It’s only been a decade since the first smartphone was introduced. With 77% of Americans owning smartphones, they have changed the way we live and work. Today, many of us are more attached to our smartphones than to our desktops. That’s because we are an increasingly mobile workforce. In fact, 70% of people who work do so remotely at least once a week. Rather than lug laptops and tablets around, smartphones are lightweight. They are one of the most effective tools for completing work out of the office.

Marketing Apps of All Shapes and Sizes

For marketers, new software and applications help us stay on top of trends, use new technology and keep up with the competition. Here are just a few marketing apps to check out.

1. Popular social media marketing apps. Beyond the social aspects of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other popular platforms, tap into the management and analytics applications they provide. For example, if you utilize a company Facebook page, the Facebook Page Manager app is essential. Other vital apps such as Google Analytics, Google Drive and Google Hangouts come in handy for all levels of business.
2. Editing and creator marketing apps.  51% of B2B marketers prioritize creating visual assets as part of their content marketing strategy. Using traditional programs, developing quality visual content takes time and expertise, and that can be daunting for professionals who are already on overload. With today’s app technology, creating stunning visuals doesn’t have to require expensive programs or a graphic designer. There are countless options available, but our favorite is Canva, which has thousands of free templates organized by business type, style or format. You can even establish and save brand color schemes, fonts and logos, and allow multiple users to access the same account. Other great options include Wordswag that allows users to easily add text to images. First, identify what type of visual content you need and try different applications to discover which best suits your task, brand and level of expertise.
3. Distribution marketing apps. A vital part of any marketing plan is publication and distribution of content. There are many apps that accomplish the goal quickly and easily across multiple platforms, all while providing comprehensive analytics too. For instance, apps such as Buffer and Hootsuite focus on social media management.  Additionally, others are more specific such as Mailchimp for email marketing or WordPress for blogs. Utilize analytics provided by these apps to test and discover which distribution methods work best for the content you produce.
4. Listening marketing apps. It’s important to know what people are saying about you, your company or your industry. Likewise, it’s even more important to get involved in the conversation. Consider apps that enable you to narrow in on specific topics. Buzzsumo is a content analyzer that allows you to sort and filter trending topics by keyword, date, country, word count and so forth. Mention allows you to track what’s being said about your brand across multiple platforms to help you react and respond in real time. Even more specified, Tint assists you in easily finding, organizing and sourcing customer-generated content related to your company. These apps help you keep track of what is important to your audience or gather material for customer-centric content including testimonials.
5. Communication marketing apps. Effective communication with your colleagues and others can make or break marketing initiatives. Today’s apps organize communication for companies, their employees and other stakeholders. Slack is an app that creates a “virtual office” for collaboration and integrates the tools and programs already in use by your company. Dynamic Signal is an employee communication and engagement platform used by management and top executives to reach everyone throughout the organization. News and updates are distributed to all levels in formats that are shared easily to create your own army of brand advocates.
6. Content consumption marketing apps. In addition to creating content, marketers need to be aware of what others are sharing as well. Social media platforms do their best to utilize algorithms that curate content to users. However, many apps exist that allow for a more handpicked feed. Zest is a marketing-centric app that advertises a “Distilled Marketing Content Stream,” curated by marketers for marketers. Feedly is an app that organizes the content you already consume from multiple sources into a single filtered feed. Utilize these types of applications to stay on top of news, trends and challenges.

All in the Palm of Your Hand

Every year there is a plethora of new marketing apps. This means it’s difficult to hone in on the ones that are worthwhile. Often, it comes down to trial and error to determine what works best for you. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. If you’re new to marketing apps, begin with one that correlates to your priorities and expand from there. You’ll soon discover which applications will make your job easier and accessible from the palm of your hand.