Marketing your small business can feel like a lot sometimes. There’s just so much to keep track of, from social media to email campaigns to ads. And let’s be honest, the tools out there can be overwhelming, too! That’s why finding ones that are reliable, effective, and don’t break the bank is such a game-changer. Flying solo or part of a small team, having the right tools saves time, simplifies marketing, and helps you reach the right audience. Check out our fan favorite free and paid marketing tips, and a few tips for getting the most out of them.
Canva: Easy Graphic Design for Everyone
Visuals are everything in marketing these days. Think about it—your audience usually notices graphics before anything else, whether it’s a social media post, an email header, or something on your website. That’s why we love Canva for small businesses. It’s super easy to use and can do just about anything.
The free version of Canva comes with hundreds of templates, stock images, and basic editing tools, making it perfect for businesses just getting started or those working with a tight design budget. You can easily create visual content without being a professional designer (don’t worry, your secret is safe with us).
For businesses looking for more advanced features, Canva Pro offers extra templates, premium images, one-click resizing, and collaborative tools for teams. One of our favorite features is the brand kit, which stores your brand’s colors, fonts, and logos to ensure every design remains consistent.
How to get the most out of Canva:
- Keep your brand colors and fonts consistent across ALL your graphics! Believe it or not, your audience recognizes consistency.
- Start with a template, then tweak it so it really feels like YOUR brand.
- If you upgrade to Canva Pro, you can schedule your graphics to post on social media, saving you TONS of time.
Email Marketing Made Simple with Mailchimp
Don’t be fooled! Although social media has established its dominance, email marketing remains one of the most effective ways to connect with your audience, and Mailchimp makes it easy for small businesses to get started.
The free plan lets you send emails to up to 500 contacts and comes with templates, basic automation, and reporting; perfect for new businesses looking to build their email list and start engaging customers. If you want to step things up, the paid plans offer advanced automation, audience segmentation, A/B testing, and e-commerce integrations. These tools make it easy to create campaigns that feel personal and reach the right people at just the right time.
Tips for using Mailchimp like a pro:
- Group your audience by interests or behavior. Personalized emails get opened and acted on more often!
- Try out different subject lines and content to see what clicks with your readers.
- Always include clear calls to action to guide people to the next step, whether that’s making a purchase, signing up for an event, or visiting your website.
Get to Know Your Audience with Google Analytics
Think of data like a map for your marketing journey. Without it, you’re just driving blind. Google Analytics is that reliable GPS for small businesses, showing you where your visitors are coming from, what pages they explore, and how long they stay. The best part? It’s free and incredibly powerful.
With Google Analytics, you can see how visitors find your site, which pages they spend time on, and how long they stick around. This insight helps you figure out what’s working in your marketing vs. what might need a tweak.
Take a blog post, for example: If a blog post is attracting lots of visitors but not turning them into leads, you can experiment with different calls to action or adjust the content to encourage conversions. Plus, Google Analytics works with other tools like Google Ads, making it easier to track the success of your advertising campaigns.
Using Google Analytics effectively:
- Create goals to track important actions like form submissions, purchases, or newsletter sign-ups.
- Check audience reports to learn about your visitors’ demographics, interests, and behavior.
- Keep an eye on traffic sources to see which marketing channels are driving results, so you can focus your efforts where they matter most.
Meta Business Suite: Manage Your Social Media with Ease
Social media plays a big role in small business marketing. It’s a great way to connect with your audience, show off your products or services, and build a community around your brand. Meta Business Suite makes managing both Facebook and Instagram easy, all in one place.
The free version lets you schedule posts, check insights, and respond to messages across both platforms. If you’re ready to boost your reach, paid advertising features can help you connect with a larger, more targeted audience, perfect for businesses looking to grow their social presence.
Simple Ways to Use Meta Business Suite:
- Plan your content ahead of time to stay consistent. Regular posting helps build trust and keeps your audience interested.
- Keep an eye on engagement metrics like likes, comments, and shares to see what your audience enjoys most.
- Use those insights to tweak your content, adjust posting times, and fine-tune your advertising strategy.
Still need a little extra help with your social posting strategy? Check out our blog, Stuck in a Posting Rut? Here’s What to Share on Social Media for more insights!
Keep Your Team on Track with Trello
Marketing comes with a lot of moving parts, and keeping everything organized can be tricky. Trello is a free project management tool that uses boards, lists, and cards to help you stay on top of tasks and projects.
You can set up boards for each marketing campaign, create cards for individual tasks, and add due dates to keep everything on track. Trello also works with tools like Google Drive, Slack, and Canva, making it easy to keep your workflow all in one place.
Make Trello work for your business:
- Split bigger projects into smaller, manageable tasks to avoid feeling overwhelmed and keep everyone focused.
- Use labels and due dates to help prioritize what needs attention first.
- Check your boards regularly to make sure tasks are moving along and deadlines are on track.
But there are so many tools to choose from…which one is right for my business?
- Identify your goals: Know what you want to achieve before choosing a tool. Whether it’s growing your email list, driving more website traffic, or boosting social media engagement, clear objectives will guide your choices.
- Think about simple usability: Pick tools that you and your team can use comfortably. A complicated tool can slow you down instead of helping.
- Look for integrations: Tools that work well together can save time and simplify your workflow. For example, connecting your email marketing tool with your website analytics can give you better insights and improve your campaigns.
- Try before you buy: Many tools offer free versions or trials. Test them out to see if they meet your needs before committing to a paid plan.
The best marketing tools are the ones that fit your business goals and workflow. Choosing the right tools allows you to focus on creativity and strategy instead of getting bogged down by repetitive tasks or technical challenges. Investing time in learning these tools not only improves the quality of your marketing but also frees you to explore new ideas and grow your business with confidence!
Looking for a little confidence boost? Unparalleled Developers is here to help you and your small business master these marketing tools with ease. Start working with us today and elevate your business to the next level.
