A tool or two might be all you need to manage your brand’s content workflow when you’re just starting out.
However, as your business expands, you’ll soon realize that no single tool can cover all your bases. Take content marketing, for example. You’ll likely need at least five different content marketing tools. One each for collaboration, research, design, distribution and, of course, analytics.
In this blog, we look at some of the best content marketing tools, some of which are probably outside your radar.
| 1. ProofHub (Content Collaboration Tool) 2. Google Trends (Content Research Tool) 3. Canva (Content Design Tool) 4. CoSchedule (Content Distribution Tool) 5. Parse.ly (Content Analytics Tool) |
📗 Further reading: 35 Top AI Marketing Tools (2024)
Content Marketing Tools You Need To Try
Content marketing tools are applications that assist in creating, managing, distributing and analyzing content for marketing purposes. They streamline the content creation process, improve efficiency and help you measure the impact of your content.
1. ProofHub (Content Collaboration Tool)
ProofHub is a project management tool that can be highly beneficial, especially for established or scaling businesses with complex or growing needs. It’s packed with everything you need to manage teams, work and projects all in one place, making it an invaluable resource for keeping your business organized and on track.
Whether you’re handling task management, time tracking, file sharing or team communication, ProofHub has you covered. Some standout features include customizable workflows, Gantt charts for project planning and real-time collaboration tools that ensure everyone stays on the same page.
ProofHub
It brings together everything you need in one place, so your team doesn’t have to work with multiple content marketing platforms solely for collaboration. From planning and discussing ideas to organizing files and delivering projects.
When it comes to pricing, ProofHub keeps things straightforward with a flat pricing model. You get all the features without worrying about per-user costs. ProofHub plans are tailored to different team sizes:
• Small Team at $89 per month: Perfect for smaller teams that need essential project management tools.
• Large Team at $159 per month: Ideal for growing teams that require more advanced features.
• Large Team Plus $310 per month: Designed for larger organizations with more complex needs, offering the full suite of ProofHub’s capabilities.
For more details on their pricing and to find the right plan for your team, you can check out their pricing page here.
2. Google Trends (Content Research Tool)
One of the search engine giant’s free tools is Google Trends, but not many are familiar with it. Given it’s a Google product, you can trust that the data it provides is rock solid and reliable.
Google Trends is a powerful tool that gives you insights into what people are searching for across the globe. One of its standout features is its ability to show search interest over time, letting you identify trending topics, compare different search terms and even break down data by region.
The tool allows you to uncover hot topics in your niche or what’s currently resonating with your audience. You can compare search terms or keywords to see which ones are gaining traction if you want a clearer direction for your content efforts, such as what to title your content.
You can look at search trend data across various platforms, allowing you to filter results by Web Search, Image Search, News Search, Google Shopping and YouTube Search.
Google Trends / Example search trend data
For instance, if you’re debating between creating a YouTube video about “easy Christmas recipes” or “easy holiday recipes,” Google Trends can help you see which term is currently more popular and even if it’s gaining or losing interest.
You can also explore its geographical features, which allow you to see where certain search terms are more popular. If your content writing strategy includes targeting specific regions or localizing your content, this can be incredibly useful.
However, like any tool, Google Trends has its limitations. It doesn’t provide raw search queries or question-based keywords, which can be a bit of a drawback if you’re looking for detailed insights. But don’t let that stop you. Pairing Google Trends with other topic research and content strategy tools like AnswerThePublic can fill those gaps, giving you the best of both worlds.
Check out Thrive’s copywriting services.
3. Canva (Content Design Tool)
Canva is probably something that’s already on your radar and one of those tools you might not expect to make a huge difference, but give its Pro plan a try, and you’ll quickly realize just how valuable it can be. Over the years, Canva’s growth has been nothing short of impressive, with the platform constantly adding new features.
A versatile design tool, Canva empowers anyone – from complete beginners to seasoned creatives – to create stunning visuals with ease. You’ll find an array of features, from customizable templates and drag-and-drop elements to a vast library of images, icons and fonts.
Some of Canva’s latest features include AI-driven tools that take your designs to the next level. The Magic Resize feature has long been a favorite for automatically adjusting designs for various platforms, but the new Magic Switch enhances this capability.
Canva / Magic Switch
Magic Switch uses advanced AI to not only change the format but also transform your design into entirely new content. With it, you can convert your design into different types of documents like blog posts, summaries, emails or even poems, resize a single design for multiple channels and translate your copy into various languages.
It’s also a full-fledged workplace tool that allows teams to work together seamlessly. Whether you’re managing a small team or a large organization, Canva’s brand management features help ensure consistency across all your visuals. With team management and permission settings, you can control who has access to what.
Canva offers a free plan. Its paid plans include:
• Canva Pro at $15 per month: Unlocks advanced design features, access to a vast library of premium elements, brand kit creation, team collaboration and more. It is suitable for individuals and small businesses seeking professional-quality designs.
• Canva Teams at $10 per month per person: Built on top of Canva Pro, offering additional features for team collaboration, centralized brand management and advanced security. Ideal for larger teams and businesses requiring a unified design platform.
• Canva Enterprise (price available upon request): Tailored solutions for large enterprises with specific needs, including enterprise-grade security, dedicated support and customized features.
All prices listed are based on monthly subscriptions. You can opt for an annual plan and enjoy a 16% discount. See more of Canva’s plans here.
Check out Thrive’s media production services.
4. CoSchedule (Content Distribution Tool)
CoSchedule is more than just a content management tool – it’s a visual content calendar with powerful features designed to streamline your marketing efforts. Its intuitive interface and robust capabilities make it a go-to solution for managing and optimizing your content strategy.
With CoSchedule, you can publish Instagram Stories and Reels directly from your calendar. This integration keeps your social media efforts organized and consistent, making it easier to maintain a cohesive brand presence across platforms.
CoSchedule
CoSchedule also seamlessly integrates with popular content management systems like WordPress and HubSpot. This means you can plan, draft, schedule, publish and promote your blog posts—all from one centralized hub. It simplifies your workflow, allowing you to focus more on content creation and less on juggling multiple content promotion tools.
The tool also supports email marketing by integrating with platforms like Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign and Constant Contact. This lets you align your email campaigns with your content calendar, ensuring that every piece of content is timed perfectly to reach your audience.
Another standout feature of CoSchedule is ReQueue. This tool allows you to automatically reshare your best-performing content at optimal times, ensuring that your audience sees your most valuable posts again and again without the need for constant manual scheduling.
Beyond just scheduling and publishing, CoSchedule provides tools to analyze the performance of your content. Track metrics, understand what’s working and refine your strategy – all within the same platform.
CoSchedule’s content promotion tools and features are also built with collaboration in mind. Whether you’re working with a small team or managing a large content operation, CoSchedule’s features make it easy to coordinate, assign tasks and keep everyone on the same page. Plus, automation options reduce the manual workload.
CoSchedule plans:
• Limited Calendar (free): Ideal for individuals or small teams getting started.
• Social Calendar $29 per month: Perfect for managing social media content.
• Agency Calendar $59 per month: Tailored for agencies handling multiple clients.
• Content Calendar (pricing available upon request): Designed for larger teams needing comprehensive content management.
• Marketing Suite (pricing available upon request): Offers an all-in-one solution for advanced marketing needs.
For more details on pricing and to compare plans, you can visit their pricing page here.
5. Parse.ly (Content Analytics Tool)
Google Analytics might always be the go-to for web analytics, but when it comes to content analytics and optimization, Parse.ly is in a league of its own. What sets Parse.ly apart is its focus on delivering more approachable data and actionable metrics, even for non-data analysts.
Parse.ly is an analytics tool designed specifically to track and optimize content performance, unlike Google Analytics, which covers a broad range of website data. The tool hones in on the metrics that matter most to marketers, journalists, editors and other content creators and publishers.
The content marketing platform for analytics also offers post-level insights, letting you see exactly how each piece of content performs.
Parse.ly
But Parse.ly isn’t a replacement for Google Analytics. Together, these marketing and content strategy tools offer a complete picture – Google Analytics helps you see the big picture on a site level and Parse.ly helps you fine-tune the content-specific details.
Parse.ly offers flexible plans designed to meet your specific content analytics needs, whether you’re focused on performance, value or advocacy:
• Content Performance: Get deep insights into how your content is performing across all platforms, enabling you to refine your strategy and boost engagement.
• Content Value: Understand the true value of your content by connecting it to business outcomes, ensuring that your efforts are driving measurable results.
• Content Advocacy: Amplify your content’s reach by identifying and nurturing your most engaged audience, turning readers into advocates.
Pricing for Parse.ly is available upon request here.
Let’s Talk About Your Next Content Marketing Strategy
Having the right tools at your disposal can make all the difference. At Thrive, we’re committed to helping you elevate your content marketing strategy, whether that means further introducing you to the tools we’ve mentioned or guiding you toward other options that might better fit your workflow.
Our team understands that every business has unique needs, and we’re here to help your brand find the best solutions to achieve your marketing goals.
As a digital marketing agency with years of experience in content marketing, we’ve tested and vetted countless tools and strategies. We’re more than familiar with what works best across different industries and business models.
We offer a full suite of digital marketing. Talk to our team.
