Surfing the web is a favorite past time of many internet users. Why not use HootSuite to be productive while you’re doing so? The Dashboard is chock full of features and tools to help make the most of your social media management. Plus, we’re always adding more. To help get you acquainted with the functionality, or just give you a refresher, we have an updated #HootTip all about the Hootlet.

Using the Hootlet

If you’re an Owl on the web looking for a quick way to easily share interesting content, the Hootlet is here to help. Using the Hootlet, you can send out a message to any of your social networks which automatically includes a shortened link to the page you’re on, the title of the page you’re linking, and you can personalize any message to send along.

The best part is, you can do all of this without leaving your browser window. Choose to send right away, manually schedule a time or schedule using Hootlet’s AutoSchedule feature – a link share tool that determines the optimal time to schedule social media messaging.

Hootlet is available as a Chrome Extension, Firefox Add-on and Bookmarklet. Follow along with HootSuite University‘s video tutorial or the step-by-step instructions below.

Here’s How

1. To install the Hootlet Bookmarklet, open your HootSuite Dashboard and click Tools. Next, drag the Hootlet icon in to your Bookmarks menu. Alternatively, you can install Hootlet as a Chrome Extension or Firefox Add-on.
   
2. Once you’ve found something you want to share, simply click on the Hootlet icon to bring up a “Create New Message” window.
   
   
3. You then select the Social Network you wish to send your message to.
   
4. Once you’ve selected your network, you can then add a message, photo, or geo tag. Once you’re a satisfied Owl, you can select to manually schedule, AutoSchedule or Send Now.
   

Like many updates, we’ve added these handy features based on your helpful feedback. What’s your next idea?

Keep an eye out for a new #HootTip each week – they’re short, sweet and re-Tweetable so you can share your HootSuite expertise with your friends and followers. Some lucky RTers may just find themselves with a #HootKit… It’s our way of saying “thanks for spreading the word.”