Top Tools for Managing Social Media for Small Businesses in India

Let’s pause for a moment and think about how you consume content every day. You’re scrolling Instagram and see a beautiful jewellery reel by a Surat-based brand. Then you flip to LinkedIn, where a small HR consultancy shares a crisp carousel about “5 Hiring Mistakes to Avoid.” Later, you’re on Facebook checking out that home baker in Ahmedabad who posts drool-worthy cake photos daily.

Behind each of these posts is a tool – one that designs, analyses, manages, or schedules social media without draining time or money. Because here’s the truth: social media isn’t just posting pretty pictures anymore. For startups and small businesses in India, it’s about posting smartly, saving time, and tracking what actually works.

If you’re a business owner tired of juggling multiple apps and reminders, or a startup founder posting manually at midnight, this one’s for you.

Why Do You Need Social Media Tools Anyway?

Running a business is hard enough. Between managing inventory, team calls, vendor follow-ups, and customer queries, posting consistently on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter can feel overwhelming.

That’s where social media tools come in. They help you:

And the best part? Many of these tools are completely free or have free versions, making them perfect tools for startups.

The Top Free Social Media Marketing Tools Every Small Business Should Know

Here’s a curated list of the best social media marketing tools – tested, loved, and used by businesses globally and across India.

1. Canva: The Design Genie

What it does: Canva for social media lets you create eye-catching graphics, reels, posters, carousels, and stories – even if you’ve never designed before.

Why we love it:

If you’re a bakery owner in Pune, simply type “bakery Instagram post” in Canva’s template search bar to find ready-to-use designs.

2. Buffer: Scheduling Made Simple

What it does: Schedules posts across multiple platforms like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. You can start with the Buffer free plan and later upgrade if required.

Why we love it:

Buffer is ideal for startups looking for free social media scheduling tools without being overwhelmed by complex features. You can also get a social media content planner for free with Buffer.

3. Meta Business Suite: For Facebook + Instagram

What it does: Directly schedules posts and stories for both Facebook and Instagram.

Why we love it:

If you’re a local boutique in Jaipur, this is your best friend for planning your weekly launches and handling DMs efficiently.

4. Google Sheets: The Underrated Planning Tool

What it does: Helps you build a strategic social media calendar with dates, captions, hashtags, goals, and assigned team members.

Why we love it:

Use it to plan your posts for upcoming Raksha Bandhan campaigns or Independence Day offers in advance.

5. Later: Visual Scheduling for Instagram

What it does: Allows you to schedule posts visually, plan your feed layout, and auto-publish.

Why we love it:

Ideal for salons, mehndi artists, or photographers seeking an aesthetic and cohesive Instagram grid.

6. Hootsuite: The All-Rounder (Limited Free Plan)

What it does: Schedules, monitors, and manages multiple platforms in one place.

Why we love it:

For larger startups, the paid plan unlocks powerful analytics and team collaboration features.

7. Zoho Social: Made for Indian Businesses

What it does: Schedules posts, monitors brand mentions, analyses performance, and manages messages.

Why we love it:

8. Bitly: Shorten, Track, Analyse Links

What it does: Converts long URLs into short, branded links while tracking clicks

Why we love it:

Example: Instead of posting a long Shopify product link, shorten it to bit.ly/YourBrand-Offer for better aesthetics and tracking.

9. Google Analytics: For Real Website Insights

What it does: Tracks who visits your website, how they found you, and what they do once there.

Why we love it:

If you run Facebook ads for your yoga studio in Hyderabad, Google Analytics tells you how many visitors actually booked a class.

10. Pexels + Unsplash: Free High-Quality Stock Photos

What they do: Provide copyright-free images for your posts, blogs, and ads.

Why we love it:

Perfect for startups without professional product photos yet.

What Most Small Business Owners Miss

Here’s the reality. Many startups and small businesses in India know these tools exist, but:

It’s like having all the gym equipment but never showing up to work out. The tools only work when you do.

Where Bestow Comes In

At Bestow, we’ve worked with multiple entrepreneurs, family businesses, and funded startups across India, helping them transform their social media from random posts to strategic brand-building machines.

We don’t just recommend tools. We build your entire content and posting strategy around them. Whether it’s selecting the best social media marketing tools for your stage or setting up Buffer to auto-publish during your peak engagement hours, we do it with you.

And when we say we’re partners, we mean it. We help you plan, post, analyse, and evolve your social media presence so your business looks as professional online as it is offline.

Is Using Social Media Tools Really That Important?

Yes. Because your customers aren’t waiting. If your competitor is posting regularly, responding faster, and showing up with beautiful graphics while you’re scrambling at the last minute, guess who they’ll remember?

It’s not about posting more. It’s about posting smartly, strategically, and sustainably . These free tools for social media marketing help you do just that without burning your budget.

Let’s Make Social Media Work for You with Bestow!

At the end of the day, marketing isn’t about shouting the loudest. It’s about showing up with clarity, consistency, and confidence.

If you’re a small business in India looking to establish a social media presence that stands out, let’s work together. We’ll bring the tools, strategy, and execution so you can focus on what you do best: running your business.

Because when you create something good, people talk.

While all these free tools are great, building a custom strategy works even better.

At Bestow , we combine smart tech with smarter people to grow your brand where it matters most.