Is it possible to run your entire business via your phone? In 2021, it’s not just possible, it’s actually easier.

Even though mobile technology has drastically improved, most businesses owners today still depend on desktop or laptop computers for a lot of their day to day tasks.

Over the past decade, technology has come a long way. With all the changes that have happened in the world during the past year due to Covid-19, there has been a massive increase in online activity.

The phones we hold in our hands today are actually mini computers. And the way that most people enjoy using them is via apps. Apps (short for applications) are purpose-built pieces of software that help make life easier or entertain us in some way.

Marketing Goes Mobile

But one aspect of business that is becoming possible to manage via mobile devices is marketing. Because consumers spend so much time on their phones today, it makes sense that digital marketing apps would start to migrate there as well.

Trying to manage mobile content from a desktop can actually be cumbersome in some situations, not to mention inconvenient. A lot of marketing content is becoming more in-the-moment and even low production content can go viral today.

For business owners and entrepreneurs, there are thousands of cool apps to make your work life easier. But which are worth using? Here is our list of the Top 12 marketing apps for 2021.

List of The Top 10 Free Marketing Apps for 2021

1) Buffer

Buffer is one of the most well known social scheduling apps. Its main function is to schedule updates to multiple accounts on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Pinterest. The app also allows follow-up with statistics on how each post performed. The newest version of the iOS app even allows for sharing and scheduling from inside other popular apps like Safari. Buffer currently offers a free subscription and four competitively priced plans: Pro ($15/month), Small Business ($99/month), Medium Business ($199/month), and Large Business ($399/month).

2) Hootsuite

Hootsuite is another social media management tool that allows you to schedule posts to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Youtube. While more expensive than Buffer it gives you more ability to plan at every plan level. Currently, Hootsuite’s free plan allows users to manage up to three social accounts, and schedule up to 30 posts at a time. Payment plans start at $25 per month and allow you to add team members, schedule more posts, and manage additional accounts.

3) Facebook Pages Manager

Today Facebook is a huge monolith of content. However, with Facebook Groups, Facebook Marketplace, Facebook Watch, and the regular news feed all taking up space, it’s almost impossible to figure out how to keep on top of your Facebook business page. The Facebook Pages Manager app allows you to streamline most activities that are part of managing a Facebook page. These can include posting, commenting, and liking, and also replying to private messages. You can handle page management controls via this Facebook app, change details, images, and even track statistics. Best of all the app is totally free to use.

4) Facebook Ads Manager

If you run ads for Facebook or Instagram, this marketing app assists with running Facebook or Instagram advertising campaigns from your phone. Stay on top of your campaigns, edit schedules and budgets, easily create and track Facebook ads, and receive notifications all in the palm of your hand.  No matter where you are, this app will help you stay on top of your ad spend and your campaign success. Just like the pages app, the Facebook Ads Manager App is free.

5) Later

Originally launched as Latergramme, the Later app allows you to schedule and publish posts for Instagram at your own convenience. One of the most frustrating things about Instagram is the inability to post at a later time. Later takes away this problem by allowing you to post later (hence the name). Another great tool is the ability to manage multiple Instagram accounts in one place, You can source images from a library or even from Dropbox and Google. Analytics is easy as well with reports on user activity and hashtags. The Later app is free with limited use, and paid plans range from $9/month for a single account, up to $49/month for multiple user accounts.

6) Mention

Need to know what the internet is saying about you? Mention has got your back. An app designed to monitor social media, blog posts, and news sites, Mention will give you up to date reports on who and what is being said online about you, your brand, and anything else you want to know. You can link to social media accounts for easier access, as well as create customized statistics that matter to your business. For smaller businesses, a free plan will probably suffice, but there are also paid options starting at $25/month up to $600/month for large corporations.

7) Canva

If you need to create professional images for social media, Canva’s new app brings all the features from the web right onto your phone or tablet. Use pre-built templates, and drag elements into place to create custom images to share. Thanks to Canva’s integrated social sharing you can easily share them directly to social media with a few taps on your phone screen. If you just need a simple image editor, then Canva is a great free tool. For Pro and Enterprise plans, you can gain more features starting at $10/month.

8) Grammarly Keyboard

Nobody wants a bunch of typos in their emails or marketing posts. The Grammarly Keyboard is just like having a professional editor in your pocket. The app lets you use a special keyboard that automatically scans your writing for misspellings and grammatical errors. It helps to remove mistakes and poor grammar and over time helps you become a better writer. Best of all this marketing app is completely free and works inside any app on your smartphone.

9) REP

If you are considering working with Influencers in your business (or you are an influencer) then REP could be incredibly helpful. REP is an app that offers a ‘marketplace where brands and influencers can connect and collaborate’. Brands can use our tools to source influencers, and to access analytics. Businesses can share their products and have influencers apply to promote. There are options for free, paid, and pay-per-click collaborations. Influencers can use the app to earn money, getaways, prizes, and products. You can even send payments directly through the app, which makes it easier to handle transactions.

10) Plai

One of the biggest issues with marketing is having to log in to a bunch of websites to track all your data. Plai (pronounced ‘play’) is a new app that combines analytics reports from Google Ads, Google Analytics, and Youtube. It offers a smooth visual experience that helps track your marketing results from day-to-day. The app also offers keyword research and trending content. Before creating a marketing campaign or even a social post, you can access trending content in your niche, discover relevant keywords, and learn the latest marketing strategies. The easy to use marketing app is a great way to get more familiar with your marketing analytics for your business.

11) Over

Creating mobile content used to mean working on a desktop and then exporting to a mobile device. However, with Over, you no longer are tied to desktop image editing software. Over has tons of incredible graphics templates. Play with filters, graphics, and fonts to make your social media posts stand out. You can easily make your custom social media content by adding your logos, fonts, and color palettes for quick and easy access. They also offer a library of videos, graphics, and font collections, and full access to stock photography on sites like Unsplash, Pixabay, and Google Images. Over offers a free version with some decent functionality. If you want to use the complete version, it costs $9.99 per month, or $69.99 if you pay annually.

12) Google Analytics

Digital marketing is nothing if you aren’t tracking your results. Knowing who is clicking on your content, how long they are staying, and where they are leaving helps you to improve. The good news is that the official Google Analytics mobile app lets you monitor all of your website Analytics properties easily from your phone. With the app, you can keep track of your business metrics while you’re on the go.  This free app offers rich reporting and insights about your websites, your target audiences, and your digital marketing efforts.

Grow Your Skills and Success

All these marketing apps can help you to run your business directly from your phone while traveling or outside the office in 2021. You can create, track, audit, and stay connected with your customers while on the go. Best of all, many of them are free or very low cost to use. As technology continues to evolve there is a huge benefit in adopting these new mobile tools to your business.

This article was originally published By Daniel | November 19, 2020 | DESIGN, MARKETING, SOCIAL MEDIA