By 
It’s no secret that small businesses have to work twice as hard as their larger counterparts to get and keep customers. Not only do they have to compete with big businesses on price and product, but they also have to contend with the ever-growing digital marketing landscape. While larger businesses can afford to hire entire departments dedicated solely to online marketing, small business owners often have to take on these responsibilities themselves. This can be daunting, but it’s not impossible. With the right tools and resources, any small business can create an effective digital marketing strategy that will help them stand out from the competition.
Here are some of the best digital marketing tools and resources for small businesses:
1. Google Analytics
This free tool from Google gives you insights into how people are finding and interacting with your website. It can help you track your conversion rates, identify which channels are driving the most traffic, and see which pages need improvement.
Google Analytics is a powerful tool, but it can be overwhelming for beginners. Luckily, there are plenty of tutorials and resources available to help you get started. You may also learn from our article on How to use Google Analytics to track your website traffic to make your analytics journey easy.
When it comes to digital marketing, data is your best friend. Google Analytics will help you track your progress and identify areas for improvement.
With Google Analytics you can:
– Understand your audience
– See which marketing channels are most effective
– Monitor your website’s performance
– Track your conversion rates
Pros and Cons of using Google Analytics:
The Pros:
1) Free
2) Easy to use once you get the hang of it
3) Can be used to track multiple websites
4) Provides a wealth of data that can be used to improve your website and digital marketing strategy
The Cons:
1) The interface can be confusing for beginners
2) Takes some time to learn how to use all the features
3) Can be overwhelming if you’re not used to dealing with data
Some alternatives to Google Analytics are:
-KISSmetrics
-Mixpanel
-Clicky
2. Hootsuite
Hootsuite is a social media management platform that lets you track all your social media channels in one place. It’s great for small businesses because it helps you save time by scheduling and publishing content, and it gives you insights into how your social media campaigns are performing.
There is a free version of Hootsuite, but it has limited features. For small businesses, the paid plans start at $19 per month and offer a free trial.
With Hootsuite you can:
-Schedule and publish content
-Get insights into your social media performance
-Analyze your Twitter followers
-Manage multiple social media accounts
3. MailChimp
MailChimp is a tool that lets you create and send newsletters, email campaigns, and other automated emails. It’s great for small businesses
Pros and Cons of using Hootsuite:
The Pros:
1) Schedule and publish content to save time
2) insights into how your social media campaigns are performing
3) Free trial
4) Multiple users can be added to the paid plans
The Cons:
1) The interface can be confusing for beginners
2) Some features are only available in the paid plans
3) Not all social media platforms are supported
Some alternatives to Hootsuite are:
-Buffer
-Sprout Social
-Sendible
3. Canva
Canva is a free online design platform that’s great for small businesses. It has a user-friendly interface and millions of templates and images to choose from, so you can create professional-looking designs without any prior experience.
Canva is perfect for creating social media graphics, website banners, flyers, and more.
Using Canva is free, but you can pay for premium images and templates. There is also a Canva for Business plan that starts at $12.95 per month and offers discounts on prints and additional features, such as collaboration tools and branding kits.
With Canva you can:
-Create professional designs without any prior experience
-Choose from millions of templates and images
Pros and Cons of using Canva:
The Pros:
1) Free to use
2) User-friendly interface
3) Millions of templates and images to choose from
4) Canva for the Business plan is affordable
The Cons:
1) Some features are only available in the paid plans
2) Not all templates and images are free
Some alternatives to Canva are:
-PicMonkey
-Adobe Spark
-Snappa
4. MailChimp
MailChimp is a popular email marketing service that lets you send newsletters, product announcements, and other promotional emails to your customers. It’s great for small businesses because it’s affordable and easy to use. MailChimp also offers a free plan for up to 2,000 subscribers.
With MailChimp you can:
-Segment your audience into different groups
-Schedule and automate your email campaigns
-Track your results with detailed reports
Pros and Cons of using MailChimp:
The Pros:
1) Affordable
2) Easy to use
3) Free plan for up to 2,000 subscribers
4) Lots of features and integrations
The Cons:
1) The interface can be confusing for beginners
2) Some features are only available in the paid plans
5. LeadPages
LeadPages is a powerful, yet easy to use, lead capture and landing page builder. It’s perfect for small businesses that want to generate more leads from their website. LeadPages offers a free 14-day trial, and plans start at $37 per month.
LeadPages is great for creating high-converting landing pages that capture leads from your website. It also offers a wide range of integrations with popular email marketing and CRM tools.
If you’re not familiar with web design, LeadPages can be a bit daunting at first. But once you get the hang of it, it’s a powerful tool that can help you grow your business.
With LeadPages, you can create:
-Lead capture forms
-Landing pages
-Sales pages
-Webinar registration pages
-Thank you pages
Pros and Cons of using LeadPages:
The Pros:
1) Easy to use
2) Free 14-day trial
3) Powerful features
4) Wide range of integrations
The Cons:
1) Can be overwhelming for beginners
2) Some features are only available in the paid plans
3) The interface can be confusing
Some alternatives to LeadPages are:
-Instapage
-Unbounce
-Landingi
6. Ahrefs
Ahrefs is a comprehensive SEO tool that helps you track your website’s organic traffic and backlinks, as well as competitor data. It’s great for small businesses that want to improve their search engine optimization (SEO). Ahrefs offers a 7-day trial, and plans start at $99 per month.
Ahrefs is one of the most popular SEO tools on the market. It’s packed with features, but it can be overwhelming for beginners. Once you get the hang of it, though, it’s a powerful tool that can help you grow your business.
With Ahrefs, you can:
-Track your website’s organic traffic
-Monitor your backlinks
-Analyze your competitors
-Research keywords
Pros and Cons of using Ahrefs:
The Pros:
1) Comprehensive SEO tool
2) 7-day trial
3) Packed with features
4) Easy to use once you get the hang of it
The Cons:
1) Can be overwhelming for beginners
2) Bit more expensive than other tools on the market
Some alternatives to Ahrefs are:
-Moz
-Semrush
-KWFinder
Conclusion
All of the tools we’ve mentioned in this blog post are great for small businesses that want to grow their business. They offer a variety of features, and most of them are easy to use even if you’re not familiar with web design or SEO. So which tool is right for you? It depends on your needs and budget. But all of these tools are worth considering if you want to improve your website’s traffic and conversions.
Frequently Asked Questions about Digital Marketing Tools for Small Businesses
Q: What is the best digital marketing tool for small businesses?
A: The best digital marketing tool for small businesses will depend on your needs and budget. But all of the tools we’ve mentioned in this blog post are great for small businesses that want to grow their business.
Q: Do I need to be a web design or SEO expert to use these tools?
A: No, you don’t need to be an expert in web design or SEO to use these tools. Most of them are easy to use, even if you’re not familiar with those topics.
Q: Are there any free digital marketing tools for small businesses?
A: Yes, there are some free digital marketing tools for small businesses. For example, Google Analytics is a free tool that can help you track your website’s traffic. And LeadPages offers a free 14-day trial.
