Social Media Tools and Automation - Free Social Media Course

Dashboard-style interface to monitor multiple accounts and messages
Schedule posts across various networks: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, TikTok, YouTube
Social inbox to reply to DMs and comments in one place
In-depth analytics and reporting tools

Allows team collaboration, content approval workflows, and integration with Canva, Trello, etc.

Best For:

Agencies, businesses with customer support needs, large teams

Free Plan:

Limited features (1 user, 2 social accounts, 5 scheduled messages)

3. Later

Key Features:

Visual content planner, especially strong for Instagram and Pinterest
Drag-and-drop calendar interface
Schedule for Instagram Reels, Stories, and Carousels
Linkin.bio tool to make Instagram posts shoppable
Auto-publishing with post previews

Best For:

Creators, influencers, and eCommerce brands
Teams that focus heavily on visual storytelling

Free Plan:

1 social profile per platform, up to 30 posts/month per platform
Best Practices for Using Scheduling Tools
Plan at least 1 week to 1 month of content in advance
Use insights to post at optimal times
Mix post formats (reels, images, stories) to keep engagement high
Monitor scheduled posts and be ready to adjust during real-time trends or crises
Pair with analytics tools for continuous improvement

Activity Suggestion:

Ask students to create and schedule a week’s worth of content using any free plan of these tools. Include post types, captions, hashtags, and timing.

Final Takeaway:

“Scheduling tools help you work smarter—not harder—by ensuring your social media presence stays active, consistent, and aligned with your goals.”

Chatbots and auto-replies

What Are Chatbots & Auto-Replies?

Chatbots are AI-driven or rule-based programs that simulate human conversations, typically used in messaging apps (like Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram, etc.).

Auto-replies are predefined, instant responses triggered when a user sends a message, often used to acknowledge inquiries outside of business hours or during high-volume periods.

Benefits for Businesses

24/7 availability: Never miss a lead or question
Instant responses: Reduces waiting time and frustration
Boosts conversions: Guides users toward purchases or actions
Enhances user experience: Offers help, info, or support automatically
Saves time and cost: Reduces dependency on human agents

Types of Chatbots

Rule-Based Bots
Follow scripted flows (like decision trees)
Great for FAQs, lead qualification, booking appointments
Example: “Do you want product info or customer support?”

AI/ML-Based Bots

Understand intent using natural language processing (NLP)
Can learn and improve over time
Ideal for customer support, sales inquiries, personalization

Platforms That Support Chatbots

Facebook Messenger (ManyChat, Chatfuel, MobileMonkey)
Instagram DMs (Meta’s automation tools, ManyChat)
WhatsApp Business API
Web chat widgets (Tidio, Intercom, Drift)
Telegram Bots, Slack Bots
Third-party integrations (Zapier + Google Sheets, CRM)

Setting Up a Basic Chatbot (Example: ManyChat for Messenger)

Sign Up & Connect Page: Connect your Facebook Business Page
Create a Flow: Use drag-and-drop to build a conversation (welcome message → options → responses)
Add Keywords: Trigger responses when users type certain words
Set Default Replies: For when the bot doesn’t understand a query
Publish & Test: Try out the flow in Messenger and refine it

Setting Up Auto-Replies

Use Cases:

Out-of-office or business hours
First-time message response
FAQs (shipping, returns, support wait times)

Example Auto-Reply Message:

“Hey there! Thanks for reaching out. Our team is currently offline, but we’ll get back to you within 24 hours. Meanwhile, check out our FAQs here: [link]”

Platforms to Set Up:

Meta Inbox (for Facebook & Instagram)
WhatsApp Business settings
Google Business Messages
Website chat tools like Tawk.to or Crisp

Best Practices:

Keep language friendly, helpful, and on-brand
Set clear expectations (e.g., “we’ll reply in 24 hours”)
Include helpful links (FAQs, product pages, contact forms)
Always give an option to speak to a human
Regularly test and update chatbot flows for relevance

Final Takeaway:

“Chatbots and auto-replies turn conversations into conversions—automating support while keeping the customer experience personal and proactive.”

Collaboration and approval workflows

Why Collaboration & Approval Workflows Matter

Ensures consistency in brand voice and visuals
Reduces errors or unauthorized content going live
Speeds up content production with clear responsibilities
Improves accountability and communication between team members
Essential when managing multiple clients, campaigns, or channels

Who’s Involved in a Social Media Workflow?

Content Creator – drafts copy, selects visuals
Designer – provides images, videos, or branded graphics
Social Media Manager – schedules, posts, and monitors performance
Client/Approver – reviews and gives final sign-off
Strategist – ensures alignment with marketing goals

Key Workflow Stages

1. Content Planning

Define themes, goals, and post types
Assign responsibilities and deadlines
Use content calendars (e.g., Notion, Trello, Google Sheets)

2. Content Creation

Write captions and CTAs
Design visual assets using tools like Canva or Photoshop
Follow brand guidelines for consistency

3. Internal Review

Team members check content for tone, grammar, design quality
Edits are made collaboratively before client review
Use version control and comment features in tools (e.g., Google Docs, ClickUp)

4. Client or Management Approval

Submit drafts via email, client dashboards, or tools like Loomly, Planable, or Monday.com
Collect feedback and update posts accordingly
Maintain a clear approval trail for accountability

5. Scheduling and Publishing

Approved posts are scheduled using tools like Hootsuite, Later, or Buffer
Set up automated posting and reminders
Double-check final assets, hashtags, links

Recommended Tools for Workflow Management

Tool	Use Case
Trello/Asana	Content planning, task management
Notion	Shared calendars, copy review
Canva	Design collaboration
Planable	Full approval workflow with post previews
Google Drive	File sharing and collaborative editing
Slack	Real-time team communication and feedback

Best Practices

Create standard operating procedures (SOPs) for your workflow
Use naming conventions for easy file tracking
Set clear deadlines and time buffers for approvals
Include legal/compliance checks if required
Keep stakeholders informed with status updates

Activity Suggestion:

Assign learners a mock social campaign. Each learner takes a role (writer, designer, manager, client), and the team must build a full workflow, get approvals, and “publish” using a free scheduling tool.

Final Takeaway:

“Collaboration and approvals keep your social content aligned, professional, and on-brand—especially when many voices are involved.”

Influencer discovery platforms

What Are Influencer Discovery Platforms?

Influencer discovery platforms are specialized tools that allow brands, agencies, or marketers to search, vet, and connect with social media influencers using data-driven insights like niche, audience demographics, engagement rate, and past performance.

Why Use Them?

Saves hours of manual research
Helps find genuine, niche-specific influencers
Allows filtering by audience size, country, engagement rate, platform
Offers data analytics to avoid fake followers or low-performing influencers
Streamlines collaboration and tracking within one platform

Top Influencer Discovery Platforms (With Features)

1. Upfluence

Database of over 4M influencers
Filters by niche, location, language, engagement, and audience insights
Chrome plugin to scan influencers while browsing
Email outreach integration
Great for eCommerce and affiliate marketing

2. Heepsy

Filters by platform (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube)
Access to influencer metrics: fake follower check, audience interests, brand mentions
Budget range estimates per influencer
Ideal for small brands and solo marketers

3. BuzzSumo

Primarily a content discovery tool but includes influencer search
Find influential authors by topic or domain authority
Focuses on Twitter/X, blogs, and thought leaders
Best for content marketing and B2B influencers

4. HypeAuditor

Deep analytics for influencer vetting: engagement rate, audience quality score
Fraud detection (fake followers, suspicious spikes)
Campaign management tools
Trusted by brands looking for influencer transparency

5. CreatorIQ

Used by top enterprise brands and agencies
Centralized dashboard for influencer relationship management
Integration with Google Analytics and Shopify
Great for scaling influencer campaigns across multiple regions

6. Aspire (AspireIQ)

Focus on long-term creator relationships
Influencer CRM system
Campaign briefs, contract management, and product gifting features
Ideal for brand-creator collaborations and product seeding

How to Choose the Right Platform

Define your goal: Awareness, leads, content, or conversions
Know your audience: Find influencers with similar demographics
Evaluate features: Look for fraud detection, reporting tools, and platform integrations
Set your budget: Some platforms offer free trials, others are enterprise-level
Test engagement and authenticity, not just follower count

Course Activity Suggestion:

Ask students to pick a niche (e.g., fitness, fashion, gaming) and use a free trial of Heepsy or a public influencer directory to find 3 suitable influencers. Evaluate them based on engagement, follower authenticity, and content style.

Final Takeaway:

“Influencer discovery platforms simplify finding the right voices for your brand—backed by data, not guesswork.”