Digital Marketing Blog

6 Content Marketing Tools Every Small Business Owner Needs

Written by Kelsi McKee | Jun 25, 2025 4:36:37 PM

Content marketing can be one of the most cost-effective ways to grow a small business, especially when done the “right” way. What exactly do we mean by that? Between brainstorming ideas, creating content, publishing across channels, and tracking performance, the process can feel overwhelming, but we promise there is good news. With the right tools, you can streamline your strategy, save time, and boost your impact.

Next, we’ll share six essential content marketing tools every small business owner should consider:

1. Canva – For Eye-Catching Visuals Without a Designer

Whether it’s social media posts, blog graphics, email headers, or infographics, visual content grabs attention and increases engagement. Canva offers a simple drag-and-drop interface with thousands of customizable templates. Top features include:

  • Pre-sized templates for every platform
  • Brand kits for consistent fonts/colors
  • Free and affordable premium plans
  • Collaboration tools for teams

Best for: Entrepreneurs who want professional-looking visuals without hiring a designer.

2. Grammarly – For Polished, Professional Writing

Typos and grammar mistakes can undermine your credibility. Grammarly helps ensure your content reads clearly, correctly, and confidently—whether it’s a blog post, email, or social media caption. Here

  • AI-powered grammar and spell checks
  • Tone detection and clarity suggestions
  • Plagiarism checker (premium)
  • Integration with Google Docs, Chrome, and more

Best for: Anyone writing content regularly who wants a second set of eyes.

3. Trello – For Planning and Workflow Management

Content marketing involves juggling multiple pieces at once—from idea generation to publishing. Trello lets you visually organize projects, assign tasks, and track progress using boards, lists, and cards.

  • Customizable workflow boards
  • Due dates and reminders
  • Team collaboration and comments
  • Power-ups for calendar views, automation, and integrations

Best for: Teams or solo marketers looking for a simple, visual project manager.

4. BuzzSumo – For Smart Content Strategy and Research

Not sure what to write about? BuzzSumo helps you uncover trending topics, high-performing content, and what your competitors are doing right. It’s a powerful tool for building a data-backed strategy, including the following note-worthy features: 

  • Content discovery by keyword or topic
  • Competitor analysis and domain comparison
  • Influencer identification for outreach
  • Social share and backlink data

Best for: Strategic thinkers who want to create content that drives real results.

5. Mailchimp – For Email Marketing Made Easy

Email is still one of the highest ROI channels in content marketing. Mailchimp allows you to create email campaigns, segment audiences, and track performance—all with user-friendly automation. Additionally, Mailchimp offers:

  • Drag-and-drop email builder
  • Audience segmentation
  • Automated welcome sequences and drip campaigns
  • Analytics and A/B testing

Best for: Small businesses looking to grow and nurture their email list.

6. Google Analytics – For Tracking What Works

Great content doesn’t matter if it’s not achieving your business goals. Google Analytics shows you where your traffic comes from, how users interact with your content, and where they drop off—so you can continually optimize.

  • Traffic and engagement reports
  • Goal setting for conversions
  • User behavior and funnel tracking
  • Integration with Google Ads and Search Console

Best for: Business owners who want to measure ROI and make data-driven decisions.

Content marketing doesn’t have to be complicated—or expensive. With tools like Canva for design, Grammarly for writing, and Google Analytics for insights, even the smallest business can build a content strategy that drives awareness, engagement, and growth.

Start small, be consistent, and let these tools couple with a strategic digital marketing partner like Fable Heart Media do the heavy lifting. Wondering how we could help? We’ve got some receipts to show you, and they led to some powerful results for small-to-medium sized businesses just like yours.

Book your complimentary consultation to get started with our award-winning team as soon as this week, and visit our blog page for more can’t miss content marketing tips.