The ultimate marketing management tools guide

Marketing managers and small business owners often manage various tasks, from content creation to campaign analysis. Marketing management tools are helpful to streamline your workflow and replace guesswork with data-driven decisions.

With countless options available, the right tools for your business are those that help you simplify complex tasks, save time and deliver tangible results.

This comprehensive guide explores 17 tools marketing managers will love that cover everything from social media scheduling to email automation.

17 best marketing management tools

While the list of marketing management tools below covers a wide range of categories, you don’t need to invest in every type of tool immediately.

Start by identifying your core needs and selecting a few essential tools that address your primary challenges – like efficient workflow management and increasing productivity. As your team grows and processes evolve, expand your toolkit gradually.

Best email marketing campaign management tools

Email marketing tools are essential for creating effective campaigns. Important features include easy-to-use design, efficient automation, in-depth analytics and smooth platform integration.

1. Campaigns by Pipedrive

Campaigns by Pipedrive is a marketing automation tool that works seamlessly with Pipedrive’s CRM platform, enabling you to manage customer data easily and streamline your email marketing efforts from one place.

Improve your email strategy through personalized automation, targeted customer segmentation and performance insights that strengthen customer relations.

Key features

• Drag-and-drop email builder

• Pre-designed email templates for quick campaign creation

• Detailed analytics on open rates, click-through rates and conversions

• Audience segmentation based on CRM data

• Automated email sequences and drip campaigns

• Integrates directly with Pipedrive’s CRM for streamlined lead management and customer interaction management

Who should use Campaigns by Pipedrive?

Campaigns by Pipedrive is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses, sales teams and marketers. It helps you align email campaigns with sales processes by automating follow-up emails, segmenting leads and tracking engagement directly within Pipedrive’s CRM.

Pricing

Campaigns is a paid add-on to Pipedrive starting from $13.33 per company/month (billed annually).

2. Mailchimp

Mailchimp is an email marketing platform that helps businesses create and send professional-looking email campaigns with its easy-to-use templates, drag-and-drop editor and design customization options.

You can manage email lists and implement sales promotion strategies through workflow automation, personalized content and performance analytics that help optimize campaign results.

Key features

• Customizable email templates

• Audience segmentation and targeting options

• A/B testing for optimizing email performance

• Marketing automation tools for creating customer journeys

• Landing page builder

• Detailed analytics and reporting on campaign performance

Who should use Mailchimp?

Mailchimp is suitable for small to medium-sized businesses looking for an email marketing tool with additional marketing features like automated campaigns. It’s helpful for businesses looking to improve the customer experience through personalized emails.

Pricing

• Free: $0/month (up to 500 contacts, limited features)

• Essentials: starting at $13/month

• Standard: starting at $20/month

• Premium: starting at $350/month

3. Kit

Kit (previously ConvertKit) is an email marketing platform for creators, bloggers and online businesses. It offers automation and subscriber management tools and dashboards that simplify customer segmentation and nurture leads through customized email sequences.

Key features

• Intuitive email and landing page designer with customizable templates

• Advanced subscriber segmentation and tagging

• Automations that follow the actions of subscribers

• E-commerce integrations for selling digital products and boosting sales

• Detailed analytics on subscriber growth and email performance

• Creator Network for cross-promotions and collaborations

Who should use Kit?

Kit helps content creators, bloggers, podcasters, course creators and small online businesses looking to build and nurture an engaged audience through personalized email marketing and automation.

Pricing

• Newsletter: $0/month (up to 10,000 subscribers, limited features)

• Creator: starting at $25/month (billed annually)

• Creator Pro: starting at $50/month (billed annually)

Kit offers a 14-day free trial for paid plans. You also get two months free if you subscribe to the annual plan.

Best analytics and SEO tools

Analytics tools are crucial for understanding your website’s performance and improving your online presence. Let’s explore some top options that will help you boost your search engine rankings.

4. Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a web analytics service that collects data through tracking codes embedded in a website to offer insights into traffic, user behavior and digital marketing performance.

It’s an essential tool for understanding customer behavior and optimizing the customer journey. For example, you can use Google Analytics to track conversion rates and identify high-exit pages.

Key features

• Real-time tracking and reports for website traffic

• Detailed audience segmentation and behavior analysis

• Integrates with other Google services for enhanced marketing reporting

• Custom event tracking and e-commerce analytics

• Mobile app analytics for tracking app usage and performance

Who should use Google Analytics?

Google Analytics is useful for web analysts who need to dive deep into user segmentation, business owners who want to monitor site performance and digital marketers tracking campaign ROI and conversion funnels.

Pricing

• Google Analytics 4 (GA4): free

• Google Analytics 360: for larger organizations with more complex needs, custom pricing

5. Semrush

Semrush is a comprehensive digital marketing toolkit that empowers users to optimize SEO, refine content strategies, analyze competitors, manage PPC campaigns and improve social media performance.

Key features

• In-depth keyword research and analysis tools like Keyword Magic

• Competitor analysis for SEO, PPC and content strategies

• Backlink analysis and link-building tools

• Content optimization suggestions and topic research

• Position tracking for monitoring search engine rankings

Who should use Semrush?

Semrush works well for content marketers looking to optimize their editorial strategies, SEO professionals seeking comprehensive keyword research and digital agencies needing an all-in-one tool to increase online sales through improved online visibility.

Pricing

• Pro: $117.33/month (billed annually)

• Guru: $208.33/month (billed annually)

• Business: $416.66/month (billed annually)

There’s a free trial available for all plans.

6. Ahrefs

Ahrefs is an SEO toolset that provides valuable data and insights for optimizing website performance. Its features include tools for researching competitors and improving search rankings through an extensive backlink database, keyword research tools and comprehensive site audits.

The tool helps you understand your marketing funnel by identifying high-traffic keywords, analyzing user behavior on-site and revealing which content drives the most conversions.

Key features

• Extensive backlink analysis and link-building tools

• In-depth keyword research with global volume data

• Site audit functionality to identify and fix technical SEO issues

• Content explorer for discovering top-performing content in any niche

• Rank tracking for monitoring search engine positions

• Web traffic estimation for millions of websites

Who should use Ahrefs?

Ahrefs is useful for link-building specialists searching for authoritative backlinks and technical SEO experts focused on comprehensive site audits and strategy development.

It also improves customer retention by helping you identify high-potential keywords and create SEO-optimized content that addresses customer pain points.

Pricing

• Starter: $29/month

• Lite: $108/month

• Standard: $208/month

• Advanced: $374/month

• Enterprise: starts at $14,990/year

If you pay for the annual plan, you get two months free.

Best social media management tools

Social media management tools simplify marketing efforts across platforms like Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn. They help you plan, create and schedule social media posts and turn these marketing channels into powerful assets for your brand.

7. Hootsuite

Hootsuite is a social media marketing platform that lets you schedule posts, monitor engagement and manage multiple social networks and marketing campaigns from a single, streamlined dashboard.

Key features

• Unified inbox for managing all social media interactions

• Content scheduling and calendar view for planning posts

• Social media monitoring and listening capabilities

• Analytics and reporting on social media performance

• Ad management tools for social media advertising

Who should use Hootsuite?

Hootsuite serves marketing teams collaborating on campaigns and agencies managing multiple clients’ social media accounts.

Pricing

• Professional: $99/month (1 user, billed annually)

• Team: $249/month (billed annually)

• Enterprise: custom pricing (billed annually)

Hootsuite offers a 30-day free trial for its Professional and Team plans. If you skip the trial, you get 20% off.

8. Sprout Social

Sprout Social is a social media management and analytics platform that combines tools for engagement, publishing, analytics, employee advocacy and customer care into a single interface.

Key features

• Unified Smart Inbox for managing social interactions

• AI-assisted response suggestions for quicker engagement

• Team collaboration and workflow management features for coordinated content marketing automation

• Analytics and custom report builder

• Sentiment analysis for understanding audience reactions

• Chatbot builder for automated customer service

Who should use Sprout Social?

Sprout Social is effective for medium to large businesses, agencies and enterprises seeking a comprehensive social media management tool with advanced AI features. Customer service teams and campaign managers overseeing cross-platform activities can significantly benefit from it.

Pricing

• Standard: $199 per user/month (billed annually)

• Professional: $299 per user/month (billed annually)

• Advanced: $399 per user/month (billed annually)

• Enterprise: custom pricing

Sprout Social offers a 30-day free trial.

9. Buffer

Buffer’s user-friendly social media management platform simplifies the process of scheduling posts, analyzing performance and engaging with target audiences across multiple social networks.

Key features

• Intuitive content calendar for visual planning and scheduling

• Browser extension for easy content sharing

• Customizable posting schedules for each social account

• Basic analytics to track post performance, including metrics like engagement, reach and impressions

• Hashtag planner for Instagram

Who should use Buffer?

Buffer supports small to medium-sized businesses, solopreneurs and social media managers seeking a simple platform for scheduling and managing content. It offers time-saving tools like automatic posting and a clear, visual workflow.

Pricing

• Free: $0/month for up to three social channels

• Essentials: $5/month per social channel (billed annually)

• Team: $10/month per social channel (billed annually)

• Agency: $100/month (billed annually)

Buffer offers a 14-day free trial for its paid plans.

Best marketing project management tools

Project management tools coordinate marketing activities and keep your marketing projects on track. When choosing a tool, look for features like task scheduling, team collaboration boards, file sharing and progress tracking to simplify your workflow and boost productivity.

10. Trello

Trello is a Kanban-style project management software that uses boards, lists and cards to organize projects.

Key features

• Customizable Kanban boards with templates to represent projects or workflows

• Checklists, due dates and file attachments on cards

• Team collaboration features with commenting and @mentions

• Power-ups add extra features to your Trello boards, such as voting, timers and calendar views

• Automation features with Butler

Who should use Trello?

Trello benefits individuals, teams and organizations of all sizes seeking a no-fuss, visual way to manage their marketing campaigns.

Pricing

• Free: $0/month (unlimited personal boards, 10 team boards)

• Standard: $5 per user/month (billed annually)

• Premium: $10 per user/month (billed annually)

• Enterprise: $17.50 per user/month (for 50+ users, billed annually)

Trello offers a 14-day free trial for its Premium plan.

11. Asana

Asana is a project management platform you can customize to fit Scrum, Kanban and Agile methods. It offers flexible workflows, task boards and timeline views to help you structure projects according to your preferred methodology.

Key features

• Multiple project views (list, board, timeline, calendar and Gantt chart)

• Task management with subtasks, due dates and assignments

• Goal tracking and OKR (Objectives and Key Results) features

• Rules and automations to automate repetitive tasks and save time

• Customizable reports and dashboards to track project progress and performance

• Integrations with tools like Google Drive, Dropbox and Slack

Who should use Asana?

Asana is ideal for marketing teams seeking a versatile tool to streamline campaigns, content creation and cross-channel initiatives. It’s best for departments managing multiple projects and adapting workflows as strategies evolve.

Pricing

• Personal: $0/month

• Starter: $10.99 per user/month (billed annually)

• Advanced: $24.99 per user/month (billed annually)

• Enterprise and Enterprise+ plans: custom pricing

12. ClickUp

ClickUp is an all-in-one productivity platform that combines project management, task tracking, document collaboration and goal setting in a customizable environment. Customization lets you tailor workflows, automate tasks and adapt the platform to suit your unique project needs.

Key features

• Customizable spaces, folders and lists for organizing work

• Task management with subtasks, dependencies and custom fields

• Smart task prioritization and workload-balancing suggestions

• Document creation and real-time editing capabilities with ClickUp docs

• AI-powered writing assistant for generating and editing content

• Goals to set high-level marketing objectives and track progress

Who should use ClickUp?

ClickUp is a fit for marketing teams looking to streamline campaign management and content creation. Customizable templates and AI tools help team members generate ideas, track progress and collaborate, making it suitable for agencies or in-house teams that manage multiple projects.

Pricing

• Free Forever: $0/month (100MB storage, unlimited tasks for personal use)

• Unlimited: $7 per member/month (billed monthly)

• Business: $12 per member/month (billed monthly)

• Enterprise: custom pricing

Best customer relationship management (CRM) tool

CRMs track interactions with leads and clients. They help you personalize your marketing efforts, monitor campaign effectiveness and nurture leads through the sales funnel.

13. Pipedrive

Pipedrive is a sales CRM platform that manages your sales pipeline through automated lead tracking, customizable deal stages and activity reminders. It lets you prioritize high-potential leads, streamline follow-ups and ultimately close deals faster.

Key features

• Visual sales pipeline for easy lead and deal tracking

• Customizable pipeline stages to align with marketing-to-sales handoff

• Lead scoring to prioritize marketing-qualified leads (MQLs)

• Activity scheduling and reminders for timely lead nurturing

• Reporting tools to measure marketing campaign effectiveness on lead quality

Who should use Pipedrive?

Pipedrive works well with businesses of all sizes looking to improve their marketing-to-sales transition. It benefits business owners who want to improve collaboration between marketing and sales teams, track lead sources across multiple channels and optimize their lead management process.

Pricing

• Essential: $14/month (billed annually)

• Advanced: $34/month (billed annually)

• Professional: $49/month (billed annually)

• Power: $64/month (billed annually)

• Enterprise: $99 per month (billed annually)

There’s a 14-day free trial available, offering full access.

Best marketing asset management tools

Marketing asset management tools organize and distribute your digital content. They centralize your marketing materials and make it easy for team members to find, use and share brand-compliant assets across various campaigns and channels.

14. Dropbox

Dropbox is a cloud-based storage platform that helps you streamline content creation, collaboration and asset management.

Key features

• Dropbox Paper for collaborative document creation and brainstorming

• Version history and file recovery options

• Shared folders and team spaces for organized collaboration

• Commenting and annotation features for feedback on marketing materials

• File request feature for collecting assets from clients or team members

• Dropbox Transfer for sending large files securely

Who should use Dropbox?

Dropbox can support marketing teams of all sizes, from freelancers to large corporate departments. Teams that handle large files, collaborate with external partners or require centralized asset management will benefit most.

Pricing

• Basic: $0/month (2GB storage, limited features)

• Plus: $9.99/month (for individuals)

• Essentials: $16.58/month (for professionals)

• Business: $15/month (for teams)

• Business Plus: $24/month (for teams)

• Enterprise: custom pricing

Dropbox has a 30-day free trial for its paid plans and discounted annual subscriptions.

15. Google Drive

Google Drive is a cloud-based platform for storing and collaborating on marketing assets, documents and team projects within Google Workspace.

Key features

• Google Docs, Sheets and Slides integration

• Real-time collaboration on documents, spreadsheets and presentations

• Comment and suggestion features for team feedback

• Version history and file recovery options

• Advanced file organization with folders and color coding

• Offline access to important files

Who should use Google Drive?

Google Drive meets the needs of marketing teams of any size, especially those using Google Workspace. It’s valuable for teams prioritizing collaboration, easy file sharing and smooth integration with Google tools.

Pricing

Google Drive individual plans are free for up to 15 GB of storage. For additional storage space, higher security and more robust features, you can subscribe to a Google Workspace business account.

• Business Starter: $6 per user/month (billed annually)

• Business Standard: $12 per user/month (billed annually)

• Business Plus: $18 per user/month (billed annually)

• Enterprise: custom pricing

Best communication and collaboration tools

Communication and collaboration tools facilitate seamless information sharing, real-time discussions and project coordination. They keep everyone on the same page regardless of their location.

When selecting a tool, look for features like instant messaging, video conferencing, file sharing and task management to improve team efficiency.

16. Slack

Slack is a messaging app that offers features like channels, direct messages, file sharing and integration with other tools.

Key features

• Organized conversations through channels for different topics or projects

• Direct messaging and group chats for quick communication

• File sharing and integration with cloud storage services

• Voice and video calling capabilities

• Customizable notifications to stay updated on important conversations

• Slack AI add-on to find answers, summarize conversations and schedule daily recaps

Who should use Slack?

Slack is suitable for teams requiring frequent communication, collaborating on multiple projects or working with remote members and external partners.

Pricing

• Free: $0/month

• Pro: $7.25 per user/month (billed annually)

• Business+: $12.50 per user/month (billed annually)

• Enterprise Grid: custom pricing

Slack AI is a $10 add-on for users on the paid plans.

17. Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is a collaboration platform that combines chat, video meetings, file storage and app integration. It’s particularly handy for marketing teams that use Microsoft 365.

Key features

• Chat-based communication with channels and direct messaging

• File sharing and real-time collaboration on Office documents

• Shared workspace for apps like Word, Excel and PowerPoint

• Integration with numerous third-party apps and Microsoft services

• Task management features with Microsoft Planner integration

• Wiki functionality for knowledge sharing

Who should use Microsoft Teams?

Microsoft Teams can work for different-sized marketing teams, especially those using Microsoft 365. It’s valuable for organizations needing a secure collaboration platform that integrates with Microsoft’s productivity tools.

Pricing

• Microsoft Teams Essentials: $4 per user/month (billed annually)

• Microsoft 365 Business Basic: $6 per user/month (billed annually)

• Microsoft 365 Business Standard: $12.50 per user/month (billed annually)

• Microsoft 365 Business Premium: $22 per user/month (billed annually)

• Enterprise plans: custom pricing

FAQs

Final thoughts

Creating a marketing strategy requires an integrated tech stack where data flows seamlessly between platforms. You must track performance across channels and create a holistic view of your marketing efforts.

When your tools communicate with each other, you gain deeper insights into customer behavior and campaign performance, eliminating data silos and manual data entry.

Pipedrive’s CRM solution connects with numerous marketing tools. It extends its functionality beyond sales management by enabling automated, real-time updates across tools for email marketing and campaign tracking – all in one platform.