Time Saving Social Media Tools
Social Media Managers are drawn to the profession for different reasons but there's one thing we all have in common -- time, or the lack of it! Social media tools help save time, but they change. It can be hard to keep up with the latest and greatest. Hone your blogging, graphic design, or coding skills and save time doing it with these free tools.
Blogging - Learn Wordpress
Have you considered branching out into blogging? A well-maintained blog can help drive engagement and discussion with your fans. According to Social Media Examiner’s 2014 industry report, 68% of marketers plan to increase their blogging efforts. Platforms like Blogger, Tumblr, and WordPress make it easy to create a basic blog. Use Learn WordPress to move beyond the basics. The tutorials available can help with everything from choosing and applying visual themes to utilizing the tagging system. The site even includes a glossary for some of the terms used by WordPress.
Graphic Design - Canva
Images can be more meaningful than words when trying to connect with fans online. The rise of social networks like Pinterest, WeHeartIt and Tumblr show the effectiveness of marketing with rich visual content. Canva is an online image editing app that can help you easily create visually appealing images, but it also includes interactive crash courses in graphic design. You can start by learning fundamentals like the five principles of design, or go a bit more in-depth by studying what makes a good color scheme or learning to give retro flair to designs by using elements from older art movements. Canva’s lessons are abundant and informative, allowing you to apply what you learned right away.
Coding - Codeacademy
It might not be a regular part of a Social Media Manager’s job, but a basic knowledge of how the web works can be useful when it comes to tasks like updating your company blog or designing a website. Codeacademy offers easy-to-follow coding tutorials for absolute beginners. You can learn languages essential for web development like HTML, CSS, and Javascript. Once you’re done, you can apply what you have learned in advanced tutorials that walk you through designing real websites. The Codeacademy website features its own coding environment, so all you’ll need is your web browser. And while you might not master a language from Codeacademy, it adds a few more tools to your social media management toolbox.
Pro Tips & Tricks - Digital Inspiration
Looking up a website owner’s email address? Curious about Google Scripts? Making your passwords more secure? Digital Inspiration can help. This site is updated with miscellaneous tips and tricks that can help you get the most out of your web experience. It will answer questions you didn't even know you had! Creator Amit Agarwal updates the site regularly.
Social Media Managers never stop learning! If you are a Social Media Manager looking for a position where you can continue to learn and grow, contact us. Thin Pig Media is growing too.