The Top 40 Content Marketing Tools You Need to Succeed

Content marketing has changed drastically in recent years, with marketing teams relying more heavily on social media to reach their audience. This switch from print and TV marketing to online content marketing means that specialized marketing tools are needed to automate workflows, connect with influencers, analyze data, and optimize campaigns. But how do you know which content marketing tools are right for you?

In this article, we'll discuss some of the best content marketing tools for every goal—from content generation and video marketing to SEO and analytics. This article is ideal for content marketers looking to expand their repertoire of tools, brands, and influencers, hoping to increase their reach and engagement. Keep reading to explore these top content marketing tools.

Best Content Marketing Tools for Idea Generation

From AI content generation to keyword ideas, let's dive into some essential content marketing tools for the content creation process.

AnswerThePublic

Use tools like AnswerThePublic to generate content ideas based on search queries and questions. This keyword research tool helps you discover what people search for online. One key feature of this content marketing tool includes tracking changes in search trends, which is a crucial way to stay relevant. AnswerThePublic presents their results in search 'clouds', a unique visualization tool.

Pricing: Free! Paid plans start at $11 per month.

Google Trends

Utilize Google Trends to identify trending topics and plan seasonal campaigns. Google Trends provides data on the popularity of different Google searches from different regions and in multiple languages. One important feature is data visualization - you can display data through different graphs and maps for different interpretations. Google Trends also offers related search terms, so you don't miss a thing.

• Pricing: Free!

QuestionDB

Leverage Tools like QuestionDB to find and answer your audience's burning questions. QuestionDB is a content idea generation and keyword research tool that provides a list of questions people ask related to any given topic. They have a huge question database from a range of sources, and you can filter results by popularity and relevance.

• Pricing: Free! Paid plans start at $15 per month.

Exploding Topics

Explore tools like Exploding Topics to find emerging content topics for blog posts and YouTube videos. This trend analysis tool allows you to identify and follow trends across different online sources, like social media, blogs, and forums. You can use their Trend Alert feature to get regular updates on emerging trends and stay current. You can even search keywords and filter answers by categories.

• Pricing: Free! Plans start at $39 per month.

Jasper

Use tools like Jasper to simplify your content workflow and enhance the quality of your output. Jasper is an AI content generation tool that creates realistic text such as social media content, blog posts, copy, and product descriptions, all based on search terms. Their content comes in a range of templates and you can even customize for tone and style.

• Pricing: Starts at $39 per month.

Content Idea Generator

Use tools like Content Idea Generator to generate dozens of different blog post titles. This content marketing tool lets you enter a topic or keyword and then suggests different content ideas, blog titles, and captions. One great feature is idea customization, which lets you customize suggestions and get specific results. Their search answers can come in a range of formats, like podcasts, videos, blog posts, and graphics.

• Pricing: Free! Paid plans start at $15 per month.

ContentShake AI

Leverage tools like ContentShake AI to generate SEO-optimized articles using AI. This content generator tool uses AI to create content that seems authentic and human based on topics and keywords. One great feature is their range of content templates, like captions and blog posts. You can also customize prompts to get specific results.

• Pricing: Plans start at $60 per month.

AI Video Marketing Automator

Explore tools like AI Video Marketing Automator to create high-quality video content using AI. This content marketing tool by Semrush automates some of the processes of video production, like creation, editing, and distribution. Their automated video creation goes off of user prompts, and is fully customizable. For users with their own videos, it uses AI to edit by cutting and adding transitions and effects.

• Pricing: Plans start at $39 per month.

Essential Marketing Tools for SEO Optimization

The following content marketing tools will optimize your content marketing strategy for search engines, helping your audience find you in just a few clicks.

Semrush

Use tools like Semrush to identify keywords and topics to target for SEO. This SEO writing assistant helps you identify trends and keywords and perform SEO audits of your content. Their keyword research function helps you find and analyze keywords based on selected topics, and their audit function can analyze your site, backlinks, and rank on search engines.

• Pricing: Starts at $139.95 monthly.

Ahrefs

Utilize tools like Ahrefs to track backlinks, keywords, and more for SEO optimization. This content research tool helps you search for keywords and optimize your site for SEO. Their site explorer feature lets you analyze your competition, while their analytics features include site ranking, SEO auditing, and backlink analysis.

• Pricing: Plans start at $129 per month.

Yoast

Leverage tools like Yoast to write for search engine optimization (SEO). This Wordpress site plugin helps you optimize your site by writing SEO focused content. They check readability, edit meta descriptions, and optimize keyword usage. Their Sitemaps feature can generate an XML sitemap for search engine to crawl. Another unique feature is social media configuration, which allows you to configure how your content will come up on social media.

• Pricing: Free! Paid plan is $99 per year.

Clearscope

Explore tools like Clearscope to optimize content with IBM Watson services. This content marketing tool and optimization platform can improve your search engine ranking using content analysis and optimization. They provide a content score that offers recommended keywords, structure, and word count. Their competitive analysis feature lets you stand out from your competition.

• Pricing: Plans start at $189 per month.

Tools for Tracking Your Content Strategy

Google Analytics

Use tools like Google Analytics to track website data, including age, gender, interests, devices, and location. This web analytics platform is also great for tracking site metrics like traffic and user behavior. You can use Google to see real-time data, track conversions, and segment data according to different criteria.

• Pricing: Free! Contact Google for GA 360 cost.

Google Search Console

Utilize tools like Google Search Console to measure and improve your content’s performance in organic search. This free content marketing tool helps you monitor and manage your site's performance on Google search results. You can get performance reports that include your site's impressions, clicks, and click-through rate. It also provides information on the the status of your URLs, and your mobile usability.

• Pricing: Free.

Hotjar

Leverage tools like Hotjar to see how people interact with your content. Hotjar is an analytics platform with a number of functions. Their Heatmap tool lets you see how visitors interact with your site, and their survey feature lets you collect feedback from site users. You can also record individual user sessions.

• Pricing: Free! Paid plans start at $32 per month.

SquidVision

Explore tools like SquidVision to track the performance of your content marketing assets. This data analytics tool offers real-time analytics and a user-friendly interface. You can customize your analytics dashboard and integrate with different data sources like databases and cloud services.

• Pricing: Plans start at $49 per month.

Tools for Visual Content and Design Content Marketing

If your content strategy requires high quality content design and fast creation and editing, these content marketing tools are for you.

Canva

Use tools like Canva to create stunning designs quickly and easily. Canva is a content curation and graphic design software. You can use Canva to create posters, graphics, presentations, images, and brochures, and it has a range of video editing functions. Their sharing features allows you to download videos or share them directly to social media. It offers collaboration tools, so multiple users can work together on the same project.

• Pricing: Free! Paid plans start at $14.99.

Photoshop

Utilize tools like Adobe Photoshop to edit photographs and images and design custom materials. This popular tool has a variety of features for your content projects, including filters, effects, text, drawing tools, graphic elements, and more.

• Pricing: Plans start at $9.99 per month.

Colorcinch

Leverage tools like Colorcinch to add artistic filters to your photos. This graphic design and photo editing tool lets you edit photos with filters, effects, text, and drawings. You can also remove backgrounds and make collages.

• Pricing: Free! Paid plans start at $4.99 per month.

Pexels

Explore tools like Pexels to access hundreds of thousands of free stock photos and videos. You can download videos and images for personal and commercial use, without paying for licensing. They have a large library of stock media and users can contribute their work.

• Pricing: Free!

Vidyard

Use tools like Vidyard to create B2B marketing videos, digital marketing, and content creation. Vidyard is a sales and video marketing platform that creates and uploads videos and hosts them directly on the platform. Their video analytics feature lets you monitor video performance, and they offer interactive features like forms and polls.

• Pricing: Free! Paid plans start at $19 per month.

Loom

Utilize tools like Loom to create video presentations and tutorials. It allows you share video messages and offers a screen recording tool, which is perfect for tutorials and presentations. You can also edit videos with captions and trimming, and cloud storage helps you access your library of content.

• Pricing: Free! Plans start at $12.50 per month.

TubeBuddy

Leverage tools like TubeBuddy to optimize your YouTube videos. This browser extension helps you manage YouTube videos and channels through a range of features. You can use their SEO tools for tag suggestions or keyword ideas, and their thumbnail generator helps you attract viewers. They also have analytics functions that include A/B testing and competitor analysis.

• Pricing: Plans start at $3.75 per month.

Frame.io

Explore tools like Frame.io to collaborate on video content. This video marketing platform is cloud-based and allows for collaboration with team members on videos. Team members can leave editing feedback in real time, and upload different versions of the video to track changes. Permissions can be set, and they offer cloud storage.

• Pricing: Free! Paid plans start at $15 per month.

Tools for Project Management and Organization

For content marketers who need a system to manage teams and large projects, these content marketing tools really stand out.

Trello

Use tools like Trello to manage content marketing tasks and workflows. This visual content management system helps you organize tasks and team projects using features like lists and boards. You can label and tag tasks to stay organized and set reminders and due dates. You can also attach files and documents to communications

• Pricing: Free! Plans start at $5 per month.

Asana

Utilize tools like Asana to streamline your content creation process and improve productivity. This project management tool enhances communication and helps teams track and organize their work. They have templates for common project types and their milestones feature lets you track achievements.

• Pricing: Free! Paid plans start at $14.99 per month.

Airtable

Leverage tools like Airtable to manage tasks and databases. This cloud based platform enables teams to collaborate on data projects. Data can be customized into grids, calendars, or galleries. They offer templates for popular use cases and supports different field types, including drop down lists and checkboxes.

• Pricing: Free! Paid plans start at $20 per month.

Infinity

Explore tools like Infinity to organize and collaborate on content management projects. This collaboration tool allows you to customize workspaces with boards, tables, and calendars. Their task management features let you create assignments due dates, and track statuses, while their collaboration tools allow teams to leave comments and mentions, and upload attachments.

• Pricing: Plans start at $6 per month.

Best Tools for Content Management and Scheduling

For content marketing across various platforms, try these top content marketing tools.

Buffer

Use tools like Buffer to schedule Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram posts. This content marketing tool can help you schedule posts as well as track their performance. Their calendar feature is where you can do all your scheduling, and their analytics dashboard will show you mentions, likes, comments, and more.

• Pricing: Free! Plans start at $24 per month.

Hootsuite

Utilize tools like Hootsuite to manage multiple social media accounts. Hootsuite can plan, schedule, and automate social media posts. They also have some interesting social listening capabilities. Their Streams feature lets you monitor multiple social media platforms, and you can even monitor changes in brand sentiment in real time.

• Pricing: Plans start at $99 per month.

Loomly

Leverage tools like Loomly to organize and schedule social media posts. This social media management tool is great for creating and scheduling content. You can use their Analytics dashboard feature to track post performance and engagement, and their post suggestions are based on trending topics.

• Pricing: Plans start at $32 per month

Snappa

Explore tools like Snappa to create custom social media images. This graphic design tool lets you create content for different platforms from scratch, or by using their pre-built templates. They have a library of graphics and stock photos, and their branding features let you create logos and fonts.

• Pricing: Free! Paid plans start at $10 per month.

Mailchimp

Use tools like Mailchimp to send newsletters and automated emails. Mailchimp is a content marketing platform for email campaigns. You can create content for email as well as automate customer experiences and manage subscription lists. One great feature of Mailchimp is their customizable templates for email marketing. Mailchimp also integrates with third party apps like Zapier, making automated workflows even easier.

• Pricing: Free! Paid plans start at $11.

Aweber

Utilize tools like Aweber to create and send targeted email campaigns. This email marketing tool helps you manage emails and analyze campaign performance. They have customizable templates and list management tools. You can use their analytics features to track click through rates and conversion metrics.

• Pricing: Free! Paid plans start at $15 per month.

GetResponse

Leverage tools like GetResponse to create and send automated email campaigns. This email marketing platform helps you optimize your campaigns through automated workflows, analytics, and customizable templates. They also have webinar hosting capabilities and a landing pages builder, so you can capture more leads.

• Pricing: Plans start at $15.60 per month.

Mailshake

Explore tools like Mailshake to promote content through email outreach. This sales engagement tool is a great way to automate cold emails and follow-ups. You can use Mailshake to personalize emails and automate workflows. They also offer performance analytics and A/B testing.

• Pricing: Plans start at $25 per month.

Tools for Influencer and Outreach

Influencers have become an essential element of content marketing. Check out these content marketing tools designed to connect with influencers and increase your reach.

Followerwonk

Use tools like Followerwonk to find influencers in your niche. Their influencer identification feature lets you connect with influencers and expand your social media reach, especially on X (Twitter). This analytics tools also helps you understand your followers through demographics and activity patterns and compares followers by searching for overlaps.

• Pricing: Free! Paid plans start at $29 per month.

Influencer Analytics

Utilize tools like Influencer Analytics by Semrush to discover and evaluate influencers. This app helps you find and influencers based on criteria like follower count and engagement rate. It can analyze a influencers follower demographics and performance metrics, and even detect fake followers. After connecting, you can get in depth performance reports on your collaboration campaigns.

• Pricing: Plans start at $169 per month.

BuzzSumo

Leverage tools like BuzzSumo to identify influencers and track their content. You can use BuzzSumo to track mentions and trending content. Their platform is useful for finding relevant influencers and setting alerts for trending content. Their analytics dashboard is great for tracking performance metrics. Their stand out feature is the influencer identification tool, which connects you with influencers, experts, and journalist across social media.

• Pricing: Plans start at $199 per month.

SocialBlade

Explore tools like SocialBlade to spy on your competitor’s YouTube channels. You can use this analytics platform to track user and channel statistics like follower count, growth, engagement, and even estimated earnings. They offer growth projections and users are displayed on a ranked leaderboard.

• Pricing: Plans start at $3.99 per month.

Conclusion

There is no one right platform to suit all your needs, and the best approach may be to use a combination of content marketing tools to streamline your content workflow and cover every base. The great news is, you can leverage free content marketing tools to take your content marketing to the next level, and many paid plans offer a free trial.

Don't forget to explore tools that offer relevant internal links to enhance your content marketing efforts, making your content more cohesive and interconnected. Consider utilizing tools that offer blog post ideas, Google Docs integration, and Google Analytics tracking.

There are so many content marketing platforms to choose from, so check out Cake for more content marketing tools and advice.

— Originally written by Tiffany Quinn —