There are several social media tools available that can greatly benefit small businesses in terms of managing their social media presence, engaging with their audience, and analyzing their performance. Here are some of the best tools along with examples and references:

1. Hootsuite: Hootsuite is a popular social media management tool that allows businesses to schedule and manage their social media posts across multiple platforms from a single dashboard. It also offers features like social listening, analytics, and team collaboration. Hootsuite is particularly useful for small businesses as it helps save time and streamline social media activities. (Reference: Hootsuite - https://hootsuite.com/)

2. Buffer: Buffer is another excellent tool for scheduling and publishing social media content. It supports various platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. Buffer also provides analytics to help businesses track the performance of their posts and understand their audience better. It offers a free plan with limited features, making it a cost-effective choice for small businesses. (Reference: Buffer - https://buffer.com/)

3. Canva: Canva is a graphic design tool that allows businesses to create visually appealing social media posts, banners, and ads without any design experience. It offers a wide range of templates, fonts, and images to choose from, making it easy for small businesses to create professional-looking visuals for their social media channels. Canva has a free plan as well as a paid subscription with additional features. (Reference: Canva - https://www.canva.com/)

4. Sprout Social: Sprout Social is a comprehensive social media management tool that offers features like scheduling, publishing, social listening, analytics, and customer relationship management (CRM). It helps small businesses monitor their brand mentions, engage with their audience, and measure the impact of their social media efforts. Sprout Social offers a 30-day free trial and various pricing plans to suit different business needs. (Reference: Sprout Social - https://sproutsocial.com/)

5. Google Analytics: While not specifically a social media tool, Google Analytics is crucial for small businesses to measure the effectiveness of their social media campaigns and track website traffic. It provides valuable insights into user behavior, referral sources, conversions, and more. By integrating Google Analytics with their social media platforms, businesses can gain a deeper understanding of their social media-driven website traffic and optimize their strategies accordingly. (Reference: Google Analytics - https://analytics.google.com/)

These are just a few examples of the best social media tools for small businesses. The choice of tools may vary depending on the specific needs and goals of each business. It's essential to explore and evaluate different options to find the tools that align best with the business's social media strategy and budget.