Marketing Automation Tools for Small Business Owners to Try!

Marketing
Written By Teylor Parks

Marketing your business as a small business owner can be a lot, so we built this quick guide to help you navigate the helpful world of marketing automation.

What is Marketing Automation?

Marketing automation refers to the use of software and technology to automate repetitive marketing tasks, streamline processes, and efficiently manage multiple marketing channels.

By automating tasks such as email marketing, social media posting, lead generation, and customer segmentation, small business owners can save time, reduce human error, and ensure consistent communication with their audience.

Tools for You to Try - Categorized By Channel!

Note - These are tools we discovered through research. This is not an official endorsement of any of these tools. Please do your own research! :)

1. Social Media Marketing

  • Channels: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X), LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok

  • Automation Tools:

    • Some of these channels have built in scheduling tools! like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok!

    • Hootsuite: Schedule posts across various social media platforms.

    • Buffer: Manage multiple accounts, schedule posts, and analyze performance.

    • Later: Focuses on Instagram scheduling with a visual calendar.

    • Sprout Social: Social media management with robust analytics.

2. Email Marketing

  • Channels: Newsletters, drip campaigns, promotional emails, transactional emails

  • Automation Tools:

    • Mailchimp: Email campaigns, automation, and A/B testing.

    • Constant Contact: Email marketing with easy-to-use templates.

    • ActiveCampaign: Email marketing with CRM and sales automation.

    • HubSpot: Advanced email automation and CRM integration.

3. Content Marketing

  • Channels: Blogs, articles, infographics, ebooks, videos

  • Automation Tools:

    • WordPress + CoSchedule: Manage and automate content publishing schedules.

    • HubSpot: Blog management, SEO tools, and lead generation.

    • Buffer: Automate sharing of content across social media.

    • BuzzSumo: Content discovery and trend monitoring.

    • Clearscope: Content optimization based on SEO analysis.

4. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

  • Channels: Organic search traffic, local SEO, on-page and off-page SEO

  • Automation Tools:

    • SEMrush: Comprehensive SEO tool with automation features.

    • Moz: Automates rank tracking, site audits, and link building.

    • Ahrefs: Automates backlink analysis and keyword research.

    • Yoast SEO: Automates on-page SEO for WordPress.

    • Screaming Frog: Automates website audits and crawling.

5. Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising

  • Channels: Google Ads, Bing Ads, Social Media Ads (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter)

  • Automation Tools:

    • Google Ads Scripts: Automate tasks within Google Ads.

    • AdEspresso: Automate Facebook and Instagram ad campaigns.

    • WordStream: PPC management and automation for small businesses.

    • Optmyzr: Automates bid management, ad creation, and reporting.

    • AdRoll: Automates retargeting ads across multiple platforms.

6. Affiliate Marketing

  • Channels: Affiliate networks, partnerships, influencer marketing

  • Automation Tools:

    • Affise: Performance marketing platform with automation.

    • Tapfiliate: Automate affiliate tracking and commissions.

    • Post Affiliate Pro: Comprehensive affiliate program automation.

    • Refersion: Automate affiliate marketing for e-commerce.

    • CJ Affiliate: Affiliate marketing network with automation tools.

7. Influencer Marketing

  • Channels: Social media platforms, blogs, YouTube, podcasts

  • Automation Tools:

    • Upfluence: Influencer discovery and campaign automation.

    • AspireIQ: Influencer marketing platform with CRM automation.

    • Traackr: Influencer relationship management and automation.

    • BuzzStream: Influencer outreach and relationship management.

    • HypeAuditor: Automate influencer vetting and campaign monitoring.

8. Video Marketing

  • Channels: YouTube, Vimeo, social media platforms, live streaming

  • Automation Tools:

    • TubeBuddy: YouTube channel management and automation.

    • VidIQ: Automates video SEO and analytics.

    • Lumen5: Automates video creation from text content.

    • Animoto: Automate video creation for social media.

    • Hootsuite: Automates video scheduling and publishing.

9. Mobile Marketing

  • Channels: SMS marketing, app marketing, push notifications

  • Automation Tools:

    • SimpleTexting: SMS marketing automation.

    • Twilio: SMS and voice automation for marketing.

    • PushEngage: Automates push notifications for websites.

    • Airship: Mobile app marketing automation.

    • OneSignal: Push notification and SMS marketing automation.

10. Event Marketing

  • Channels: Webinars, live events, conferences, virtual events

  • Automation Tools:

    • Eventbrite: Event management and marketing automation.

    • Hopin: Virtual event platform with automation features.

    • Zoom Webinars: Automated webinar hosting and follow-up.

    • GoToWebinar: Automates webinar management and analytics.

    • Mailchimp: Automates event invitations and follow-up emails.

11. Public Relations (PR)

  • Channels: Press releases, media outreach, reputation management

  • Automation Tools:

    • PRWeb: Automates press release distribution.

    • Cision: Media monitoring and outreach automation.

    • Muck Rack: PR automation and media relationship management.

    • Prowly: PR software for media outreach and campaign automation.

    • CoverageBook: Automates PR reporting and analytics.

12. Referral Marketing

  • Channels: Customer referral programs, loyalty programs, word-of-mouth

  • Automation Tools:

    • ReferralCandy: Automates customer referral programs.

    • Yotpo: Referral and loyalty program automation.

    • Extole: Referral marketing platform with automation features.

    • Friendbuy: Automate referral programs and customer incentives.

    • Ambassador: Referral and affiliate marketing automation.

13. Podcast Marketing

  • Channels: iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, social media

  • Automation Tools:

    • Libsyn: Automate podcast publishing and distribution.

    • Anchor: Podcast creation and distribution automation.

    • Podbean: Automate podcast hosting and promotion.

    • Buzzsprout: Podcast hosting with scheduling and automation tools.

    • Hootsuite: Automate podcast promotion across social media.

14. Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

  • Channels: Lead management, customer communication, sales automation

  • Automation Tools:

    • Salesforce: Comprehensive CRM with extensive automation.

    • HubSpot CRM: Automate lead capture, follow-ups, and sales processes.

    • Pipedrive: Sales-focused CRM with automation capabilities.

    • Zoho CRM: Customizable CRM with automation tools.

    • ActiveCampaign: CRM with advanced marketing automation.

15. Analytics and Reporting

  • Channels: Website analytics, campaign tracking, performance reporting

  • Automation Tools:

    • Google Analytics: Automate reports and data collection.

    • Tableau: Visual analytics and automated reporting.

    • Kissmetrics: Automate customer journey tracking and analytics.

    • Data Studio: Google tool for automating visual reports.

    • Supermetrics: Automate data collection and reporting from multiple platforms.

Teylor Parks
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