Item: Sprout Social
Rating: 8
Author: Callie Johnson

Overall Satisfaction

Pros and Cons

Pros

I used the 30-day version for another client in August 2013. The 30-day window was nearly sufficient testing ground. However, I was at a social media conference during part of that time.
Dashboard - Unparalleled, intuitive, teachable.
Impressive customer service team - "Team Social".
Cross-platform, one-stop-shop for Facebook, Google+ Pages only, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Analytics at a glance.

Cons

Given the ultimate cost of $39 per user, a 45-60 window would have helped me dig into the product and "sell" it to the five brands that were formerly under my purview.
Pinterest and Instagram capabilities would have nicely rounded out the product as a one-stop shop.
A mobile app would be awesome.
I envision a Klout-like ability to search for influential Twitter users. This would be fantastic.

Return on Investment

My takeaway: If searching for an integrated social media management platform, try Sprout Social first. Depending on your brand variations, budget and requirements, this may be the perfect solution.
Sprout Social could increase employee efficiency. Again, you have to sell it to senior management as a viable marketing solution to drive ROI, lead conversion and community.

There is a world of difference between my former and current clients, in terms of branding, vertical, strategy and technical understanding. I would start with Sprout as the first solid testing option for social media management. A package with Pinterest and Instagram - and a mobile app - would take my rating up a few notches.

Likelihood to Recommend

I would advise a colleague to do the following before signing up for a trial:

(1) Start by researching Sprout Social's success in your market.

(2) Secure buy-in from senior management before day 1 of the trial. Your research and behind-the-scenes interviews with other users - and Sprout's customer service team - will serve you well in making an informed decision. Also, the $39/user cost should factor into your planning at this stage.

(3) After #1 and #2 are in place, go into your trial full steam. Don't test Sprout Social with other options. This will only confuse you.

(4) Every day during the trial, track your productivity while assessing the product's teachability if you will be using Sprout with your team or other employees in your organization. I think it's critical to have at least one tech savvy team member in your corner to ensure a seamless and successful, implementation.

(5) After the trial, talk with customer service about any issues that may have come up during your trial. They may be able to work with you on customizing Sprout to meet your requirements.

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Sprout Social Review: Social Media Management on Steroids

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