Have a listen:
I apologize but this post is no longer relevant and/or out of date. SimilarWeb has acquired Swayy. I wish Swayy could have somehow partnered with Buffer but I guess that wasn’t in the cards. This post will be kept online for archival reasons and may or may not be updated one day. I invite you to our Home Page for the most recent and best articles we offer. Thank you, Brian
If you’re a Buffer addict, like I recently became, you’re continuously looking for great content to schedule for your followers. This post showcases one of the best free online tools I know of for discovering great content – Swayy. Swayy will help you discover amazing content to consume and curate (share). This is the first of at least a two part series on Content Discovery – The tools and techniques for finding and sharing great content.
Why Curate Content?
Content Curation has evolved so much that I’m reluctant to even put Buffering into the same realm but that is what we’re doing in a sense, only sharing on social media rather than blogging. That is what Content Curation has evolved to. So why do we need to curate (share) other people’s content to begin with?
- First, unless you’re the fastest and smartest blogger in the Galaxy, you can’t possibly create every bit of content your followers want and need. Sharing relevant content with your followers is adding value beyond your blogging ability.
- Second, unless you’re one of the top one percent that can continue to grow without connection, you’ll benefit greatly by networking with your peers and sharing each other’s content is the first step.
- Third, if you only share your own content, you’ll look like a self absorbed, spammy nutjob. You don’t want to look like a self absorbed, spammy nutjob – do you?
Okay, so now we know why we want to share other people’s great content, let’s look at the best tool for sharing on Twitter – Buffer…
A Little About Buffer
I’ve used Buffer off and on for a long time but I just recently upgraded and, Wow, it’s like the light came on. I wish I had jumped in deeper in the beginning because Buffer is really helping my social media shares. I no longer go into a “dormant” state during the week because I have no time left or my mind won’t function after work. I’m betting a lot of you can relate to that. I find great content on the weekends and schedule it throughout the week.
I even installed the Android App on my Galaxy S5 and I’m loving that as well. I run a handful of Twitter, Facebook and Google accounts and now it’s super easy to designate when and where my social shares go.
A Few Buffer Tips
- Don’t Buffer To Facebook – Facebook is a strange social media animal and doesn’t like content shared via third-party apps so it’s probably better to avoid using apps like Buffer for your Facebook account or page. I know it sucks but to get the most out of Facebook you need to be on Facebook. While on the topic, if you haven’t read Gary Vaynerchuk’s Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook$ yet, check it out. You’ll learn how to share like a pro and use images that convert.
- Use @names – By default, Buffer grabs the article’s title and creates a link for you. I recommend you take it a step further and include the author and/or blog’s @name when sharing to Twitter. When on your desktop or laptop, clicking the Twitter share button should bring up the Buffer option and that often takes care of that. On mobile, however, I like to click the Twitter share button, copy the pre-populated tweet and then close the Twitter app without sending the tweet. Then I have to share the post via the Buffer app and paste that tweet inside the shared content area.
- Add #Hashtags – If there’s room within the Tweet, you can greatly expand your reach by including one or two of the most relevant and popular hashtags.
- Don’t Schedule Out Too Far – In case you haven’t noticed, times are changing faster than a screen door in a hurricane so we don’t normally want to schedule out a month into the future. There are exceptions to that, of course, but the content in question will tell you what’s appropriate.
- Automation Is Not The Answer – Buffering content is a fantastic way to fill in the gaps, ensure you’re sharing at the best time and sparing your followers from information overload BUT all of that should be supplemental. Seriously, if you’re not using social media to actually socialize and develop relationships you’re missing the point completely.
Blasting links, even other people’s links, is wasting everyone’s time – including yours.
- Your Own Content Is Special – When sharing your own posts (And YOU SHOULD, don’t listen to those that say it’s being vain) take the time to create a great image for the share. You can still buffer your own content but I think it’s also a good idea announce your post using a fantastic image. Yep, now I have to link to Gary Vaynerchuk’s Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook$ again.
- The Buffer Blog – Don’t forget about the Buffer Blog, it’s worth subscribing to and adding to your Buffer.
- RSS Feeds Is Here – Buffer now allows you to add feeds to your Buffer social profiles (up to 15 RSS feeds to each of your profiles) for quick sharing of your favorite blogs.
- Tweriod – Use Tweriod to help find the best times to put into your Buffer scheduling. For example, I know @HotBlogTips‘ bests times to post on the weekdays are 1pm, 2pm, 4pm and 5pm, 6pm and 7pm. I have those times setup in my Buffer scheduler for that profile.
Suggestions For Buffer
- I do wish the Buffer Mobile App would pick-up from the Twitter share links like it does on my desktop Chrome extension so I don’t have to share directly via the Buffer mobile app. Or at least populate the Buffer share with the Twitter button’s information so I wouldn’t have to click the Twitter share button to copy the tweet, including the @name .
- Partner with or buy Swayy to improve your suggested content.
Swayy Is Great For Discovering Great Content
Swayy has to go at the top of the list for finding great content to share and schedule into Buffer. Swayy helps you find the best content for your audience. Swayy actually has it’s own scheduler so if I wasn’t juggling a dozen accounts, I might just use Swayy without Buffer. Swayy uses a formula that helps you find the most relevant content to curate based on trends, topics (keywords), and reaction (Just guessing. Either that or Swayy can read my mind).
I get an email everyday and when I click the link I’m looking at a ton of great content waiting to share. Swayy isn’t another automated social share tool, it’s a content discovery machine! If you haven’t given Swayy a try yet, check it out, there’s a free version and that’s the one I use. Swayy is still in BETA so if it says you need an invite, let me know, I have 3 invites left.
My Swayy Technique
For me, Swayy is the perfect content discovery solution but, honestly, I don’t use Swayy like it was intended because I need Buffer for multiple accounts. Buffer allows me to schedule content with up to 12 social networks at once ( The Awesome Plan – currently $10/mo). I actually need a little more than 12 accounts but I’m not ready to jump up to the $50 business level yet.
- So I open up Swayy in my browser and click the titles of the articles that look like they’d be of interest to me and my followers. I don’t share directly from Swayy.
- Next, I actually READ or, at the very least, skim the article to be certain it’s worthy of sharing. This is important so we’re not blasting junk that no one wants to see.
- Once I decide it’s worthy and for which audience, I grab the author’s Twitter handle (@name) if handy.
- Then I click the Twitter share button. Since I have the Buffer Chrome Extension installed (on my desktop and laptop), I click the Twitter share link if the blogger or site admin had the insight to include social share buttons. If not, I have Buffer installed. The pre-populated tweet should include the blog’s @name (Again, if the blogger knows what they’re doing). I add the author @name (if different to the blog’s @name), then I include the right hashtag/s and, finally, I schedule it with Buffer.
That’s all there is to it, at least the way I go about it. There are a couple of extra steps but I feel that its important to show the author and/or blog owner that you’re sharing their content. That’s how we start, build, and maintain relationships. It’s just one of the first steps but it is an important one. You should never feel like you’re being insincere or self-serving by showing those involved that you’re helping them. If you do feel that way, you’re going to struggle getting any business off the ground, online or off. Follow the right people, don’t listen to losers, and believe in what you do and you’ll be just fine. 🙂
Swayy Chrome Browser Extension
Swayy even has a Chrome extension. The Swayy extension is nice for sharing right from a page as well as finding similar online content. NOTE: The permissions of this app seem a little excessive in my opinion. They basically want access to all of your browsing history, on and off Swayy.
I don’t use the extension much myself but you can share directly from a blog post you’re on by opening up the Swayy App (extension). The interface is pretty cool giving you the Title, Link, suggested Mentions and even suggested hashtags. You can share to Twitter, Facebook (but don’t) and LinkedIn. You can share now or schedule it for later (Not via Buffer but using Swayy”s own scheduling feature). Once you share or schedule the post, Swayy will serve up a few more content suggestions in case you want to keep going.
In The Perfect World Buffer And Swayy Would Marry Each Other
As much as I’m loving Buffer, let’s face it, while their suggested content has improved it’s not at the level of Swayy yet. If Buffer and Swayy somehow partnered within the same app, we’d be looking at a very powerful content discovery weapon of mass sharing.
Suggestions For Swayy
- Find a way to populate the share using the Tweet Button content so we don’t have to search for the @names before we buffer the content.
- Rethink your browser extension/app permissions. Off Swayy browsing shouldn’t be a factor in determining suggested content to serve.
- Add Buffer as one of the shared service options.
Action Steps
- Sign-up For Buffer’s Awesome Plan (Currently $10/month) so you can manage up to 12 social profiles, add up to 200 posts, and add a second manager if needed. Hey, by the way, I’m NOT affiliated with Buffer, being paid to promote buffer or using an affiliate link – I just love the tool.
Sign-up for Swayy’s free account and setup your topics (keywords).
- I recommend you subscribe to Swayy’s daily digest of recommended content to share (Click the gear icon in the left column of your Swayy dashboard).
- Schedule amazing content for the week ahead and work on increasing your value within your community. 🙂
There Will Be More On Content Discovery
I have a ton of other tools I use for content discovery (Finding great content to read and share) but, as usual, I’m going a little long here. I think I will break it up into at least a two part series, maybe three. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t forget to stop by next week for more great content discovery tools and techniques – it will be well worth it. 🙂
Need more on Buffer right now? Check out The Top 10 Secret Buffer Hacks and Features on the Buffer Blog. It’s over a year old but still loaded with cool Buffer hacks.
Over To You My Friend
Do you use Buffer? How about Swayy, have you even heard of it? I’d love to see your stories, comments or questions below in the comments. Don’t forget to add this post to your Buffer and include @HotBlogTips so I can thank you. 🙂
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Hi Brian,
Excellent. I wrote about automation – post scheduled for tomorrow – so we’re on the same wavelength here. Curating content not only opens doors and builds bonds with fellow bloggers, it also rounds out your social media streams.
Buffer does rock. I use it from time to time to send out content in a timely fashion. The developers are on the social media ball too; when I noted using Buffer sometimes, recently, I was met with a grateful tweet for spreading the word.
This vibes nicely with your idea of engaging on social while curating and Buffering, if you will. People appreciate curating, and automating, if a living soul is behind the curating. Share people’s stuff then stop in to chat, to ask questions, to thank, and to do all that other stuff to gain people’s trust.
You can’t really do social right until you’re a live body who decides to be social. Once you choose to engage all types of doors will open for you.
As for me I’d be a goner if I didn’t automate and curate; 16 hours ahead of EST here in Fiji, so if I want to be on the radar, and pop up in front of my American market, I better curate and automate.
Thanks so much Brian. Tweeting through Triberr.
Ryan
That’s true about the time zone difference Ryan, I didn’t even think about that. You’d have to be quite a night owl if you were aiming for my time zone and posting direct.
I’m away from home so much during the week that engaging on social is still a bit of a challenge. That’s why I like Twitter so much, because it’s so much easier to update with my phone. I have seven of my Twitter accounts signed into the mobile app so it can still get out of control.
I agree that social media content management resources should be used to fill in the gaps. I keep a spread sheet of my original content that I use to fill in the gaps between my actual posting. I also use https://www.bulkbuffer.com. You can upload your postings in bulk. This is very time effective. You can use it with the free Bufferapp plan, but if you have the Awesome plan you can upload more effectively. Thanks for the share.
Thank you Elizabeth, that looks like a great tip. I think Bulk Buffer could help out on our Amazing Animal Watch account where were trying to post animal videos we find on YouTube consistently. It’s not even our content but ideally we should be posting many times a day and Bulk Buffer would let me re-use some of those we’ve already tweeted out. Thanks for that. 🙂
Hi Brian,
I am using Buffer as well, and the same plan as you are. I’ve been thinking about upgrading, but I’m not ready to pay the $50 a month yet – but soon.I am using Triberr to discover content for Twitter, but Swayy, no I haven’t even heard of it before reading your post.I’ll check it out later today.
One thing I didn’t know was that you shouldn’t be using Buffer for Facebook. I use it all the time for one of my pages and it still works great. I haven’t experienced any problems using it. Not sure if I would get more visibility if I published using Facebook instead, but that’s an interesting question.
-Jens
I think that’s really the issue is reach when it comes to posting from 3rd party apps Jens. My reach on Facebook is terrible even without them so I’m relying on people like Amy Porterfield and others for Facebook information.
That’s a big jump to Business plan. I do wish there was more of a mid-range plan but they do give a ton for upgrading.
Brian – What a great post! I’d been meaning to test out Swayy and you gave me that final push.
Thank you so much for all your kind words about Buffer! We are so grateful for your incredible support! (And I like the suggestion that Buffer and Swayy should marry! 🙂 )
Keep up the amazing posts!
Cheers,
Nicole
Community Champion at Buffer
Thank you Nicole, just more proof that Buffer is part of our community and cares. It’s very cool you took the time to comment and I was amazed at all of the retweets and favorites by Buffer.Any business looking to use social in a meaningful way should take a look at what you guys.
Hey Brian,
So I had to check this post out and I’ve been using Buffer for a few years now and moved up to their paid plan a year ago last May. I’m not using their business plan because I don’t really need it for what I do.
So as I had mentioned to you earlier, Facebook is weird about posting via third party apps because the people on Facebook are there chatting it up and if they see you posted using another platform then they kind of ignore it because they know you’re not actually on. So I don’t automate anything on Facebook unless I am actually gone and I wanted it to be shared. It also depends on your friends, followers and fans and how much they think of you. Most of mine know this is the case but they still appreciate what I share and know I’ll be responding to them ASAP.
Now Swayy sounds okay but what about Triberr? I mean if you want to find awesome content to share then just hook up with some wonderful bloggers on that platform and I load their posts up in Buffer to go out too! So I am never lacking of content to share but thanks for this tip in case I’m ever in need.
Have a great weekend Brian.
~Adrienne
I’m a big fan of Triberr, Adrienne. I actually held off on replying because I knew part 2 was next up starting with Triberr. I mention in that post (in the CommentLuv below) that I was getting overwhelmed with Triberr (and a bunch of other social tasks) but I’m really enjoying it now that I’m using it a little more intelligently.
Hi Brian,
Very timely post for me – I just upgraded to “Awesome” in Buffer last night and I’ve been adding feeds and stuff to it. Very interested to hear about Swayy (which I hadn’t come across before). I’ll ask you for an invitation. Thanks for this helpful advice.
Joy
Invitation sent Joy. I didn’t see an email from my contact form so I sent it to the email you used to comment. I think you’ll enjoy the Buffer Awesome, it makes the tool light up in a way we can’t see as a free user.
Hi Brian,
I have been a user of Buffer from a really long time now. In other words, Buffer have made my life really easy. As there are so many social media these days and posting to each and every platform is such a headache.
I am planning to buy its premium subscription too.
Didn’t knew about this Swayy. But it seems like a awesome thing.
Will definitely try to adapt this too.
Thanks.
Thanks Ankit, I was a Buffer user for the free plan for a long time too but never really found it useful until I upgraded to Awesome. Yeah, check out Swayy and let me know what you think. 🙂
Hi Brian,
I have never heard of Swayy before but I went there and sign-in thru Facebook and it looks pretty cool. I’m going to explore there more and I have Pocketed this for later reference and reading. If you are in Swayy, add me okay? I’m going to share this on my Google+, Facebook, and Twitter.
Hope you have a wonderful week.
Angela
You already know more about Swayy than I do Angela, how do you add people? I haven’t seen that feature yet.
Hey man,
Thanks for sharing the link with me. I love Buffer and can’t imagine life without it. Have you tried the BulkBuffer?
Great if you want to upload like 100 to 250 (max) posts at one time. Works like charm 🙂
Just sharing man and have a great Sunday!
~Reginald
Thanks Reginald, I actually do use bulk buffer for a niche blog we have. I’m only focusing on building the social media for that blog (not posting on the blog itself) and Bulk Buffer is perfect for us.