25 free or not-so-expensive tools you need in order to dazzle with your content
Akumu Fiona
I make people care about you on social media 😊 || Founder of Akquainted || Personal Branding Strategist || Writer & Content Creator || Award-Winning Podcaster
When it comes to content, and specifically, digital content, you don't need to spend too much in order to achieve the wow factor. There is a lot of help available out there. Most of it comes in the form of easy-to-use tools and apps that are mostly free or inexpensive to use.
So whether you are a newbie or a veteran in the content marketing world, these tools can be a staple in your arsenal. Especially if you are trying to keep the digital content creation team slim.
I've divided them into nine categories:
- Content writing platforms
- Content scheduling and listening
- Content discovery
- Multimedia and content design
- Imagery
- Links
- Automation
- Planning, record keeping and collaboration
- Tactical support
Content Writing Platforms
1. LinkedIn Pulse
Because if you want to build your profile as a thought leader in your niche, it's the best place to start. Follow where the little pencil icon (on your home page) leads you.
2. Medium
Because it's the other place you should be publishing your content, whether or not you have your own personal blog.
3. WordPress
Because if you're not on Wix.com, WordPress is the place to be simply because it powers over 30% of the internet.
Content Scheduling and Listening
4. Buffer
Because it's the simplest and best tool for scheduling content on various social media platforms.
5. Hootsuite
Because it's fantastic even if only for social media listening.
Content Discovery
6. Google Alerts
Because you can easily stay updated with news and articles around your chosen topic(s).
7. Warble Alerts
Because it's Google Alerts for tweets.
8. Local Blog "Directories" e.g. Bake.co.ke for Kenya
Because there's nothing better than pushing content that has been created by your fellow country fellows, right?
9. Mix.com
Because it's a great place to discover amazing articles around specific topics.
10. Flipboard
Because there's always something interesting on it that's worth sharing. It's just one of the many news feed tools available online.
11. Twitter Lists
Because they are a great strategy for gaining more followers, and finding new content.
12. The content feeds in your own backyard
Because there's always something worth finding in the blogs you've subscribed to (that have emails languishing in the Updates and Forums tabs on your Gmail inbox), the Content Inbox offered on Buffer, the Content Suggestions feature that's new for LinkedIn Pages and many others.
13. YouTube
Because it never hurts to add interesting videos to your content plan.
14. Pinterest
Because this underrated search engine is a great place for finding anything you want, particularly infographics and let's not forget - videos.
Multimedia and Content Design
15. Canva
Because everyone deserves great graphics even if they have zero design skills.
16. Biteable
Because it's the Canva for video and it's so impressive that the $29 a month to get rid of the watermarks seems pretty fair.
17. Anchor
Because it lets you create podcasts for free with your smartphone. It's available on the Google Play Store.
18. FilmoraGo
Because everyone needs an on-the-go video editor that does a great job even if it crashes sometimes. Find it on the Google Play Store.
19. Adobe Lightroom CC
Because who doesn't want the photos on their Instagram feed to be uniform in tone and quality? It's available on the Google Play Store.
Imagery
20. Pixabay
Because it's my top recommendation as a great place for finding free and royalty-free photos that do not require any kind of attribution.
Links
21. Bit.ly
Because long and ugly links are not pleasing to the eye and to the cursor that needs to do the clicking. Best of all, you can even create your own custom links.
Automation
22. IFTTT
Because you can get the internet to do the little things that you shouldn't waste your time on.
Planning, record keeping and collaboration
23. Google Drive
Because who still saves documents offline anyway?
Tactical support
24. Mass Follow Extension for Twitter
Because it's a staple for any follower management tasks on Twitter. It works on the Chrome browser. It's a lot more manual than other tools in the market but a lot faster than single-handedly following 50+ accounts one by one.
25. Followers Assistant
Because it is a cheap and easy-to-use app that allows you to automate some tasks on Instagram in order to grow your following. If you avoid the spam-my features like auto comments (which, believe me, can really backfire), you'll be good to go. It can be found on the Google Play Store.
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There it is. A list of tools to help you in your content marketing efforts.
Try them and let me know how it goes.
In case you know of another tool or app that I might not be aware of, don't stay quiet. If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a line.
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A longer version of this post can be found on my blog: www.akumufiona.com/blog