27 Social media tools for business

Clarke McEwan Accountants

Social media isn't just about viral videos or selfies. For consumers, sites and apps such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are playing an increasingly large role in their path to purchase.

This is why it's so important for retailers to invest in social media marketing. Having a strong presence in relevant social networks not only gives you an avenue to communicate with your audience, it also allows you to stay in the radars of your customers. This in turn, increases the likelihood of a shopper choosing your brand when they're ready to buy.

To that end, we've compiled a list of tools you can use to streamline your social media efforts. From social network management apps that'll save you time, to social commerce solutions that'll enable you to sell products to your fans and followers, the following tools are essential for any retailer who wants to win at social.

Facebook

Call to Action buttons - Businesses can add call-to-action buttons on their Pages and ads. Admins can select from seven calls to action, including Book Now, Contact Us, Use App, Play Game, Shop Now, Sign Up, and Watch Video.

Check out this example from Tory Burch, which has a "Shop Now" button on its page.

To add a call-to-action button on your Page, click the "Create Call-to-Action" button found at the top part of your page, on your cover photo.

Facebook Bluetooth Beacons - Beacons have been a hot topic in the retail industry for some time, and it looks like Facebook now has its own Beacon initiative. The company launched Facebook Bluetooth beacons, which are devices that retailers can use to help customers learn more about the business whenever they visit the store. Retailers will be able to deliver certain information or messages to customers such as a welcome note or a prompt to "like" the business' page.

All you need to do is install the beacons in your store, and they will then connect with smartphone users who have Facebook location services turned on.

Facebook Bluetooth beacons can be requested for free here .

Woobox Custom Tab - Woobox lets you install customized tabs to your Facebook page. It lets you add forms, embed external sites, fangate content, and it even create your own tab designs.

LikeAlyzer - Need a quick analysis of your Facebook Page? Just enter your URL into LikeAlyzer's search field and it will generate a report that contains your page score, along with information on what you're doing right and what can be improved. It even offers recommendations to help boost Page performance.

Facebook word blocker and profanity filter - These tools make moderating comments a bit easier. The word blocker allows you to create filters that automatically hide comments or posts that contain words or phrases that you specify.

The profanity filter on the other hand, lets you restrict (or enable) certain levels of profanity for your page. According to the social network, "Facebook determines what to block by using the most commonly reported words and phrases marked offensive by the community."

You can find both these tools by clicking the Settings button at the top of your Page.

Twitter

Followerwonk - One of the most popular Twitter analytics solutions in the social realm, Followerwonk lets you "find, analyze, and optimize" for social growth. It offers features such as follower analysis, bio searches, follower tracking, and more.

Twitter Profile Analysis by Klear - This is a free tool that gives you a snapshot of how your (or anyone else's) Twitter profile is doing. It measures activity level, popularity, and responsiveness, and it also identifies top content.

Topsy - Want to see who's tweeting about your brand or any other topic? Just enter the term or phrase into Topsy's search field and it'll generate a list of Twitter users talking about the term or topic you searched for. You can even enter full URLs to see who's shared your content. Perfect if you want to check out the people tweeting out your content.

Tweepi - Tweepi is a great tool for managing friends and followers on Twitter. It lets you view and sort the users you're following, as well as those who aren't following you back.

Twitterfall - If you need to monitor Twitter trends in real-time, look no further. Twitterfall displays tweet searches as they happen. This is great if you're monitoring trends or events as they're happening. Many social media experts, including Kelly Mahoney, social media manager for CompTIA , use this tool when running or participating in Twitter chats.

"It's great because it allows you to visually display tweets in real-time. You can also retweet, reply, favorite, and follow people directly from the platform if you sign in to it through Twitter's API."

Instagram

Crowdfire - Crowdfire enables you to easily manage your Instagram follower and following lists. It lets you view your non-followers and offers features to help you clean up your account. It also has a "CopyFollowers" feature that lets you quickly view another account's followers. Perfect if you're looking to follow relevant accounts.

TakeOff - Another app by Crowdfire, TakeOff allows you to schedule your Instagram posts at the most optimal times. It calculates the best time to post based on when your audience is most likely to be online, increasing your chances of getting in front of your followers. It also has additional features, including smart tags, photo search, and multiple account support.

Iconosquare - Analyze your Instagram account and get cool stats with Iconosquare. This tool gives you an overview of the number of likes and comments you received, and it also scores your account's engagement levels.

Repost - As its name clearly implies, this app lets you repost photos and videos from your Instagram feed and likes. It also lets you bookmark posts so you could repost them at a later time.

Snapwidget - Show off your Instagram feed on your website with Snapwidget. Used by over 100,000 websites, this solution lets you create and customize a grid, slideshow, or photo map of your Instagram posts quickly and easily.

Pinterest

Pinterest Analytics - Pinterest Analytics helps you better understand your users and content. It shows you data on your Pinterest profile, your audience, and your website, allowing you to get insights into how users are engaging with your content both on your website and Pinterest profile.

Note: You'll need a business Pinterest account to access analytics. You can either create one, or convert your existing profile on business.pinterest.com .

Tailwind - Tailwind provides an array of features to help you stay on top of your Pinterest efforts. With it you can schedule Pins, analyze trends, measure results, and monitor Pinterest activities, among others.

PinAlerts - Think of PinAlerts as Google Alerts, but for Pinterest. It sends you an email alert whenever someone Pins an image from your website, thus giving insights into which of your images are popular on Pinterest. It also lets you see who's Pinning your images so you can reach out to them.

Social commerce tools

If you're looking to make your social accounts more shoppable so you can sell directly to your fans and followers, the following tools are worth looking into:

Like2Buy - As we mentioned in our 2015 Retail Trends piece , Like2Buy is one of the leading solutions for making Instagram more shoppable. Here's how it works: A customer who'd like to purchase an item they see on your feed can tap on the Like2Buy link found on Instagram profile. Clicking the link will take them to the your Like2Buy site, which looks similar to your Instagram page. When the shopper taps on an image, they'll be taken directly to its product page, where they can find more details and proceed to checkout.

Tapshop - Tapshop works by giving you a branded link that you can display on your Instagram profile. When users click through that link, they'll be taken to "a custom page of products they've liked, and get an email with links directly to your product pages."

Soldsie and Spreesy - These are comment-based selling solutions that enable retailers sell through Instagram and Facebook comments. When shoppers see an image of an item they'd like to buy, they would simply need to leave a comment indicating their purchase intent, and these services will automatically generate an invoice or checkout link, then send it via email.

Note: Soldsie also has a solution called Have2Have.It, which, similar to Tapshop and Like2Buy, lets retailers set up a curated page that has the same look and feel as their brand's Instagram feed. From there, users can learn more about their products and head straight to the retailer's ecommerce site if they want to make a purchase

General social media management and monitoring

Hootsuite - Hootsuite is one of the most a powerful and extensive social media management solution out there. It allows you to manage your Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Instagram, and even WordPress account from one dashboard. You can view and schedule posts right from Hootsuite, saving you time and energy.

Buffer - If you're looking for a more lightweight tool with a simple interface, then Buffer is worth checking out. It's an excellent social media scheduling tool that works with Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, and Pinterest. Adding posts to your queue can be done with one click, and Buffer can automatically create a scheduling plan for you, or you can set pre-determined times for when posts should go out.

Handy design tools for creating shareable images

PicMonkey - Want to create beautiful images but don't have the design skills to do so? Check out PicMonkey, a web-based solution that makes it easy for you to edit, touch-up, and design images for your blog posts and social media updates. It even has a collage maker for those who can't decide on just one picture to post.

Canva - Canva is a powerful-but super user friendly-graphic tool for people who are "design-challenged." Like most graphic design solutions, Canva lets you easily re-touch and edit images. On top of that, it also offers preset templates for Facebook posts, cover images, posters, flyers, and blog posts, making it easy for you to get started on projects. What's more, Canva has a library of fonts, graphics, and photos that you can add to your design with a quick drag-and-drop feature.

Share As Image - If you like putting text on top of images, Share As Image offers an extremely simple solution. It's works as a Chrome extension and bookmarklet that you can access from any website. All you have to do is highlight text on the page, click the bookmarklet, and Share As Image will turn it into an image ready to be shared across social media.

Your turn

Did we miss anything? Are you using any awesome social media tools that aren't on this list? Tell us about them in the comments.

About Francesca Nicasio

Francesca Nicasio is Vend's Retail Expert and Content Strategist. She writes about trends, tips, and other cool things that enable retailers to increase sales, serve customers better, and be more awesome overall. She's also the author of Retail Survival of the Fittest, a free eBook to help retailers future-proof their stores. Connect with her on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Google+.

By Clarke McEwan September 18, 2026
There are certain items of equipment, machinery and hardware that are essential to the operation of your business – whether it’s the delivery van you use to run your client deliveries, diagnostic equipment in your medical practice or the high-end digital printer to run your print business. But when a critical business asset is required, should you buy this item outright, or should you lease the item and pay for it in handy monthly instalments? To buy or to lease? That is the question Buying new pieces of business equipment, plant, machinery or vehicles can be an expensive investment. So, depending on your financial situation, it’s important to weigh up the pros and cons of buying, or opting for a leasing option. First of all, let’s look at why you might decide to buy the item… Buying: the pros and cons: - Pro: It’s a tangible asset – when you buy an item, you own the item outright and it will appear on your balance sheet as one your business assets. As such, by owning these assets outright you increase the perceived capital and value of your business. You can also claim the cost of the asset against your capital allowance for tax purposes. - Pro: It’s yours for the life of the asset – once you own the item, you have full use of the equipment for the duration of the life of the asset. Your use of the asset isn’t reliant on you being able to keep up regular lease payments, and if your financial circumstances change then you can sell the asset to free up the capital. - Con: It’s an expensive outlay – paying for the item up-front is a large outlay for the business and will require you having the cash to cover this cost. Spending a large lump sum in this way may take cash away from other areas of the business, so you need to be 100% sure that this purchase is the right decision and a sound investment. - Con: You may require extra funding – if you don’t have the liquid cash available to buy the item outright, you may need to take out a loan. Asset finance is available from funding providers, but does tie you into a loan agreement that will add to your liabilities as a business – reducing your worth on the balance sheet. Leasing: the pros and cons: - Pro: Leasing has a cheaper entry point – if the item you need to purchase has a large price tag, leasing allows you to make use of the asset without the cost of buying it in full. For start-ups and smaller businesses with minimal capital behind them, this can make leasing a very attractive option. You may not own the asset, but you can make use of it – and this may be the difference between the success or failure of your business. - Pro: You can spread the cost – there is still an associated cost of leasing, but you can spread the cost over a longer period, making it easier to find the necessary liquid cash to meet your lease payments. With this money saved, you can then invest in other areas of the business, helping you to expand, grow and bring in more customers and revenue. - Con: You don’t own the asset – there are different types of leasing agreement. Under a capital lease, you do own the asset (once you’ve paid if off). But if you opt for an operating lease, this is a more short-term lease and you won’t own the asset at the end of the contract. Ownership does have its advantages (including being able to sell off the asset if required) so it’s important to consider what kind of leasing agreement you’re entering into and what the advantages/disadvantages may be. - Con: You may pay more in the long run – most leasing agreements will attract additional costs and interest on your agreement, so you may well end up paying more than the market price for your asset in the long term. If you can cope with the higher cost, this is fine, but bear in mind that buying outright may have offered greater value. - Con: You may lose the use of the asset – if you can’t keep up your lease payments (due to poor cashflow for example) then the owner of the lease agreement may recall the asset. If this item is crucial to your business model, losing this key asset can have a profound impact on your ability to operate. In this respect, leasing is a more risky prospect, but also an easier option for businesses with less cash to splash.Talk to us about whether buying or leasing is the best way forward. Whether you opt to buy or lease your equipment isn’t always a straightforward decision to make – so it’s a good idea to consult with your accountant early on in the decision-making process. We’ll help you review your current financial position, assess your available cashflow and look at your regular cost base to decide whether buying or leasing is the right thing for your business.
Specialist Accountants for Doctors and Medical Centres
By Clarke McEwan September 11, 2026
Specialist Accountants for Doctors and Medical Centres
By Clarke McEwan September 8, 2026
Discretionary trusts, often referred to as family trusts, have been a popular structure for Australian families and businesses for many decades. They are commonly used to operate family businesses, hold investments and assist with succession planning. Their flexibility, together with asset protection and estate planning benefits, has made them an attractive option for many groups. In the 2026–27 Federal Budget, the Government announced a significant proposed change. From 1 July 2028, trustees of discretionary trusts would generally be required to pay a minimum tax of 30% on the trust's taxable income. According to the Government, the proposal is intended to better align the tax paid on trust income with that paid by salary and wage earners, while reducing opportunities to split income between family members. However, the announcement has generated considerable debate. Professional bodies, business groups and tax advisers have expressed concerns that the changes could increase complexity and compliance costs for many genuine family businesses and investment structures. How the proposal is expected to work Under the proposal, the trustee would generally pay the minimum 30% tax on the trust's taxable income. Where trust income is distributed to individual beneficiaries or certain other non-corporate beneficiaries, those beneficiaries would generally receive a non-refundable tax offset recognising the tax already paid by the trustee. This is intended to reduce the risk of the same income being taxed twice, but while maintaining the impact of the 30% minimum tax rate. Importantly, the minimum tax would not apply to every trust. The Government has indicated that a number of trusts would be excluded, including fixed trusts, widely held trusts, complying superannuation funds, charitable trusts, deceased estates, special disability trusts and genuine testamentary trusts. Primary production income and certain income relating to vulnerable minors would also be excluded. The Government has also stated that more than 90% of small businesses are not expected to be affected. While that may be reassuring for some taxpayers, there are still some important issues that could affect family groups using discretionary trusts. What could this mean in practice? One area likely to receive close attention is the use of companies as beneficiaries of family trusts. Many family groups have historically distributed some trust income to a company. This can provide flexibility in managing cash flow, retaining profits within the business and funding future growth. Under the proposed rules, however, the corporate beneficiary would not receive a tax offset for the tax already paid by the trustee. In many cases this will mean that income distributed from a discretionary trust to a company would be subject to double taxation. Another practical impact of the proposed change is that some family groups may find it more difficult to fully utilise existing tax losses. While the impact will depend on each group's circumstances, the proposed minimum tax is likely to reduce some of the flexibility that currently exists when managing taxable income across a family structure within many groups. The Government has also proposed a temporary three-year rollover period, commencing from 1 July 2027, to help restructure into alternative business structures, such as companies or fixed trusts, without triggering immediate income tax or capital gains tax consequences. While this may assist some groups, restructuring is rarely straightforward. Depending on the circumstances, it might be necessary to consider things like stamp duty, loan approvals, financing arrangements, contract changes, licensing requirements and professional advice. Even relatively simple restructures can involve significant time and cost, so careful planning will be important. The rules are not yet final At this stage, the proposal remains subject to consultation. Treasury released a consultation paper in July 2026 seeking feedback on a range of design issues, including how the new rules would operate in different situations. Final legislation has not yet been introduced, meaning aspects of the proposal could still change before the rules become law. For this reason, most groups utilising discretionary trust structures should avoid making major structural decisions based solely on the announcement. Instead, it is sensible to monitor developments while considering whether existing structures are likely to remain appropriate if the proposal proceeds. What should you do now? For many families, discretionary trusts are about much more than tax. They can continue to provide valuable asset protection, succession planning and business flexibility. The proposed changes do not remove those benefits, nor do they prevent discretionary trusts from continuing to be used. However, the proposal does have the potential to change the tax outcomes for some family groups, particularly those with more complex structures or those that regularly distribute income to companies.  With the proposed start date still some time away, there is an opportunity to pause and carefully understand how the changes may affect your circumstances and consider whether any planning or restructuring might be appropriate. As the legislation develops, we can help you assess the impact on your business or investment structure and determine whether any action is warranted.
By Clarke McEwan September 8, 2026
The ATO has released its updated reasonable travel and overtime meal allowance rates for the 2026–27 income year in Taxation Determination TD 2026/4. The overtime meal allowance has increased to $40.00, while the reasonable amounts for domestic and overseas travel have also been updated based on salary levels and travel destinations. Although these figures are widely publicised each year, they are often misunderstood. A common misconception is that employees can automatically claim a tax deduction up to the ATO's published rates. In reality, the rules are much narrower, and applying them incorrectly could lead to deductions being denied as well as interest and penalties. A travel allowance is the starting point The ATO's reasonable amounts only become relevant if an employee receives a genuine travel or overtime meal allowance from their employer. Generally, an allowance should: Be paid specifically to cover work-related travel or overtime meal expenses; Relate to particular work trips or overtime worked, rather than being a general additional payment; Be shown separately from normal salary or wages; and  Be intended to help cover expenses the employee is expected to incur. If an amount has simply been built into an employee's normal salary package or is not identified as a separate allowance, the ATO's reasonable rates generally do not apply. Instead, the normal substantiation rules will usually apply to any deduction claimed. The reasonable rates are not an automatic deduction One of the most common misunderstandings is that receiving a travel allowance allows an employee to automatically claim the ATO's published rate as a tax deduction. This is not how the rules operate. Employees can generally only claim the amount they actually spend on deductible work-related travel or overtime meal expenses. The ATO's reasonable amounts simply mean that, in certain circumstances, employees may not need to keep a receipt for every specific expense. Importantly, the expenses must still have been incurred and they must relate to work-related activities. Good records are still essential Even where a genuine travel allowance has been paid, employees should still keep sufficient records to demonstrate that they incurred the expenses and that their claim is reasonable. Useful records may include: A diary recording work trips and overnight travel; Details of meals and incidental expenses incurred while travelling; Bank or credit card statements showing the expenses were personally paid; A representative sample of receipts; and Where travel involves six or more consecutive nights away from home, a travel diary recording the dates, locations and purpose of the travel. While receipts may not always be required, relying solely on the ATO's published rates without any supporting evidence could expose you to unnecessary scrutiny if your return is reviewed. Practical tips for employees and employers If you receive a travel or overtime meal allowance, it is worth checking that the arrangement satisfies the ATO's requirements before claiming a deduction. Some practical steps include: Review your payslip. Check that the allowance is separately identified rather than being included in ordinary salary or wages. Keep records throughout the year. Maintaining a simple travel diary and retaining some supporting documents is much easier than trying to recreate the information months later. Only claim what you actually spend. The ATO's reasonable amounts are not a target or standard deduction. They simply provide a benchmark for when the normal receipt requirements may be relaxed. Take extra care on longer trips. If you are away from home for six or more consecutive nights, additional travel diary requirements will generally apply. A little preparation can avoid problems later The updated reasonable amounts provide a useful guide for employers and employees during the 2026–27 income year, but they should not be viewed as an automatic entitlement to a tax deduction. Understanding how the rules operate, keeping appropriate records and claiming only genuine work-related expenses can significantly reduce the risk of problems if the ATO reviews your tax return. If you or your employees receive travel or overtime meal allowances, now is a good opportunity to review your current arrangements. We can help you confirm whether the allowances meet the ATO's requirements and what records should be kept to support any future claims.
By Clarke McEwan September 8, 2026
From 1 July 2026, the value of a Commonwealth penalty unit increased from $330 to $364. While this may sound like a minor administrative change, it has a direct impact on many ATO penalties, increasing the cost of a range of compliance failures. A penalty unit is simply the method used under Commonwealth law to calculate many fines and administrative penalties. Rather than specifying a fixed dollar amount, the legislation often refers to a certain number of penalty units. As the value of a penalty unit increases, so too do the penalties that rely on it. The new value applies to breaches that occur on or after 1 July 2026. Earlier breaches continue to be assessed using the previous rate. Where the increase is likely to be felt Many of the ATO's administrative penalties are based on penalty units, meaning the increase flows directly through to the amount payable. Failure to lodge on time One of the most common penalties applies where tax returns, activity statements or other required documents are lodged late. The base penalty is generally one penalty unit for every 28 days (or part of 28 days) that a document remains outstanding, up to a maximum of five penalty units. For a small entity, this means the maximum base penalty has increased from $1,650 to $1,820. Higher penalties may apply to medium and large entities, while significant global entities are subject to much larger penalty amounts. False or misleading statements Providing incorrect information to the ATO can also result in penalties. Where there is no tax shortfall, the law provides for base penalties of 20, 40 or 60 penalty units, depending on the circumstances and the taxpayer's level of care. At the new penalty unit value, these base penalties have increased to $7,280, $14,560 and $21,840 respectively, before taking into account any reductions or increases that may apply. Self-managed super funds Trustees of self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) should also be aware of the higher penalty amounts. A range of SMSF administrative penalties are calculated using penalty units. For example, some breaches that previously attracted a penalty of $19,800 (60 penalty units) now carry a penalty of $21,840. Importantly, these penalties are generally imposed on each individual trustee rather than the fund itself. This means the total cost can increase significantly where a fund has multiple individual trustees, and the penalties cannot usually be paid from the assets of the superannuation fund. Other obligations, such as certain record-keeping requirements, tax invoice obligations and some superannuation guarantee penalties, may also be affected by the higher penalty unit value. Why this matters For most taxpayers, these penalties are entirely avoidable. Late lodgements, poor record keeping and incorrect information remain some of the most common reasons businesses and individuals incur ATO penalties. While the increase in penalty units may not seem substantial on its own, the cost can add up quickly where there are multiple outstanding obligations or repeated compliance issues. It is also worth remembering that ATO penalties are generally not tax deductible, meaning they must be paid from after-tax income. The good news is that the ATO will often consider remitting penalties (in part or full) where there are genuine mitigating circumstances, reasonable care has been taken, or a voluntary disclosure is made before the issue is identified by the ATO. Addressing problems early typically results in a better outcome than waiting until formal compliance action begins. Practical steps to reduce your risk There are several simple steps that can help minimise the risk of penalties: Lodge on time. Providing information to us well before due dates gives enough time to prepare accurate returns and meet lodgement deadlines. Keep good records. Accurate and up-to-date records make it easier to prepare returns correctly and support your tax positions if questions arise. Review your compliance regularly. If you operate a business or manage an SMSF, periodic reviews can identify issues before they become costly. Seek advice early. If you think you've made a mistake or have fallen behind with your tax obligations, speaking with us as soon as possible will generally provide more options than waiting for the ATO to contact you. A timely reminder The increase in penalty units is a timely reminder that the cost of tax non-compliance continues to rise. While the higher penalties are intended to encourage timely and accurate compliance, they also reinforce the value of good record keeping and proactive tax management. If you have any concerns about outstanding lodgements, record-keeping obligations or any other tax compliance matter, please contact us. We can help you address issues early and minimise the risk of unnecessary penalties. 
By Clarke McEwan September 8, 2026
For many SMSF trustees, property is one of the most significant assets held by their SMSF. Unlike personally owned assets, there is a legal requirement that all SMSF assets are valued each 30 June. This can be a simple process for assets that have a ready market like listed shares, however the process for other assets like property can be more onerous. Trustees are responsible for determining the market value of fund assets. After your annual financial statements are prepared your fund auditor will need to see objective and supportable evidence that backs up how you have arrived at the market value. Trustees have the option to use a qualified independent valuer for this and should consider this where an asset represents a significant part of the fund’s value or might be difficult to value. Where trustees choose not to use an independent valuer, they will need to be able to support asset valuations with evidence from multiple sources. Typically, for property this may include: Recent comparable sales – Generally at least 3 and the properties should be genuinely comparable in terms of size and location. A real estate agent appraisal that also includes comparable sales. Net income yields for commercial property (generally not sufficient evidence on its own). The ATO includes some helpful guidance on this in their Guide to valuing SMSF assets. Where an SMSF holds property that meets the business real property (BRP) definition it is possible that this property can be leased to a business that is operated by a member or a related party of the SMSF. However, the fact that an arrangement like this is permitted does not mean the fund trustees can charge a non-market rate of rent. When a rental arrangement is entered into with a related party of the super fund, that arrangement should be on arm’s length (commercial) terms and this should be supported by a rental appraisal.  An easy way to think about this is – do all the lease terms reflect an arrangement that would be agreed to if the tenant was an unrelated third party? To evidence that a related party arrangement is on arm’s length (commercial) terms an auditor should be provided with; A properly documented lease; A rent appraisal when the lease was first entered into; Evidence that the arrangement is operating based on the terms of the lease; and Evidence that where a prior lease term has expired the terms have been reset to market value – backed up by a new rent appraisal. Although your financial year 2026 SMSF audit might not be taking place for some months, the process can be much smoother where SMSF trustees are proactive and start to compile this evidence in advance, rather than waiting for the auditor’s request.
More Posts