<H1>If You're Not Using Hootsuite, You're Wasting Your Time</H1>

<img alt="HootSuite Certified Professional" title="HootSuite Certified Professional (learn.hootsuite.com)" src="http://learn.hootsuite.com/cert.php?id=7511&code=d5413408b9b27e3ce8532ca9cdb8df89" width="218" height="220" align="right" />
<br />
<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;OK, so that is a bit on the sensational side of things.&nbsp;&nbsp;But, if you have more than one social network account you know how much time it can take to utilize that resource to its full potential.&nbsp;&nbsp;This is why an aggregator is such a valuable tool.&nbsp;&nbsp;One such social network aggregator is HootSuite.&nbsp;&nbsp;Like others in this category it brings in your social network updates, search strings and assoicated account contacts.&nbsp;&nbsp;Where it really rises above the rest is the cost to functionality ratio.&nbsp;&nbsp;For $9.99 a month you can use the Professional version, providing most business professionals and even some very social individuals, with everything they need to get time back for "IRL" social networking.<br /><br />
Some of the highlights: <br /><br />
<ls><li>Cost effective: For most uses it will be free to $9.99 a month.</li><br />
<li>Many Social Networks: It Includes many of the major social networks.&nbsp;&nbsp;They are continually upgrading the specific functionality for each network as well.</li><br />
<li>Custom Tabs: The tabbing system is very familiar to many.&nbsp;&nbsp;It allows you to create custom areas for certain networks, campaigns or even 3rd party applications from their app center.</li><br />
<li>3rd Party Applications: This is always a blessing an a curse, but with Hootsuite it seems to be more a blessing.&nbsp;&nbsp;This allows for additonal functionality provided by other sites or the community.</li><br />
<li>Auto-Scheduling: Very nice for a set it and forget it, as it will post at high view times for that network and posting.</li><br />
<li>Web-Based and Apps: It is a Browser based system, so no matter your operating system it will work.&nbsp;&nbsp;There are also apps available for iOS and Android.</li><br />
<li>Enterprise Ready: They have an Enterprise level package.&nbsp;&nbsp;This allows for more reporting as well as control over your organization and team members' posting and accounts.</li><br />
<li>Finally, they offer an additional certification service for another $21 a month to current Pro subscribers.&nbsp;&nbsp;I would say this is worth the extra money.&nbsp;&nbsp;It gives you a great overview of the full functionality available in HootSuite.&nbsp;&nbsp;With your specific industry in mind, you should have many "Ah-ha!" or "That is going to help." moments.</li></ls><br /><br />  

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Where does HootSuite lack?&nbsp;&nbsp;They need some deeper development on LinkedIn intergration and G+.&nbsp;&nbsp;When it comes to FaceBook and Twitter, HootSuite is almost better than logging in directly.&nbsp;&nbsp;When it comes to LinkedIn, they are missing things such as People Search and posting to tabs in groups.&nbsp;&nbsp;These would be functionalities not only for recruiters, but other business professionals as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;Posting to Tabs in the Groups helps to make sure the Group Admin doesn't have to keep moving posts that should be under a certain tab, say the Jobs Tab in a LinkedIn Group.<br /><br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When it comes to G+, they have been officially allowed to integrate with G+ Pages.&nbsp;&nbsp;I undertand Google's approach here, but even as a individual and not a brand or business, using HootSuite can save so much time, it's worth allowing the integration.&nbsp;&nbsp;This is a reservation of Google, not a lack of effort on the part of HootSuite.<br /><br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The good news is, Hootsuite appears to be very responsive to its user community.&nbsp;&nbsp;They have an active Feedback and Help center community.<br /><br />  
     
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Who can benefit from using HootSuite?&nbsp;&nbsp;The shorter answered question would be, "who probably will not benefit much using HootSuite?"&nbsp;&nbsp;The person with one social network account they hardly ever use.&nbsp;&nbsp;Otherwise, most everyone using multiple social network accounts or very active on them will benefit.&nbsp;&nbsp;As a recruiter it is a no brainer.&nbsp;&nbsp;If you're not using HootSuite you should atleast be using something like it.  Though from the ones I have seen, used and left HootSuite comes in at a more than reasonable price.&nbsp;&nbsp;It provides great functionality for both active personal and business use.<br /><br />

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I make no money from Hootsuite, I write this of my own accord.&nbsp;&nbsp;I'm not affiliated with them, just a user who finds it a valuable tool. <br /><br />

<a href="http://www.hootsuite.com">HootSuite</a href>