Social listening tools are some of the most important for any social media marketer to master. Why? Simply because of the vast amount of data they provide about your brand, your audience, and your competitors in real time. Back in the day, marketers had to dedicate substantial budgets to consumer and competitor research through surveys, focus groups, and market testing. Now, all you have to do is set up a social listening tool to track the details that matter most to your brand, and the information comes directly to your computer screen. Here, we break down 14 of the best social media listening tools, so you can choose the one that makes the most sense for your current needs. First things first, though. Let’s start by clarifying exactly what we mean when we talk about social listening. Bonus : Discover the best way to gather insights and intel from your audience, competitors, industry, and favorite aspirational brands in our complete guide to advanced social listening . What