What are marketing tools? Definition and examples

Marketing Tools are tools that companies use to develop and promote their products and services. In this context, the word ‘tools’ refers to techniques, strategies, and materials.

The vast majority of businesses use several different marketing tools, such as advertising, direct mail, and market research to boost their sales.

Companies have a range of marketing tools at their disposal. Some of them are specifically for boosting sales, while others focus on gathering consumer data.

It is important to know which tools are best for your business. In other words, which tools you need to achieve your primary goals and objectives. In most cases, people use multiple marketing tools at the same time.

With the ever-evolving digital landscape, businesses are increasingly adopting cutting-edge marketing tools that leverage data analytics and machine learning to refine their advertising strategies.

SmallBusiness.chron.com says the following regarding marketing tools:

“Businesses use various marketing tools to communicate company information, stimulate customer interest and motivate action. An integrated marketing approach applies several tactics to engage customers and build business.”

Marketing Tools
You need to determine which marketing tools you need. They should help boost sales.

Types of marketing tools

Below are some marketing tools with an explanation of what they are and why businesses use them.

  • Site checkers

Site checkers are tools that help you check the health of your website. They can check things like your site’s uptime, speed, and security. This helps you make sure that your site is running smoothly and efficiently. Site checkers can also help you troubleshoot issues that you may be having with your site. For example, the alt text tester by Sitechecker can look at your website’s pages for alt tags.

  • Classified adverts

Classified adverts or classified ads are useful for generating leads. In this context, the word ‘leads‘ means potential customers.

Classified ads can direct people to a specific website or webpage (the word exists as one or two words, i.e., ‘web page’). They can also attract people who seek further information.

  • Social media

In the world of Internet marketing, social media is a marketing tool where you try to develop an interactive online relationship with consumers. Your aim is not, for example, to surreptitiously mine customer data.

Blogging, posting, sharing and tweeting are popular social media marketing tools. Media sharing, pinning, bookmarking, and commenting on social media websites are also popular.

  • Internet marketing

Internet marketing refers to marketing that only occurs online. Search engine optimization (SEO) and online advertising are examples of Internet marketing. There are several ways to increase your SEO. One of the first steps is to secure a reliable and simple domain name that is relevant to your site, industry, or keywords you want to match for.

Search engine optimization refers to techniques to increase one’s website’s appearance on search engines.

  • Surveys

Surveys are useful for determining which products to create and also for improving or upgrading existing goods. The word ‘goods‘ in this context means ‘products.’

Surveys are also useful if you want to rate your and your rivals’ products. A survey can ask a representative sample of consumers what they like about your and your competitors’ products.

You can carry out a survey face-to-face, on the telephone, by normal post, or online.

Most marketing professionals will mention surveys when you ask them to list their most important marketing tools.

  • Google Analytics

If you have an online business or your company has a website, Google Analytics is extremely useful. It gives you an overview of where your visitors are coming from. It also tells you what type of people are visiting, and which content on your website performs best.

You can also use Google Analytics to work out visitor conversions. This data will help you set up conversion goals.

Organic CTR (organic click-through rate) is a way you can utilize Google Analytics to improve your website traffic. You can optimize page titles and descriptions and see how they perform by implementing A/B testing.

  • Direct mail

Direct mail or direct mail marketing specifically targets potential customers. Traditionally, we have referred to the letters as ‘mailshots.’ Ever since the advent of the Internet and emails, we also have ’emailshots.’

Regarding emailshots, MediaTraining.Ltd.uk says:

“Designing an emailshot differs from creating a webpage or designing for print as you have to consider the specific needs of your target audience and the technical requirements of different email applications.”

This brings us to modern-day email marketing tools which many marketers still consider to be more effective than other types of digital marketing.

  • Media monitoring tools

These marketing tools scan the web and inform you of conversations that are relevant to your company, product, or brand. These tools scan, for example, social media sites, forums, blogs, and videos.

In a Huffington Post article, Matthew Collis, a marketing and communications professional, makes the following comment:

“Media monitoring lets you discover what people are saying about you online so you can jump in and respond or react to conversations, decrease the spread of negative PR, and even help increase awareness of your product, service, or organization.”

  • Customer loyalty programs

Customer loyalty refers to the likelihood that existing customers keep coming back. In other words, how frequently customers come back for more again and again. It differs from brand loyalty.

Among marketing tools that many small businesses overlook, customer loyalty programs are one of the most common. This is a pity.

It is much cheaper and requires less time to get an existing customer to buy your products than new ones. Some studies suggest that it costs seven times more to get a new customer to buy from you than an existing one.

  • Automation

Automation tools are marketing tools that save a lot of time. Marketers can save time wasted doing those daily tasks like saving files and emails to spreadsheets.

Some tools allow you to create chains of applets. In other words, simple conditional statements or ‘if this then that’ statements. IFTTT (IF This Then That) is one of those services. It works with Facebook, Twitter, Fitbit, Google Drive, and Gmail.

Emerging AI-driven analytics tools are revolutionizing how marketers understand and anticipate consumer behavior patterns in real-time.

In addition to individual tools, integrated marketing platforms are becoming essential for coordinating various channels and tactics into a unified strategy that consistently engages customers.

There are hundreds of marketing tools out there. They all sound fantastic when you read about them. Many of them are fantastic! However, be careful. You will only need a few of them. Be selective.

More marketing tools and concepts

  • Content Marketing Platforms

Tools used to manage content creation, publication, and analytics across various channels.

  • Email Marketing Platforms

Services that allow for the design, sending, and tracking of email campaigns, beyond simple ’emailshots.’

  • CRM (Customer Relationship Management) Software

Systems that help manage a company’s interactions with current and potential customers, often integrating with other marketing tools for seamless operation.

  • Influencer Marketing

Collaborations with individuals who have a large following on social media or other platforms to promote products or services.

  • Video Marketing Tools

With the rising importance of video content, tools for creating, editing, publishing, and tracking video performance are crucial.

  • Affiliate Marketing Platforms

Systems that track and manage affiliate programs, where affiliates earn a commission for promoting a company’s products.

  • Mobile Marketing Solutions

Tools that focus on reaching customers through mobile devices, including SMS marketing and mobile-optimized campaigns.

  • Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) Tools

Software that helps improve the rate at which visitors to a website take a desired action, such as making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter.

Video – What are Marketing Tools

This interesting video presentation, from our sister channel on YouTube – Marketing Business Network, explains what ‘Marketing Tools’ are using simple and easy-to-understand language and examples.