The world of marketing and advertising is changing. More and more businesses are turning to online marketing and social media to gain exposure and to connect with prospective customers. With the resurgence of digital marketing comes a desire for students to develop their skills and knowledge in this area. However, with so many platforms where you can develop and publish content, how can a student determine which is the best for them? We delve into the most effective online marketing platforms for students, reviewing the features and functionalities of each so you can choose the best tool for your needs.

Wix

If you’re looking for a simple but effective platform to build your website or blog, then Wix is a great option. It’s a free service with a simple and intuitive front-end that allows you to drag and drop content to build your site. Publish your work and earn money with affiliate marketing. All the basics are there.

Wix also offers premium services that include advanced features like SEO, security, and more.

SquareSpace

SquareSpace is all the rage when it comes to lightweight, online marketing platforms designed for professional blogging and website development. It’s easy to use and requires no coding skills, so even inexperienced students can get up and running with this tool in no time. SquareSpace has a free plan that allows you to launch a basic website with limited features. You can upgrade to a premium plan for as little as $5 per month to gain access to advanced features, like custom domains, SSL certificates, and more.

Weebly

Weebly is the quick and easy way to build a professional-looking website or blog. It’s a free service with a simple to use drag and drop builder that makes it easy to build a blog around your interests. You just have to enter the content you want to share and then pick a template that suits your site. From there, you can arrange the content how you want, add multimedia, and publish.

Weebly also offers a free domain name and premium services starting at $5 per month for advanced features like SEO, security, and more.

Bluehost

For those looking for a free option, Bluehost is your best bet. It’s a webhosting service that offers a reliable and affordable platform to build your website. With Bluehost, you can install a free WordPress to create a professional-looking website in no time. You’ll need to enter your credit card information to secure your domain name, but beyond that it’s 100% free.

Shopify

Shopify is a robust e-commerce platform designed for online sales. It’s a perfect platform for those looking to start a business or are currently running one. The software is cloud-based and, as a result, allows for flexibility when it comes to accessing your files and data anywhere you have an internet connection.

Shopify offers a free trial as well as free premium accounts that allow for unlimited website downloads, hosting, and email marketing. They also provide a free online store builder that can be utilized to create your e-commerce store.

OneOmar

In a similar fashion to Shopify, OneOmar is a robust and reliable e-commerce solution that offers a free 14-day trial and provides a simple and intuitive interface for beginners. OneOmar was designed with flexibility and reliability in mind to accommodate the needs of online businesses of all sizes.

As a business owner or manager, you can take advantage of the free plan which includes a free domain name, free installation, and free updates.

Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus is the upgrade pack for Shopify that provides additional functionality and features for online stores and marketplaces. It’s priced affordably at $5 per month plus sales tax and gives you access to advanced features like SEO, A/B testing, and mobile-ready stores.

Pow

Pow is the enterprise solution from HP that provides a robust suite of products for digital marketing and sales teams. One of their products, PowerMarketer, provides a free 14-day trial and is designed for live events, like conferences and trade shows where you can promote and sell your products. It provides an easy way to set up automated email campaigns, track visitors, and follow up with leads.

You can also set up multiple stores and marketplaces within PowerMarketer, which makes it a multi-platform solution that can be used across email, social media, and web.

HubSpot

HubSpot is also a robust solution that provides a free version for small businesses and teams and a premium business plan that allows for unlimited users, storage, and custom domains. HubSpot is more of a marketing software than an online marketing platform, but it does offer a content management system (CMS) that can be used to easily create and share blog posts, product reviews, and more.

The platform also provides you with automated email campaigns, digital marketing analytics, and social media management tools.

Mad Mimi

Mad Mimi is a complete suite of digital marketing tools for students and professionals that provides a free platform with extensive features for small businesses and teams. These features include SEO, PPC, social media, and email marketing.

Mad Mimi also provides a unique feature called Mimi, which is a virtual assistant that can take care of all your social media tasks, schedule content for you, and more. She is smart and savvy, so you can rest assured your content will be handled professionally. Like HubSpot, Mad Mimi is more of a marketing software than an online marketing platform, but it does provide a CMS and a variety of marketing tools to get your creative juices flowing.

Alfred

Alfred is another affordable option for students and small businesses and provides a simple but effective way to create and manage blogs and websites. It’s a free service that provides a basic website with security, email marketing, and analytics. For only $2 per month, you can upgrade to premium features like custom domains, dedicated IP addresses, and free backups.

Dedicated Hosting

It’s important to point out that not all free hosting is created equal, so you should always look for a dedicated hosting option that is fast and reliable. To learn more, check out these dedicated hosting reviews from expert websites like BestHostingEtc.com. Using dedicated hosting will ensure that your site will perform at its best, especially if it’s a resource-heavy site like a blog or a news site. In fact, you might consider dedicated hosting as a necessary step when publishing a new blog post because, let’s face facts here, without a good connection, your content simply won’t be worth much.

Conclusion

Creating a successful marketing plan doesn’t have to be hard. With these various platforms, you can efficiently manage all aspects of your marketing efforts from one place. However, finding the right tool for your needs can be challenging, so take some time to read the features and functionalities of each before making a decision. With the right tools and a little bit of knowledge, you can get the most out of your digital marketing investment and build your business successfully in the future.