When it comes to running a marketing agency, there are plenty of tools needed to make sure that it operates efficiently. With such a fast-paced environment, every minute counts! According to a few studies, one of the second biggest challengesan agency owner faces is time management, behind getting new clients. As a result, these tools are needed so that agencies can work smart. These tools may even allow you to deliver high-quality work as well.
Below, we have listed a few useful tools that could help benefit your digital marketing agency. Some may be used to increase your workflow, while others may be used to keep clients informed. So, be sure to read on to find out more about how these tools can help you.
ClickUp
Similar to other productivity programs like Notion, ClickUp is a new one on the scene that aims to do all your project management in one place. It features everything needed for a robust project management system such as customisable permissions when working with teams and clients, integrated time tracking, a myriad of views like boards, calendars, and timelines, as well as native documents and other third-party integrations, to name a few. The tool is also customisable so that you can ensure your dashboard suits the type of work and team you have. Because everything is in one place, you do not need to spend time communicating across multiple platforms. As a result, it is not surprising that this app is rated one of the best project management tools out there.
ClickUp is entirely on the cloud (so no need to download anything), with many different pricing plans. The free version offers full access to almost every tool they have, without a time limitation or trial period. It offers unlimited tasks, and 100MB of storage, with unlimited custom views. Not bad for something entirely free! If you want more features, the cheapest option is ClickUp’s Unlimited plan which is $5 a month. Here, you get unlimited storage, unlimited integrations, and unlimited dashboards too, making ClickUp an incredibly affordable option, especially for small businesses.
GIMP
Occasionally, a marketing or digital marketing agency will need some design tools to boost help their marketing services. If so, a great option when it comes to photo manipulation and design is using Gimp! Gimp is a free and open-source software very similar to Adobe Photoshop, in that it can help with all your photo editing and graphic design needs. If you have used Photoshop or the Adobe suite before, then GIMP’s interface and tools should be very similar. The program has features such as selecting, cropping, colour correcting, filters, and more. Even better, is that you do not need to pay a dime for it! The program is completely free and will continue to be so. (Unlike the Adobe suite, which necessitates a subscription fee – either monthly or annually – ranging from either $9.99 a month to $54.99 a month, depending on what features you need).
GIMP is available to download through its website, which offers periodic updates. It can function well on Windows, macOS, and of course, Linus.
Mailchimp
Most experts readily agree that email marketing is by far one of the most effective ways to keep in touch and market to your audience. Most studies have already shown that email marketing has a far higher return on investment when compared to other marketing methods. However, to get started with email marketing, you first need to make an account with an email service provider (ESP) that can help you manage and send out your email list. A few platforms also allow you to template, design or automate your email campaigns.
Mailchimp is one of the most popular and well-known email service providers. Aside from offering professionally designed email campaigns, the platform features data analysis tools so you can see how well your email marketing efforts are doing. Aside from email, Mailchimp has also recently expanded into other fields such as website creation. The program also includes over 300+ integrations, such as with Canva, Instagram, Google Analytics, Shopify, and Squarespace Commerce, to name a few. This makes Mailchimp an all-in-one marketing platform, where agencies can save time by using its one reporting tool for everything.
Mailchimp’s free pricing starts with 2,500 monthly email sends, up to 500 contacts, and a daily limit of 500. Essentials, its cheapest pricing plan, is $10.82 a month, with 5,000 monthly email sends, and 3 seats.
Slack
If your agency has a large or even a remote team, then you will definitely need some kind of collaboration and chatting tool. One such program is Slack! It is considered one of the best remote working tools that companies need. The platform functions very similarly to a chat space, which allows communities, groups and teams to work together. To invite someone into your private Slack, you only need to send over a specific URL or invitation.
Team members can communicate through private or public channels without using email (so less clutter in your inbox) or SMS/texting. You can also turn to private channels for more private and specific conversations.
Slack can further be integrated with other software such as Google Drive, Trello and Dropbox, to name a few. These integrations allow your workflow to be seamless when it comes to moving around different software.
Slack’s free pricing plan allows you to access the most recent 90 days of message history, 10 integrations with other apps, and 1 workspace. Its second pricing plan, Pro, starts at $7.25 a month, and includes unlimited message and file history, unlimited integrations, and one workspace. Not bad for a collaboration tool after all!
Zoom
If there is one thing that the COVID-19 pandemic taught us, it’s how to remotely work and collaborate! This is where Zoom comes in. Much like a streamlined and easy-to-use version of Skype, it is a communication tool focusing on providing online meetings and video conferences. Zoom includes high-quality audio and video, and you can even customise your background to your heart’s content. It has been used in a vast majority of industries, including but not limited to businesses, education, and government, to name a few. Zoom allows integrations with Outlook and Gmail, and you can easily send out an invitation to a meeting in a few clicks. Its free plan only allows meetings of up to 40 minutes, although the number of meetings you can hold is unlimited. It also only allows 100 attendees per meeting and 3 whiteboards. Its next pricing plan, Pro, is $149.90 per year, allowing meetings up to 30 hours instead.