Tools for Marketing and Content Creation

Conferences have been on my mind a lot lately—specifically, the ones that bring together the brightest marketers and creators in the industry. After sharing the list with my Marketing team, one thought echoed across the board: "Our readers would probably love this, too." So, why are conferences on our radar in the first place? Well, being a remote team has some huge perks—working with people from around the globe, for starters. But there's something about meeting face-to-face that simply can’t be replicated through a Zoom call. Plus, the right conference does two things at once: gives you access to top-tier education and opens doors to incredible networking opportunities.…

After digging into millions of posts sent through Buffer, we’ve pinpointed the best time to post on all major social platforms for maximum engagement and reach — LinkedIn included. Discovering the best time to post on LinkedIn was particularly fascinating. While most other social media platforms can be pretty unpredictable, with ebbs and flows in activity happening at random times of the day, LinkedIn’s high-engagement time slots are like clockwork. I’ll be honest: this is a nice change of pace compared to the unpredictability of social media in general! It makes sense, of course — LinkedIn’s primary purpose is to connect professionals, and many users need to log on daily…

You probably won't have to scroll TikTok for more than a few minutes before stumbling upon a video about how someone has just quit their day job to become a full-time creator. (Not just my algorithm, is it?) It makes for great content, of course, but there really are loads of ways to earn on TikTok — and I don’t just mean through sponsored posts. TikTok is a standout social media platform when it comes to the sheer volume of ways you can earn — without even leaving the app. The platform is constantly experimenting with new ways creators can monetize their content, from participating in challenges with cash incentives to receiving rewards for high-performing content. Wheth…

When your to-do list is already longer than a TikTok scroll, hopping between apps to schedule social media posts is the fastest way to lose focus. That’s why the smartest creators and marketers rely on social media scheduling tools to batch content, stay visible, and actually log off. I used to publish on the fly too, but I’ve been converted to content batching. And after testing a dozen schedulers, I found what really matters — and what doesn’t. Today, planning content in advance lets me stay visible on most social media platforms, reclaim evenings for real life, and still hit my growth goals. In this guide, you’ll find the media scheduling tools that make that possible,…

With the ever-changing nature of The Algorithm™, hashtags have remained one of the most reliable ways to boost your content’s visibility. Whether you're creating Instagram Reels, posting to TikTok, or scheduling content across multiple social media platforms, the right hashtags can help you reach the right audience — fast. Your TikTok or Instagram hashtags might be what gets your content discovered, shared, or saved — especially when they’re relevant, timely, and well-placed. That’s why having a solid hashtag strategy is still a key part of successful social media marketing. But let’s be real: finding the best hashtags for every post can be a time-consuming task. And not …

Meta has announced a new mobile video editing app called Edits, which will be available in app stores in February 2025. The announcement comes hot on the heels of ByteDance's CapCut temporary removal from major app stores as part of the TikTok ban, leaving creators scrambling for alternatives. The timing is no coincidence, of course. Meta has a history of making strategic moves to fill market gaps. Remember when they launched Instagram Reels right after TikTok's ban in India? Or how Threads emerged as X (formerly Twitter) was going through changes? Still, the news will be a welcome surprise to Instagram Reels creators — particularly since it looks like it’s going to be a …

Staying consistent on social media is one of the best routes to success on any platform — though that's easier said than done. Which is why we wanted a way to make this easier (and more fun!). Enter: Streaks! What are streaks? Streaks is more than just a feature — it's your personal trainer for social media content creation. The concept is beautifully simple: share a post every week, and watch your streak count grow. Miss a week, and your streak resets, gently nudging you to stay on track. How streaks workWe've designed streaks with three key motivational elements: Weekly streak counter: A clear, visual representation of your posting consistency. Each consecutive week yo…

Creating content on social media can be powerful, both for businesses and aspiring creators — but it can be tough to figure out where to begin. You’re hemming and hawing over which social media platforms you should be on, which content creation tools you should use, and building a social media content strategy. It’s all too…overwhelming. Where do you even start? As it happens, right here. We've created this guide to be a one-stop shop: your action plan to start, scale, and maintain your social media content creation. Content formats and the social platforms that support itBefore we get down to business, you must know which social media network supports what content form…

If you have a business and you choose not to use TikTok for business, you’re actively sleeping on a goldmine. TikTok has a massive user base of over 1.69 billion (!!) monthly active users — and the number of Americans using TikTok weekly has quadrupled since 2021. Let’s get rid of the top two objections before I tell you how to use TikTok for business. 👉 “TikTok is only for businesses who serve younger demographics.” The audience demographics on TikTok are evolving, including older age groups. The social media site isn’t limited to younger users anymore. The latest U.S. TikTok report showed weekly TikTok users aged between 35-44 have only grown since 2022. 👉 “TikTok won’t…

TikTok hashtags aren’t a one-way ticket to virality — but they can absolutely help boost visibility. When done right, TikTok hashtags help categorize your content, enable the algorithm to understand what your content is about, and boost your discoverability through TikTok SEO. In this article, we’ll explore everything there is to know about TikTok hashtags: What are TikTok hashtags? Why you should use hashtagsHow to find the right TikTok hashtagsHow to use TikTok hashtags properlyPlus, I’ll share a curated list of 250 trending TikTok hashtags — organized by industry to help you reach the right audience and grow your presence. What are TikTok hashtags?TikTok hashtags are k…

There's a lot you can do to boost your chances of success on social media — optimize your content for engagement, find your perfect posting times, master the art of thumb-stopping hooks... But even these smart tactics don't guarantee success. Few things do when it comes to navigating social media algorithms and ever-changing audience behavior. From our research and experience at Buffer, there's only one thing that comes close: posting consistently. It’s a social media tip successful creators, marketers, and even platform bosses (thanks, Adam Mosseri) share all the time. The more you post, the better your chances of success on all social media platforms. And guess what? No…

Instagram reach can seem like magic. How do some creators get tons of views while others rarely see it? And why do some quick, spur-of-the-moment posts seem to get more views than others you spend hours creating? It’s not all smoke and mirrors. In this article, we’ll share 14 ways to get more views and increase reach on your Instagram content. What does 'Instagram reach' even mean?Instagram reach is the number of unique people who view (and hopefully interact with) your Instagram posts. You can track Instagram reach for a single post, for your Instagram profile, or for a social media campaign. Along with the number of unique visitors, you also get insights into the demogr…

If newsletters have a million fans, then I am one of them. If newsletters have only one fan, then that is me. If newsletters have no fans, I am no longer on earth. Drama aside, email newsletters are such a fascinating medium because they come in so many shapes and sizes. With the right combination, you get a wide range of experts in your inbox periodically, sharing news, insights, and advice. There are a ton of great newsletters to choose from – almost too many. So for this list, we focused on newsletters relevant to our audience of social media managers, creators, and small businesses. With the newsletters on this list, you can stay on top of all things social media and …

With all the uncertainty surrounding the TikTok ban (which is on pause as of writing this article), creators who have built massive followings on the platform are understandably concerned about what the future holds. TikTok has been a game-changer for short-form video content, helping countless creators reach new heights in their careers, connect with global audiences, and even turn their passion into a full-time income. However, as the possibility of a ban looms, many creators are taking proactive steps to secure their futures by exploring other platforms. One popular strategy involves directing their followers to alternative networks using links in their bios, ensuring …

More doesn’t necessarily mean better. Think emails in your inbox, glitter on a Mother’s Day card, hot sauce… That applies to social media metrics, too. You might be surprised to hear it. The more information you have, the better you can tailor your social media strategy, right? Well, not exactly. Not all social media metrics are created equal, and which ones to focus on comes down to your specific social media goals. You might be testing a new format, tracking audience growth, or trying to understand how people interact with your posts. And while it’s tempting to track everything, more data doesn’t always mean more clarity. Metrics are most helpful when they guide your …

As much as it can seem like a status symbol to be verified, there are also really practical reasons to have a verified Instagram account. Verification helps with engagement, can help Instagram users find real sources of news, and can stop impersonation, among other things. Getting verified adds credibility to any account — so it's no wonder that so many of us are keen to have that blue check on Instagram. And, with the roll-out of the new Meta Verified subscription, getting that little icon is not only reserved for public figures (as long as you're happy to pay a monthly fee, of course). In this post, we'll cover what verification is, the two ways to get a blue check on t…

There are no definitive “growth hacks” for increasing the number of followers on your Instagram account — but there are still plenty of things you can do to build your Instagram growth strategy. Here are 13 steps you can take for organic Instagram growth in the order we recommended doing them. Before we dive in: If you’re just starting with Instagram for your business or as a creator, the first step is to tighten the nuts and bolts of your Instagram presence. Don't fall for the temptation to buy fake followers — it'll only hurt you in the long run. The first few tactics in this guide cover the basics and are particularly relevant to new creators or businesses. Even if you…

From brainstorming ideas, creating outlines, repurposing content — AI can make your job as a writer a whole lot easier. Artificial intelligence is not going to do your best work for you, of course. We know there’s (thankfully?) still work to be done in replicating the weirdness and wonder of human creativity. But AI can take some of the work off your plate, so you can focus on exactly that: creating. However, with the ever-growing list of AI software and tools on the market — all promising to help you generate, streamline, and automate your writing process — it can be tricky to figure out which ones are worth your time (and money). Which is where I come in. I’m a produ…

Keeping up with Instagram in 2025 feels a bit like running a marathon. There’s always something new, trends move fast, and maintaining consistency can be exhausting. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to tackle it alone — and you certainly don’t have to spend a fortune. The right tools make all the difference. Whether you’re crafting engaging visuals, planning your content calendar, analyzing your data, or boosting engagement, free Instagram tools can save you hours of work every week. Detailed analytics can help in understanding post performance and user engagement. In this article, I’ve rounded up 26 free Instagram tools for creators, marketers, and small business…

I have a tendency to treat coming up with content ideas as a solo sport. I’m used to sitting with my thoughts, combined with a post format I saw that I loved and want to recreate. And when I’m stuck, I scroll through my bookmarks with hundreds of post ideas for something to remix. I’ve been fortunate that that system works time and time again for me — but it’s not the only way to create. So, a few weeks ago, instead of forcing it, I tried something different that I should be doing way more often: I asked my community. Not in a vague, “what should I post about?” way — but with a specific, open-ended question. And what followed was a flood of thoughtful, deeply relatable re…

Ever wondered how to increase your reach and engagement and, in turn, grow your following on Instagram? Your Instagram captions could hold the key. Yes, Instagram is a visual social media platform, but your caption carries more weight in the Instagram algorithm than you think. A strong visual can catch users' attention, but carefully thought-out Instagram captions can do more heavy lifting when it comes to growing your following on Instagram. For another, your caption can be crucial in prompting engagement from your followers. For example, you could use those 3,000 characters to: Authentically connect with your followers in a meaningful, vulnerable caption.Ask them a que…

We’ve always had teammates who have side projects in addition to working at Buffer. Working on new projects, building, experimenting, and self-improvement are built into our DNA as a company. So it's quite common to be speaking with someone only to find out they own a small business outside of Buffer that started as a side project. We also have several published authors and many apps built by Buffer teammates. We believe this entrepreneurial spirit and creative drive not only enhances our individual growth but also enriches our culture at Buffer. These passionate pursuits outside of work bring fresh perspectives, innovative thinking, and diverse skill sets back to our te…

There’s a bit of a misconception that it’s “too late” to get started as a creator in 2025. Sure, the TikTok boom of 2020 is behind us (RIP days where videos of your sourdough starter got 10K views), but that doesn’t mean you’ve missed the boat. For one thing, it’s probably never going to be as easy as it is right now, ever again. The space is crowded, but it’s only getting more so. And another: there's still plenty of room for authentic voices to make their mark. "Your voice and your perspective matter," says creator and marketer Aarushi Singh. "There's room for everyone in the creator economy, and the world needs more passionate people sharing their knowledge and creativ…

It’s January, and you’re fired up—new year, new strategy, new wins. Or maybe it’s March, and you’re side-eyeing your social media, wondering if you missed the reset window. Spoiler: You didn’t. Whether it’s the first week of January or the last day of October, the best time to get your social media on track is right now. This checklist is your blueprint for momentum in 2025. Whether you’re aiming for more consistency, kickstarting your creator journey, or landing your first brand deal, this guide will help you build a strategy that sticks. So grab your notepad, open your planning app, or start a fresh Google Doc and let’s dive in. Callout: P.S. Scroll to the end for a sim…

Social media marketing is using social media platforms — like Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, X, etc. — to promote your business and build a community. It also includes paid social media marketing, like running ads and influencer marketing. But what’s the difference between a social media calendar and a social media marketing strategy? A content calendar is the place where you slot your social media posts. It shows what content will go live, when, and on which social media platform.A social media marketing strategy is the driving force behind why you post what you post and choose the social media platforms you’ve selected. It outlines your social media goals and the metric…