How to Use Hootsuite as a Desktop Application

How to Use Hootsuite as a Desktop Application

When I talk with people about Hootsuite versus Tweetdeck, one thing people love about Tweetdeck is that it runs on your desktop versus from within your browser. Well, Hootsuite can too! (By the way, if Hootsuite scares you, my video on the basics of Hootsuite still rings true).

If you use Hootsuite on your web browser, it probably looks a little something like this:

I don’t know about you but I typically have a gazillion tabs open, not to mention all my little bookmarks and doo-dad thingies like the Evernote bookmarklet. Add some Hootsuite tabs and columns in there and it’s total overload! Ouch- my eyes!

Now, behold Hootsuite on a desktop.

Hootsuite on a desktop

Much cleaner, right? This is on a Mac but you can do this on a Mac or a PC.

So How Do You Do It?

It’s quite easy actually! I could walk you through step-by-step but I’d be repeating everything Hootsuite said.

If you’re on a PC, you’ll need to use Chrome (which is what I use anyway). First visit the Hootsuite Extensions page using Chrome and click on Download Now.

It’ll take you a simple process to add Hootsuite to your web store. That just means when you load Chrome, you’ll see a Hootsuite icon on your default page when you open Chrome or a new tab, like so:

Now go back to the Extensions page and click on the Learn More under HootSuite Desktop. You’ll go through five easy steps to set it up. Once you’re done, you’ll have a desktop version of Hootsuite without all the browser clutter!

If you’re on a Mac, the Chrome way isn’t supported. However, there’s a nifty program called Fluid which will turn Hootsuite into a desktop app. Visit the Hootsuite Extensions page and download Fluid.

Once you’ve installed it, just create a new Fluid app. You’ll enter the URL of the app (http://www.hootsuite.com), name it, select where you want it to go (Applications folder most likely) and then choose an icon to use. That’s it! I also dragged the app to my dock so it’s within easy reach.

So did you know Hootsuite could do this? Are you gonna give it a shot?

Psst… there will be no page critique tomorrow. I’m introducing a special series on blog photos that will start next week! Can’t wait to tell you about it!

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