​Full disclosure: I was given a free Post Planner account in connection with other social media writing, and am a registered affiliate for Post Planner. My commitment is to always give you my honest opinion so you can make your own decision about what is best for you!

Now that is out of the way, let's dive in. 
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On the most basic level, Post Planner is a social media scheduling tool. Similar in ways to other tools like Buffer and MeetEdgar. Depending on your plan size you can connect multiple social media accounts, schedule and create content, and monitor results. So far pretty standard. You can also create your own custom RSS feeds like you can in Buffer or a tool like Feedly. There are a few features that make Post Planner worth checking out though, even if you use another tool already. 
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The biggest feature that Post Planner has is that it does not simply schedule content that you think of out of your head, it suggests content for you based on a wide variety of criteria. It pulls popular content from around the web and rates it if you want to share links or viral images. Want to post text status updates instead? You can choose from a large library of already created posts and then customize them. 

If you struggle with creating content day in and day out, this feature alone will make Post Planner pay for itself. I was really impressed with the breadth of content available. (And that is saying something!) 

Another thing I like is that you can decide what types of content gets sent out when in your schedule. While not quite as advanced as the Meet Edgar tool, you can at least plan when you want links, text updates, or pictures being published. 

I also have to add that their support team has been amazing. While it is possible I get preferential treatment, I doubt it because I go through the built in help tab when I have questions. Response time is fast and personal. 

Other features I love (though it took me a little playing with it to find them) are the ability to schedule recurring posts, and the Canva integration. 
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Overall, Post Planner is a unique tool that adds some things to the landscape of content creation and scheduling. 

However, I wouldn't recommend it as a stand-alone social media tool. You will still need tracking and analytics from something like Buffer (or a more robust tool like Agorapulse). It does not provide any monitoring options (again, loving Agorapulse for that, review coming soon). The one thing that was most notable in my workflow though was the lack of a browser extension. While Post Planner is create for suggesting content, if I happen across it on the web I have to manually add it if I want to use Post Planner for scheduling.
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Post Planner is a great addition to my social media arsenal, when I make the time to go in and browse the library for content. Like any other tool, you will only get out of it what you put into it. 
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If you have trouble being creative and coming up with content, then definitely give Post Planner a try. It's price point is very accessible even for a small business with only a couple social media accounts. An important note is that it only connects with Facebook and Twitter right now. That is fine for many businesses, but if you want to schedule to Pinterest, Instagram, Google+, or LinkedIn you will need another tool. 

Have you used Post Planner? Are there other social media tools that I should be reviewing? I would love to hear about your experiences. 

_*Note: This post was transferred here from an older blog that I was hosting on Posterous.com. the posting date reflects the publish date of the original post.

As a small business, you don't have much time. Keeping up on your blog can be a challenge. And what do you write anyway? Here are my top 5 tips when writing a small business blog.

1) Write what you know.


This is the mantra for writing of all kinds, but especially in blogging. One of the biggest mistakes I have seen clients make is to just regurgitate information from other places rather than coming up with their own thoughts. A whole bunch of links with little commentary rarely adds value to your blog. Instead, think about the conversations you are having with customers every day. When have you heard comments like "wow, I never knew that," or "I didn't understand that until talking to you." That is your content! Now just write it.

2) Always, always, ALWAYS proofread.


Okay - I know I am asking for it now, and will probably get e-mails detailing all the errors in this post. Still, true is true. 


There are few things that will take good content and make it seem stupid than sloppy writing, spelling errors, or bad grammar. If you do not feel confident in this area, find a co-worker, employee, friend, or marketing service that does and have them give your work a once over before it goes live.

3) Save good ideas for a rainy day.
     
 When you have a good idea for a blog post, write it down immediately. If you have a few minutes, even write out the whole post. If you have already written one for the day it will be available for a day when you just can't think of anything to post. Keeping a buffer of written articles is one of the best ways to stay consistent. 

4) Start small.
     
 The world of the web is changing. You do not have to be able to commit to a daily 500+ word blog with fantastic graphics and pictures to be able to start blogging. Find a simple platform that you can use, choose a clean look, and try to be regular, even if it is only once a month. Having something will be better than nothing, and you can get comfortable over time and expand as needed. Don't let how big the mountain looks to keep you from taking your first step.

5) Know how and when to ask for help.
     
 Blogging can be very personal, which can make a business owner hesitant to ask for help. Whether you are having trouble getting off the ground, staying consistent, or generating enough unique content see what resources are around to help. You may find an employee with hidden writing talents that can help with content. Or a friend who can hold you accountable to writing regularly. Many blogs written by business owners will need professional help at some point in time. After all, the blog is not your business, it is supporting your business. You may need help finding a good platform to start, setting up the original design, writing content, or finding ways to optimize your content to serve your marketing strategy. All these are things a professional internet marketer can help you with to save your precious time and money for what you are best at - running your business.