7 Time-Saving Tools To Make Content Marketing, Stupid Simple (+ Infographic)
Content marketing is like the pop-up meeting, that drags on and on.
Then you're left wondering, WHY. WON'T. IT. END? It doesn't have to be a pain.
It doesn't have to be hard.
And it certainly won't take up any more time than actually writing the content (PLUS, I have a Content Marketing Infographic that you can rub in the teams face).
If you want to insert your business along a buyer's decision-making process, it needs to get done or hire someone like me who does this while drinking (green tea...what were you thinking??).
People like reading up on things before they invest.
And if you can be what they read or introduce them to the content that made a difference in how they do something...you've skipped past the hard pitch and entered into "Are we a good fit?"
I'll start you off with the free stuff and work my way towards the "give-up the loot" content marketing tools.
1. IFTTT
"If This Then That" Automation at it’s finest.
It triggers “this” when “that” action is taken. Hence the name.
Clever. Very clever.
You create recipes for all your social media automation desires.
Stupid Simple Use:
Recipe Idea: Connect your Instagram to your Twitter account, and have your Insta pictures show up native on Twitter (aka view as full-size picture's instead of a text URL on Twitter. Click the image below to get it.)
This is the easiest way to share a URL without spelling out the alphabet.
Stupid Simple Use:
When you live stream (and you will) your call-to-action can be a bit.ly link, you can remember and most importantly your audience can too. Think, long URL slugs/title of your blog posts...(Ex. bit.ly/buzzhot VS. sheisepic.com/hot-new-freebie-I-will-never-remember-to-share).
There's nothing left to say here.
Cost: FREE
3. Yoast
Welcome to SEO one-on-one. The dreaded task you hate doing but helps your content get found.
It's a Wordpress plugin, you would download and it will show you how poor your focus keyword is. But it also shows you how to correct your erroneous ways and funnel more visitors to your website to read your stuff. Giving you the power to determine what picture and words will be shared on social media as your preview. Don't leave it to Facebook to decide what picture should represent your brand or post.
Stupid Simple Use:
Sprinkle your focus keyword in your headline, first line of text and body. Don't try to tick off every checkmark or you risk sounding like a bot rather than a human in your content.
Cost: FREE
4. Evernote
Note taking just got effortless.
Ideas come in waves and when the waves hit, you need an electronic device that can be accessed from either mobile or desktop. So that, you can pick-up from where you left off and finish your ingenious thought.
Stupid Simple Use:
Pre-write messaging for social media platforms to copy & paste on your timeline (Think: Instagram hashtags, Facebook stories, a Tweet series)
It's very easy to be profound with your next random thought for social media…when it’s pre-written.
And you gotta love clean looks.
Cost: FREE & Monthly or Annual subscription
5. Buffer
I love me some Buffer.
It’s simple. It’s clean. It’s easy. All the yeses!
I was with Buffer from its inception. Full disclosure, I'm not a fan of similar social media automation tools like HootSuite (because it’s clunky and hard to navigate sometimes, which I used with a nameless company in the past).
Stupid Simple Use:
Download the Chrome Extension and re-post or schedule any popular posts/tweets right from your browser. So no need to copy & paste or switch between apps. Buffer leaves your hands clean. Too simple, it’s almost cheating.
Cost: FREE & Monthly or Annual subscription
6. Post Planner
Hands-down the secret weapon to staying content-relevant minus the hustle.
It survey's the web for the most popular articles or graphics; helping you distribute content to remain relevant and look well informed.
Stupid Simple Use:
Pick a day to source the content that is relevant to your brand with this tool and schedule them to later recycle itself for future auto-posting.
I found this through one of those AppSumo deals (free for life) and I never looked back.
It allows you to hijack...well, maybe not hijack. Hijack is a strong word. It gently inserts your call-to-action on the links you share online. (See what I mean here: http://snip.ly/y8ugj)
It's on double duty, shares your call-to-action and shortens links. Huzzah!
Stupid Simple Use:
Don't share another piece of content from Post Planner without first "snipping" it with your call-to-action. So people can discover you while they read (exact text is taken from the snip.ly website).
*And you may have already seen me use it throughout this article.
Cost: Monthly or Annual subscription
Take back your time and sanity with these tools, you're welcome.
SHARE this article, if you now feel like a content marketing superhero (or at the very least --more equipt to sweat less).