2022 is here, and it’s time to put your best social media foot forward! To help get you started, we’re sharing another amazing list of favorites compiled by the team at Aliya Hammond Consulting. Whether you’re creating content or looking to streamline your workflow, here are the coolest apps (and a few helpful tools) to check out in the New Year!
Aliya / President and CEO
Awesome Screenshot: Living up to its name, this “awesome” screen recorder and screenshot app is easy to use and has four affordable options, including a free plan for Google Chrome. At just $5 a month per user, the professional plan offers a drag and drop annotation tool for adding comments and blurring sensitive info, unlimited screenshots, and access to cloud videos with a resolution of up to 4K. “Something I really love with Awesome Screenshot is that you can take screenshots of entire web pages,” notes Aliya. You’ll also get unlimited recording lengths, priority MP4 conversion, and the ability to edit video, plus instant sharing of your screenshots and recordings on project management platforms like Trello.
Adobe Lightroom: Photo editing on the go is a breeze with Adobe Lightroom. This handy app lets you edit, organize, and share full-resolution images from anywhere, including desktop and mobile devices. You’ll also get cloud photo storage from 20GB up to 1TB, depending on the plan you choose. Prices range from $10 to $20 per month, and a free trial is available. To help improve your skills, and create a more cohesive and branded look to your social media posts, be sure to take advantage of the step-by-step tutorials.
Flowcode: This free QR code generator helps you optimize engagement and “connects your offline audience to all your online experiences.” Codes are customizable and never expire, with advanced analytics for greater customer insight. For more than just the basics, you can opt for a paid pro plan that has expanded features like unlimited codes, branded designs, and hands-on support.
Tiffany / Blog Manager
Amazon Music: There is nothing like a little background music to boost productivity and get the creative juices flowing. “The Amazon Music app allows me to craft my own private (or shared) playlists with a massive library of songs from every time period and genre. With a paid annual subscription, I also have access to full albums, podcasts, and stations for streaming through my phone or Echo.” Amazon Music is available for download on the App Store and Google Play, and there are several streaming options at different price points, including a free plan.
Google Docs: For Tiffany, another must-have app is Google Docs. “While I typically work from a desktop computer, this free app gives me the ability to make a quick edit for a client while on the go. I love that I can keep my work right at my fingertips in an emergency or when traveling. Sharing is also easy, with an option to collaborate on revisions in real-time.”
Emma / Social Media Manager
Best Hashtags: Hashtags can help to generate likes and engagement and are an easy way to extend your reach on the top social media platforms—when done correctly. Emma uses best-hasttags.com to find the best and most utilized hashtags based on relevant keywords for our clients. While not technically an app, “this tool can be very helpful when you’re stumped on what hashtags to use,” according to Emma.
Feed Preview: When creating content, Emma also loves to use Feed Preview, a free app that connects to your Instagram account and shows what your new posts will look like on your current feed. “It’s great for planning and organizing future content and is very helpful when a client specifically cares about the look or aesthetic of their account.”
Rachel / Social Media Manager
Canva: Canva is Rachel’s favorite tool for creating content, with a virtually endless number of options to choose from. While a limited free plan is offered, “I pay for their pro account, because the features are too good not to use! With Canva Pro, I have access to thousands of templates, stock photos, fonts and more. Canva is also very user-friendly and helps me stay organized.”
Later: When it comes to scheduling, Rachel is a big fan of Later. “You can accomplish posting on a lot of platforms all at once, while using their free services, including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn. Later.com helps me to plan, analyze, and publish content along with being able to save and add emojis, weblinks and hashtags. It’s everything I need for all my platforms, all in one place, which makes organization very easy.”
TinyURL: Rachel also recommends TinyURL. This simple app provides a quick and easy way to shorten web links into customized TinyURL links for free. According to PC Magazine, URL shorteners are useful and provide value, because they “spit out links that are easier to share. More importantly, they let small businesses track marketing campaigns and other incoming traffic.”
Deanna / Virtual Assistant
CamScanner: CamScanner essentially turns any iOS or Android mobile device into a portable scanner. Deanna uses this free scanning app on her iPhone to upload and save documents, which allows her to manage and share information anytime, anywhere with ease.
Trello: Trello is Dana’s go-to for task management. Simple and easy to use, this visual teamwork tool organizes projects into boards. It’s great for collaborating with co-workers and clients, and for streamlining your workflow, with customizable assignments, timelines, productivity metrics, calendars, and more.
Happy New Year from the AHC team! If you want to put your best social media foot forward in 2022, follow our blog, and contact us today to learn more about the social media services we offer. Also, be sure to register for our upcoming Social Media Coaching Program! Enrollment ends on February 1st, 2022, and space is limited to 20 students for this 6-week online course.
You’ve probably realized by now that Social Media is no longer an option. In fact, it is a vital and highly successful tool for building a business. Aliya Hammond Consulting is an online Digital Marketing, Training, and Consulting Company headquartered in the greater Philadelphia area. We specialize in Social Media Management and Marketing, Social Media Training and Coaching, Blog Writing, and Graphic/Web Design Services for small and large businesses, entrepreneurs, and non-profit organizations. If you are looking to improve or increase your online presence, you can rest assured you are in good hands with us. Contact Aliya Hammond Consulting today to find out how we can help your business grow!
