How to Use Sprout Social

Getting started with Sprout Social

In this guide, you'll learn how to set up your Sprout Social account and manage your social media effectively. By the end, you’ll be ready to publish content, engage with your audience, and analyse performance metrics.

Step 1: Sign up and set up

1. Go to sproutsocial.com.
2. Click on the “Get Started” button in the top right corner.
3. Fill in your details to create an account. You can choose a 30-day free trial of any plan.
4. Follow the prompts to connect your social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.) by clicking “Add Profile” in the dashboard.

Step 2: Your first post

1. From the dashboard, navigate to the “Publishing” tab on the left menu.
2. Click on “Compose” at the top right.
3. Select the social media profile you want to post to from the dropdown menu.
4. Write your post in the text box. You can add images or links using the icons below the text area.
5. Click “Schedule” to choose the best time for posting (or “Post Now” if you want it to go live immediately).
6. Select the suggested time based on AI analysis, or set a custom time, then click “Schedule Post”.

Step 3: Get better results

1. Use the “Smart Inbox” feature to monitor engagement across all your connected profiles. This is found under the “Engagement” tab.
2. Regularly check the “Analytics” section to review the performance of your posts. Click on “Reports” to see insights on engagement, reach, and audience demographics.
3. Experiment with different posting times and content types based on the AI recommendations. Adjust your strategy based on what performs best.

Pro tip

Use the “Bulk Upload” feature under the “Publishing” tab to upload multiple posts at once. Prepare a CSV file with your posts and schedule them in one go to save time.

Common mistake to avoid

Don’t skip connecting all your social media accounts. Missing profiles can lead to missed engagement opportunities and skewed analytics. Make sure every relevant account is linked in your settings.