We Need a Free Buffer/Hootsuite Mash-up

Seriously. They both have free accounts for us little people with features that are amazing, but neither has ALL the features, so I go back and forth between the two, trying to find the right one to use so I’m not wasting billable time for my clients.

Check out the basic differences:

Buffer. Buffer rocks images. It pulls them up for all three of the big sites, no problem, and allows customization (whether in images or text) of each account without the need to create three different posts. Here, it’s telling me that these are the image options for Twitter, and the exclamation point next to the Instagram logo will probably show me the same. FB is already good to go.

Hootsuite, no images for Twitter. All you get is a link. And no customization.

Now, yes, I could take the extra time to save an image from the article, then attach it, but why when I don’t have to on Buffer, right? And customizing three separate posts is, again, time consuming.

Buffer also allows differing posting schedules for each account. You can see how this is for the FB page alone. This is fantastic. BUT, and this is the big one: no auto-scheduling. So you have to figure out/guess which are the best times to post to each account. Buffer used to have a thing you could click on that would show your best times, but it disappeared.

Hootsuite’s scheduling is for all accounts at once. But, it does have auto-scheduling. Auto-scheduling is da bomb.

Hootsuite let’s you see the likes, comments, rt, etc on your accounts (but not likes on Instagram), which is great because I do NOT like logging in to FB if I don’t have to. Ever. This causes me to use both Buffer and Hootsuite for one particular client.

Buffer, not so much. They used to show you the info, but maybe it’s now part of the paid accounts, I don’t know.

One last thing: they both allow 3 accounts for their free plans. Buffer allows 10 per account, and Hootsuite says 30, but I can’t remember if that’s 10 per, or 30 per.

So, really, what I want it all the Buffer awesomeness, with Hootsuite’s auto-scheduling and ability to see post activity and reply to comments.

Anyone?

Bueller?

©Pip Miller – May 2018