If you’re trying to actually get results from social selling—not just talk about it—this guide’s for you. Maybe you’re running a B2B sales team, or maybe you’re the solo marketer who always gets asked, "What’s our LinkedIn strategy?" Either way, you’ve got a sea of tools promising magical pipeline from social. Let’s cut through the noise and see how Tweetdm actually stacks up against the other B2B go-to-market (GTM) platforms out there.
Why Social Selling Still Matters (Even If It Feels Overhyped)
We’ve all seen the stats: buyers are more informed, relationships matter, yadda yadda. But here’s the honest bit—social selling works when you do it right. Not by spamming DMs or blasting the same post everywhere, but by having actual conversations with real people.
But finding those conversations (and keeping track of them) is where most platforms either help or get in your way.
What Counts as a B2B GTM Platform for Social Selling?
Let’s define the field. When folks talk GTM (go-to-market) platforms for B2B social selling, they usually mean tools that help you:
- Find leads and prospects on social channels (mostly LinkedIn and Twitter/X)
- Engage with those prospects—DMs, comments, sometimes email
- Track conversations and outcomes so you’re not guessing who you’ve messaged
- Sometimes run campaigns, schedule posts, or analyze what’s working
The big players? LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Outreach, Apollo, and a handful of newer, social-focused tools like Tweetdm. Each has its own take. Some focus on volume, others on actual engagement.
Comparing the Core Platforms
Let’s break down the main contenders you’ll actually hear about—and what they do (or don’t) deliver.
1. Tweetdm
Best for: Targeted, real conversations on Twitter/X
- What it does: Tweetdm is built for one thing—finding and DMing prospects on Twitter/X, then tracking those convos. It’s simple and focused.
- Strengths:
- No fluff: You won’t find post scheduling, content libraries, or AI "engagement boosters." It’s about starting real conversations.
- Tracks all your DMs in one place, so you don’t lose the thread.
- Simple filters to find the right people based on bio, tweets, or engagement.
- Weaknesses:
- Only works with Twitter/X, so if your audience is on LinkedIn, you’ll need another tool.
- Not built for blasting 1,000 automated messages (which you shouldn’t do anyway).
- Who should use it: If you’re getting actual leads or customers from Twitter/X—or want to—this is worth a look. If your boss wants dashboards and “social listening,” look elsewhere.
Pro tip: Don’t treat Twitter like email. Start conversations about what people are tweeting, not your product.
2. LinkedIn Sales Navigator
Best for: Finding and tracking B2B leads on LinkedIn
- What it does: Advanced search, saves prospects, and integrates with CRMs.
- Strengths:
- Deep filters: Industry, seniority, company size, you name it.
- Integrates with Salesforce and other CRMs.
- Weaknesses:
- Messaging is limited unless people accept your connection request.
- No real DM workflow or tracking—just basic InMail.
- Can get pricey, especially for teams.
- Who should use it: If your buyers are on LinkedIn and you’re doing account-based selling, it’s almost a requirement. But don’t expect it to help you actually start or track conversations.
What to ignore: Don’t buy Sales Navigator for “engagement features”—they’re not built for real conversation.
3. Outreach and Apollo
Best for: Multi-channel outbound (email + LinkedIn)
- What they do: Combine email outreach with LinkedIn touchpoints. Some support basic LinkedIn messaging.
- Strengths:
- Automate sequences—email, LinkedIn, sometimes calls.
- Reporting dashboards for outbound teams.
- Weaknesses:
- “LinkedIn automation” often means pushing the limits of what’s allowed (risking bans).
- Not designed for Twitter/X or organic social engagement.
- Feels more like a cold email tool with social tacked on.
- Who should use it: Teams doing high-volume outbound who need everything tracked. Just know you’re mostly emailing, not really social selling.
Pro tip: Don’t let the word “social” fool you—these tools are about sequences, not conversations.
4. Generic Social Media Management Tools (Hootsuite, Sprout Social, Buffer)
Best for: Scheduling posts and monitoring brand mentions
- What they do: Schedule, publish, monitor, and report on social posts across platforms.
- Strengths:
- Good for keeping your company feed active.
- Basic analytics and team collaboration.
- Weaknesses:
- Not built for 1:1 social selling or DM workflows.
- Engagement tools are limited to reply/comment—not starting meaningful relationships.
- Who should use it: Marketing teams who need to stay visible. But if you’re serious about social selling, you’ll outgrow these fast.
What to ignore: Don’t expect these tools to help you close deals—they’re not built for sales.
What Actually Matters for Social Selling (And Where Each Platform Fits)
Here’s the unvarnished truth: most “social selling” tools are optimized for marketers, not salespeople. If you want to build real relationships that turn into pipeline, look for tools that help you:
- Start and track real conversations (not just send mass messages)
- Find the right people (not just anyone with a job title)
- Stay organized so follow-ups don’t fall through the cracks
Let’s stack up the platforms based on what actually matters:
| Platform | Real DM Workflow | Lead Discovery | Multi-Channel | Best For | |-------------------------|------------------|----------------|---------------|-----------------------------------| | Tweetdm | Yes (Twitter/X) | Yes (Twitter) | No | Twitter/X relationship building | | LinkedIn Sales Navigator| No (Basic InMail)| Yes (LinkedIn) | No | LinkedIn prospecting | | Outreach/Apollo | Sort of (Sequences)| Yes (Email/LinkedIn)| Yes | Scaled outbound | | Hootsuite/Sprout/Buffer | No | No | Yes | Scheduling/monitoring |
Bottom line: If your prospects are active on Twitter/X and you want to actually talk to them, Tweetdm is the right tool. If you’re focused on LinkedIn, you’ll need Sales Navigator (and maybe something else to track actual conversations). For volume-based outbound, Outreach or Apollo are more your speed.
How to Make Social Selling Tools Actually Work (Instead of Wasting Time)
No tool can make up for a bad approach. Here’s how to actually get value from whatever you pick:
- Pick one or two channels—max. Don’t try to “be everywhere.” Figure out where your prospects hang out and focus there.
- Start with real conversations. Forget mass blasts or “value messages.” Comment on their posts, reply to tweets, and DM when it makes sense.
- Use the tool to stay organized, not automate relationships. The best platforms help you remember who to follow up with and what you talked about.
- Track what works (and what doesn’t). If you get replies, great—double down. If not, change your approach, not just your software.
- Ignore features you don’t need. Most platforms are bloated. Use the 10% that helps you talk to people and ditch the rest.
Pro tip: Don’t pay extra for “AI” features unless you see them actually saving you time. Most are just shiny add-ons.
Honest Takes: What Works, What Doesn’t, and What to Ignore
- Real conversations beat automation. Tools that promise “done-for-you” outreach almost always backfire.
- Tracking matters more than dashboards. You need to know who you’ve talked to and what happened next—not just vanity metrics.
- Stay skeptical of “all-in-one” claims. The more a platform promises, the less it usually delivers for real social selling.
- Don’t chase every new channel. If your buyers aren’t on Twitter/X, don’t force it. Same goes for LinkedIn.
- Most features go unused. If you can’t explain why you need it, you probably don’t.
Keep It Simple—And Iterate
Social selling isn’t magic, and it’s rarely about the tool. Pick the platform where your buyers are, use it to start real conversations, and keep track of what works. Ignore the hype, skip the features you don’t need, and get really good at following up.
If you need to get results from Twitter/X, Tweetdm is simple and focused—it does what you actually need, without the clutter. For everything else, use the tool that fits your channel, but don’t expect it to do the selling for you.
Start small, iterate fast, and don’t overthink it. The best social sellers focus on people, not platforms.