Choosing the right social selling platform: a comparative analysis of ReadyForSocial and competitors

Choosing the right social selling platform: a comparative analysis of ReadyForSocial and competitors

By Ready For Social | May 6, 2024

One of a kind: ReadyForSocial™ ist das einzige All-in-One Programm, mit dem Ihr Vertriebsteam das volle Potenzial sozialer Medien ausschöpfen kann.

Social selling has become integral to many businesses’ strategies to reach and engage with their target audience. With the rise of social media platforms as powerful marketing tools, the demand for efficient social selling platforms has never been higher. 

So, choosing the right solution out of the many options should be a carefully considered process to ensure you select the right platform for your business and team. 


In this article, we’ll compare ReadyForSocial (RFS) and its competitors in key aspects crucial for effective social selling. You will learn

  • about the competitive landscape of social selling tools. 
  • what platforms are suitable for B2B companies. 
  • the details about industry-leading tools and their features. 
  • what ReadyForSocial has to offer to make your sales team excel.

Social selling offers a competitive landscape.

Before focusing on specifics, we must address a critical factor in determining the ideal platform for you. While social selling offers a competitive landscape in general, employee advocacy and social media brand presence in B2C fundamentally differ from the needs in B2B social selling. 

B2B businesses must focus on thought leadership content and engagement post-sharing, which requires a different type of solution for individuals and teams.​ Platforms for B2C include companies like Comment Sold, Sprinkler, Dynamic Signal, and everyone social. Social selling platforms with B2B DNA include Oktopost, Soxco, and ReadyForSocial.

While the feature and process POVs are pretty similar, some differences might make the ultimate decision about which tool to use easier for you.

User interface and experience:

Crafting a user interface (UI) and experience (UX) that prioritizes seamless navigation is essential for maximizing platform utilization. At ReadyForSocial, we understand this critical aspect profoundly. Our platform features an intuitive and user-friendly interface designed to streamline the social selling process. During the creation process of our platform, we had the B2B salesperson and their unique needs in mind.

With our clean layout and easily accessible menus, users can swiftly navigate through the platform, accessing essential features without unnecessary complexities.

Features:

The feature set of a social selling platform plays a crucial role in driving sales and engagement. Studies indicate that platforms with advanced features can experience up to a 32% increase in sales productivity. RFS offers a comprehensive range of features, including content scheduling, AI-based editing, and performance analytics. These features empower users to manage their social selling efforts efficiently from a single platform.

Additional features help sales experts improve their online professional image and know-how. Users can request a personalized LinkedIn profile review with detailed tips and tricks on how to stand out. Gamification includes earning different badges and unlocking additional features, which also offers the opportunity for internal competition. A study published by Gartner found that gamified applications can increase engagement by up to 100%.

While different companies may offer similar features, functionalities can vary, impacting overall performance and user satisfaction. This variation can affect overall performance and user satisfaction, underscoring the importance of selecting a platform with a robust feature set tailored to meet specific business needs and objectives.

Social media platform integration capabilities:

Seamlessly integrating multiple social media platforms is essential for optimizing efficiency and productivity in social selling endeavors. According to a study by HubSpot, businesses that incorporate their social media platforms experience a 21% increase in engagement and a 45% increase in lead generation compared to those that don’t. 

RFS makes it easy to connect social media accounts, including LinkedIn, X, and Instagram. International clients also like the ability to connect regional platforms, such as Xing. 

This capability ensures a smooth content flow from one central hub and content calendar, enhancing the overall social selling experience. Additionally, RFS allows users to share on their platform and inside groups, such as LinkedIn groups. Both sharing options can be scheduled in advance. According to Buffer’s State of Social report, businesses that schedule their social media posts in advance witness a 192% increase in engagement.

Analytics:

Data-driven insights are pivotal in optimizing social selling strategies and measuring success. According to a report by McKinsey, companies that leverage analytics extensively are 2.6 times more likely to be top performers in terms of profitability. RFS provides robust analytics tools that enable users to track key metrics, monitor campaign performance, and identify areas for improvement.

Users can access their individual analytics inside their profile. At the same time, marketing and leadership receive weekly and monthly reports that show overall trends and insights. These findings align with those from Forrester Research, which suggests that companies that use data analytics to guide decision-making are more likely to outperform their peers by 73%.

Additionally, RFS offers customized reports for any timeframe and objectives. This aligns with a study by IBM, which found that businesses that utilize customized analytics solutions experience a 36% increase in operational efficiency.

These actionable insights empower users to refine their approach and drive better results over time. Insights into content performance enable teams to finetune their content strategy and external communication approach.

Customer support and training:

High-quality customer support and comprehensive training resources ensure users can maximize the platform’s capabilities. According to a Microsoft survey, 96% of consumers say customer service is an essential factor in their choice of loyalty to a brand. RFS understands the significance of this, which is why we prioritize customer satisfaction through various support channels and training resources.

Thanks to our global team and adherence to one of our core values, “always get it done for the client,” a staff member is constantly accessible and can respond to any user questions or problems quickly. 

Additionally, RFS prioritizes customer satisfaction by offering dedicated support channels, extensive documentation, and training resources such as tutorials and webinars. These trainings align with the client’s needs and wishes, ranging from LinkedIn profile training to social media etiquette to designing an effective newsletter within RFS.

This commitment to customer success fosters a supportive environment where users can quickly resolve issues and leverage the platform to its fullest potential.

Customization and scalability:

Businesses have unique needs and scalability requirements that necessitate customizable solutions. According to research by Deloitte, 90% of companies believe that personalized or customized content is a crucial factor in their success. RFS offers a high degree of customization, allowing users to tailor the platform to suit their specific workflows and objectives. 

Clients can select different media channels to share content on, from multiple platforms to focusing on a particular platform like LinkedIn. Additionally, marketing can determine the content formats they wish their sales team to share, catering to diverse audience preferences and engagement trends. A study by eMarketer reveals that 73% of marketers consider social media marketing to be “very effective” for their business.

Our writer team is skilled in crafting social media copies for executives and sales teams, providing the option to select content packages that include multiple voices for all published copies. Clients can opt for content packages with multiple voices for all published copies, enhancing brand authenticity and resonance. Research by Nielsen Norman Group indicates that content written in a conversational tone can increase user engagement by up to 40%.

Users have the flexibility to share content manually in real-time, schedule posts in advance, or use our AutoPilot feature for automated content selection. According to a report by Statista, 82% of social media marketers use automation tools to schedule their posts. RFS also enables own post creations, which can be shared within the team. Additionally, team members can choose between sharing on social media feeds, inside groups, or a combination of both.

Additionally, RFS is designed to scale alongside growing businesses and developing marketing objectives, accommodating increased workload and expanding requirements without compromising performance. Research by Harvard Business Review indicates that companies that effectively scale their operations are 2.3 times more likely to see significant revenue growth. 

Cost and value proposition:

Cost-effectiveness and value proposition are crucial considerations for businesses of all sizes. RFS provides competitive pricing plans tailored to suit varying budgets and requirements, ensuring accessibility without sacrificing quality or functionality. The platform’s comprehensive feature set, integration capabilities, and robust support further enhance its value proposition, delivering a high return on investment for users (typically 5-8x). Competitors may offer similar pricing structures, but the overall value proposition can vary based on the features, support, and performance provided.

Why should you choose ReadyForSocial?

Social selling is undoubtedly challenging, which is precisely why ReadyForSocial exists. Starting an enterprise-level program and achieving sustained success in social selling endeavors can involve multiple people and cost over 5000 hours annually. So, why not choose ReadyForSocial to make everyone’s lives much easier? 

We’re rooted in B2B DNA and profoundly understand the intricacies of B2B marketing and sales. Our comprehensive suite of services includes a managed social selling program that covers everything from training and content creation to distribution, analytics, and community management.

In a competitive social selling landscape and high-quality platforms that offer competitive tools, it ultimately comes down to the people behind the technology. Our unique Account Management Program fosters close collaboration with our clients’ marketing teams, enabling us to build best practices and ensure the success of their social selling initiatives.

Are you ready to take the next step?

Selecting the right social selling platform is a critical decision that can significantly impact a business’s success in today’s competitive landscape. Next week, we will give you a deep dive into our comprehensive analytics and explain how these insights drive results. 

Do you want to get a quick tour of the tool? We are always happy to walk you through our platform and answer questions one-on-one. Schedule your free tour on ReadyForSocial or reach out to us on LinkedIn wissen.