For a little more than two years, I have been blogging and marketing my book. Over time, I have collected tools to help me work more efficiently and effectively. Some I used only temporarily, other are permanent implements in by writer’s toolbox. Let me tell you about them and how you can add impact to your blog with these free tools.
Blogging Tools
- Headline Analyzer Use this tool to determine your headline’s Emotional Marketing Value (EMV). Edit the words until you write a heading with the most impact and reader appeal.
- Content Idea Generator “The easy way to brainstorm blogs, articles, press releases, tweets, yada, yada. How Does It Work? Answer 18 simple questions about your products and services, and then in less than one second the Content Idea Generator generates literally hundreds of great ideas for blog posts, articles, tweets, white-papers and e-books, videos, podcasts, press releases… and just about any other kind of content that will attract more visitors to your website and get more inquiries about your products and services.”
- MyBlogGuest I’m still learning how to use this tool to find bloggers for my website and to find websites for my blogs. This is a great way to get exclusive content, targeted traffic, and a fresh perspective to your Website.
- Creative Commons This is a repository for photos
Photo Editing Tools
- Canva Use Canva to create posters, covers, memes, or photos for social media. Many of the templates are free, while others have a small fee. The tutorials are helpful not only for this tool but for using other photo-creating software.
- PhotoFunia Use this online photo editing tool to “add a spark to your photos, make them special and more original.” Place your book cover on a New York City billboard or put your picture on the cover of a magazine. Have fun! Use the photo editor to add pizzazz to your blogs.
- PicMonkey This editor creates “the most eye-exploding photos.” Bright colors, primo effects, and extreme fonts. I like it for making great-looking head shots.
Marketing Tools
- Hootsuite I use this social media manager to schedule daily tweets. There is an extra fee to schedule for a month at a time. It has a great dashboard for organizing Twitter.
- RoundTeam. Based on the recommendation of other tweeters, I am considering using this to enhance my Twitter reach.
- Press Release Grader This tool by PRWeb shows you “ways to make your press release more visible to search engines (so you get found faster), more engaging (so people share it), and a better driver of traffic to your website.”
- Pinterest Do not underestimate how powerful a tool this is. I use an “ugly board” to provide Camino Tips. Each tip refers back to my Webpage. Pinterest visually engages people, just make sure each image you upload has your URL or name on it.
- Woobox Is a marketing app that helps you create powerful contests, sweepstakes, coupons, and more to grow your fans and amplify your marketing.
Miscellaneous Tools
- Identifont Have you found a font you would love to use, but don’t know what it is. This tool will help you identify it.
- Quotes Meme Maker Use quotes to promote on social media
- EasyBib website citation tool. I love this tool! When crediting from a website, this tool creates a properly formatted citation for your bibliography.
- PowToons is an animated video and presentation maker. I find this a bit cartoonish, but great for when the occasion arises.
Do you have a favorite tool? Please tell us about it in the comments below.
