Marketing is so important for your small business. It lets people know you exist. You may know the popular quote “If you build it, they will come”, but that approach simply doesn’t work in business. You have to market to potential customers if you want to grow your business. If you’re working with a  razor-thin budget like lots of other entrepreneurs, finding inexpensive marketing tools is essential. We’ve compiled a list of five tools that offer fantastic free versions you can use to take your business to the next level.

1. Canva
   
   • Canva is a free graphic design platform you can use to make tons of visual content like social media graphics, infographics, posters, and so much more. Unlike other graphic design tools, Canva is simple to use and easy to learn. Its drag-and-drop functionality means you can whip up stunning visuals in a snap. It allows you to easily upgrade your brand’s visuals and present your business in the best way possible. Learn more about Canva here.
2. Buffer
   
   • We live in a world dominated by social media, so if you’re trying to get more eyes on your small business, you have to be on the most popular platforms. But posting on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn manually can quickly become overwhelming. As a busty entrepreneur, you’re simply too busy for that. Enter Buffer! Buffer is a social media scheduler that makes creating a robust social media presence simple. The free version lets you manage three social media accounts at once and lets you schedule up to 10 posts per channel ahead of time. You can choose the best time to post on each channel and keep your business in the social spotlight.
3. Google Analytics
   
   • Google Analytics lets you get a deeper understanding of your customers by giving you insights into the analytics of your website.  Free for anyone with a Google Business account, you simply add the analytics tag to your web pages, and then you’ll gain access to a treasure trove of website traffic data. Use this data to make SEO and digital marketing decisions that drive business. View your most popular pages, time a user spends on your site, sales, and so much more.
4. Mailchimp
   
   • Email marketing is one of the best ways to reach your customers. You can use email for everything from general promotion, special offers and coupons, education, and more. And it’s simple to get started. Mailchimp is an email marketing and automation platform great for getting started. The free version allows you to email up to 500 contacts, has tons of email templates, and provides basic reporting and analytics. You can create stunning email campaigns in minutes and keep your brand top of mind for your customers.
5. Answer the public
   
   • Blogging is a fantastic and free way to reach potential customers. It helps drive traffic to your website and provides valuable information for your audience. But coming up with unique and engaging content regularly can be difficult. But don’t fear,  Answer the Public is here. Answer the Public is a keyword visualization tool that you can use to inspire your content strategy. Simply enter a keyword and Answer the Public puts together a report full of interesting phrases and questions real people are searching for on the web. Use these insights to get inside the minds of potential customers and create content they’ll want to read.
   • Want to take your marketing to the next level? Get no cost professional help from our digital marketing consultants. Sign up here.