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 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+.

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Cash is Making a Comeback – Is Your Business Ready to Take It?

By Clarke McEwan • December 3, 2025

The Government has released draft regulations that would require certain retailers to accept cash payments, ensuring Australians can still buy essential goods like groceries and fuel – even when technology fails. The change aims to stop people from being excluded when power, internet, or card systems go down, or when they simply prefer to pay in cash. Who Will Need to Accept Cash – and Who Won’t The new rules are targeted and, importantly, practical. They’ll apply to fuel stations and grocery retailers, including both major supermarket chains and independent operators, but only for in-person transactions under $500. That means you won’t have to accept someone paying for a $700 tyre replacement or bulk farm supplies in cash – it’s about the everyday essentials. If your business (or franchise group) has an annual turnover of less than $10 million, you’ll be exempt. That’s good news for most small businesses such as family-run grocers, local cafés, and corner stores already managing tight margins and staffing challenges. The regulations are expected to take effect from 1 January 2026, with a review after three years to see how the system is working in practice. Why It’s Happening The move comes as part of a broader push to maintain access and fairness in Australia’s payment system. The Government and industry groups have recognised that while most Australians are happy to tap their card or phone, around 10–15% still prefer to use cash – particularly older Australians and those in regional or remote areas. There’s also a resilience angle: during bushfires, floods, or power outages, card networks can go offline. In those moments, cash becomes essential. What This Means for Your Business For larger retailers, this change will mean dusting off cash-handling policies and reintroducing processes that many have phased out. That may include: Re-establishing cash floats and tills Staff training to handle and verify cash More frequent bank deposits and reconciliation procedures For small businesses that fall under the $10 million exemption, the key step will be to document your turnover clearly so you can demonstrate that the exemption applies. We can help ensure your records and structures support that. There may also be commercial upside. Accepting cash could attract a segment of customers who’ve drifted away as stores went digital – especially in regional areas where cash use remains strong. A small business that promotes “cash welcome” could even gain new loyal customers who value convenience and personal service. Preparing for the Change With final regulations expected soon, it’s worth starting to plan now. Review your payment policies, assess whether you’re likely to be caught by the new rules, and budget for any setup or compliance costs. If you’re exempt, ensure your records are watertight. If not, look for ways to streamline cash handling – for example, by using digital cash counters or smart safes to reduce errors and time spent on reconciliations. Looking Ahead Cash isn’t going away just yet. This reform is about maintaining choice, resilience, and fairness in how Australians pay – and ensuring businesses are ready when customers want to use it. If you’d like help assessing how these rules could affect your operations or what the exemption means for your business, get in touch with our team.

Know the Rules Before You Break Them: Why SMSF Education Matters More Than Ever

By Clarke McEwan • December 3, 2025

Why understanding SISA matters You can’t comply with what you don’t know: Many common breaches arise from misunderstanding basic SISA duties (for example, sole purpose, arm’s length dealings, or in-house asset limits). Awareness of the rules is the first step to spotting a problem early. Early identification reduces harm: Knowing what to look for, incorrect benefit payments, related party transactions that aren’t on commercial terms, or records that are incomplete, lets you seek advice before small errors become reportable contraventions. Education protects members: The consequences of a breach can include loss of tax concessions, penalties and remediation costs that reduce retirement savings for members. The ATO’s Focus on Education — What Trustees Need to Know The ATO has recently published a draft Practice Statement (PS LA 2025/D2) explaining when it might issue an education direction under section 160 of SISA. These directions give the ATO power to require trustees (or directors of corporate trustees) to complete specified education, where trustees’ knowledge or behaviour poses a risk to compliance. The draft statement sets out the ATO’s approach and the kinds of circumstances that may lead to an education direction. However, trustees should not wait for an ATO directive before getting educated – such a directive means the trustees have already breached the rules. The draft Practice Statement is intended to support compliance and public confidence, but it is not a substitute for proactive trustee learning. Acting early and voluntarily is both safer for trustees and viewed more favourably by regulators. Practical Steps Trustees Can Consider Use ATO’s official SMSF guidance Start with the ATO’s SMSF courses on the lifecycle of an SMSF, setting up, running and winding up. These courses are written for trustees and prospective trustees: Setting up an SMSF: https://smallbusiness.taxsuperandyou.gov.au/setting-up-a-self-managed-super-fund-smsf Running an SMSF: https://smallbusiness.taxsuperandyou.gov.au/running-a-self-managed-super-fund-smsf Winding up an SMSF: https://smallbusiness.taxsuperandyou.gov.au/winding-self-managed-super-fund-smsf Complete the ATO’s ‘knowledge check’ The ATO provides an online “knowledge check” for each course designed to test trustee understanding. It’s a useful starting point, but note a pass mark of 50% should not be taken as a guarantee of safety. Trustees should consider whether aiming for a much higher standard, even 100% comprehension of core duties, is a more appropriate target to reduce risk. Seek timely professional advice If a knowledge check or your reading flags uncertainty, contact us early to discuss your concerns. Timely, qualified advice often transforms a potential contravention into a routine fix and may mitigate potential penalties or ATO enforcement action. Document your learning and decisions Keep records of training completed, who provided advice, and why investment or payment decisions were made. Good records are persuasive evidence of a trustee’s intent to comply. Final Word SMSF trustees hold both opportunity and responsibility. Learning the SISA rules and the ATO’s expectations is the most practical way to prevent costly mistakes. The ATO’s draft Practice Statement shows the regulator is prepared to use education directions where trustees’ knowledge gaps pose risks, but you shouldn’t wait to be told. Build your knowledge, use the ATO’s resources, complete the knowledge check, document what you learn, and seek professional help confidently and early. That approach better protects your fund and retirement outcomes.

Unlocking Tax Savings: Can Your MBA (or Other Studies) Pay Off at Tax Time?

By Clarke McEwan • December 3, 2025

The ATO’s rules on self-education expenses are strict, and the line between “deductible” and “non-deductible” can be thin. Getting it right could mean thousands back in your pocket; getting it wrong could mean an ATO adjustment, plus interest and penalties. Let’s unpack how it works with a real-world example and some practical takeaways. The Scenario: Sarah’s MBA Sarah works in the Department of Defence and recently completed an MBA through a private provider. Her employer supported her studies with a $40,000 study allowance, and the course fees totalled $18,000. She deferred payment using the FEE-HELP loan system and declared the allowance as taxable income in her return. Now she’s asking: Can I claim a deduction for my MBA fees? Does it matter that I used FEE-HELP? Does the employer allowance change things? The Type of Loan Matters First, not all funding for education courses is treated equally. HECS-HELP - no deduction: If your course is a Commonwealth supported place (most undergraduate and some postgraduate university programs), you can’t claim a deduction. There is specific legislation in the tax system which denies deductions for fees covered by HECS-HELP — even if you pay them upfront and even if the course is closely related to your work. FEE-HELP - potential deduction: If you’re in a full-fee course, your tuition fees might be deductible if the study directly relates to your current employment or business activities. The ATO doesn’t allow a deduction for loan repayments later on — just the course fees themselves. Practical tip: Check your course statement or loan confirmation to see if you’re under HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP. Only FEE-HELP (or private payment) gives you potential deductibility. The “Nexus” Test — Linking Study to Your Current Work Even if the funding passes the first test, the purpose of the study is key. The ATO will only allow deductions if the course maintains or improves the skills you already use in your job, or is likely to increase your income in that same role. It won’t apply if you’re studying to move into a new field or start a different career. The ATO issued a detailed ruling on this topic in 2024 which provides some clear examples: Allowed: A store manager doing an MBA to strengthen leadership and business operations skills. Denied: A sales rep doing an MBA to change careers into consulting — the link to the current role was too weak. For Sarah, the deduction depends on whether her MBA subjects (like strategy, policy or management) build directly on her current Defence role. The fact that her employer funded the course helps demonstrate relevance, but it’s not proof on its own. In some cases you might find that specific subjects or modules are sufficiently linked with current income earning activities, while other subjects are too general in nature for the fees to be deductible. Employer Allowances and HELP Repayments The $40,000 allowance Sarah received is assessable income — it’s taxed just like salary. But that doesn’t stop her from claiming eligible self-education deductions for the course fees. HELP loan repayments later on are not deductible — they’re simply a repayment of debt. The timing of the deduction is based on when the course expense was incurred (not when the loan is repaid). Making It Practical If you’re planning further study or reviewing a recent course, here’s how to make sure you get it right: Check your loan type – FEE-HELP or private fees can be deductible; HECS-HELP cannot. Gather evidence – Keep course outlines, job descriptions, and any correspondence showing the study supports your current work. Claim what’s relevant – You can only claim expenses directly connected to your current job (fees, books, and possibly travel). Be ready for review – Large claims often attract ATO attention. A private ruling can provide peace of mind if the amount is significant. Key Takeaways For many professionals, postgraduate studies like an MBA can deliver both career and tax benefits — but only if they relate directly to your current role. Handled correctly, self-education deductions can return thousands in tax savings. For Sarah, that could mean a refund of over $5,000 on an $18,000 course. If you’re considering further study, talk to us before you enrol or claim. A quick chat could ensure your next qualification delivers the best return — professionally and financially.

Super on Payday: Fundamental Changes for Employers

By Clarke McEwan • December 3, 2025

It’s called Payday Super, and it became law on 4 November 2025. The new rules are designed to close Australia’s $6.25 billion unpaid super gap and make sure employees — especially casual and part-time workers — get their retirement savings when they get paid. What’s Changing? From 1 July 2026, you’ll need to pay superannuation guarantee (SG) contributions at the same time as wages, rather than weeks or months later. Employers will have seven business days from payday to ensure contributions hit employees’ super funds. If payments are late, the Superannuation Guarantee Charge (SGC) will apply — that means paying the missed super plus an interest and administration penalty. Once SGC has been assessed, additional interest and penalties may apply if the SGC liability isn’t paid in full. Unlike the existing system, SGC amounts will normally be deductible to employers, although penalties for late payment of SGC won’t be deductible. On top of this, the ATO will retire the Small Business Superannuation Clearing House (SBSCH) platform from 1 July 2026 for all users and alternative options should be sought. The change isn’t just about compliance — it’s about impact. The Government estimates the earlier payments could boost an average worker’s retirement balance by around $7,700. Why It’s Good for Business This reform might sound like extra admin, and it might take a bit of getting used to, but it can actually simplify your payroll process and strengthen your reputation as an employer. Less admin – Paying super when you run payroll means no more quarterly payment crunches. Fewer compliance risks – ATO data-matching will pick up issues faster, helping you avoid penalties before they snowball. Stronger employee trust – Staff can see their super growing in real time, which might help with engagement and retention. Smoother cash flow management – Paying smaller, regular amounts of super is often easier to manage than large quarterly sums. The ATO will take a “risk-based” approach for the first year, focusing on education and helping businesses transition smoothly. If you pay on time, you’ll likely be flagged as low risk, meaning fewer compliance checks. How to Get Ready — Practical Steps to Take Now You’ve got time before the rules kick in, but the smart move is to prepare early. Here’s how: Check your payroll software. Most modern systems (like Xero, MYOB, or QuickBooks) already support payday-aligned super. Confirm your setup and check if any updates or integrations are needed. Map your pay cycles. Note how often you pay staff (weekly, fortnightly, monthly) and calculate the seven-day payment window for each. Brief your team. Make sure whoever manages payroll understands the changes. The ATO has free online resources and webinars to help. Plan your cash flow. Consider shifting from quarterly to more regular payments now to get used to the timing. Smaller, frequent super payments can reduce cash flow shocks. Monitor and review. Set up a monthly check to ensure super contributions have cleared correctly. Keep an eye on ATO updates as final guidance is released. If you outsource payroll, contact your provider soon — many are already updating systems for Payday Super and can help you make a seamless switch. The Bottom Line Payday Super isn’t just a compliance change — it’s an opportunity to make your payroll more efficient, your staff happier, and your business more compliant with less effort. With the laws now passed and just over 6 months to prepare, it’s time to get ahead of the curve. If you’d like help reviewing your payroll setup or planning the transition, get in touch with our team — we can help you make sure your business is ready to go when Payday Super commences.