Marketing Tools That Help Small Businesses Move Ahead
by Steve Slais
In 2024, small businesses continue to face the challenges of standing out in an increasingly competitive market and often trying to do more with less. As the owner of a small organization myself, I understand firsthand how difficult it can be to distinguish yourself in a crowded environment.
Fortunately, we have a talented team of experienced professionals who are up to this challenge. We have also benefited from marketing tools and technologies to help keep our marketing firm and the clients we serve on track.
Here’s a look at some of the top marketing tools and technologies that have assisted us plus others that businesses we partner with say are helping to improve their performance and efficiency.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms.
CRM systems like HubSpot and Zoho CRM have become essential for small businesses (we are big HubSpot fans!). These platforms streamline customer interactions, sales processes, and marketing campaigns. By centralizing customer data and automating follow-ups, you can maintain stronger relationships with your customers, leading to increased loyalty and higher conversion rates.
Social media management tools.
Social media remained a cornerstone of small business marketing in 2024. Tools like Hootsuite and Buffer enabled businesses to schedule posts, track engagement, and analyze performance across multiple platforms. This allows you to manage your social media presence more efficiently and effectively, even with limited resources.
Email marketing automation.
Tools like Mailchimp and Sendinblue continue to be powerful assets. With advanced automation features, businesses can send personalized emails to segmented audiences based on their behavior and preferences. This leads to higher open rates, better customer engagement, and increased sales.
SEO and analytics tools.
Search engine optimization (SEO) remains crucial for small businesses aiming to improve their online visibility. We have benefited from Clearscope – an SEO content resource that helps us to more effectively apply keywords during content creation to attract greater inbound traffic for our clients and ourselves. In addition, tools like SEMrush and Ahrefs can help you optimize your websites, track keyword rankings, and analyze competitors. Paired with analytics tools like Google Analytics, businesses can make data-driven decisions to enhance their marketing strategies.
Video marketing platforms.
Video content continues to dominate marketing strategies. Platforms like Canva (our “go-to”) and Animoto allow businesses to create professional-quality videos without needing extensive technical skills. Whether for social media ads or explainer videos, these tools make video marketing accessible and affordable.
The right marketing tools and technologies can make all the difference for small businesses. By leveraging and applying data-driven strategies, businesses are able to grow and compete in a dynamic marketplace. As we move into 2025, staying updated on these tools and continuously optimizing their use will be key to maintaining growth and efficiency.
Steve Slais is Partner and Chief Creative Officer at Spoke Marketing. Spoke Marketing (www.spokemarketing.com) provides fully-integrated marketing and sales programs that define and activate the customer buyer journey.