Quick Start
This guide covers every Sprout Social feature:
- Commencer — Create your account and connect social channels
- How to Use Social Media Management — Manage conversations from one inbox
- How to Use Feeds — Monitor content across multiple platforms
- How to Use AI-Powered Social Strategy — Let AI Assist craft better content faster
- How to Use Employee Advocacy — Extend brand reach through your team
- How to Use Premium Analytics — Track performance and measure business impact
- How to Use Influencer Marketing — Find and activate creators for campaigns
- How to Use Advanced Analytics and Reporting — Build boardroom-ready reports
- How to Use Social Listening — Uncover trends and audience conversations
- How to Use Automated Engagement — Speed up customer care with smart replies
Time needed: 5 minutes per feature
Also in this guide: Pro Tips | Common Mistakes | Dépannage | Tarification | Alternatives
Why Trust This Guide
I’ve used Sprout Social for over two years and tested every feature covered here. This how to use SproutSocial tutorial comes from real hands-on experience — not marketing fluff or vendor screenshots.
Sprout Social is one of the most powerful réseaux sociaux management tools available today.
But most users only scratch the surface of what it can do.
This guide shows you how to use every major feature.
Step by step, with screenshots and pro tips.
Sprout Social Tutorial
This complete Sprout Social tutorial walks you through every feature step by step, from initial setup to advanced tips that will make you a power user.
Sprout Social
Manage publishing, engagement, analytics, and social listening from one platform. Sprout Social helps marketers and agencies deliver faster business impact across every social channel. Try free for 30 days — no credit card required.
Premiers pas avec Sprout Social
Before using any feature, complete this one-time setup.
It takes about 3 minutes.
Watch this quick overview first:
Now let’s walk through each step.
Step 1: Create Your Account
Go to the Sprout Social website and click “Start your free trial.”
Enter your email, name, and create a password.
The free trial lasts 30 days with no credit card required.
✓ Checkpoint: Check your inbox for a confirmation email from Sprout.
Step 2: Connect Your Social Channels
Click “Connect a Profile” from the dashboard.
Choose from Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, or other social channels.
Authorize Sprout to manage each platform.
Here’s what the dashboard looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: You should see your connected profiles listed in the sidebar.
Step 3: Set Up Your Team
Invite team members and assign user roles and permissions.
Collaboration features let you control who can publish, engage, or view reports.
✅ Done: You’re ready to use any feature below.
How to Use Sprout Social Social Media Management
Gestion des médias sociaux lets you schedule posts, engage with your audience, and manage messages across multiple platforms from one place.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch Social Media Management in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Open the Smart Inbox
Click “Smart Inbox” in the left sidebar.
The Smart Inbox consolidates DMs, comments, and mentions from all networks into one place.
It also offers collision detection so multiple team members don’t respond to the same message.
Step 2: Filter and Respond to Messages
Use the filter options to sort by platform, message type, or tags.
Click any message to reply directly from the inbox.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: You should see all conversations from every social channel in one unified view.
Step 3: Schedule and Publish Content
Click “Compose” to create content for multiple platforms at once.
Use the publishing calendar to visualize your content plan and identify content gaps.
ViralPost automatically schedules posts at the best times for engagement based on audience activity.
✅ Result: You can now manage all social media conversations and scheduling posts from one dashboard.
💡 Conseil de pro : Use message approval workflows to ensure every post goes through a multi-step content review before going live — this keeps your brand voix consistent.
How to Use Sprout Social Feeds
Aliments lets you watch what competitors, customers, and industry leaders share across social channels without leaving Sprout.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch Feeds in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Create a New Feed
Navigate to the “Feeds” tab in the left menu.
Click “Add Feed” and choose which platform to monitor.
Step 2: Add Sources and Keywords
Enter the accounts, keywords, or hashtags you want to track.
Use keyword searches to tap into discussions around your brand on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
✓ Checkpoint: Your feed should now display real-time posts matching your criteria.
Step 3: Engage Directly from Feeds
Like, retweet, or reply to any post without switching apps.
Save posts that inform your content strategy for later.
✅ Result: You can now monitor competitors and industry trends from one place.
💡 Conseil de pro : Set up separate feeds for competitors and brand mentions so you never miss what’s being said about your business.
How to Use Sprout Social AI-Powered Social Strategy
AI-Powered Social Strategy lets you craft better posts and accelerate your workflow with AI Assist.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch AI-Powered Social Strategy in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Open the Compose Window
Click “Compose” from any screen to start creating a post.
Select which social channels you want to publish to.
Step 2: Activate AI Assist
Click the AI Assist button inside the Compose window.
Choose from options like “Generate Caption,” “Adjust Tone,” or “Shorten.”
AI Assist helps you hone your messaging and create content that drives engagement.
✓ Checkpoint: You should see AI-generated suggestions appear below your draft.
Step 3: Review and Publish
Edit the AI suggestion to match your brand voix.
Schedule the post using optimal send time suggestions powered by ViralPost.
✅ Result: You can now create and share content faster using AI-driven insights.
💡 Conseil de pro : Use AI Assist for replies too — the Enhance Reply feature suggests responses to customer care messages, helping your team engage faster.
How to Use Sprout Social Employee Advocacy
Défense des intérêts des employés lets you extend brand reach by curating on-brand content that employees can share to their own networks.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch Employee Advocacy in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Enable the Advocacy Module
Go to Settings and activate Employee Advocacy from the add-ons menu.
Invite employees by email to join the advocacy platform.
Step 2: Curate Shareable Content
Use the Asset Library to store and manage approved brand images and videos.
Create pre-written posts your team can share with one click.
✓ Checkpoint: Employees should see curated stories in their My Feed dashboard.
Step 3: Track Advocacy Performance
Monitor which posts earn the most engagement and impressions.
Measure earned media value to show the business impact of advocacy efforts.
✅ Result: Your employees now power organic growth by sharing brand content across their networks.
💡 Conseil de pro : Use the built-in point system and leaderboard to encourage friendly competition among team members — it drives more shares.
How to Use Sprout Social Premium Analytics
Analyses Premium lets you measure performance across all social channels and generate boardroom-ready reports.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch Premium Analytics in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Navigate to the Reports Section
Click “Reports” in the left sidebar to see the reporting overview.
Choose from pre-built report templates or create a custom one.
Step 2: Customize Your Report
Select the date range, social channels, and metrics you want to analyze.
Use advanced filtering to focus on specific campaigns or tags.
✓ Checkpoint: You should see data populate with charts and performance metrics.
Step 3: Share or Automate Reports
Export reports as PDF or share them via link with stakeholders.
Set up automated report delivery on a weekly or monthly schedule.
✅ Result: You can now prove ROI with data-driven, presentation-ready reports.
💡 Conseil de pro : Use Tag Performance Reports to track how specific campaigns perform — tags help you break down results by topic, campaign, or client.
How to Use Sprout Social Influencer Marketing
Marketing d'influence lets you discover relevant creators, activate campaigns, and track conversions from influencer content.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch Influencer Marketing in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Search for Creators
Open the Influencer Marketing module from your dashboard.
Use smart filters to search through 10M+ social profiles by niche, audience size, or location.
Step 2: Activate an Influencer Campaign
Select creators and add them to your campaign liste.
Set campaign goals, content guidelines, and payment terms inside the platform.
✓ Checkpoint: Your campaign should show assigned creators with status tracking.
Step 3: Track Conversions and ROI
Use UTM parameters and tracking pixels to measure performance.
View reporting on paid and organic influencer content in one place.
✅ Result: You can now find, manage, and measure influencer partnerships in Sprout.
💡 Conseil de pro : Focus on micro-influencers with high engagement rates — they often deliver better business impact than large accounts with low interaction.
How to Use Sprout Social Advanced Analytics and Reporting
Advanced Analytics and Reporting lets you run competitive benchmarking and dig deeper into cross-channel data.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch Advanced Analytics and Reporting in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Open Competitive Reports
Go to Reports and select “Competitors” to see how your brand stacks up.
Add competitor profiles for Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to start tracking.
Step 2: Analyze Post Performance
Use Post Performance Reports to see which content drives the most engagement.
Sort by impressions, clicks, or engagement rate to find your top-performing posts.
✓ Checkpoint: You should see a ranked list of posts with full performance data.
Step 3: Build Custom Dashboards
Combine multiple report widgets into one custom view.
Share interactive dashboards with clients or stakeholders via link.
✅ Result: You now have actionable insights that prove social media’s value to leadership.
💡 Conseil de pro : Automate weekly reports to stakeholders — this keeps your team and clients informed without manual effort.
How to Use Sprout Social Social Listening
Écoute sociale lets you uncover what’s being said about your brand, products, or industry across social platforms.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch Social Listening in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Create a Listening Query
Go to the Listening tab and click “Create Topic.”
Choose a template like Brand Health, Competitive Analysis, or Industry Insights.
Creating specific social listening queries helps focus on relevant conversations and actionable insights.
Step 2: Refine Keywords and Filters
Add brand keywords, competitor names, and industry terms to your query.
Use boolean operators to filter out irrelevant noise from your results.
Listening query refinement is essential because conversations on social platforms constantly evolve.
✓ Checkpoint: Your listening topic should show volume trends, sentiment data, and top discussions.
Step 3: Act on Listening Insights
Review sentiment tracking to gauge how customers feel about your brand.
Establish an insights distribution plan to share findings across your organization.
Social listening insights can inform business decisions, drive growth, and strengthen customer relationships.
✅ Result: You can now tap into audience conversations and uncover trends happening around your brand.
💡 Conseil de pro : Set up Spike Alerts to get notified when there’s a sudden jump in mentions — this helps you catch potential crises early and advance your response strategy.
How to Use Sprout Social Automated Engagement
Automated Engagement lets you speed up customer care with chatbots and smart reply suggestions.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch Automated Engagement in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Set Up Chatbot Rules
Navigate to “Bot Constructeur” under the Engagement tools menu.
Create automated response flows for common customer questions.
Step 2: Configure Auto-Replies
Set trigger keywords that activate specific bot responses.
Route complex issues to a human team member automatically.
✓ Checkpoint: Test the chatbot by sending a trigger message on your social page.
Step 3: Monitor and Improve
Review customer care reports to see resolution times and support volume.
Refine bot responses based on what customers actually ask.
✅ Result: Your team can now handle more support conversations without adding headcount.
💡 Conseil de pro : Use tags on automated conversations to track which topics come up most — this data helps you build better self-service resources.
Sprout Social Pro Tips and Shortcuts
After testing Sprout Social for over two years, here are my best tips.
Raccourcis clavier
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open Compose window | C |
| Send or schedule a post | Ctrl + Enter |
| Mark message as complete | E |
| Navigate to next message in inbox | J / K |
Hidden Features Most People Miss
- Saved Replies: Store pre-written responses for common questions and deploy them with two clicks — this powers faster customer care.
- Content Calendar Color Tags: Color-code your publishing calendar by campaign or client so you can spot gaps at a glance.
- Optimal Send Times by Network: Sprout provides separate optimal send time suggestions for each platform — don’t just pick one time for all channels.
Sprout Social Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake #1: Ignoring the Publishing Calendar
❌ Wrong: Scheduling posts one by one without looking at the big picture.
✅ Right: Use the publishing calendar to visualize your content plan across all social channels and find posting gaps.
Mistake #2: Not Using Tags for Reporting
❌ Wrong: Publishing content without tags and then struggling to measure campaign performance.
✅ Right: Tag every post by campaign, topic, or client — this powers Tag Performance Reports and gives you clear data on what works.
Mistake #3: Posting High Volume Instead of High Quality
❌ Wrong: Flooding your feed with mediocre posts just to hit a posting schedule.
✅ Right: Focus on original, high-quality content over volume — Sprout Social encourages quality that drives real engagement.
Sprout Social Troubleshooting
Problem: Social Profile Won’t Connect
Cause: Expired permissions or browser cache issues can block profile authorization.
Réparer: Clear your browser cache, log into the social platform directly, then reconnect inside Sprout Social settings.
Problem: Scheduled Posts Not Publishing
Cause: The social platform API may have changed permissions or the profile token expired.
Réparer: Reauthorize the affected profile and check for any platform-specific posting restrictions.
Problem: Report Data Looks Inaccurate
Cause: Date range filters or profile selections may be set incorrectly.
Réparer: Double-check the date range and make sure all relevant profiles are selected in the report builder.
📌 Note: If none of these fix your issue, contact Sprout Social support through the in-app help widget. Regular monitoring of your connected profiles helps you streamline troubleshooting before small issues become big ones.
Qu'est-ce que Sprout Social ?
Sprout Social is a social media management tool that helps businesses publish, engage, analyze, and listen across every major social platform from one dashboard.
Think of it like a command center for all your social media — one point of access for every channel, conversation, and report.
Sprout Social is a social media management tool that supports collaboration and helps you reach customers across various social media channels.
In 2026, Sprout Social highlights AI-driven insights and integrated customer care for workflow efficiency.
Watch this quick overview:
It includes these key features:
- Gestion des médias sociaux : Manage messages, schedule posts, and engage with your audience from one inbox across multiple platforms.
- Feeds: Monitor competitors, keywords, and industry conversations across social channels in real time.
- AI-Powered Social Strategy: Use AI Assist to craft légendes, adjust tone, and accelerate content creation.
- Employee Advocacy: Curate on-brand content employees can share to extend organic reach and drive growth.
- Premium Analytics: Build custom reports with advanced filtering and share them with stakeholders to measure business impact.
- Influencer Marketing: Find creators, activate campaigns, and track conversions from influencer partnerships.
- Advanced Analytics and Reporting: Run competitive benchmarking, track post performance, and generate boardroom-ready reports.
- Écoute sociale : Tap into audience conversations to uncover trends, monitor sentiment, and inform your marketing strategy.
- Automated Engagement: Use chatbots and auto-replies to handle customer care at scale.
For a full review, see our Sprout Social review.
Sprout Social Pricing
Here’s what Sprout Social costs in 2026:
| Plan | Prix | Idéal pour |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 199 $/mois | Small teams managing up to 5 social profiles |
| Professionnel | 299 $/mois | Agencies and marketers needing unlimited profiles and competitive reports |
| Avancé | 399 $/mois | Enterprise teams with complex workflows and customer care needs |
| Entreprise | Contactez-nous pour connaître les tarifs | Large organizations with custom social media operations |
Essai gratuit : Yes — 30 days free, no credit card required.
Garantie de remboursement : No refund policy — but the 30-day trial gives you full access to test before you commit.
💰 Best Value: Professional at $299/month — it includes unlimited social profiles, competitive reports, and paid social insights, which is perfect for agencies and growing marketing teams.
Sprout Social vs Alternatives
How does Sprout Social compare? Here’s the competitive landscape:
| Outil | Idéal pour | Prix | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sprout Social | Enterprise social management and analytics | 199 $/mois | ⭐ 4.4 |
| Metricool | Budget-friendly all-in-one analytics | Free — $18/mo | ⭐ 4.2 |
| SocialPilot | Affordable bulk scheduling for agencies | $25/mo | ⭐ 4.1 |
| Envoyable | White-label reporting for agencies | $22/mo | ⭐ 4.0 |
| Studio de contenu | AI-powered content discovery | 19 $/mois | ⭐ 4.1 |
| Poste vedette | Ultra-budget social scheduling | $6/mo | ⭐ 3.7 |
| Agorapulse | Team collaboration and inbox management | $79/mo | ⭐ 4.2 |
| Zoho Social | Custom analytics and deeper insights | Free — $10/mo | ⭐ 4.0 |
| Tampon | Simple scheduling for solo marketers | Free — $5/channel | ⭐ 4.2 |
| Sprinklr | Enterprise-grade unified CX platform | $249/mo | ⭐ 4.4 |
| Plus tard | Visual-first Instagram and TikTok planning | $16.67/mo | ⭐ 4.1 |
| Loomly | Content calendar and approval workflows | Contactez-nous pour connaître les tarifs | ⭐ 4.0 |
| Flamber | AI content creation and ad management | 39 $/mois | ⭐ 3.9 |
Quick picks:
- Best overall: Sprout Social — the deepest reporting and social listening of any platform
- Best budget: Zoho Social — free plan available with paid plans starting at $10/month
- Best for beginners: Buffer — dead-simple scheduling with a generous free plan
- Best for agencies: SocialPilot — supports many clients at a fraction of the cost
🎯 Sprout Social Alternatives
Looking for Sprout Social alternatives? Here are the top options:
- 🚀 Metricool : Free plan with analytics for Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok — great for solo marketers who need data on a budget.
- 💰 SocialPilot : Manage up to 50 social accounts from $25/month — one of the best value picks for agencies handling multiple clients.
- 🎨 Envoyable : White-label reports and a clean publishing calendar make it a top pick for agencies that need branded reporting.
- ⚡ Studio de contenu : AI-powered content discovery and multi-channel publishing starting at $19/month — fast setup for content-focused teams.
- 💼 Article vedette : Starts at just $6/month for basic social scheduling — the cheapest option for petites entreprises on a tight budget.
- 🧠 Agorapulse : Strong inbox management with team collaboration tools — a popular mid-range alternative for growing marketing teams.
- 📊 Zoho Social : Offers custom analytics and deeper insights compared to Sprout Social, with a free version and paid plans from $10/month.
- 👶 Tampon: The simplest social scheduling tool with a free plan — perfect for beginners who just want to schedule posts and track basics.
- 🏢 Sprinklr : Enterprise-grade unified customer experience platform for large brands managing social at massive scale.
- 🌟 Plus tard: Visual-first planning built for Instagram and TikTok creators who focus on aesthetic content calendars.
- ⭐ Loomly : Better content calendar features than Sprout Social with built-in approval workflows and content suggestions.
- 🔥 Flamber: AI-powered content creation combined with ad management for brands wanting organic growth and paid reach in one tool.
For the full list, see our Alternatives à Sprout Social guide.
⚔️ Sprout Social Compared
Here’s how Sprout Social stacks up against each competitor:
- Sprout Social vs Metricool: Sprout wins on social listening and enterprise features, but Metricool offers a free plan with solid analytics for small teams.
- Sprout Social vs SocialPilot: SocialPilot is far cheaper for agencies managing many accounts, but Sprout delivers deeper reporting and engagement tools.
- Sprout Social vs Sendible: Sendible has better white-label options for agencies, while Sprout offers more advanced analytics and social listening.
- Sprout Social vs Content Studio: Content Studio shines in AI content discovery at a lower price point, but Sprout has more powerful customer care tools.
- Sprout Social vs Heropost: Heropost is the budget king at $6/month, but it lacks the advanced analytics and team collaboration Sprout provides.
- Sprout Social vs Agorapulse: Both excel at inbox management, but Sprout goes further with social listening and influencer marketing features.
- Sprout Social vs Zoho Social: Zoho Social provides custom analytics at a fraction of the cost, but Sprout has a much deeper feature set for enterprise teams.
- Sprout Social vs Buffer: Buffer is simpler and cheaper for basic scheduling, but Sprout offers the full suite of analytics, listening, and customer care.
- Sprout Social vs Sprinklr: Both serve enterprise teams — Sprinklr covers the full CX stack while Sprout focuses specifically on social media management.
- Sprout Social vs Later: Later is built for visual content on Instagram and TikTok, while Sprout covers all platforms with deeper analytics and engagement.
- Sprout Social vs Loomly: Loomly has a cleaner content calendar with approval workflows at a lower price, but lacks Sprout’s social listening power.
- Sprout Social vs Blaze: Blaze focuses on AI-driven content and ads, while Sprout delivers deeper analytics, reporting, and multi-channel engagement.
Start Using Sprout Social Now
You learned how to use every major Sprout Social feature:
- ✅ Social Media Management
- ✅ Feeds
- ✅ AI-Powered Social Strategy
- ✅ Employee Advocacy
- ✅ Premium Analytics
- ✅ Influencer Marketing
- ✅ Advanced Analytics and Reporting
- ✅ Social Listening
- ✅ Automated Engagement
Next step: Pick one feature and try it now.
Most people start with Social Media Management.
It takes less than 5 minutes.
Foire aux questions
How to use Sprout like a pro?
To use Sprout Social like a pro, master the publishing calendar and tag every post by campaign. Use AI Assist to craft content faster and set up social listening to uncover trends before your competitors. Automate your reporting so stakeholders get data without you lifting a finger.
How to set up Sprout Social?
Setting up Sprout Social takes about 3 minutes. Sign up for a free 30-day trial, connect your social channels like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram, then invite your team. The platform walks you through onboarding with a guided setup wizard.
Is Sprout Social easy to use?
Yes, Sprout Social is known for its user-friendly interface. The dashboard is clean and well-organized, making it easy to manage multiple platforms, schedule posts, and analyze performance. Even beginners can navigate the core tools without a steep learning curve.
What is Sprout Social good for?
Sprout Social is good for social media management, social listening, analytics, and customer care — all from one platform. It’s best for marketers and agencies who need to manage conversations, create content, measure performance, and generate boardroom-ready reports across all social channels.
How does Sprout Social work?
Sprout Social connects to your social channels and pulls all messages, mentions, and comments into one Smart Inbox. From there you can publish posts, schedule content using ViralPost for optimal timing, run analytics, monitor brand sentiment through social listening, and automate customer care with chatbots.
What are the cons of Sprout Social?
The biggest con is cost — Sprout Social starts at $199/month per user, which adds up fast for larger teams. Some advanced features like social listening and premium analytics require paid add-ons. The pricing model is per seat, so each additional team member increases your monthly bill.
What’s better than Sprout Social?
Cela dépend de vos besoins. Hootsuite is more economical for mid-sized teams. Zoho Social offers custom analytics at a lower price. Planifiable has better content calendar features. Buffer is simpler for beginners. SocialPilot is better value for agencies managing many clients.
Can I use Sprout Social for free?
Sprout Social is not free to use permanently. However, it offers a 30-day free trial on all plans with no credit card required. This gives you full access to test the platform before committing to a paid plan.
Does Sprout Social have a free trial?
Yes, Sprout Social offers a 30-day free trial with no credit card required. You get full access to whichever plan you choose — Standard, Professional, or Advanced — during the trial period.
Do you have to pay for Sprout Social?
Yes, Sprout Social requires a paid subscription after the 30-day free trial. Pricing starts at $199/month per seat for the Standard plan. There is no permanent free tier available.
What is the 70 20 10 rule on social media?
The 70 20 10 rule means 70% of your posts should be valuable content that educates or entertains your audience. 20% should be shared content from others in your industry. 10% should be promotional content about your products or services. This approach keeps your feed balanced and drives better engagement.
Is Sprout Social safe to use?
Yes, Sprout Social is safe and trusted by over 30,000 brands including Microsoft, Uber, and Glassdoor. The platform uses enterprise-grade security, and collaboration features include setting user roles and permissions to manage workflow and security within teams.
What are the disadvantages of Sprout Social?
The main disadvantages are high pricing per user, essential features locked behind add-ons, and annual contracts that auto-renew. Some users also report that LinkedIn tagging can be unreliable. For small businesses that only need basic scheduling, Sprout Social may be more than you need.
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