February 2022

3 Must-have Starter Tools that Will Take Your Practice from Creative Mess to Marketing Master

There are hundreds, if not thousands of free marketing tools available online, so how do you choose and when/should you invest in the upgraded version? The simple answer – when the free version limits you from accomplishing your goals and you know the system has more features to unlock that will make your life easier, it’s probably time to upgrade.

To take it a step further, we’ve provided a shortcut to explore our personal picks. Download our cheat sheet of top 10 favorite (and free) software staples that will turn you from a creative mess into a marketing master without breaking your budget.

VETgirl Top 10 Free Marketing Tools Tracy Covert veterinary

So, you’re looking to grow your customer base or expand your practice. Now what? Lead with the low-hanging fruit – free and easy.

1. Start with social – Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are great free resources to help spread your message. Share client testimonials, interesting cases (get client permission first of course), holidays/pet holidays, tips, client handouts, services, and fun it up with memes.

Pro Tip: Create a content calendar and pre-schedule using one of these awesome tools (Creator Studio/Hootsuite) Both offer advanced scheduling features and will provide you with valuable insights to grow your network and help you better understand what resonates with your audience. Check out linktree to add a custom bio link to your profile. This will allow you to post and change up links on your networks, plus they offer no-cost account options. Since you can’t add hyperlinks on Instagram, this is a great alternative that will allow you to share links in your posts.

2. Learn to Design like a Pro (on a budget)Adobe Spark, Canva, and Crello are all tools that have simplified design for the non-designer and will save you thousands. All offer amazing templates to get you started and allow you to save your brand colors/logos to help create a consistent look. Using either their website or native app, these systems allow anyone with a basic understanding to use templates to create branded social postings, flyers, infographics, logos, etc. for a minimal investment.

3. Email Marketing – A simple, but necessary tool you must employ. Regular client communication is imperative to stay front of mind. Mailchimp, Hubspot, and Constant Contact are all great options to get started and allow you to create customized lists that tailor messaging to the right person. Send pet birthday emails, client reminders, thank you cards, announcements, services, or a monthly newsletter.

Pro tip: Carve out some time to develop an email schedule in advance. Think about timing, who the audience is and the message you are sharing. Personalize using dynamic fields and create enticing subject lines that compel the reader to click.

In addition to our top 10 favorite free marketing tools, enjoy this added bonus link from Crello for another 100 in their periodic table of free marketing tools.

Download 10 Free Marketing Tools

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