What is social media monitoring?

Social media monitoring is mainly about tracking mentions, keywords, and direct interactions on social platforms to see what people are saying about a brand, product, or industry. It’s focused on the “what”—like spotting when someone mentions your brand or uses a specific hashtag. This helps brands stay updated and respond to customer feedback, trending topics, and competitor moves in real time.

For example, if a tech company wants to know how their new product is being received, they’ll monitor Twitter or Instagram for mentions. They’ll track comments, see which features people like, and identify any issues that keep coming up. Monitoring lets them respond quickly to feedback and handle any immediate concerns.

How is social monitoring different from social media listening?

Social listening, goes beyond just tracking mentions. It digs deeper into the “why” behind the conversation. Listening looks at sentiment, context, and trends over time to understand how people feel about a brand or product. It’s less about real-time reactions and more about gathering insights that inform a brand’s longer-term strategy.

So, to sum it up: monitoring is about tracking mentions and keywords to react quickly, while listening is about understanding the bigger picture to shape future decisions.