How to Schedule WordPress Posts for Social Media with Buffer in 2023

Are you looking to share your blog posts on social media automatically? In this detailed guide, I‘ll show you how to easily schedule WordPress posts to social platforms using Buffer.

As a WordPress expert with over 5 years of experience, I often get asked – "What‘s the best way to share my new blog content without having to constantly post manually?"

The solution? An intuitive social media scheduling platform called Buffer.

Here‘s what we‘ll cover in this guide:

• Benefits of using Buffer for scheduling
• Buffer pricing plans overview
• Step-by-step setup instructions
• Pros and cons comparison
• Expert tips for optimizing your posting strategy

Let‘s get started!

Why Use Buffer to Schedule Social Media Posts?

According to Sprout Social‘s 2023 data, 76% of marketers say social media scheduling is essential for managing their accounts.

Key reasons social scheduling with Buffer is ideal include:

Save Time

Buffer‘s automatic scheduling features help free up your time by allowing you to pre-plan and queue up posts in advance.

This means no more manually posting 10 times per day – just let Buffer take care of scheduling and spreading out your content!

Analyze Performance

Buffer offers user-friendly analytics on how well your posts are performing once published on each connected platform.

Key metrics provided include:

• Impressions
• Engagements
• Clicks
• Reactions
• Comments

Monitoring this data allows you to further refine and optimize your ongoing social media strategy.

Optimal Timing

Buffer applies smart scheduling algorithms to determine the statistically best times to post your social content for maximum visibility.

This level of precision scheduling helps expand your social reach and engagement.

Promotes Consistency

Maintaining a steady stream of social posts is key for keeping audiences engaged long-term.

Buffer makes it simple to plan content well in advance and stick to a consistent posting schedule.

According to Sprout Social, accounts that post daily see up to a 66% increase in engagement compared to intermittent posting.

Buffer Plans and Pricing

Buffer offers three main pricing plans depending on your needs:

Based on the above, the Pro plan works great for most small business needs.

But you can always start free and upgrade later once Buffer has proven value for your marketing efforts.

Next, let‘s get Buffer hooked up to your WordPress site.

How to Connect Buffer to WordPress

Connecting Buffer to WordPress only takes a few minutes. Just follow these steps:

Step 1) If you don‘t already have one, sign up for a free Buffer account at buffer.com

Step 2) Install and activate the WP to Buffer plugin on your WordPress site

Step 3) In your WP dashboard, go to WP to Buffer » Settings

Step 4) Click Authorize Plugin and then Allow Access via popup

Step 5) Configure your desired account connections and automatic post scheduling rules

That‘s it! Your new WordPress posts will now be automatically queued and optimized for social media through Buffer‘s systems.

Pros and Cons of Using Buffer

While Buffer is an excellent social media scheduling tool overall, there are some key advantages and disadvantages to factor in:

Pros

• User-friendly interface
• Comprehensive analytics
• Optimized post timing
• Ability to collaborate with teams

Cons

• Steep learning curve for advanced features
• Occasional syncing issues
• Limited capabilities for Instagram

The biggest value Buffer provides is time savings and convenience. But be aware, there is a more complex feature set available that may require some ramp up time investment.

Expert Tips for Success

Here are a few pro tips from my experience for getting the most from Buffer when scheduling WordPress posts to social:

• Take advantage of Buffer‘s browser extensions – Makes it easy to add links/posts on the fly

• Closely monitor performance data – Key for optimizing your approach over time

• Use images/video in posts – Including visual media can boost engagement

• Experiment across multiple platforms – See which platforms drive the most traffic to determine where to focus

Let me know if have any other Buffer questions! I‘m always happy to help fellow WordPress users succeed with their social efforts.

Now over to you! Set up Buffer and start scheduling your next WordPress blog posts out to social media. Your future self will thank you later.