised tools do.
Also, you might think about its price if you need a lot of advanced features.
Do you want a platform that’s simple to use and covers both listening and managing social media well? Sprout Social could be the right choice for you.
So, how important are specific listening features to you? And is cost a big factor in your decision?
5. Mention
Mention focuses on real-time monitoring and alerts, ensuring businesses are immediately notified of brand mentions.
It is particularly useful for companies that prioritise up-to-the-minute updates on their online presence.
While it offers good value, some of its features may not be as detailed as those found in other tools.
Mention is suited for users who need prompt alerts and monitoring but can forego depth in other analytical areas.
6. Awario
Are you looking for a cost-effective way to get precise insights without breaking the bank?
Awario might be just what you need.
It offers a great mix of features, including a Boolean search option, at a price that’s hard to beat.
Perfect for anyone on a budget.
Even though it doesn’t have every fancy feature that more expensive choices might offer, its low price and great search options still make it a great choice.
If you’re running a small to medium-sized business and want to make your social listening both efficient and valuable, why not give Awario a try?
7. Keyhole
How well do you think your social media campaigns are doing? Have you ever wanted to track your hashtags and see how your campaigns are performing?
Keyhole is great at doing just that. It gives you detailed information that’s specially made for marketing activities.
It’s really good at keeping an eye on campaigns and hashtags, but might not be the best for other kinds of tracking.
If you’re a marketer or have a business, and you want to understand how your social media strategies are working out, Keyhole could be perfect for you.
8. Agorapulse
How do you feel about using a tool that makes managing social media and talking to customers easier?
Agorapulse is made to help you connect better with your customers through social media. It’s easy to use and really focuses on making sure you can engage with your audience.
However, it might not go as deep into checking out what competitors are doing as some businesses would like.
If you’re all about interacting with and paying attention to your customers on social platforms, Agorapulse could be just right for you.
9. YouScan
YouScan is a tool that helps businesses keep an eye on what people are saying about them online.
It’s good at finding brand mentions across social media and the web, even in pictures, which is quite handy.
It also figures out if people are speaking positively or negatively about a brand.
However, it might be a bit pricey for small businesses and doesn’t always let you see old social media posts.
Despite that, YouScan is easy to use and has helpful customer service. It’s a solid choice for companies wanting to get better at understanding and using social media marketing to their advantage.
10. Emplifi
Emplifi is a tool designed to help businesses and agencies manage their social media easily.
It allows you to schedule posts on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, keep an eye on conversations about your brand, analyse your social media performance, create engaging content, and manage customer interactions.
It’s particularly useful because it brings all these features together in one place, making it easier to manage your social media.
Emplifi is great for teams, offering features for collaboration, and it’s user-friendly, with a clean and simple layout.
However, it can be pricey, especially for smaller businesses, and some users might find it a bit overwhelming due to its many features.
There are also limited options for customising reports and dashboards, and you might encounter occasional small bugs.
If you can afford it and need a comprehensive tool, Emplifi is worth considering, especially if you manage multiple accounts or need detailed analytics.
