Is Posting Via 3rd Party Apps Bad? Debunking a Common Social Media Myth
Updated: Mar 5
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Posting via 3rd party apps is bad. That’s one of the most widely spread myths entrepreneurs hear when posting to social media. Have you heard the myth?
The rumor is that posting via 3rd party apps will do you more harm than good. Using an app will be less effective rendering your posts pointless.
It’s a myth that posting via 3rd party apps is less effective than posting natively
Turns out the story that’s going around isn’t exactly true. It’s a myth that posting via 3rd party apps is less effective than posting natively for your small business.
How It All Started
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This rumor, like others, started with a bit of truth. In the earlier days of Facebook, the platform did penalize those posting via 3rd party apps.
They fixed all that and by 2011 were focusing on developing a strong 3rd party app ecosystem. Now it’s all about relevant and quality content, not so much where it came from.
The myth that started in the early days got its legs. We still hear it today as if it applies to all social media networks. It doesn’t.
The best way to debunk a myth is to learn more about it. When it comes to posting via 3rd party apps and posting natively there are some things to consider. We’ve got the details for you.
The Truth About Posting to Social Media
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If you’re a small business owner you’re posting to social media for a reason. The reason you post to social media, regardless of how you post, is that it allows you to build relationships with your customers and followers.
If you’re a small business owner you’re posting to social media for a reason
In time you bring them into the sales funnel. Having a presence on social media allows your business to build a brand presence online. When you’re consistent with the planning, scheduling, and posting of content - you do that.
When you post to social media you get a couple of things. The post has reach, meaning it gets in front of users on the social media platform. The post also gets engagement, that’s when a person who sees the post takes some kind of action (like, comment, share, save). This starts a relationship with a potential new customer or it expands a relationship with an existing follower or customer.
Posting via 3rd Party Apps for Social Media Marketing
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The bottom line about posting via 3rd party apps is that if the content is good, your customers like it, and so do the social media platforms. You do not get penalized for using 3rd party apps to post your content.
You do not get penalized for using 3rd party apps to post your content
Social media networks are looking for good and consistent content. When you automate the process you’re able to do what’s needed while saving valuable time. You can use 3rd party apps for effective social media management. They help you post across many social media networks at once.
Using automation you maintain consistent content and track social media activities with ease. Rather than going into each individual network to manage content, 3rd party apps give you one place to manage them all.
3rd party apps give you one place to manage all your social networks
Of course, you can manage and post content natively through each platform. Some have ways you can schedule your posts directly through the platform, like Facebook Business Manager.
The thing is, the process of going into each different platform every time is bulky. It’s cumbersome and a slower approach.
Unveiling the Reasons Behind Social Media Post Failures
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Social media platforms are becoming more eager to block users due to violations and non-compliance with their terms and policies. This often leads to failed posts accompanied by descriptive error codes. If a post was published using a third-party app, it will naturally appear as failed on the third-party app as well.
The sensitivity of automatic algorithms has resulted in more frequent blocks compared to the past. Therefore, if you believe your content is compliant, you can always seek assistance by reaching out to the support teams of specific social networks.
Here are the most common reasons posts might not go through:
Spam Filters and Algorithms: Occasionally, well-intentioned posts get caught in spam filters or flagged for specific words. Being aware of these filters can help you avoid them.
Tech Troubles: Sometimes, social platforms experience technical glitches that can cause posts to fail. These issues are usually temporary and get resolved if you wait a bit.
Connection Problems: If you're not online or have a weak connection, your post might not go through. Simply check your connection and try again.
Permission Problems: Often, post failures happen when access tokens expire. Just reconnect your social account to the third-party app to fix this. Social platforms do this for security reasons, so it's a normal process.
Inappropriate Content: Posting something inappropriate can lead to failure. In more severe cases, your entire account might even get blocked.
Timing and Frequency: Posting too frequently or at the wrong times can result in posts being hidden by algorithms. Learning when and how often to post can make a difference.
Quality Check: Low-quality images or messy content might not meet the standards. Ensuring your posts look good can prevent them from being rejected.
Platform Guidelines: Some platforms have rules that could prevent your post from being published. Understanding these guidelines can help you avoid issues.
Remember, while these are common issues, staying informed can help you sidestep them and maintain a smooth flow of posts.
Comparison between 3rd party vs. native app
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Here we are in 2023 and social media is not new. We’ve made advancements in technology and in how we interact with social media networks. We’ve evolved our business practices to get the best results.
Social media networks like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn understand that. They want your content on their platforms as much as you do.
There’s a better way. The benefits of posting via a 3rd party app like Hookle are clear, some being:
It eases your workload as you can manage all social networks in one app
It saves you valuable time
It helps you post content at a suitable time in one go
It makes it simpler for you to maintain a consistent posting schedule
It allows you to easily evaluate your social media strategy
It simplifies the monitoring of social media performance (Social Score)
Let's have a look at the features below of posting to social media via 3rd party app vs. native.
Feature | 3rd party app | Native posting | Notes |
Publish to multiple channels at once | Yes | No | |
Plan and schedule your posts for the future - easily | Yes | Some have | |
Monitor social media channels in one place | Yes | No | |
Effective team collaboration throughout the creation process - streamlined | Yes | No | |
Real-time customer listening and engagement | Some third-party apps do this | Yes | Social media marketers benefit from using third-party apps and native social media engagement practices. |
The Benefits of Posting via 3rd Party Apps in Real Life
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We see the benefits of posting via a 3rd party app like ours. The process has a positive impact on small businesses. It’s the stories of how companies master their social media marketing with the help of 3rd party apps like Hookle that we celebrate.
Our very own client success stories showcase how small business owners use our simple user interface with ease. They enjoy the ability to merge their social media networks into one app to help them make the most of their time.
Customers enjoy the ability to merge their social media networks into one app
Combined with tasteful content and engaging staff it’s a recipe for success! Check out Mudsharks Coffee Bar's story on how they mastered their social media strategy using 3rd party app.
Hookle is a social media planner in your pocket. We simplify the busy lives of entrepreneurs and small business owners like you. Hookle is easy to use, and you can download and get started with Hookle for free!
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