Integrating APIs into Your Social Media Strategy

Integrating APIs into Your Social Media Strategy

Social media is a constant challenge. You have to face every obstacle as if you’re surfing big waves. But every social media manager dream of making waves with innovative marketing campaigns. To achieve this, you need to analyse vast amounts of data (to stay in the same register).

Integration of social media APIs is one way to enable and support interactions between apps. In this case, the tool and a platform are used.

Still confused about social media API integration? Allow us to set you up for smooth sailing. ;)

What is social media API?

The Social Media API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of tools and procedures that allow application interaction.

Social media API can be described as a software interface that programmatically retrieves data from all social networks and allows it to be used in third-party tools.

The API is an intermediary between multiple apps, allowing them to exchange data. Each social media platform has its own API rules and legislation.

LinkedIn's API is more restricted than Facebook's and shows significantly less information about metrics.

Remember that profiles with owned profiles can have much more data than profiles created by others.

There's one thing more that could be different. The native app's insights (let's call it Facebook analytics) might not be as accurate as the API allows. Also, the estimates may be different.

Why is the integration of social media APIs important?

It may seem obvious, but it's important to emphasize: you cannot effectively analyse data from social media without integrating third-party tools that rely on social media API integration.

Without well-organized analytics insights from social networking tools, creating a social media campaign that truly meets the needs of your audience is a real challenge.

As a social media manager, your ultimate objective is to turn your audience into an online community by solving their problems with your products or services. To achieve this, you need to use social media APIs to access valuable data and insights that can help you understand your audience better.

APIs have come a long way since the development of the first ones in the 1940s. They have improved so that they can now seamlessly integrate with various applications. Moreover, they are now easier to use, with better documentation and more secure data transfer. As a result, they are more accessible to developers and can be tailored to meet the specific needs of users like you.

Social media API integration is essential for any social media manager looking to understand their audience and create a thriving online community. If you want a more detailed explanation of why API integration is so important, keep reading…

Social media integration simplifies your life

APIs allow for service delivery and also for greater flexibility in information. Integrating social media APIs significantly contributes to cloud-based apps, services, and products.

APIs allow you to embed content from other websites in your posts.

Social media APIs are useful when you have a lot of data to share, such as insights and metrics.

Social media APIs provide a new layer of security

API integration allows you to ensure that information is transferred in safe conditions. APIs add a layer of security between the source (client) and the server.

Integrating APIs into third-party tools allows you to safely transfer data about your profile from Facebook.

Integration of social media APIs contributes to business growth

APIs allow for the integration of additional apps and enable data exchange. Imagine that you have a third-party tool that can integrate social media API integration to give your clients information about their LinkedIn profiles.

This is a great way to grow your business.

Many businesses can thrive with the integration of API. This is because API allows for the collection of data that can be used to build reports or look at insights.

Social media integration helps to speed up any process

Social media analytics tools will allow you to get more data in less time.

With the additional features offered by the third-party tool, even though you can only see the tip of the iceberg in the native app, you'll be able to see all that lies beneath the surface.

API integration allows you to do your job more efficiently. And we all know that social media managers have a lot to do!

What are social media APIs?

We all know APIs are set programming instructions allowing interaction between two programs. In our case, it's the interaction between two software. In this instance, it's the software of a social media platform and a third-party tool.

To collect data, a third-party tool uses the infrastructure of a social media platform.

The tool relies entirely on the API of the social media platform to deliver the data collected without any infrastructure being established for data collection.

Web scraping does not provide you with the same data collection that you would get if you used API integration. Web scraping is only one slice of the pie.

The code used for web scraping might not work if the website is changed.

Use of APIs on social media platforms

We will now show you how to make the most of APIs when using your favourite social networks for analytics and ads.

LinkedIn APIs

Several LinkedIn APIs are available for free. Other APIs are available to assist with sales, marketing, and recruitment. Lucky you, huh?

Instagram APIs

Instagram API allows you to use the app efficiently. The Graph API allows you to access the Business and Creator accounts. Instagram APIs enable users to manage and send direct messages and their posts.

Facebook APIs

Like all other social media platforms, Facebook allows free access to APIs whenever you create new posts or ads.

APIs for TikTok

TikTok users can access many tools to enhance everyone's experience using the app.

You may not know it, but TikTok APIs are used to embed and share videos and display profiles of different types.

Twitter APIs

Twitter APIs allow you to complete various tasks on the platform. You can create ad campaigns using the Ads API and retweet posts from other users using the RetweetAPI.

Sign in to your Twitter account to access many different data sources.

Social media API integration: The benefits

API integration for social media is a great tool to help you as a social manager. It can also facilitate your work processes and bring many benefits.

Time-Saving: API integration will allow you to access all data in one place. This makes it easier to retrieve insights for your marketing campaigns.

Automation: API integration allows for collecting and integrating information from different apps. Automation will reduce the time it takes to complete tasks and eliminates the need for manual data collection and integration.

Reduced errors: Secure data transfer with API integration for social media can reduce errors in data collection.

Scalability: API integration can increase your business' growth potential. Social media API integration is the beginning point for expanding your analysis and reporting to your business. It facilitates scalability.

Reporting and communication: API Integration is the best way to get all your insights and metrics together in one place.

Types of APIs for social media

Open APIs

Open APIs are open to the public (such as Google API or WordPress API). They are accessible to everyone without requiring approval.

Partner APIs

Partner APIs require that you obtain licenses before you can use them. They are restricted to certain parties. The Airbnb API is a great example.

Internal APIs

Companies create internal APIs to allow them to be used internally. All software in a company can be used together to facilitate data exchange.

Composite APIs

Composite APIs are, as the name implies, a mix of various API requests combined into one API call. This is done to improve efficiency and data exchange.

Instead of making multiple requests to the server, you can make one API call and receive only one response.

Facilitating Data Collection

This guide to social media API integration will help you understand how to make data collection more efficient.  Who wouldn't want a simple process for data collection?

APIs allow you to view the data that shows you the results of marketing campaigns. This can only help you to grow. You will be able to spot the successes and failures of your marketing strategy by reviewing your report.

Contact EWM for even more support with your social media marketing campaigns.