Social media has become a major part of business. Big businesses can afford to hire people to run their social media accounts for them, as it is a full-time job when done right. Small business owners often just do not have the budget for hiring out all this work. However, we have the answer, it can be far more cost-effective and have brilliant results if you use a few tools to help you out. Here are our ten low-cost tools that you can use to ease  your social media journey.

1. Buffer

Buffer allows users to schedule their posts across several social channels. The free version offers up to three, while on the most expensive subscription, you can post up to twenty-five posts each time. Buffer also has analytics that you can use to track the progress of specific posts

2. Hootsuite

Hootsuite is another scheduling tool. It lets you know the best time to post on specific social channels and has access to all the major social networks. They offer a 30 day free trial so you can try before you buy.

3. Loomly

Loomly advertises itself as ‘The Alternative’ to some of the other scheduling sites. They offer a free, no credit card commitment trial. It assists you with creating posts and designing them to suit the social media channels from scratch, as well as scheduling them and running analytics too.

4. Later

Later offers an entirely free account. It is an organiser that you can use to develop your posts. It allows you to plan and analyze your posts in a simple format. They advertise themselves as ‘a social media marketing platform that actually helps you grow.’.

5. LogoCreator

LogoCreator allows you to design and download a logo for your business. It is entirely free of charge. Adding a logo to your social media promotes your brand. The more your audience sees your branding the more recognition they will have and a bond with your business will begin to form. This is one brilliant psychological technique to use to set your social media advertising to autopilot.

6. Canva

Canva allows you to create graphic design promotional material for free. You can sign up and get started on it right away. They offer the chance to import images or use their royalty-free ones. Full of templates

, designs, and even a free video editor,

Canva can help you create content for your social media in minutes rather than hours.

7. Animoto

Animoto is a video creation site. You can get started for free and have access to their extensive number of templates and designs. What would once have taken days to produce can be achieved in a few clicks.

8. Pixabay

Pixabay is a royalty-free image site that has a vast repertoire of images that you can use for your business promotions. This means you can spend less time taking your own photos for your content posts.

9. Grammarly

Grammarly is a great grammar checker website. It assists with spell check, grammar check and plagiarism checks. This is perfect for streamlining content posts or simply checking over a status before you post it.

10. UpWork

UpWork is a site for freelancers. If you have trouble with any aspects of your social media, you can hire out the work to freelancers that are ready and waiting. This can help streamline your workload and can be a short, or long-term answer to your problems. Once you have your social sites set to autopilot, you will find you have much more time to focus on other aspects of your business. This means that you can be the entrepreneur you imagined before you set out on your journey and not get bogged down in constant social media management. Remember how important it is to stay active on social media and always check your messages and interactions each day.   Guest Post By : Sadie Mills