4 Content Apps That Make Showing Up on Social Media Way Easier for Hair, Beauty + Creative Educators

We all know that social media for online educators is important, but it shouldn’t be consuming every waking moment. After all, you didn’t become a business owner to spend all day editing reels, writing captions, and responding to DMs. And you definitely didn’t become an educator to also become an influencer.

If the social media grind has started to feel like a whole other full-time job, you don’t need to burn it all to the ground…you just need to implement systems and shortcuts that keep your content creation process smooth, streamlined, and optimized.

The right tech tools within your business don’t eliminate the need for strategy and creativity, but they do reduce friction and streamline your workflow. These are the four social media and content creation tools that I rely on, both personally and within my businesses, to make showing up online feel easier, sustainable, intentional.

*This post may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase after clicking one, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products and tools that I personally use, love, and recommend.

1. Manychat

Here’s the truth about “click the link in my bio for more information” - it just isn’t working anymore. People are busy and attention spans are short, and that few extra seconds of labour for them to find the right link and then scroll through to find what they’re looking for…it’s just annoying enough to lose potential customers.

ManyChat solves that problem by automating DM responses and keyword triggers on Instagram, so when someone comments or messages a specific word, they instantly get send the link or resource they were looking for.

I use ManyChat during launches (like Seen and Sought After) by posting something that says “comment WORKSHOP to get the link”. Then, when somebody does comment, ManyChat is set up to deliver the link directly to their inbox immediately. From the audience’s perspective, it feels instant, personal, and polished, all while saving me hours of time every week.

But the real magic of ManyChat is that it keeps the conversation going. If someone planned to check your link later, but got interrupted (because life happens), they’ll see that DM the next time they open Instagram. That reminder brings them back to your content and your offer, and keeps them immersed in your world.

You don’t have to build complicated chatbots, either. Even the most simple ManyChat automations make a massive difference in user experience and overall conversion.

2. Descript

Descript is the backbone of my current content creation process, and I use it for every episode of Sought After Educator, but it’s also how I clip, repurpose, and refine long-form content into a wide variety of social media posts. It turns audio or video content into a transcript so that editing becomes as easy as deleting text.

If you also create long-form content like podcasts, YouTube videos, or online courses, Descript will save you hours. And even if you’re only making short-form content like face-to-camera reels, it’s still worth using for how well it polishes your videos.

It’s also packed with helpful AI features like sound cleanup, filler word removal, and easy caption generation. I actually use descript for creating the majority of the captions on my videos, too.

Descript is your personal sidekick for content that looks and sounds sharp, which can only help you to stand out in a crowded feed.

3. InShot (and Edits)

When you’re creating quick content on the fly (and let’s be honest, who isn’t these days) sometimes you just need to grab your phone, film a few clips, and get something posted. InShot is a simple, intuitive tool for trimming reels or TikToks, adding text overlays, syncing clips to music, or stitching different clips together. And it’s designed to be super easy to do right from your phone.

It’s my personal go-to for B-roll reels, voiceovers, or any quick edits when I don’t want to open my laptop. You can export in any format, adjust the timing, and add creative touches that make your videos look polished and professional.

Another great tool that I’ve been playing around with lately is Instagram’s Edits app. It’s sleek, intuitive, and I can genuinely see it replacing InShot soon, althouh it’s not quite there yet. It offers beautiful text overlays, easy layering of clips, smooth transitions, and a native format that integrates seamlessly with reels.

As of right now, Edits is still a bit glitchy, but it’s getting better fast. For now, I use both tools depending on my workflow, but if you’re brand new to video editing for social media, Edits is a fantastic place to start.

4. Captions

These days, if you’re not adding captions to your videos on social media, you’re losing viewers. Think about it…most people scroll Instagram or TikTok on mute while they’re in line at the grocery store, in the waiting room, or catching up on their feed during nap time. If your video doesn’t have captions, your people are gone before your hook even lands.

Captions are also an important feature for accessibility, and as our attention spans become shorter and shorter with each passing day, strong visual hooks are more important than ever. If viewers can’t follow along and stay engaged with your video content, they’re going to move on.

The Captions app automatically generates captions that sync beautifully with your video’s rhythm, and you can customize the font, timing, and style right from your phone. There’s also another feature that is my personal favourite; the built-in teleprompter.

If speaking face-to-camera makes you nervous, you can upload your script into Captions, and it’ll scroll your text as you record just like your very own personal mini studio. It helps you stay concise, confident, and on topic. Captions also removes awkward pauses and trims dead space, which makes your videos tighter and easier to watch.

Full disclosure…I’ve actually been doing more of my video editing in Descript lately, since I generally prefer working on my laptop. But if you’re someone who edits on your phone, Captions is a total game-changer.

Tools Don’t Replace Strategy

If there’s one thing I want you to remember, it’s that tools are here to make our lives easier - but they don’t replace strategy. You can automate, caption, and streamline to your heart’s content…but if your content doesn’t connect, it won’t convert, either.

These tools should enhance your existing strategy, not replace it altogether. They give us back some of our time and energy so we can focus on what really matters: creating the content that builds trust and credibility within our audiences and, ultimately, helps us to serve them better.

Being a sought after educator isn’t just about what you teach…it’s also about how it feels to learn from you, interact with you, and to be part of your online world. When your content can convey that feeling for you, it becomes like a magnet for your ideal clients.

PS. - Brand new and don’t know where to start? Captions is the easiest to use and has an immediate impact on your visibility and audience experience. Once you’re comfortable, try adding in one or two more tools to your workflow.

If this post gave you an idea or a new perspective, send me a DM on Instagram @itsJodiebrown. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

And if you’d like to listen in on the exact podcast episode that accompanies this blog post, you can do that here, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Xo Jodie

Ps. Don't forget to subscribe to the Sought After Educator Podcast to get more insights like this delivered to your phone every week.