What Is Marketing Agency Software?
Marketing agency softwareis a toolbelt of essential platforms that streamline and optimize processes, including those related toproject management, general task completion, and overall agency organization.
Some types of software for marketing agencies include the following:
- Workflow automation
- Team collaboration
- Project scheduling
- SEO analytics
- Email marketing
- Social media management
- Graphic design
- Proofreading
The type of software you use can also depend on the structure of your agency. Remote or hybrid agencies rely on team communication software to keep projects moving and for collaboration efforts. Both remote and in-person agencies require software for project management and data reporting and insights.
Below, you’ll find a roundup of the 15 top software options for marketing agencies.
1. Smartsheet
The backbone of any successful marketing agency is a reliable project management tool that supports collaboration and content organization. That’s where Smartsheet excels as a team management software and more.
Smartsheet is a collaborative work management platform that allows users to track and manageproject plans, assign tasks, and oversee workflows with ease and efficiency. Smartsheet includes features that supportstreamlining workflowslike task tracking andproject templates．
Plus, Smartsheet provides monitoring and reporting capabilities that help you to make data-based decisions about resource planning and project management. All of these features will minimize the time spent manually managing your projects and therefore, free up time for creating content and supporting your clients.
Best For:Project management
Best Features:
- Content management
- Workflow automation
- Team collaboration
Integrations:
- Slack
- Microsoft Teams
- Workplace
- Google Workspace
- Webex
- Zapier
- DocuSign
Pricing:Smartsheet offers a free plan for one user and up to two editors. Paid plans range from $7–$25 per user/month, depending on the number of users.
2. Semrush
Semrush is a content marketing tool that allows you to track your website’s performance, research keywords to target, and view your competitors’ performance.
Additionally, you can use Semrush to check over your backlink profile, site rankings, and help run paid marketing campaigns. Semrush also integrates with other software so you can track all aspects of your campaigns.
Best For:SEO analytics
Best Features:
- Keyword research
- Competitor analysis
- Rank tracking
Integrations:
- Google Apps
- YouTube
- Zapier
- WordPress
Pricing:The plans range from $119.95–$449.95, depending on the number of users and projects.
3. Ahrefs
Ahrefs is another SEO tool that you can use to optimize your website and track performance. The top features include competitor analysis, content gaps, and keyword research, Plus, Ahrefs offers blog resources and strategies for best link building practices.
For marketing agencies in particular, Ahrefs is a useful tool for brainstorming new keywords to target with content and identify what is working well for their website. Plus, you can directly compare your website performance to other competitors and examine top-performing pages and backlink profiles.
Best For:SEO analytics
Best Features:
- Keyword explorer
- Rank tracker
- Site audit
Integrations:
- Google Apps
- Klipfolio
- Databox
- AgencyAnalytics
- Stackby
- Pitchbox
Pricing:The Lite plan starts at $99/month and comes with basic features. Plans with more in-depth features range from $199–$999.
4. Hunter
Hunter is a great tool to use to improve outreach efforts. If you’re working through an email campaign, you can use Hunter to find professional emails to contact through their domain or website. You can also use Hunter to verify an email address. Hunter cuts down on the time used to find prospects, which frees up time to actually turn them into business connections.
Best For:Email marketing
Best Features:
- Domain search
- Email finder and verifier
- Cold email templates
Integrations:
- HubSpot
- Salesforce
- Pipedrive
- Google Workspace
- Outlook
- Zapier
- BuzzStream
- Microsoft Excel
Pricing:Hunter offers a free plan with limited features. Paid plans start at $49/month.
5. Calendly
There are plenty of meetings that occur within any marketing agency, from internal one-on-one meetings to external client connections. That’s when scheduling software like Calendly can really be helpful. Calendly not only allows you to schedule meetings, but also provides time and date options for the recipients. Once the recipient selects a time that works best for them, the meeting is automatically scheduled in both of your calendars.
Best For:Meeting scheduling
Best Features:
- Scheduling
- Analytics dashboard
- Integrations
Integrations:
- Zoom
- Microsoft Teams
- Slack
- Typeform
- Zapier
- Salesforce
- HubSpot
- Google Workspace
Pricing:Calendly offers a free plan with limited features. Paid plans start at $8 per user/month.
6. Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a free web analytics software that you can use to monitor and report website performance. With Google Analytics, you can see how users interact with your content, including which pages they click on and interact with, as well as where they come from. This data can show you which pages are performing well, which can help improve your current marketing strategies.
Best For:Web analytics
Best Features:
- Data reporting
- Funnel analysis
- Integrations
Integrations:
- Marketo
- Zendesk
- Shopify
Pricing:Google Analytics is a free software, but provides added paid features.
7. Sprout Social
Sprout Social is a social media management tool that automates your brand’s social media workflow. The biggest headache with social media can bescheduling posts on various social platforms．与发芽的社会,你可以提前安排职位of time on multiple platforms.
Sprout Social can also track how your posts are performing: It highlights top-performing posts, those that are gaining the most traffic, and the hashtags that are working well. All of these functions are organized into a single, easy-to-use dashboard.
Best For:Social media management
Best Features:
- Social management
- Rich data and analytics
- Employee advocacy
Integrations:
- Google Analytics
- TikTok
- Slack
- Canva
- Zapier
- HubSpot
Pricing:The Standard plan starts at $249 per user/month. They also offer a Professional plan at $399 per user/month and an Advanced plan at $499 per user/month.
8. Canva
Canva is a great graphic design software option for marketing agencies that may not have enough design resources for all departments, like social media. Canva provides a variety of templates and resources for marketers to use to create appealing visual assets easily. Plus, Canva offers brand andasset managementto help keep your visual assets and branding consistent.
Best For:Graphic design
Best Features:
- 视觉内容创作
- Photo and video editor
- LMS integrations
Integrations:
- Google Apps
- Dropbox
- Slack
- HubSpot
Pricing:Canva offers a free plan with limited features. Paid plans start at $119.95 per user/month.
9. HubSpot
HubSpot is a sales and marketing software that can be used to help teams streamline their sales and marketing processes. HubSpot offers a variety of features for both sides of the business, like marketing reporting and lead generation. If need be, you can even create a website using HubSpot — it’s a great multi use tool to have on hand.
Best For:Email marketing
Best Features:
- Website builder
- Marketing analytics
- Email management
Integrations:
- Google Apps
- WordPress
- Zapier
- Mailchimp
- Slack
Pricing:HubSpot’s Marketing Hub starts at $800/month.
10. Grammarly
If your marketing agency does a lot of content writing, it’s crucial that the content is grammatically correct and matches the brand’s voice and tone.
Not only does Grammarly proofread content and offer spelling and grammar corrections, but it can also offer writing suggestions based on your audience which can be manually added. You can also upload your company’s style guide to keep your team aligned. Grammarly can either be used through a browser extension or directly in the application.
Best For:Proofreading content
Best Features:
- Grammar checker
- Tailored writing suggestions
Integrations:
- Google Apps
- Slack
- Skype
- Zendesk
Pricing:Grammarly offers a free plan with basic features. Paid plans range from $12–$15 per user/month.
11. Zapier
If you’re in the market for a software option that can automate your apps and streamline your work process, look no further than Zapier, a task automation system that can sync up your tools and apps so they work within one another.
For example, you can use Zapier to get Slack notifications when you’re invited to new Google meetings using a “Zap.” A Zap connects multiple apps and platforms together. Zapier allows users to remove the need for excessive manual entries and reorganize their daily workflow.
Best For:Workflow automation
Best Features:
- Reliable automation
- Comprehensive logging
Integrations:
- Google Apps
- Slack
- Mailchimp
- HubSpot
- Salesforce
- QuickBooks
Pricing:Zapier offers a free plan with basic features. Paid plans range from $19.99–$49 per user/month.
12. BuzzStream
BuzzStream is used to build links and grow traffic to your website through outreach marketing. With BuzzStream, users are able to record, organize, and monitor outreach campaigns. You can use BuzzStream to build new relationships with leads and other contacts, while also streamlining your outreach efforts via email templates and sequences.
Best For:Email marketing
Best Features:
- Email distribution
- Campaign management
- Contact database
Integrations:
- Gmail and Google Apps
- Microsoft 365
- Exchange
- Hunter
- Ahrefs
Pricing:The plans range from $24–$999, depending on the number of users and contacts.
13. Apollo
When it comes to marketing agencies, sales software isn’t always the first thing that comes to mind. However, a good sales platform can be useful for tracking leads, contract timelines, and sales workflows.
Apollo is a great example of a sales management tool that can not only find and target potential prospects, but also provide data and sales intelligence for more informed decision-making. By providing the necessary analytics and tools, you can use Apollo to connect with more leads and potentially increase your revenue.
Best For:Sales management
Best Features:
- Prospecting research
- Sales engagement and analysis
- Application programming interface
Integrations:
- Gmail
- Outlook
- Salesforce
- HubSpot
- Zapier
Pricing:Apollo offers a free plan with basic features. Paid plans range from $39–$79 per user/month.
14. Moz
Moz is an SEO software and data platform that provides a complete SEO toolset you can use to grow your online presence. Moz can track site rankings, provide keyword research, analyze your backlink profile, and crawl your website to uncover technical SEO issues.
Moz可以跟踪你的网站以及性能competitor performance. This may include flagging potential Google updates and organic traffic drops. Plus, Moz provides insights on SEO-based content creation and link building.
Using Moz, you’re able to explore your site’s backlinks through its Link Explore and see which pages are building the most links. With Moz, you can stay thoroughly informed on your website performance.
Best For:SEO analytics
Best Features:
- Domain analysis
- Keyword explorer
- Link explorer
- MozBar
Integrations:
- Google Analytics
- Rippling
Pricing:The pricing ranges from $99–$599/month, depending on your choice of plan.
15. Slack
Slack is a cloud-based collaboration platform that allows users to connect and work together in real time — no matter your time zone or location. It’s a great software for marketers, as it offers a variety of functions like file sharing, searchable information, and messaging.
Slack users are able to keep up with business news and insights, as well as share updates on projects and coordinate tasks. All in all, Slack is a useful platform to streamline cross-functional communication and connect all company members to one central messaging platform.
Best For:Remote and distributed work environment
Best Features:
- Messaging
- File sharing
- Searchable archives
Integrations:
- Google Workspace
- Microsoft 365
- Dropbox
- Loom
- Figma
Pricing:The Pro plan starts at $7.25 per user/month. The Business plan starts at $12.50 per user/month.
Benefits of Using Software for Marketing Agencies
Marketing software for agencies can help automate and improve work processes, which brings more value to clients and thus increasing profits for both the agency and the client.
Software toolsin the agency workplace also provide the following benefits:
- Simultaneous project management of multiple projects
- Reliable data and insights on website performance and campaigns
- SEO assistance and insights
- Access to templates, calendars, and other resources
All of these benefits together support you making better business decisions that’ll not only benefit your agency, but the clients you work with.
Must-Have Marketing Features to Look For
Now that you have a better idea of software you can use for your marketing agency, it helps to know which features to look for.
In this section, we’ll provide a list of the top features to look for when buying.
Content Creation
Whether you’re creating content for a client’s blog space or improving their social media posts, content is essential for growing your clients’ presence online. Utilize a software that allows you to produce and monitor content performance.
Search Engine Optimization
SEO is a large focus for most marketing agencies when it comes to content rankings and reach. Utilize software that assists you with SEO insights and reporting to meet client objectives and goals.
Lead Generation
Lead generation software can help with email marketing campaigns and finding ideal prospects and their contact information. Lead generation can also be important for agencies to grow their client base.
Task Management
经理可以使用项目管理功能create tasks and subtasks, and set deadlines. They can then organize tasks by projects and assign them. To ensure tasks get accomplished, they can set up automatic reminders and updates as deadlines approach.
Run Reports
Project managers are responsible for a lot of moving parts and often need to report on a team’s efforts. Some project management tools come with report templates that include things like resource loads, project phases, and critical path overviews. Identify the reports you’ll need and make sure the tool you choose supports them or that you can easily create them.
Email Integration
When it comes to marketing agency tools, integrating with email means more than the ability to send a note asking for an update. Email integration enables users to add comments, set due dates, and update tasks all from their inbox. It can also be used to link emails to a task, project, or file, which can save tons of time. This element is usually part of the software, but it can also be available as a plug-in. Either way, you’ll want the integration feature to work with the email system you’re already using.
File/Document Sharing
Where will everything including copy, design drafts, wireframes, and other relevant documents be stored? Many solutions will either tie in to a cloud-based storage app or let you attach it to a project and organize it by client or task. Remember these files are large, so make sure the system you choose can handle your storage requirements.
Integrations With Existing Tools
You aren’t going to be using a particular software in a silo. There are plenty of tools you use to complete a project. Check whether the software you choose supports the other tools you use such as Google Apps, Microsoft Project, and cloud-based document management offerings. If not, does the company have an open API so you can integrate things yourself?
Collaboration
Some collaboration tools can help eliminate the need for additional meetings through project chat rooms, message boards, and messaging within the app. If you want to keep internal team communication separate from discussions with the client, look for an option that lets you set up client messaging as an independent portal.
Workflows
Marketing materials need to go through quite a few revisions and approvals. Getting them through that process with ease is what workflow is all about. Project management tools typically offer the ability to create automated workflows wherein once a task is complete the person who needs to approve it is notified automatically. You can also set up automatic task assignments and customize it based on individual projects.
Templates
A good way to get acquainted with a product is through their templates. They tend to utilize many of the features you would likely want to use already set up, so you just have to customize it to fit your needs.
Cost Tracking
How much did that successful marketing campaign cost to produce? Sales management software will help you conduct analysis to determine the ROI of each campaign. It provides ways to keep track of expenses for each project and break it down by employee, task, department, and work items. At the end of the project, you’ll be able to view actual costs versus initial projections.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Tools
When dealing with clients, it’s helpful to have a history of the interactions your team has had with them. That’s where CRM account management tools come in handy. Additionally, it’s a great place to find prospects for new work and all the information you need to pitch them is already available.
Streamline Your Marketing Agency Work With Smartsheet for Marketing
The best marketing teams know the importance of effective campaign management, consistent creative operations, and powerful event logistics -- and Smartsheet helps you deliver on all three so you can be more effective and achieve more.
The Smartsheet platform makes it easy to plan, capture, manage, and report on work from anywhere, helping your team be more effective and get more done. Report on key metrics and get real-time visibility into work as it happens with roll-up reports, dashboards, and automated workflows built to keep your team connected and informed.
When teams have clarity into the work getting done, there’s no telling how much more they can accomplish in the same amount of time.Try Smartsheet for free, today.