In the digital age, it’s virtually impossible to run a business and market it successfully without having an online presence. Internet use is becoming more and more widespread all over the world, such that over half of the world’s population is active online. Given that, modern companies now have to cover a wide variety of bases to spread the word about their brand, attract and reach more customers, and gain an edge over their competitors in the digital space.

Marketing tools and software programs enable businesses to maximise the internet for promotional purposes and use it to further their enterprises. These innovations allow companies to collect and analyse data, leverage the power of social media, use search engine optimisation to boost their site’s visibility and execute other media marketing tasks with ease. These tools also greatly simplify a marketer’s job by enabling them to carry out several of these tasks at once.

Using the right marketing tools and software programs is critical to succeeding as a business in the 21st century. However, the sheer variety in available choices can be overwhelming, especially to someone who isn’t very well-versed in these matters. Fortunately, there are plenty of online business marketing courses that can teach you which platforms to choose and how to use them effectively. To give you a better idea of what to expect when it comes to digital marketing software, here are our top recommendations:

1. Organic Social Media Tools

Given that social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram count their users in the billions, it is crucial for any business to maintain and refine their presence on them. Organic social media tools focus on leveraging social networking platforms to reach and engage users without the use of paid ads. This is done by creating and sharing user-generated content, hashtag campaigns, quizzes, and the like.

2. Hootsuite

Hootsuite has long been considered a staple in the social media marketing scene, and for good reason. It’s one of the most comprehensive social media management tools out there, allowing users or teams to manage multiple social media networks from a single window. The free version for one user can support up to three social profiles and 30 scheduled messages. There are also paid plans available that can support up to 35 social accounts and unlimited scheduled messages for multiple users. Additionally, Hootsuite offers custom solutions for enterprises, which means that you’re not restricted to the available plans.

3. Sprout Social

Just like Hootsuite, Sprout Social is another social media management software. Specially designed for business users, this premium tool counts a built-in customer relationship management system as one of its major draws. The Standard plan supports five social profiles, an all-in-one social inbox, a social content calendar, and much more. Businesses that need more social media power can upgrade to the Advanced plan, which can support up to 10 social profiles.

4. E-mail Marketing Tools

E-mail has been around a while, to the point that using it in a marketing strategy can almost feel dated. However, it continues to be one of the most effective ways to market to customers, promising high ROI. Indeed, e-mail marketing tools are still used by over 80 per cent of B2B and B2C enterprises. They allow you to create, manage, and automate mailing lists, newsletters, and e-mail marketing campaigns, to name a few.

5. MailChimp

MailChimp is one of the most popular e-mail marketing platforms out there, with over 12 million active customers. It features an easy-to-use email builder that allows you to create aesthetically pleasing, professional-looking branded emails that can be sent en masse as part of a marketing campaign. Small to medium businesses that are just getting started with email marketing may be attracted to their Free plan, which allows you to send emails to up to 2000 contacts. Also included in the suite is their Marketing CRM, Creative Assistant, Website Builder, Mailchimp Domain, and Forms & Landing Pages.

6. Marketo

If your priority is automation and you feel that you are ready to take on a more advanced marketing platform, Marketo may just be the right fit for your business. Backed by Adobe Inc., it’s an all-in-one platform that can take your enterprise to the next level. In addition to e-mail marketing, Marketo’s solutions include account-based marketing, consumer marketing, customer base marketing, lead management, mobile marketing, and more.

7. Website Analytics Tools

Data is, unquestionably, the driving force of business in the modern age. Being able to effectively collect and analyse your customer’s data as well as the events that happen on your website can provide you with a lot of insight and inform the next steps in your marketing strategy.

8. Google Analytics

When it comes to data analytics, no one is doing it better than Google. This free web analytics tool can help you analyse your website traffic, measure your advertising ROI, collect user acquisition data and user behaviour data, and much more. Over 50 million websites make use of Google Analytics, and so should yours.

When it comes to choosing marketing tools and software programs for your business, you’ll have to consider a number of factors. What are your priorities? How much are you willing to spend on promoting your product or service? The best and easiest way to see what you like and what works is to try them out for yourself. Fortunately, many of these programs can be downloaded and tested out for free, so don’t be afraid to experiment.

Do you want to be an entrepreneur but need guidance on where and how to start? Then, send MRS V a message today.