Session 7

Social media listening tools - Examples

Social media listening tools are software platforms that help brands monitor, track, and analyze conversations happening on social media and other online platforms. These tools provide valuable insights into customer sentiment, trending topics, brand mentions, competitors, and overall social media activity. Here are some popular examples:

1. Hootsuite

• Key Features: Social listening, monitoring brand mentions, sentiment analysis, engagement tracking.

• Platforms Supported: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and others.

• Best For: Brands looking for an all-in-one platform for social media management and listening.

2. Brandwatch

• Key Features: Advanced analytics, sentiment analysis, influencer identification, crisis management, competitive benchmarking.

• Platforms Supported: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, blogs, forums, news sites, and others.

• Best For: Companies requiring in-depth data analytics and trend tracking.

3. Sprout Social

• Key Features: Social listening, keyword tracking, competitive analysis, sentiment analysis, reporting.

• Platforms Supported: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and others.

• Best For: Businesses seeking an easy-to-use, intuitive platform with social listening capabilities.

4. Talkwalker

• Key Features: Social listening, image recognition, sentiment analysis, competitive benchmarking, reporting.

• Platforms Supported: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, blogs, forums, news outlets, and more.

• Best For: Companies needing powerful AI-based analytics and brand monitoring.

5. Mention

• Key Features: Real-time social media monitoring, brand mentions, sentiment analysis, influencer identification.

• Platforms Supported: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, blogs, forums, and news sites.

• Best For: Small to medium businesses focused on monitoring brand mentions and real-time insights.

6. BuzzSumo

• Key Features: Content research, trend tracking, influencer analysis, brand monitoring, competitive research.

• Platforms Supported: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, blogs, forums, and others.

• Best For: Content marketers and brands focused on content performance and engagement.

7. Socialbakers (now part of Emplifi)

• Key Features: Social listening, analytics, sentiment analysis, influencer tracking, social media engagement.

• Platforms Supported: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and more.

• Best For: Brands looking for social media management along with listening and analytics.

8. NetBase Quid

• Key Features: Sentiment analysis, trend identification, competitive analysis, consumer insights.

• Platforms Supported: Social media, news, forums, blogs, and other web sources.

• Best For: Enterprises seeking deep insights into brand health, consumer behavior, and market trends.

9. Keyhole

• Key Features: Real-time social listening, hashtag tracking, campaign tracking, influencer identification.

• Platforms Supported: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube.

• Best For: Businesses focused on measuring hashtag performance and social media campaigns.

10. Meltwater

• Key Features: Media monitoring, social listening, sentiment analysis, influencer tracking.

• Platforms Supported: Social media, news outlets, blogs, forums, and more.

• Best For: PR teams, enterprises, and agencies that need cross-channel media intelligence.

11. BuzzSumo

• Key Features: Content discovery, influencer identification, social listening, trend analysis.

• Platforms Supported: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and various blogs.

• Best For: Content creators and marketers who want to track performance and find trending topics.

12. Social Mention

• Key Features: Real-time social media search and analysis, sentiment analysis, trend tracking.

• Platforms Supported: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, blogs, forums, and others.

• Best For: Small businesses and individuals seeking a free or low-cost option for basic social listening.

13. Sentiment

• Key Features: Sentiment analysis, trend monitoring, brand tracking, competitive intelligence.

• Platforms Supported: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, and more.

• Best For: Companies looking for focused sentiment analysis and reputation management.

14. Radian6 (Salesforce Social Studio)

• Key Features: Social listening, sentiment analysis, trend identification, content management.

• Platforms Supported: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, blogs, news sites, and others.

• Best For: Enterprise-level organizations requiring integration with CRM tools.

15. Agorapulse

• Key Features: Social listening, engagement tracking, sentiment analysis, competitor analysis.

• Platforms Supported: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

• Best For: Social media managers looking for a tool that combines social listening with engagement and scheduling features.

16. CoreSentiment

• Key Features: Real-time sentiment analysis, trend tracking, and competitive intelligence.

• Platforms Supported: Twitter, Facebook, blogs, forums, and other digital sources.

• Best For: Small businesses and startups wanting to monitor brand sentiment in real-time.

Choosing the Right Tool

When choosing a social media listening tool, consider the following:

• Budget: Some tools are better for enterprise-level businesses (like Brandwatch, Meltwater), while others cater to small businesses (like Mention or Social Mention).

• Platform Coverage: Make sure the tool monitors the platforms your audience uses the most (Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, etc.).

• Features: Depending on your needs, you may require advanced analytics, sentiment analysis, or just basic keyword tracking.

• Ease of Use: Tools like Sprout Social and Hootsuite are very user-friendly, while others like Brandwatch may require a bit more technical know-how.

Each tool provides unique capabilities, so selecting the right one depends on your goals, business size, and required features.