Tools I Use: BufferApp

A while ago I realised there was no way I could keep up with posting my new posts, old posts and Madeit store updates to Twitter and Facebook every day. It just takes time! But I did have time to sit and think about all those things at breakfast each morning over coffee.

So when I found BufferApp, I was sold almost immediately. It’s FREE, for starters. I love an application that works and is free. It is simple to use (which a must for me at breakfast time). And it does just what it claims – allows you to add updates to your list to be sent out to Twitter and Facebook throughout the day.

My Top 5 Tips for Buffer:

1. Tweak the timing

At the top of your Dashboard, click Settings then “Schedule & Shortening” beside the social media service you want to tweak. You will get a table of times like the one above. You can set your Timezone the top, then choose times to send out your tweets each day. You can add extra times or remove times. Once you’re done, click on the “New Buffering pattern” button to save.
2. Download the Toolbar button

On the Guides page, you can download buttons to add to your Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari toolbars. I use Safari and this means I have a little button just to the left of my browser address bar for Buffer. I can click on this anytime and add whatever page I’m on to my Buffer pending list.

 

3. Check out the Analytics Tab

Within your Dashboard, you can see all your pending updates – those waiting to be sent out. There is also a tab (right top) for Analytics. These are basic but interesting. For each update you have sent out, you can see how many people saw it, how many clicks it got, and how many shares, mentions and favourites. You can also expand a particular entry to find a “Thank” and “Follow” button. These relate to anyone who has retweeted your post and allow you to follow or send them a tweet from within the dash. To expand, hover over to the right of the update until the word Expand appears and click on it.
4. Buffer as you Read

Another feature I love is the ability to Buffer from within my Google Reader. If I’m scanning new blog posts and I see something I want to share, I simply hit the Buffer button in my browser. It is clever enough to recognise that there is a post on the screen and I can add it to my list.

5. Make it a Habit

The biggest thing you can do with this tool is make it a habit. Think about adding interesting articles and web sites to your Buffer list as you are reading and surfing. Think about setting a regular time to refill your Buffer pending list so it is never empty. Think about adding a Buffer button to your posts so you can easily add every new post to go to your social media platforms – I use the DiggDigg plugin.

Give Buffer a go. It is one of the tools I use every day now.

Any questions?