10 Best Small Business Marketing Software Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 26 tools reviewed.
In today's fast-paced market, marketing managers like you face constant challenges. Juggling multiple campaigns, keeping up with trends, and engaging your audience can be overwhelming. That's where small business marketing software steps in to help.
I've spent time testing and reviewing these tools independently. I understand the marketing industry's ins and outs, and I'm here to share unbiased insights. In my experience, the right software can make a big difference for your team.
In this article, I'll walk you through my top picks for small business marketing software. You'll find solutions that address your unique needs, helping you tackle marketing challenges with confidence.
Why Trust Our Software Reviews
The Best Small Business Marketing Software Summary
| Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best for AI-powered content creation | Free forever plan available | From $29/month | Website | |
| 2 | Best for local business review management | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 3 | Best for AI-powered customer support | 7-day free trial + free plan available | From $25/user/month | Website | |
| 4 | Best for advanced segmentation | Free plan available | From $45/month | Website | |
| 5 | HubSpot Marketing - Best for comprehensive CRM integration | Free plan + demo available | From $800/month + $45/month for additional seats | Website | |
| 6 | Best for designing graphics | Free plan available | From $8.90/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 7 | Best for website insights | Free plan available | Free for small and medium-sized businesses | Website | |
| 8 | Best for ecommerce marketing automation | 14-day free trial | From $39/month | Website | |
| 9 | Best for scheduling social media content | Free plan available | From $5/user/month | Website | |
| 10 | Best email marketing automation tool | 30-day free trial + free plan available | From $13/month | Website |
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Eloqua
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.3 -
Optimizely
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.2 -
Uberflip
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.3
Overviews Of The 10 Best Small Business Marketing Software
You can use the simple overviews of each tool below to understand how each tool stands out from other small business marketing software.
Enji is a small business marketing platform that combines planning, content creation, scheduling, and analytics into one user-friendly tool. It’s designed to help business owners manage marketing without juggling multiple apps or hiring a full in-house team.
Why I Picked Enji: I added Enji to this list because its AI copywriter makes content creation far easier for small businesses. You can generate captions, blog ideas, and post drafts tailored to your audience in minutes, even if you don’t have a dedicated marketing writer. I also like how the marketing calendar keeps you on track with campaigns, while the performance dashboard shows what’s working so you can make adjustments quickly. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by marketing, Enji can simplify the process.
Enji Standout Features & Integrations
Features include a marketing strategy generator to build a plan tailored to your business goals, a social media scheduler to manage posts across channels, and a performance dashboard that highlights key KPIs so you know what’s moving the needle. Its AI copywriter is especially valuable for producing on-brand content without hours of drafting.
Integrations include Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube Shorts, Threads, TikTok, Google Analytics 4, Google Calendar, iCal, and Canva.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Affordable small business pricing
- Easy-to-use marketing calendar
- Strong AI-powered copywriting
Cons:
- Smaller integration ecosystem
- Limited advanced customization
Birdeye is a reputation management platform that’s suitable for businesses of various sizes, industries, and contexts. It’s particularly useful for local businesses seeking to manage their online presence and monitor customer reviews.
Why I Picked Birdeye: I decided to add this platform to my list because of its focus on local business reputation management. Your small business can keep track of online customer reviews on over 150 different review sites, and use this information to fuel your marketing, customer service, and product and service offerings.
You can also collect customer feedback through the platform and benchmark your reviews and ratings against local competitors. Factors like NPS and specific areas of customer satisfaction can be compared. For local businesses that rely on word-of-mouth referrals, these tools are invaluable.
Birdeye Standout Features & Integrations
One feature that stands out about this platform is its topic tracking tool. You can monitor topics that are relevant to your product or service offerings, and spot opportunities to contribute to conversations or respond to customer or lead inquiries. This helps you create an active and engaged brand presence online. I find this super helpful for small businesses that might not have a big marketing team to conduct social listening or engagement activities.
Integrations include QuickBooks, Square, Zoho CRM, Zoho Books, Zoho Invoice, Pipedrive, Thryv, Keap, HubSpot, Lightspeed, and hundreds of other SaaS tools.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Automates customer surveys and reviews
- Tons of integrations available
- Customer feedback management tools included
Cons:
- Limited customer support
- No free plan or trial
New Product Updates from Birdeye
Birdeye adds AI Search and Six New Agents to Boost Visibility
Birdeye rolled out Search AI plus six AI-powered agents to help you win visibility, capture leads, manage reviews, segment contacts, generate reviews, and engage on social. Each tool handles the heavy lifting so you can focus on growth. Visit Birdeye's website for more.
Tidio is a small business marketing software designed to enhance customer engagement and support. It combines live chat, AI chatbots, email marketing, and help desk tools into one easy-to-use platform. With its automation and multichannel communication capabilities, Tidio helps small businesses provide 24/7 customer assistance and stay connected with their audience across all major channels.
Why I Picked Tidio: I picked Tidio because it gives small businesses an affordable way to provide round-the-clock customer support without requiring a full-time team. Its Lyro AI Agent can handle routine customer inquiries automatically, while the live chat tool ensures that complex issues still get a personal touch. I also like how the performance analytics help you track response times and customer satisfaction, so you can continually refine your service. If you’re looking for a way to keep your customers engaged and supported, Tidio fits the bill.
Tidio Standout Features & Integrations
Features include the Lyro AI Agent for automated chat responses, multichannel communication across social platforms, a help desk system to manage tickets efficiently, and performance analytics to monitor team and chatbot effectiveness.
Integrations include Google, HubSpot, Typeform, YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, Shopify, WordPress, WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, and Mailchimp.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Strong multichannel communication
- Affordable for small businesses
- Easy-to-use live chat tools
Cons:
- Some integrations need setup help
- Advanced features cost extra
Klaviyo is a powerful marketing automation platform that offers a range of tools to enhance email, SMS, and mobile push marketing efforts.
Why I Picked Klaviyo: I like that Klaviyo enables businesses to create highly specific audience segments based on various criteria, such as purchase history, engagement levels, and demographic information. This ensures that marketing messages are relevant to each recipient, increasing the likelihood of engagement and conversion. By leveraging these segmentation tools, small businesses can compete with larger companies by delivering personalized experiences to their customers.
Additionally, Klaviyo's flows feature allows businesses to automate marketing processes based on customer behavior, saving time and ensuring consistent communication.
Klaviyo Standout Features & Integrations
Features include A/B testing that allows businesses to experiment with different elements of their campaigns to identify the most effective strategies. Additionally, predictive analytics uses machine learning to forecast customer behavior, while customizable signup forms enable businesses to capture leads effectively, with options to design forms that match their brand and optimize conversion rates.
Integrations include Shopify, Salesforce, Wix, WooCommerce, Adobe Commerce (Magento), BigCommerce, Google Analytics, Facebook Ads, Instagram, Stripe, PayPal, QuickBooks, Zendesk, and Slack.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Over 300 integrations available
- AI features for analytics and dynamic content
- Good automation capabilities
Cons:
- Can't embed videos in emails
- Can get costly with more active profiles
HubSpot Marketing - Best for comprehensive CRM integration
HubSpot Marketing is a comprehensive CRM integration tool that offers a wide range of features such as marketing automation, sales, support, chat, and CRM integration, making it a complete solution for customer relationship management needs.
Why I picked HubSpot Marketing: I chose HubSpot Marketing for small business marketing software because it offers a feature-rich CRM platform with tools for marketing, sales, content management, and customer service. It stands out due to its individual products and the ability to integrate them for a cohesive experience. I think the tool is best for comprehensive CRM integration because it provides all the necessary tools and integrations for marketing, sales, and customer service in one platform. It provides seamless integration with various software, extensive automation capabilities, and valuable insights into website performance and traffic, making it a valuable asset for businesses looking to optimize their marketing strategies.
HubSpot Marketing Standout Features and Integrations
Features include specialized email marketing tools, which allow businesses to create and send personalized email campaigns using a drag-and-drop editor and track their performance. Hubspot's lead management tools help capture, organize, and nurture leads through the sales funnel with automated lead scoring and follow-ups. Additionally, social media management features enable scheduling posts, tracking engagement, and analyzing performance across multiple platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Integrations include Gmail, Google Calendar, Outlook, Zapier, Google Ads, Facebook Ads, Zoom, Slack, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Mailchimp, Instagram, Twitter, Canva, Salesforce, Eventbrite, Stripe, Hotjar, Asana, and Jira.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Integrates well with lead generation functions
- Easy to use and well put together
Cons:
- Slight learning curve associated with fully utilizing HubSpot's capabilities
- Certain features require upgrades which costs extra
Canva helps businesses create stunning graphics to get them noticed.
Why I picked Canva: This tool will help you stand out and get noticed with stunning graphics that you can design, even if you’re just a beginner. If you don’t have any graphic editing skills, you can still use the software to quickly create amazing looking design within minutes. Canva offers many graphic design features to help you create the perfect asset for your content, emails, or website.
Canva helps small businesses design anything they need for their content by providing a simple drag-and-drop tool and professional templates. The platform provides over 100 million stock photos, videos, and audio for your unique designs. Canva also provides a logo-maker tool if you’re still in the startup phase and don’t have a logo yet.
Canva Standout Features and Integrations
Features include text animations, design templates, an image editor, content management, visual discovery, filtered views, cloud storage, multiple file formats, edit and change tracking, and user tagging.
Integrations include WordPress, Asana, Microsoft OneDrive, Sendible, HubSpot CMS Hub, Brandfolder, Oktopost, Pexels, PageProof, OptiSigns, and Desktop.com.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- An enormous template and graphics collection.
- A mobile application is available.
- Easy to get started.
Cons:
- Some performance issues.
- More useful features are in paid plans.
Google Analytics provides insights into a business’s website and digital marketing.
Why I picked Google Analytics: You can use the information Google Analytics provides to improve customer experience. The platform provides deep website insights that will help you understand your site, so you can better understand the performance of your products, content, and other aspects. Google Analytics will help you see what’s working for your business and what you need to improve to enhance your campaigns’ performance.
Google Analytics works well for anyone looking to track website visitors and get detailed information. When using Google Analytics, you can access Google’s unique insights and machine learning capabilities to help your business get the most from your data. You can use the platform’s analytics intelligence, detailed reporting, and other extensive analytics tools to get the most from your data and increase efficiency.
Google Analytics Standout Features and Integrations
Features include campaign management, goal tracking, conversion tracking, pageview analytics, visitor interaction monitoring, time on-site tracking, referral source monitoring, and keyword tracking.
Integrations include Freshdesk, SendGrid, Improvado, Odoo, Jotform, HoneyBook, GetResponse, Outgrow, Ecwid, OptiMonk, Desktop.com, LiveAgent, Zendesk, Mailchimp, WordPress, and Salesforce.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Can measure specific targets.
- Gives accurate results.
- Provides all visitor action details.
Cons:
- Steep learning curve.
- Overwhelming amounts of data.
Drip helps ecommerce businesses by providing intelligent email marketing and segmenting capabilities.
Why I picked Drip: This is another email marketing tool, but it focuses on helping ecommerce businesses create personalized campaigns. Drip provides pre-built email templates and a drag-and-drop visual editor to get you started immediately. The platform also helps you build email collection forms and pop-ups to encourage visitors to give you their email addresses.
Drip is a world-class marketing platform for businesses that need to know their customers. It provides your company with tracking tools, multichannel marketing capabilities, automated workflows, and other beneficial features to help you understand your visitors. Drip also provides a robust analytics dashboard showing exactly how your marketing campaigns perform.
Drip Standout Features and Integrations
Features include dynamic segmentation, email campaign management, a visual workflow builder, automated campaigns, behavior-based automation, a visual email builder, A/B testing, drip campaigns, and template management.
Integrations include Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Stripe, Typeform, Zapier, Airtable, ActiveCampaign, Zendesk, Zoho CRM, Wrike, Xero, HubSpot, Hotjar, Hootsuite, and Google Analytics.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Provides beautiful email templates.
- Accessible and intuitive tools.
- Powerful flexibility capabilities.
Cons:
- Takes time to use workflows.
- Can be challenging to use.
Buffer helps businesses schedule social media in advance on multiple major social media networks.
Why I picked Buffer: The platform will help you schedule your social media content and provide automations to post your content on your behalf. Buffer has excellent analytics tools to help you identify the best times to post your content based on engagement levels. For small businesses, Buffer will help you increase your follower base and build your brand. You can use the platform to schedule content posts on popular social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
Buffer provides a suite of tools for small businesses to help them connect with online customers. The software will help you stand out online and increase meaningful engagement with measurable results. Buffer also has an AI assistant that will help you create content ideas in one click and repurpose existing content multiple times.
Buffer Standout Features and Integrations
Features include content management, customer engagement, brand tracking, automated content publishing, engagement tracking, customizable reports, multi-account management, team collaboration tools, social media monitoring, and conversion tracking.
Integrations include Mailchimp, WordPress, Slack, Trello, Zapier, Rebrandly, Typeform, Zoho Flow, Klipfolio, Databox, ProjectManager, Feedspot, and Stackreaction.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Fast customer service team.
- Top-notch analytics function.
- Excellent content scheduling capability.
Cons:
- The mobile app needs improvement.
- It can be slow at times.
Mailchimp helps businesses create automated email campaigns to build brand awareness.
Why I picked Mailchimp: The platform is one of the most popular email marketing tools for small businesses. When using Mailchimp, you can build effective email templates and send messages according to your subscribers’ behavior. You can send automated weekly newsletters, product or service updates, or cart abandonment emails to ensure your brand stays on top of your customers’ minds while you focus on other crucial functions that require your attention.
Mailchimp is a cloud-based system that works for small businesses in any industry. You can use the software to promote your business using multiple methods, such as email, landing pages, social media, postcards, and other effective ways. Mailchimp also provides a CRM that helps you collect customer data and use those insights towards your next campaign.
Mailchimp Standout Features and Integrations
Features include email templates, a drag-and-drop editor, email segmentation, email automations, analytics and artificial intelligence, A/B testing, campaign management, automated customer journeys, and optimization recommendations.
Integrations include Shopify, Stripe, Quickbooks, Zendesk, WordPress, Typeform, SurveyMonkey, Salesforce, Copper CRM, Pipedrive, monday.com, Zoho CRM, Canva, and Zapier.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Works well with small email lists
- Effectively manages email campaigns
- Easy to set up
Cons:
- Data needs more details
- Some customization restrictions
Other Small Business Marketing Software
Here are a few more options that didn’t make the best small business marketing software list:
- ActiveCampaign
For customer experience automation
- Yoast SEO
For search engine optimization
- BDOW!
For growing an email marketing lis
- Semrush
For keyword research
- monday.com
For managing marketing campaigns
- Hootsuite
For monitoring social media campaigns
- Sprout Social
Social media management tool that helps small businesses publish and schedule content, engage with followers, and analyze social media performance.
- ClickFunnels
Sales funnel builder that helps small businesses create and optimize their sales funnels for lead generation and conversion
- Ahrefs
Comprehensive SEO tool that helps small businesses track website rankings, analyze backlinks, and research keywords.
- Constant Contact
Email marketing software that helps small businesses create and send email newsletters, manage contacts, and more.
- Moz Pro
Suite of SEO tools that helps small businesses improve their search engine rankings, track website traffic, and analyze their competition.
- Wistia
Video hosting platform that helps small businesses create, host, and analyze video content on their website and social media channels.
- Leadpages
Landing page builder that helps small businesses create high-converting landing pages, pop-ups, and alert bars.
- Salesforce Marketing Cloud
Marketing automation software that helps small businesses create and manage personalized customer journeys across email, mobile, social, and web channels.
- OptinMonster
Lead generation tool that helps small businesses convert website visitors into subscribers, customers, and sales.
- Google My Business
Free tool that helps small businesses manage their online presence on Google, including their business information, reviews, and search results.
Small Business Marketing Software Selection Criteria
When selecting the best small business marketing software to include in this list, I considered common buyer needs and pain points like budget constraints and ease of use. I also used the following framework to keep my evaluation structured and fair:
Core Functionality (25% of total score)
To be considered for inclusion in this list, each solution had to fulfill these common use cases:
- Email marketing
- Social media management
- Customer relationship management
- Analytics and reporting
- Campaign automation
Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
To help further narrow down the competition, I also looked for unique features, such as:
- Customizable templates
- AI-driven insights
- Multi-channel marketing
- Advanced segmentation
- Integration with e-commerce platforms
Usability (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the usability of each system, I considered the following:
- Intuitive interface
- Easy navigation
- Quick setup process
- Customizable dashboards
- Mobile accessibility
Onboarding (10% of total score)
To evaluate the onboarding experience for each platform, I considered the following:
- Availability of training videos
- Interactive product tours
- Access to webinars
- Comprehensive user guides
- Responsive chatbots
Customer Support (10% of total score)
To assess each software provider’s customer support services, I considered the following:
- 24/7 support availability
- Multiple support channels
- Response time
- Access to a knowledge base
- Personalized assistance
Value For Money (10% of total score)
To evaluate the value for money of each platform, I considered the following:
- Competitive pricing
- Range of pricing plans
- Free trial availability
- Feature set for the price
- Discounts for long-term plans
Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered the following when reading customer reviews:
- Overall satisfaction rating
- Frequency of updates
- Feedback on ease of use
- Comments on customer support
- Value for money feedback
How to Choose Small Business Marketing Software
It’s easy to get bogged down in long feature lists and complex pricing structures. To help you stay focused as you work through your unique software selection process, here’s a checklist of factors to keep in mind:
| Factor | What to Consider |
|---|---|
| Scalability | Will the software grow with your business? Consider future needs and user limits. Look for tools that can handle increased data and users without extra cost. |
| Integrations | Does it connect with your existing tools? Make sure it supports key platforms like CRM, social media, and email systems to avoid workflow disruptions. |
| Customizability | Can you tailor it to fit your processes? Look for tools that allow you to modify dashboards, reports, and user roles to match your team's needs. |
| Ease of use | Is it user-friendly for your team? A simple interface reduces training time. Consider tools that offer demos or free trials to test usability. |
| Implementation and onboarding | How long will it take to get started? Check for comprehensive support like tutorials, guides, and customer service to ensure a smooth transition. |
| Cost | Does it fit your budget? Compare pricing plans, hidden fees, and contract terms. Look for free trials or tiered pricing to find a cost-effective option. |
| Security safeguards | Are your data and customer information protected? Ensure the software complies with data protection standards and offers features like encryption and multi-factor authentication. |
What Is Small Business Marketing Software?
Small business marketing software is a set of tools designed to help small businesses manage and execute marketing activities. Marketing managers, small business owners, and marketers generally use these tools to improve customer engagement and drive sales. Email marketing, social media management, and analytics features help with organizing campaigns, tracking performance, and understanding customer behavior. Overall, these tools provide valuable support in efficiently managing marketing efforts.
Features
When selecting small business marketing software, keep an eye out for the following key features:
- Email marketing: Automates sending targeted email campaigns to engage customers and nurture leads.
- Social media management: Manages and schedules posts across multiple platforms to maintain consistent brand presence.
- Analytics and reporting: Provides insights into campaign performance, helping you make data-driven decisions.
- Campaign automation: Streamlines repetitive tasks, allowing you to focus on strategy and creative work.
- CRM integration: Connects with customer relationship management tools to centralize customer interactions and data.
- Customizable templates: Offers ready-to-use designs that can be tailored to fit your brand and messaging.
- AI-driven insights: Analyzes data to provide actionable recommendations for improving marketing strategies.
- Multi-channel marketing: Supports outreach across various channels, ensuring a cohesive marketing approach.
- Mobile accessibility: Enables you to manage marketing activities on-the-go through mobile devices.
- Security safeguards: Protects customer data with features like encryption and multi-factor authentication.
Benefits
Implementing small business marketing software provides several benefits for your team and your business. Here are a few you can look forward to:
- Improved efficiency: Automating tasks like email campaigns and social media management saves time and lets your team focus on strategy.
- Better customer insights: Analytics and reporting features help you understand customer behavior and preferences, allowing for informed decision-making.
- Increased engagement: Multi-channel marketing ensures consistent communication across platforms, keeping your audience engaged and informed.
- Enhanced collaboration: CRM integration and customizable templates facilitate teamwork by centralizing data and providing shared resources.
- Cost savings: By consolidating multiple marketing functions into one tool, you reduce the need for multiple subscriptions and services.
- Scalability: As your business grows, the software can adapt to increased data and user demands without significant additional costs.
- Data security: Security safeguards protect sensitive customer information, helping you maintain trust and comply with data protection standards.
Costs & Pricing
Selecting small business marketing software requires an understanding of the various pricing models and plans available. Costs vary based on features, team size, add-ons, and more. The table below summarizes common plans, their average prices, and typical features included in small business marketing software solutions:
Plan Comparison Table for Small Business Marketing Software
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | $0 | Basic email marketing, limited social media management, and basic analytics. |
| Personal Plan | $5-$25/user/month | Email marketing, social media scheduling, basic CRM integration, and reporting tools. |
| Business Plan | $30-$75/user/month | Advanced email campaigns, multi-channel marketing, detailed analytics, and custom templates. |
| Enterprise Plan | $100+/user/month | Comprehensive CRM integration, AI-driven insights, dedicated support, and enhanced security features. |
People Also Ask
Here are a few popular questions answered for your convenience!
Can small business marketing software integrate with my existing tools?
Yes, most small business marketing software can integrate with popular tools like CRMs, social media platforms, and email services. Check the software’s integration capabilities on their website or contact their support for confirmation. Seamless integration helps maintain workflow continuity and avoids data silos.
Is technical expertise required to use marketing software?
No, most small business marketing software is designed for users with varying technical skills. Look for tools with user-friendly interfaces, tutorials, and support resources. Many platforms offer onboarding help and customer support to guide you through setup and usage, making it accessible for non-technical users.
How can I ensure data security with marketing software?
Choose software that complies with data protection standards and offers security features like encryption and multi-factor authentication. Check their privacy policy and data handling practices. Regularly update passwords and educate your team on security best practices to protect sensitive information.
What’s Next:
If you're in the process of researching small business marketing software, connect with a SoftwareSelect advisor for free recommendations.
You fill out a form and have a quick chat where they get into the specifics of your needs. Then you'll get a shortlist of software to review. They'll even support you through the entire buying process, including price negotiations.
