5 Easy Ways to Use Facebook More Productively

Yes, it's possible to be a productive Facebook user

By
Elise Moreau
Elise Moreau
Elise Moreau
Freelance Contributor
  • University of Ontario
  • George Brown College
Elise Moreau is a writer that has covered social media, texting, messaging, and streaming for Lifewire. Her work has appeared on Techvibes, SlashGear, Lifehack and others.
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Updated on April 19, 2024
Facebook

Facebook can be a great tool for small businesses and individuals who market their products and services on the social media site, or it can be a huge time-waster that offers little value to you. It all depends on how you use it.

If you use Facebook for business purposes, you probably have a Facebook business page. Keeping up with the comments, notifications, questions, and marketing analytics can be a problem for anyone who is short of time.

Improve your Facebook productivity by trying out a few of these desktop and mobile apps designed to enhance your interactions with Facebook business pages and groups.

01
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Buffer

Buffer app on the iPhone
What We Like

  • Easy to schedule Facebook posts with links, photos, GIFs, and video.

  • Free version includes basic stats, likes, replies, comments, and clicks.

  • 14-day free trial.

What We Don't Like

  • Paid accounts are pricier than those offered by competitors.

  • No advanced analytics without a premium Analyzer subscription.

  • Only works for Groups and Pages—not Profiles.

Got a lot to post on Facebook but want everyone to see it at the right time? Whether you use a public business page or group, a social media management tool with a scheduling feature can position your posts in front of more of your friends' or fans' eyeballs.

Buffer is a popular web application with scheduling features that you can use to integrate with Facebook Pages and Groups (but not Profiles). The free version is enough for most individuals, but Buffer offers paid upgrade options for more flexibility and features.

Use the iOS or Android Buffer apps to plan and publish your content for viewers on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and more.

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02
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Creator Studio

Creator Studio app from Facebook
What We Like

  • Toggles between Facebook and Instagram seamlessly.

  • Comprehensive analytics and insights.

  • Option to manage a monetization tool.

What We Don't Like

  • Doesn't advise as to the best times to post.

  • No way to preview how a post will look.

  • Steep learning curve.

Creator Studio from Facebook is a valuable free source of analytics and insights on your Facebook and Instagram accounts that lets you connect with your audience any time, wherever you are.

Using the iOS or Android app, you can view your page performance, respond to Facebook messages and comments, and make, edit, and schedule Instagram and Facebook posts.

If you have a large audience, you can monetize your posts in a browser and then control the settings from the Creator Studio app.

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03
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Franz 5

Franz 5 messaging app
What We Like

  • Easy to use, open-source software.

  • All main messaging apps in one interface is super convenient.

What We Don't Like

  • Hogs energy if you use several messaging apps.

  • Can't use browser extensions.

Franz 5 is an all-in-one messaging app for the desktop that supports Facebook Messenger and also other popular messaging platforms like Slack, WhatsApp, WeChat, and more. In addition, you can add an unlimited number of accounts with this tool, so even if you have multiple Facebook accounts you use to message people, Franz allows you to work with all of them.

This open-source desktop app is free to download and available for Windows, Mac, and Linux machines.

04
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Facebook Ads Manager

Facebook Ads Manager app
What We Like

  • Real-time insights for all ads.

  • Easy to switch between Pages and ad accounts.

  • Turn ad campaigns on and off.

What We Don't Like

  • Lacks some of the desktop Ads Manager platform capabilities.

  • Not ideal for designing new ads.

If you're the ad manager for your small business, you need the Ads Manager app to keep an eye on your ads when you're on the go. You can track ad performance, create and edit ads, and manage their schedules and budgets right from your phone or tablet.

With the Ads Manager app for iOS or Android, you can target your audience and test which ads perform the best—even get real-time insights for all your ads.

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05
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Facebook Business Suite

The Facebook Business Suite displaying a business page
What We Like

  • Managing multiple pages on your phone is simple.

  • Intuitive calendar for scheduling posts.

  • Adds a layer of security.

  • It's free.

What We Don't Like

  • Buggy reports following updates.

  • No "Save as draft" option.

  • Learning curve is not user-friendly.

  • Promoting posts and managing ads requires a fee.

Facebook Business Suite replaces Facebook Pages Manager and contains many of the features contained in Creator Studio.

Rather than switching back and forth between Facebook, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram, Business Manager checks for all engagement data from one home page that is accessible on both desktop and mobile. Use it to create, schedule, and promote posts, see notifications from Facebook and Instagram accounts, and automate responses to DMs.

Facebook Business Suite is available as a tablet and phone app for both iOS and Android devices.

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