Picture this – you’re a busy entrepreneur trying to figure out which business tools are best to help with social media management, launching a website, sending marketing emails, planning campaigns, etc. You know, all the things you need to do business, but not what you want to do.

You want to help people, not spend your time researching which marketing business tools are best. In today’s tech-forward environment, a new app is coming out every second, promising to make your life easier so that you can work on your business and not in your business.

But of course, that means you have to figure out yet another program, test it out, see if you like it, and then implement it fully. I’ve spent over fifteen years working in B2B and B2C environments, consulting with small businesses, helping launch personal brands, and building my business as a speaker, podcaster, and content creator. I’m a tech enthusiast, and I’ve tried many different apps and products over the years. 

I’m guilty of switching to the latest app way too many times to count. And I’ll admit that most times, it’s a waste of time, energy, and money because I consistently return to the business tools I love. I think (fingers crossed) I’ve finally learned to stop switching, and I’ve narrowed in on the tools, apps, and programs that work best for me, my business, and the companies I consult with. 

If you want to dive deeper and see more of the business tools I love, you can visit the business section of my Top Picks page. In this post, I want to share three specific marketing tools that I stand behind fully and love the most. 

Let’s talk about business tools for social media management.

Managing social media effectively is a full-time job. I know many solopreneurs who hate that being a small business owner often means mastering content creation. It’s the current landscape that we live in, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Many creators can help produce content for your social media channels (myself included) and take that responsibility off of you. Still, for those solopreneurs who need a leg up, I highly recommend the social media management app called Later.

Later App is a one-stop shop for everything you need to run your social media, from scheduling and posting, creating a link in bio, measuring analytics, and even some creator resources. 

What I love about Later is the easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface. You can upload your content, select the social channels you want to post to, and drag your content onto the calendar. I’m visual, so I like to see my content on a calendar and know when posts will be published. I also love that you can upload, schedule, and auto-publish (almost) everything across your social channels. 

While you should never approach social media with a set-it-and-forget-it attitude (the goal is engagement which requires an actual human), Later has all the tools you need so that you don’t have to post across multiple platforms multiple times a day constantly. 

I typically batch my content creation, schedule it out, and then build in a small amount of time each day to check comments, engage with my community, and interact with my followers. Later has saved me hours. 

If you’re hiring creators to help you produce content, Later will be so valuable for you on the back end because you can upload the assets they provide, schedule them out, and engage when you have the chance.

If you want to try it out, you can get a 14-day free trial using my code. Just click here to sign up for your free trial. 

Let’s talk about your website.

I’m not afraid to say it – I believe in a beautiful, effective website! I’m not about design over function, but I judge a company by their web presence. I look at the design, the copy, and the user experience and make snap judgments. I know I’m not alone in this. 

Many people say you don’t need a website to make money, and it’s true, especially in specific industries. But your website can also be your lead generation machine, delivering leads while you sleep. For creators, it’s also your digital home. Social Media platforms may come and go, but having a hub for all things you is a worthwhile investment. 

I’ve used different platforms for websites over the years and landed on the combo of a template from Tonic Sites + Showit for an incredible website.

Showit is a web platform that gives you complete creative control over your website’s appearance. It has a drag-and-drop interface, so you don’t have to know any code. If you’ve got a blog, it has a powerful integration with WordPress, and they will help you with a free blog migration. They’ve also got a fantastic US-based team of Showit Support Pros available to help assist. You can get a free month by clicking here.

While Showit offers templates, I recommend opting for one from Tonic Sites. They build exclusively for the Showit platform, and their designs are gorgeous. My site is based on a Tonic template and hosted with Showit.

Once you have the template, you can start to change out the text, images, and links with your own. Tonic even has Getting Started guides to walk you through how to set up and work within their different templates. You can customize if you want, but most entrepreneurs aren’t designers, so it’s as easy as replacing what’s there with your assets. Grab your new site template here and use the discount code “gentry” for 15% off your order!

The combination of ShowIt with Tonic Sites is pure magic for your website.

Now, I’m going to give it to you straight. There is a learning curve, just like there is with any DIY website platform. But these two companies’ support docs, guides, and blogs are phenomenal. 

Let’s talk about email marketing.

Oh, email marketing. You either love or hate it, but the stats don’t lie. 99% of email users check their inbox every day and (OptinMonster, 2020) brands make $36 for every U.S. dollar spent on email marketing (Constant Contact). Email isn’t dead. And every business, creator, and entrepreneur needs to use email wisely. 

Let me introduce you to my favorite email marketing platform, ConvertKit. They advertise as “built exclusively for creators,” but it works across multiple industries. I’ve used it with E-commerce clients, speakers, and coaches. Everything you need to grow, manage, automate, and monetize your email list is built into the platform. 

Their automation features are what initially sold me on them. I needed to create multiple email drip campaigns for a client, and after searching for an affordable, user-friendly, intuitive email marketing platform, I stumbled on ConvertKit. The automation builder is my favorite. As I said, I’m a visual person, and seeing each step of an automation funnel or drip campaign is huge.

Since then, they’ve expanded their features extensively, and it keeps improving.

Plus, they offer a free plan if you’re just starting. You won’t have access to all the bells and whistles, but it allows you to grow as your business grows. When you are ready to spend, it’s only $9 a month, and that gets you features that other companies charge a fortune for. Click here to get access to a 14 Day Free Trial.

Making business tools work for you.

Remember that not every app, software, or tool out there will come with everything you need, especially the new ones that enter the market. But, the majority will have enough to help you spend less time and energy on tasks that can be draining. I’ve stuck with brands I love for years and have seen their app or software expand exponentially. A feature I needed wasn’t there, but they continued to add more and more over time. 

My advice to you when selecting business tools is to pick one and stick with it for a long time. Give it a chance to prove it’s what you need. And give yourself a chance to learn how to use it. 

Spend less time picking out the tools you need to run your business and more time running your business. 

(By the way, this post contains affiliate links, which simply means I might receive a commission if you click them. Learn more here.)