Top Tools for Efficient and Effective Content Marketing

Updated July 19, 2018

I use tools for online marketing, paid advertising, graphics design and communication. My tools help make my blogging more efficient and my social media more effective.

One thing I don’t actually do is use tools for fun. I enjoy making my overall content marketing better, but I don’t really enjoy taking the time to learn a new tool.

Can you relate to that?

Generally, I don’t get excited about trying something new unless someone I know and trust has specifically told me, “Mike, why on Earth aren’t you using this tool yet?” And even then, I’m reluctant. Too often, new tools have been time-consuming and disappointing. And of course after a while, those paid subscription tools can really add up!

So I’m careful about which tools I use, and which ones I take the time to evaluate and incorporate into my business processes.

But still, I do use a lot of tools. That’s why broadcast hosts like Mia Voss have brought me on their shows just to talk shop. And it’s why a great deal of the social media questions and comments I get from readers like yourself have to do with tools. What tools do I use? What are the best ones for x? Is x better than x? How are they different?

And so on.

I’ve published many different articles in the past on specific tools, and I’ll provide links to those where appropriate. Today’s article is, as you already know, an effort to document all of the different and preferred tools I use, broken down by Category. For each, I’ll mention how and why I use that tool and give you a link so that you can grab it for yourself, as well as links to any additional resources I may have already created. So this is more than just a list of links.

Of course, some of these links will be affiliate links, and I’ll indicate those where appropriate. Sometimes it’s a small fee for the referral, while other times your action will result in both of us receiving something. Your participation is appreciated. 🙂

There’s also one tool I highly recommend which I’ve created for you myself: The Ultimate Blogging Planner. Packed with professionally designed worksheets, this planner will help you knock your goals for the coming year out of the park.

With that, let’s get on with the list!

SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLS | BLOGGING TOOLS | KEYWORD RESEARCH | SEO TOOLS | GRAPHICS TOOLS | BUSINESS TOOLS

SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLS:

Of course, every blogger’s toolbox should be filled with social media tools. From management and distribution, to the core apps that help keep you engaged and aware. This is the tool I use…

Note that I have apps for all the major social platforms, as well as other networks, namely Snapchat, WhatsApp, SlideShare and so on. Since I’m not active on those networks, I rarely use the apps. I do, however, use Netflix quite a bit. Does that count?

BLOGGING TOOLS:

These are the tools that support my blogging, both from a content sourcing and creation point of view, as well as optimizing and promoting.

For more details on how I promote my blog posts, be sure to check out:
Blog Promotionology, The Art & Science of Blog Promotion

KEYWORD RESEARCH:

It’s important to me that I am focusing my business, and my content, on topics that are truly of interest to my target audience. A lot of that comes from intuition and experience, but it’s also good to have data. That’s where Keyword Research comes in.

SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION TOOLS:

For me, the best SEO is when I’m creating great content around the topics my target audience is interested in (see Keyword Research above), so when it comes to SEO tools specifically, my needs are mostly for monitoring and optimizing.

GRAPHICS TOOLS:

Good blog and content imagery requires time, and a deep commitment to providing a consistent brand and enhanced reader experience. These tools help me accomplish that.

BUSINESS TOOLS:

And no business or blog would be complete without a business-oriented tool, for things like accounting, billing, and so on…

OVER TO YOU

Like any of my posts, this is one that I’ll routinely update as new tools are evaluated and integrated, and older tools are abandoned or replaced. I think it’s useful for me to keep a lofty eye on all the tools I’m using, and I hope that it’s useful for you to see what’s out there and perhaps discover a tool or two that you didn’t know exist.

As I mentioned earlier, if you want to try one of these tools and I’ve provided an affiliate link, please use it. Every little bit helps me to be able to continue to experiment and share my findings with you.

And now, I’d love to hear from you! What stood out in this list to you? What’s missing? In your experience, are there any other tools out there which are even better than what I’ve described? Please leave a comment below.