Social Media Scheduling Tools: The Pros and Cons

Using a scheduling tool can really simplify your life when it comes social media. However, like anything else, there are advantages and disadvantages to using scheduling apps and software. Check out these pros and cons before you spend money on a new SM management tool!

Pros:

Schedule multiple posts ahead of time

The best part about using a scheduling tool is the ability to schedule content in advance. This means that you can write content for a week, or even month, and watch as it automatically posts according to your specified settings.  Of course, this means writing/ creating content ahead of time … but we can’t have it all, right?

Repeat schedule

Although not appropriate for every channel and post – there are definitely times where you want a certain piece of content to go out on multiple occasions. Repeating posts through a scheduling tool makes this process SO much easier. You don’t need to set alarms and reminders to post on a certain date and time, which can take the stress out of any repeating posts.

No need to log in and out of multiple accounts

Depending on how many accounts you are running, this pro is truly a life saver. With a good scheduling tool (usually one that requires a cost with it) you are able to link numerous accounts to the software. This means that with a click of a button you are able to rotate between accounts, and post on multiple platforms at the same time!

Cons:

Failed posts  – having to manually correct

Unfortunately, scheduling tools are NOT perfect. Due to platform specific rules and regulations, along with general technology glitches – there will be times that a scheduled post will not go out. This can be very frustrating and can usually only be solved by posting manually – or going into the software and fixing the error.

If you are using a strong scheduling tool, you should always receive and email or notification when a post does not work successfully. This is great – as long as you see the notification – but can still be a problem if you are unable to correct the error in a timely fashion.

Time-zone confusion

EST? EDT? UTC? Time zones can get pretty confusing. Due to human error (totally justifiable) sometimes a post can go out in an unattended time. This can be pretty embarrassing – or just totally kill your engagement on a post, Woops.

Posting on the wrong account

With so many accounts able to be attached to a scheduling tool, there is an increased chance of posting on the wrong account. However, in all fairness, this can happen manually through Facebook and Instagram as well (depending on how many account you manage).

Irrelevant/ Inappropriate content

Thankfully, this one does not come from personal experience, but can be extremely bad depending on the situation.  We live in a world where situations can change very fast and because of this, pre-scheduled content can be risky. One example of a very bad pre-scheduled post was seen during an event with an active-shooter and many injuries and fatalities. A scheduled post went out saying how amazing the event was, and thanking the performers for attending – needless to say this post was no longer appropriate given the circumstances.

The example above is extreme, but there can be much more common ‘every-day’ examples as well. Such as promoting a product or service that is already sold out, or pushing content for an even that is no longer happening due to weather.

 

A good tip is to avoid scheduling content for live events. It is better to have someone posting manually at the venue (when possible), or have someone available to delete posts before they go out publicly.

What are your thoughts on scheduling tools? We would love to hear from you.

At Like A Voss Social Media – we know the importance of using a scheduling tool, but also appreciate that there is no way of getting away from posting certain content manually, and that is totally okay! If you need some help with your social media presence – give us a shout!

 

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