Want to grow your online presence and rank higher in search results? Looking for low-cost solutions to promote your small business? In this case, consider using free online marketing tools.
Digital marketing doesn’t have to be expensive. With the right approach, you can reach the target audience and save money in the process.
As a small business owner, you want to keep the costs low. Luckily, there are plenty of tools that will make your life easier.
Whether you hire a digital marketing agency or do everything yourself, take advantage of the free resources available online. This will reduce your expenses and bring you closer to your goals.
The best part is that you don’t need to be an expert or learn coding to use these apps.
Ready to give it a try? Here are the best free online marketing tools for small businesses:
1. Google Keyword Planner
Every page and post on your business site needs to target specific keywords. These are the terms that users type in search engines to find relevant information.
Let’s say you’re offering wedding photography services in London. Customers will most likely search for words and phrases like “wedding photography London,” “London wedding photographer,” “London wedding photo booth,” and so on.
The problem is that you’re competing against hundreds of other businesses offering the same services as you do. That’s why it’s necessary to target keywords with a high search volume and low competition.
Google’s Keyword Planner is the answer.
This free tool generates keyword ideas along with their search volume and other metrics, such as location and language. Your only job is to enter one or more terms, narrow down your search, and pick the best keywords.
We’ve also reviewed more keyword tools here.
2. CrazyEgg
More than 100,000+ companies are using CrazyEgg to track visitor click behaviour online. This handy tool generates heat maps that show which sections of a web page get the most clicks and which ones turn users off.
Once you know these things, you can take the steps needed to improve customer experience. It’s also a great way to determine what kind of content your customers love and what they dislike.
CrazyEgg features four different plans, from basic to pro. All of them include a 30-day free trial, so you test the app at no extra cost.
For all you WordPress users out there it’s worth knowing that there is a plugin called Sumo that offers a similiar functionality and it’s free – well, for your first 1000 visitors at least.
3. Buffer
Over 48 percent of customers are more likely to buy products from a brand that is responsive on social networks. About 42 percent will make a purchase if the business in question provides interesting content online.
Social media users also expect your brand to be engaging and share eye-popping visuals. If you offer exclusive content, that’s even better!
With Buffer, it’s easy to do these things and much more. This platform allows you to schedule social media posts and monitor brand mentions. Plus, you can track the results of your campaigns in real time.
Touted as one of the best online marketing tools, Buffer offers five different plans.
The free version includes easy management of three social media accounts, such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. It’s a perfect choice for small businesses.
4. Google Analytics
A stunning website isn’t enough to attract traffic.
You need to know where the traffic comes from, how much time users spend on your site, and which pages get the most links. That’s where Google Analytics comes in handy.
This free marketing tool provides massive data related to your website. It also boasts advanced features like funnel analysis, user flow reporting, pages per session, custom reports.
5. Facebook Page Insights
Last year, Facebook had over two billion monthly active users – and this number keeps growing every day. When you’re running a business, you need to know where your prospects come from and how they are engaging with your posts.
Facebook Page Insights can streamline this process so you can deliver the best possible user experience.
This free tool provides insights into your page performance, user behaviour, and audience demographics.
6. MOZ Open Site Explorer
Link building is the foundation of SEO. You want to get relevant, quality links from high-authority websites, blogs, and social networks.
As you would expect, not all links are created equal. Some can actually hurt your rankings and get you banned from the search results.
With MOZ Open Site Explorer, users can find link-building opportunities and see exactly where their links come from.
This tool also displays your domain and page authority, top performing pages, and linking domains. If you upgrade to the paid version, you’ll get access to extra features for better link building results.
If you’re considering buying an expired domain this is also a handy tool to get a snapshot of the domains authority and health before spending.
7. MailChimp
Looking for free online marketing tools to manage your email campaigns? MailChimp is your best bet!
This online platform enables users to create and automate their email campaigns, track the results, and find engaging subject lines. Plus, it integrates eye-catching email templates for every niche and type of business.
You can set up a campaign with no experience or take advantage of advanced tagging and personalisation if you know what you’re doing. An essential tool for any business.
8. HubSpot’s Blog Topic Generator
Struggling to come up with fresh ideas for your blog? Use HubSpot’s Blog Topic Generator for brainstorming!
All you need to do is to enter up to three nouns in the designated fields. This free tool will display a week’s worth of topics for your blog posts.
Select one that best suits your needs, or use the ideas for inspiration.
Grow Your Small Business with the Best Online Marketing Tools
These are just a few of the many free online marketing tools for small businesses. From Triberr and TweetReach to Wistia, there are endless options available.
As your business grows, consider hiring a marketing expert. When you’re getting a lot of traffic, you might not be able to do everything yourself.
Another thing to consider is the constantly changing nature of Internet marketing. New trends are emerging every day. Google releases algorithm updates once every few months.
Unless you’re a marketing specialist yourself, it can be difficult to stay on top of the latest trends and find the best approach. A little help can go a long way toward your success.
Our team can take your business to the next level and give you a competitive edge. Contact us to get started!