TweetDeck vs. HootSuite: Which Social Media Manager Is Right for You? (Part 1)

How to Navigate TweetDeck

Social media is a huge part of being a writer and author. The problem with this is the number of sites there are. LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Google+, etc. How do we do it all and still maintain our abilities to get the writing in each day? Lucky for us, there are social media management programs available for use. Two of the main ones are TweetDeck and HootSuite. Today we’re going to take a closer look at TweetDeck and what it can do.

TweetDeck is simple enough to navigate once you get the hang of it. I’ve been using it for a year now and am pleased with how useful it is in keeping track of things that interest me, including hashtags, my lists, and interactions.

To start of with, you are connected to your Twitter profile. From there, you can add and delete columns as you see fit.

 

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The columns work much the same way as the feed on Twitter’s main page. When you move your mouse over them, every status has the symbols for reply, retweet, and favorite, as well as the little dots that give you more options. With these options you can add friends, add to lists, or block/report spammers.

 

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The blue button with the quill at the top is how you do status updates. Just click on it and box will open where you type your message. The buttons at the bottom of the box are there for you to upload a picture, schedule a message, or send a direct message.

 

With TweetDeck you can also manage your Facebook profile. You can add a column for your news feed and notifications.

 

 

This social media management program is easy to navigate from the start. Its simple interface is perfect for those who are timid around new programs. The great thing about TweetDeck is the ability to download it onto your computer so you don’t have to have an extra browser window open for it. You can also get notifications from TweetDeck, either just a noise or as a pop up. These can be enabled from the little gear wheel found at the top of each column, accessed when you mouse over the title.

Do you use TweetDeck? Do you find it useful?

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