The purpose of this post is to provide busy business owners with an overview of the range of online marketing tools available to support their everyday marketing activities. We’ll cover some of the most popular tools as well as those that are a bit more specialized. Each item featured here has a specific purpose, so being familiar with all of them will give you a distinct competitive advantage.
Pricing
The pricing for each tool varies, but you can get a free trial to assess its functionality. You’ll then need to decide whether or not to continue using the tool. Several services offer unlimited plans with no fees, so you can decide how much you want to allocate to this aspect of your business.
Features
Many marketing tools are completely free, relying on advertisements or in-app purchases to fund their development. Others, such as HubSpot, offer a free version with limited features. You’ll need to decide whether or not you want to invest in a paid version with additional features. Some tools, like Hootsuite, allow you to create and manage multiple campaigns, while others, like Mad Mimi, only provide you with a single campaign. Deciding what features you need is a key part of selecting the right tool for your needs.
User Interface
All the tools mentioned here are quite easy to use, relying on straightforward and intuitive interfaces that are designed to make your life as a marketer simpler and more efficient. For instance, HubSpot offers a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editor for campaigns and a to-do list manager that summarizes tasks according to priority, giving you a quick overview of your entire to-do list at any given moment. The interface is also mobile-friendly, so you can access the tool from just about anywhere using just your phone.
Integrations
All the tools mentioned here integrate with other services, so you can connect your email marketing, social media, and website management for a complete digital experience. For example, HubSpot connects to over 200 other services, including many of the tools mentioned below, allowing you to fully automate the process of creating content. It also integrates with services like Google Analytics, so you can track the performance of every piece of content you create. Another example is Buffer, which offers a single platform for content creation, scheduling, and publishing. You can use the tool to create and schedule content across various platforms, like social media and email, and then measure the results of your activity using analytics tools such as Google Analytics.
Compatibility
With most of the tools listed below, compatibility is one of the major concerns, especially if you’re using them on a mobile device. All the tools were designed with mobile users in mind, so you can be sure they’ll all work well on a smartphone. Some tools, like Mad Mimi, don’t support all the features needed by sophisticated marketers, but they’re still quite functional for average users.
Security
Last but not least, let’s not forget about security. At the end of the day, we’re all human, and humans are notoriously weak when it comes to keeping secure passwords and confidential information. That’s why security should always be a priority, even when you’re using free tools. Fortunately, all the tools mentioned here offer some form of account protection, like two-factor authentication or token verification. You should take advantage of these features to beef up your security online. Two-factor authentication adds a layer of security by requiring both your password and your second factor (typically a text message sent to your phone) to access your account. Some services like Google Authenticator add another layer of security by generating one-time-use codes delivered to your phone via text message or email.
The Least You Need To Know
In this article, we discussed the various aspects to consider when choosing the right online marketing tool for your needs. The purpose of this article is to assist you in making the right choice by providing you with an overview of the most popular online marketing tools currently available, along with tips on how to choose the right one for your personal or professional use cases. Additionally, being familiar with the features and functionalities of each tool will give you a distinct competitive advantage and simplify your day-to-day work. Hopefully, this article will help you make the right choice and choose the right tool for your needs.