Let us enumerate the challenges faced when marketing a business.
Many businesses often struggle with limited budgets, a lack of time, and/or inadequate marketing skills, which can make it challenging to maintain marketing consistency and achieve success.
If you are experiencing any of these difficulties, free marketing tools can be helpful and save the situation. Therefore, we have gathered the best free marketing tools to cater to all your requirements here!
Although all the marketing tools on our list are free, we will also mention any upgrade costs and provide important details regarding the features available in the free version of each tool and the most effective ways to utilize them.
Free SEO marketing tools to dominate search results
SEO is a long-term strategy, but it is highly effective in attracting and retaining a larger audience for your business and content. Consequently, it is advisable to try out these three SEO tools for successful results.
- thruuu
The essence of SEO lies in comprehending the information your target audience desires and providing it.
In order to satisfy search engines, it is not enough to create content. You must also comprehend the needs of potential website visitors. This is where thruuu becomes important, as search engines can understand both the intent of searchers and the content that effectively fulfills their requirements.
This marketing tool provides summaries of the pages displayed in search results for specific keywords you wish to target. They uncover the subjects that your content needs to address in order to compete with the pages that are currently ranked.
To increase your chances of appearing in relevant search results, you can enhance and optimize your content to make it more intriguing and advantageous for searchers. When thinking step by step, start by making your content interesting and beneficial.
There is a free version of thruuu available that comes with limited features. However, if you sign up for a free account, you will have access to all features without any limitations and can perform up to 10 searches per month. If necessary, additional credits can be purchased starting at $10.
- WordStream Free Keyword Tool
When it comes to marketing your business via SEO, local keyword research plays a vital role. WordStream’s Free Keyword Tool not only helps you find the necessary terms for achieving success but also offers strategic advice throughout the process.
Small businesses looking for a fast and efficient keyword solution often choose this program as it is extremely user-friendly. To get started, all you need to do is enter your website or a term, and the tool will provide you with relevant keyword suggestions, as well as information on search volume, competition, and estimated cost-per-click (CPC).
If you find yourself in a niche market, this specific free marketing tool can be useful since it allows you to narrow down your search based on location and industry.
The pricing is free, as the name suggests.
- Ahrefs Webmaster Tools
Ahrefs Webmaster Tools (AWT) can be a helpful solution for individuals and businesses with limited marketing resources and technical expertise in their SEO strategy. This free marketing tool serves as a supplement to Google Search Console and conducts an audit of your website, identifying over 100 potential SEO problems. Additionally, AWT provides information on the websites that are linking back to your business and offers insights into the keywords that perform best for you.
The pricing is available at no cost.
- LOCALiQ Marketing Lab Local SEO course
There is always more to learn in SEO or any marketing channel. This is why we wanted to mention a free online learning tool for SEO. Whether you are an experienced SEO professional or a new business, this local SEO course provides a step-by-step guide to the fundamentals of SEO, including best practices, the advantages of SEO, and strategies for measurement.
The cost of the service is zero!
Handy free marketing tools for content creation and distribution
Content marketing is a highly favored choice for small business marketing, with no debate. Are you currently allocating resources to it? Below are a few essential tools that should be included in your collection.
- CoSchedule Headline Studio
If the headlines you create are not enticing, they will be the only things people see because nobody will bother to read your content.
To ensure your headlines are effective and capture the attention of readers, utilize CoSchedule Headline Studio. This valuable marketing tool evaluates headlines using criteria such as word selection, headline style, length, and other variables. Although it does not substitute for sound judgment, Headline Studio can assist in fine-tuning your concepts.
Headline Studio can be used for free with certain limitations. The Premium plan, which offers smart suggestions, a word bank, and SEO scores, has a starting price of $9 per month.
- Grammarly
Whether your business needs to develop a complete content strategy or just generate website copy, Grammarly is an essential free marketing tool. This is particularly crucial because nearly 60% of individuals will not make a purchase from a company if they notice grammatical errors or spelling mistakes in their marketing materials.
When you write content online, Grammarly helps you catch grammatical errors and spelling mistakes that are often overlooked. Additionally, Grammarly analyzes your content for contextual adjustments or suggestions to ensure that your customer-facing copy is clear and concise. Moreover, signing up for Grammarly online and adding it to your browser is a quick and easy process, providing you with future writing assistance.
Grammarly provides a free version that covers all your basic spelling and grammar needs. Additionally, there are premium ($12 per month) and business ($15 per month) options that offer advanced vocabulary suggestions and features specifically designed for groups or teams.
- Missinglettr Curate
It is smart to create quality content consistently, but only if you also commit to consistently distributing the content. To aid in distribution, there exists a useful tool known as Missinglettr Curate. One of the tool’s two functions is to simplify the process of sharing your content with others on social media.
The process involves adding your blog post or other content to the Missinglettr library, and creating social share text. Once your content is in the library, people with similar target audiences can schedule it to be shared on their own social media accounts.
If you’re new to content creation or struggling to attract traffic, sharing your content step by step can be a fast way to reach a broad audience of people who are likely to be interested in it.
When it comes to pricing, Missinglettr offers both free plans and affordable paid plans that allow you to share content from other publishers with your audience. However, if you want to promote your own content like we’ve discussed, you will require the Curate add-on, priced at $49 per month.
Free social media marketing tools
Here are two effective tools that can help you effectively stay connected to potential and current customers through social media marketing (SMM).
- Later
Later serves as a comprehensive social media calendar for small businesses who want to generate content for significant social media holidays and beyond. This social media solution empowers businesses by enabling them to post on six platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
The text above can be rephrased as follows: Additionally, it offers a convenient media library that allows easy access to all your images and videos. Furthermore, it provides a feature to build-out a social media landing page, enabling you to include links in your bios.
In terms of pricing, you have the option to begin with Later and enjoy all the mentioned amenities at no cost. In case you decide to enhance your experience with additional features, you can explore the various plans available, with prices ranging from $15 to $80 per month.
- Canva
Research indicates that visuals have a positive impact on people’s response, whether on social media or in general, by fostering engagement and enhancing the memorability of the information and, consequently, the associated business.
Canva can help you create eye-catching social content by using its user-friendly interface and extensive collection of design options.
Pricing: Canva’s free plan is quite comprehensive, but its paid plans provide even greater benefits at a low cost starting from $12.99 per month.
- LOCALiQ Marketing Lab Local Social Media Marketing course
When it comes to social media marketing, small businesses often struggle with knowing where to begin. Marketing Lab offers a solution with its Local Social Media Marketing course, which guides businesses step-by-step through the process. This free online tool provides businesses with a comprehensive understanding of social media marketing and teaches them how to effectively measure and achieve success on these platforms.
The course is great because it not only outlines the principles of social media marketing but also provides specific illustrations and suggestions for content to share on different platforms.
Pricing: No cost!
Cool (and free!) conversion rate optimization tools
No matter what tactics you use for your small business marketing strategy, you’ll require a conversion rate optimization tool. This tool is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of your marketing efforts and identifying areas for improvement. Two marketing tools are available to assist with this process.
- Google Analytics
Although it may only take a moment to acquire proficiency in properly setting up Google Analytics and understanding the data, it remains a valuable tool for evaluating the success of your marketing efforts and gaining insights into your customer base. It is therefore worthwhile to have it established, even if you have to undergo Google’s free training or seek assistance from experts to fully harness its potential.
When considering pricing, it is important to note that the free version of Google Analytics provides ample insights that can be utilized to inform marketing strategies. This version is typically satisfactory for small to medium-sized businesses.
- WordStream Google Ads Grader
WordStream’s Google Ads Grader can help you ensure that your business has a strong Google Ads account, which is crucial for converting audience members into leads and moving potential customers through the sales funnel.
You can use this free tool to audit your account and find important areas to optimize. Additionally, you can compare your performance with competitors to make data-driven decisions and enhance your conversion optimization strategy.
The pricing is free!
BONUS: must-have free marketing tools for other key channels
Although there is an ever-increasing number of online marketing tools, this list is relatively small. Nevertheless, there are a few other tools in different areas of marketing that should also be acknowledged.
- Mailchimp
Mailchimp is one of the most popular email marketing tools available that enables businesses to effectively stay connected with and nurture their audiences. It provides an all-in-one platform comprising audience management, email automation, and additional features.
In terms of pricing, the company provides both a free option and paid options that begin at a mere $9.99 per month.
- ClickUp
ClickUp is a comprehensive marketing tool that offers assistance in various marketing areas such as task management, content planning and creation, goal tracking, and more. If you aim to reduce the number of tools you use or require a centralized platform for marketing, ClickUp provides most of the necessary resources to efficiently execute projects without relying heavily on additional tools.
ClickUp provides a free plan and also offers paid plans beginning at $9 per month in terms of pricing.
- Rytr.me
Most business owners find it challenging to include SEO and Copywriting in their digital marketing campaigns due to the need for high-quality content and the cost of professional copywriting. Nevertheless, ranking on Google Search through organic or paid advertising is an extremely valuable marketing opportunity for those who are committed to their digital presence.
It is important for every business to have an AI writing assistant because communication is crucial in online business marketing. Effective communication helps convey your ideas and can significantly impact your client’s success rate. Given that everyone has a distinct communication style, our style might occasionally clash with others, leading to negative outcomes.
You can use writing assistants like Rytr.me for free (up to 5000 words) to aid in writing emails, drafting important announcements, or even generating tweets.
It is important to use the tool with caution and use it wisely, just like any other tool mentioned in this list. It is not necessary to utilize AI for every message, and there are situations where it is more appropriate to conduct business communications face-to-face. However, in cases where meeting in person is not possible, sending a 5-minute video recording can be a suitable alternative.
- Loom
In 2023, video marketing holds significant importance; however, it can be an arduous and costly process to produce. If you are willing to engage in a Zoom call, you might want to consider utilizing this cost-free video capture tool for creating video content.
Loom is a tool that our team sometimes utilizes in situations where we are unable to have a call but still wish to engage in screen-sharing via video. It is a browser-based tool that is available for installation on Chrome, Safari, Windows, and Mac, and it is free to use.
The reason why Loom is so impressive is due to its ability to quickly and effortlessly transmit your thoughts through video.
If you already have a YouTube account, you can download Loom videos and upload them to YouTube for unlimited video recordings. Loom is free for up to 25 videos, but this option allows you to delete the videos after uploading to YouTube.
If you have a slower internet connection and occasionally struggle with Chrome extension security, Loom can also function as a Windows or Mac App.
- Clockify
For businesses in their early stages, the focus is on maximizing profit while minimizing time spent. Nowadays, small businesses have to put in significant effort to ensure a steady income, which includes managing various tasks like social media, SEO, website and client management, among others. If time equals money, it is essential to be aware of how your time is being utilized.
When you track the time spent on different work tasks, you may be amazed at the amount of time and money you can save, despite the inevitable overhead costs associated with running a business.
For small businesses, we strongly suggest using Clockify.
Using Clockify can help alleviate the expense and inconvenience of HR software by allowing you to easily track the duration of tasks, identify areas with significant time-consuming activities, and determine areas where improvements in efficiency can be made.
Clockify enables users to monitor and allocate their time to client work and categorize it according to tasks or team members. This free platform is an excellent tool for generating reports that highlight how a team’s time is utilized for different tasks. By using Clockify, you can identify areas where optimization is needed and determine where additional resources should be allocated.
- Semrush
Semrush is a free tool that we love using for a range of digital marketing tasks, including basic keyword research, scheduling social media content, and more complex tasks like domain management and building backlinks.
Semrush may have the most exceptional free social media scheduling tool available, although many of these features are restricted to the free version.
Their range of social media management tools is extremely valuable and encompasses various features such as a social media scheduler for consistent content posting across channels, a social tracker, basic social analytics, and a social inbox for reputation management.
- Google Business Profile
If you have a physical store that you want to attract more customers to, it is crucial to have a verified and optimized Google Business Profile listing. Having a Google Business Profile can enhance the visibility of your store on platforms such as Google maps. Additionally, Google My Business can motivate individuals to explore your offerings and potentially convert them into customers.
There is no reason not to have a Google My Business listing as it is free.
