TweetDeck is a browser-based suite ideally suited to assist business users with their tweet-centric social media management workload. As the name suggests, its core focus is based on Twitter, and it can be very suitable for anyone using the social media chat platform for both business and pleasure.
However, it is also possible to keep TweetDeck purely for business purposes and thanks to the many tools in the interface, managing an account is very easy if you are looking for one of the best social media management tools. (opens in new tab)†
The great thing about TweetDeck for many is that it can be used in a web browser and you can manage multiple items at once. This is a great way to streamline activities, especially if you’re running many boards at once.
TweetDeck may not be a great fit for business users looking to work with other social media platforms, but as part of a coordinated strategy, it can be a powerful tool.
Subscriptions and Prices
A big part of TweetDeck’s appeal is that you can use it for free, with no complicated plans or pricing options. You can even get started with TweetDeck with an existing Twitter account, using the same credentials to get started.
Further extending that appeal is the ability to add other Twitter accounts if you have them, or as they were created. This gives it a lot of appeal if you’re a Twitter enthusiast, although it also makes the app quite busy than it already is. This is especially true if you have many columns activated.
Core Features
Tweet Deck is essentially a social media dashboard application, which allows anyone to manage their tweets and associated interaction within the convenience of a web browser. Since TweetDeck is now owned by Twitter, this means that all of its features and functions are designed to provide users with a seamless experience, which is generally exactly what you get once you sign up. It also works great within the domain of an iPhone or Android app, of course, meaning it can be a powerful tool when you’re on the go.
In terms of features, these have been nicely designed in recent years, making it possible to do much more than in previous incarnations of TweetDeck. For example, Twitter now allows you to filter posts much more effectively, no matter how many followers you have. The fact that there is a one-stop dashboard also makes managing tasks much more streamlined.
In other words, it means you can easily handle tweets, posts, and notifications, and keep track of trending hashtags. The latter is very useful if you’re tracking the progress of a particular campaign, although it can be quite challenging if several things are going on at once. Fortunately, TweetDeck can now be customized and refined within its interface, so you can better manage activities without getting too tangled up.
Newer Features
Also look out for the new ‘Trending’ option, which allows you to add another column that displays all the latest developments dynamically and as they happen. It’s a great addition, especially if you have your own content listed. In the same way as the other columns, you can drag and drop it between the others as and when you need it.
The other natty feature worth checking out is the keyboard shortcuts option. Being productive on Twitter can be a real boon, speeding up your workflow. It is also useful to quickly activate the search option if you are looking for something in particular. Full marks to Twitter for making things just that little bit slicker with the latest incarnation.
Column options
TweetDeck is primarily about columns, which sit on the visible area of your screen and provide a variety of information depending on how you’ve configured them. On the left side of your screen are core controls that allow you to customize and refine the interface as needed. You can stick with the default options or dive into the controls and choose to configure the interface with more columns as needed.
The options include Home, User, Notifications, and Search. These are followed by List, Collection, Trending, Likes, Posts, Mentions, Followers, Scheduled, Posts (all accounts), Mentions (all accounts), and Activity. Enabling them all tends to make the interface a bit over the top, but it’s doable, although it works best if you have a large or dual monitor setup.
Interface and in use
If you enjoy being organized with your social media marketing activities, TweetDeck can be an impressive tool to have at your disposal. The interface allows you to see what is happening with your accounts through a series of columns located in your browser or app view. These can be adapted to different needs with the ability to mix and match content without too much manual intervention.
The other great thing about TweetDeck is that it makes managing multiple accounts a lot easier. However, the first time users notice that it all looks a bit chaotic, once you get the hang of the interface, the column configuration, and how best to set it up, the overall appeal is pretty universal. Twitter has also been working on tweaks over the past year that have made the interface even more user-friendly, which is welcome news.
support
Due to the fact that TweetDeck is more of an extension of the regular Twitter experience, you will find a less supportive structure than that provided by other dedicated social media management tools. That’s not a bad thing though, as the browser-based software is generally quite easy to use and also seems quite stable no matter what platform you’re running it on.
The only problem you might run into is the capacity to keep track of all the columns and the information flowing through them, depending on how much you have active at any given time. Small questions or queries can also be answered by searching online or asking other users, so the minimal support options are nothing to worry about.
The competition
TweetDeck will certainly appeal to individuals and business users who spend a lot of their time and attention on Twitter. However, for a wider range of options, it’s a good idea to check out Hootsuite, SocialPilot, Buffer, eClincher, Sendible, Statusbrew, Loomly, and Zoho Social. They are all perfectly decent competitors worth investigating.
Final verdict
TweetDeck is certainly attractive if you are a business owner looking to leverage the value of tweeting about your business. While there’s no cost to it, it doesn’t always have the same power as some of the other more inclusive social media management tools out there.
Nevertheless, since it is a free application, there is no harm or risk in giving it a try. You may find it helpful to sit next to other more comprehensive social media management solutions. Alternatively, if you’re just interested in promoting your business through Twitter, it may very well contain everything you need.
