10 Types of Marketing Tools Your Business Can Get for Free

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Whether you’re trying to bootstrap your business, are having cashflow troubles, or are just trying to follow a strict budget, affordable, or better yet, free tools are something you’re probably always looking for. There are some tools that offer a free option that works just fine, but as your business starts to grow and you need more capabilities, or if you have a project you need to do that doesn’t fit within the tool’s free use options, you could end up facing the choice of spending the money or changing your plans. And although you may be able to make adjustments or compromises in some areas of your business, there are others where you just shouldn’t—areas like marketing.

 

Marketing has always been an important aspect of a business, but today it’s even more important than ever before to ensure that your business is seen in the marketplace and is well-established in its industry. As important as it is, you don’t necessarily have to spend a premium to get the marketing and exposure you need, though. No matter what your budget, there are a number of different marketing tools that your business can get for free to help you get the attention you need without going over budget.

 

  1.  Website Optimization Tools

 

Did you know that only 22 percent of businesses report being happy with their conversion rates? If you’re one of the other 78 percent of businesses, then you will need a website optimization tool to help you make the changes you need to start seeing better results. Sometimes the intended use of a product and the actual use of a product turn out to be two different things, and the same is true for websites. Visitors don’t always see or click on the things you want them to first.

 

With free website optimization tools, like Hotjar, for example, you can get a better idea of where your visitors are looking first, how far they typically scroll down the page, and even analyze your sales funnel so that you can get a feel for what’s going right and what needs to change so that you can start seeing the conversion rates you want to.

 

  1.  Analytics Tools

 

If you can’t analyze how your website is doing on the web, then you can’t make changes to improve its performance. With data like website traffic tracking, reading time, and real-time stats, you can get a good feel for where your business is and what you need to do to achieve your goals. There are plenty of analytics tools out there, but if you want a quality tool that doesn’t cost a thing, then you’ll want to look into Google Analytics.

 

  1.  Video Editing Software

 

Your marketing videos say a lot about your company, and consumers will make snap judgments without even watching the entire thing. Even if the script is perfect and the acting is done well, or the animation is perfectly in sync with the voiceover, consumers won’t notice if it looks thrown together and doesn’t have a sense of professionalism about it. You may be thinking, “What are some free video editing softwares that are worth it? Free software on the internet usually isn’t very good.”

 

And while it’s true that you should be cautious when it comes to some free software, there are some great video editing options, such as Blender and Shotcut, that give professional quality videos without charging fees.

 

  1.  Photo Editing Software

 

Did you know that some images perform better on Instagram than others? Things like dominant color and negative space can affect how many likes a photo will get. Since a picture’s worth a thousand words, you want to ensure you have a good photo editor; however, Photoshop isn’t in the budget for every business. Luckily, there are options such as PicMonkey and BeFunky that make it easy to perfectly edit photos without spending a dime.

 

  1.  Graphic Design Software

 

Graphics are just as important as photographs, but a full-time graphic designer isn’t always in the budget. With tools like Canva, though, you can access an online designer for free and create your own ads, social posts, and more. And it even has templates if you’re not feeling creative or need some help getting to the perfect final result.

 

  1.  Social Media Management Tools

 

Social media is a great business tool that you can use for free already; however, managing social media can be hard. Since you should be posting to Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram at least once a day, and Twitter and Pinterest far more often, it can take up a lot of time. With tools like Buffer, you can create and schedule posts in advance, so you don’t have to remember to send out 15 Tweets a day and don’t have to pay to make it happen, either.

 

  1.  Copy Editing Software

 

Even if you have a professional copywriter on staff, it’s always good to have someone give the copy a once-over before it goes out. People who point out bad grammar may be considered jerks by some, but that won’t stop them from calling attention to mistakes that can make your company look unprofessional. Luckily, there are plenty of tools out there like Hemingway and Grammarly that can ensure your copy is interesting and error-free.

Final Thoughts

 

Whether you’re in a tight spot or are working hard to keep your costs as low as possible to save as much as possible, you still have to run your business and need to ensure that it’s done professionally. Luckily, there are plenty of marketing tools out there that you can use for free to help you come up with eye-catching campaigns and making positive changes to your website without having to spend a small fortune on the fees of different individuals and companies.

 

What other free marketing tools do you recommend using?