Hootsuite has shocked their longest-serving customers with the kind of price increase that makes Martin Shrekli look benevolent. We look at what is driving the staggering 10x price increase for long-serving customers and the alternative tools available to social media managers and agencies
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By Kristian Downer April 13, 2021 Social Media Marketing
Read on…or read the entire article HERE on DowSocial’s website.
Like thousands of Hootsuite users we recently received an email that our subscription would be rising from $7.99 to $75. per month. A staggering increase of up to 1000% affects long-standing customers on legacy pricing structures the most.
So what is driving this change?
Text of the email we received from Hootsuite
Whilst Hootsuite would point to it’s product roadmap and its increase in functionality and associated costs, this masks a deeper story. As social media evolves rapidly so has the way that businesses should use social media and scheduling alone no longer has the pull it once had. Heck even Twitter has joined the bandwagon, you can now schedule posts directly on Twitter removing the core functionality for lots of the lower price bracket subscribers.
This means that the company has been forced to pivot to the higher-level enterprise level where it has been outmatched for years by SproutSocial, Sendible and Agorapulse.
Hootsuite has been struggling to keep up with other players in the industry for some time now and it looks like they are going to try and cover the shortfall in new accounts by targeting those who are paying the same amount they were when they started.
On the surface, this sounds understandable, a lot has changed in social media, and the service and the value offered has changed.
However, increasing prices for the most loyal and longest serving customers by 1000% in one go is a bold strategy. One that is likely to alienate some of their biggest advocates.
We don’t know the ins and outs of Hootsuite and what is driving this change.
Yet, I fear this PR faux pas at the height of a pandemic will stain the legacy of the great work the company has done to support the small business community over the last decade.
We were proud to be Hootsuite ambassadors at the start of our business journey, and it was with a heavy heart that we started transitioning our business away from the tool last year.
The company share great content and have a product that was perfect for small businesses and agencies alike dipping their toe into social media and needing something to manage everything in one place.
We fear that many others will be joining us in looking for alternatives.
Alternatives To Hootsuite
We have long been looking at alternatives to Hootsuite and have the following recommendations for social media management tools that you might find useful
Sendible
More modern and user-friendly than Hootsuite the software is perfect for small agencies with multiple clients looking to scale. Importantly the reporting tools are included in the price, a weakness that has seen Hootsuite lagging for quite some time.
Perfect for – If you are managing the social media accounts of a small business or growing your agency.
Current offer – Try the software with a two-week FREE trial
Arkflux
A UK bases software company offering marketing automation in the form of CRM, email marketing and social media management all in one place at a rate lower than the announced Hootsuite rise.
Based near us we have had the founder talk at our events regularly and the product road map is exciting.
Perfect For – Small businesses that want an all in one solution for their marketing at an affordable price. A UK based company so you can support local business at the same time.
Current Offer – Request a demo and find out that this product is so cost-effective there is no need for an introductory offer
SproutSocial
If it is cost alone that is putting you off Hootsuite then Sproutsocial is unlikely to be the solution you are looking for. However with excellent reporting, team management and a easy to use interface they are a good fit for larger agencies.
Perfect for – Mid to large agencies
Current Offer – 30 day free trial
AgoraPulse
This is a tool that we have only just started testing out so it is too early for us to give you a full review. However, we are giving it a go due to the reviews from Katherine George at Oh So Social who continuously raves about it.
Perfect for – Agencies managing lots of social media accounts at once needing high-quality reporting and inter-team management tools
Current Offer – Get a 14 day FREE trial -here – GET FREE TRIAL
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