10 Tools Every Small Business Marketer Should Have on Hand

If you’re like me, trying to squeeze 30 hours of work in a 24 hour day, efficiency is a big deal. Well today we have Hannah Watson sharing her top 10 tools every (busy) small business marketer needs, to help us get more done in less time.

Getting more done in a day doesn’t mean having to spend a fortune on software or working at all hours of the day. These tools can help you be more productive and launch more effective marketing. The vast majority of them are also free or very reasonably priced so you’ll be able to stick to your budget as well.

1. Firefox: While Google’s browser Chrome might be quicker on its feet than Firefox, Firefox still maintains a distinct advantage in that users can add loads of customization with add-ons. These can help you organize information, track your websites and even keep up on your RSS feeds.

2. Google Reader: Subscribing to blogs can be a great way to keep up with the latest things going on in small business or just to entertain yourself. The easiest way to keep up with them all is through an RSS reader like Google’s offering that will put them all in one place.

3. Google Alerts: You don’t need to wait for your ears to burn to know if someone is talking about you with this tool. Create a search for your business name (or your competitor’s) and you’ll get daily emails about when it’s mentioned online.

4. TweetDeck: If you’ve decided to use Twitter as part of your marketing scheme then make the most of it with this tool that lets you more easily control who you follow and what you see.

5. WordPress: These days many businesses are taking to the blogging world and this free blogging platform offers an easy an customizable way to represent your business on the web.

6. Google Analytics: If you want to know about the success of your website and your business online this is pretty much an essential tool as it lets you track traffic, conversions, searches and more.

7. Backpack: Those who are chronically disorganized can get a little help from this tool that lets users create to-do lists, take notes, store files and keep a calendar with email updates.

8. Breeze: Make sending out email campaigns child’s play with this online service. It helps you create, send and track the effectiveness of email marketing.

9. Highrise: If you’re in need of a CRM tool, try this version that will let you keep in touch with clients and organize your customer information.

10. Zoho: This fully featured office suite has tools for everything from creating presentations to managing customer data, and just about everything else in between.

Have any other tools small business marketers shouldn’t be without – let us know in the comments section below.

Author Bio:

Hannah graduated from UH in Houston as an English major.  She worked for a Marketing firm for a year before trying to pursue freelancing and currently writes for online education sites and about a variety of different topics like education, business, and marketing.