7 little-known tools marketers can use to boost productivity

As a marketer, your most valuable resources are time, energy and focus. How you use them directly relates to how productive you are on a daily basis. Your productivity plays a big role in the quality of your work and how you feel about it, too. With the right tools in place, you’ll be able to work more efficiently and effectively.

We’ve all heard those tips about making sure you’re carving out time for a lunch break, using a standing desk and drinking plenty of water. (Here’s your reminder to take a big gulp, by the way.) But what about the tech and productivity tools you have at your fingertips?

We’re sharing a few of our favorites so you and your team can instantly boost productivity while working smarter. Let’s dive in!

1. OneLook Dictionary Search

No need to use Google as your dictionary or thesaurus ever again. OneLook can do all of that and so much more.

Need words related to “pasta”? OneLook has 100+ ideas for you, like noodle, lasagna, fettuccine dough, salad etc.

Want to find words that start with “p” and have a meaning related to “sauce”? How about purée, polenta, pour, pudding or paste?

Or perhaps you’re looking for phrases that contain the word “spaghetti”? Presto! Mom’s spaghetti.

OneLook’s got you covered when it comes to content marketing and banishing writer’s block. It’s a copywriter’s dream come true, helping you write better, faster.

2. Pocket

As a marketer, you’re always researching the latest trends and best practices, but you need a quick and easy way to keep it all organized. Pocket is an app, website and browser extension that allows you to save and organize articles and videos.

Because let’s be honest: You’re thrilled you found this article on how to increase foot traffic to your Italian restaurant, but you don’t have time to read it right now.

With Pocket, you can create your own categories, discover new content and share links with your coworkers and friends, all in one place.

3. Google Search Tools

With third-party cookies disappearing in 2023, content marketing is top of mind for marketers. And that means your search engine optimization (SEO) strategy is more important than ever. Unless you’ve got an SEO team on deck to do this for you, you’ll want to use the best tools in the game.

If you’re writing a blog post for your garlic bread recipe, don’t just guess that your keyword should be “garlic bread.” That’s a start, but if you use these tools, you’ll practically be given your keyword, saving you time and energy.

Our favorites include:

• Google Keyword Planner
• Google Search Console
• Google Analytics
  
  

Voila! Your high-ranking keyword is now “easy homemade gluten-free garlic bread recipe.”

4. Voxer

Two words: Walkie. Talkie.

Voxer makes it easy to talk to anyone in the world, at any time. At the push of a button, you can send a voice message to friends, family or colleagues. Along with voice, Voxer also lets you send texts, photos, videos, GIFs and your location to single person or a group.

It’s perfect for when you need to clarify next steps on a project or discuss ideas with your team. When it comes to collaboration and communication at work, actually hearing someone’s tone of voice or excitement about a project can be contagious. Using a different channel for conversations other than email or video calls varies up how we communicate, making it easier to understand your coworkers’ intent while saving everyone time and energy.

5. A project management system (that you’ll actually use)

This one feels like an obvious productivity tool for marketers, but you’d be surprised how many teams simply don’t use the project management tool they signed up (or paid) for. Without project organization and communication, how would you be able to create, develop, test and market your products and services?

The key is to be sure your team understands the purpose behind your project management tool and that check-ins are happening so everyone is aligned. There are plenty of options out there depending on your marketing team’s size and needs. Find what works for your company and don’t be afraid to tweak it if needed.

6. Under the Influence with Terry O’Reilly

This weekly podcast with former adman Terry O’Reilly combines human behavior and pop culture with marketing and advertising. With trends constantly changing, busy marketing professionals need a quick, easy and fun way to stay in the know. Having a go-to marketing podcast means you can whip up a pasta salad for lunch while learning as you listen. O’Reilly focuses on the big shift in marketing from persuasion to influence, and how marketing campaigns and companies of all sizes are affected.

Pro tip: Save podcast transcripts directly from the website if you can’t listen or prefer to read!

7. Provoke: The DS+CO email newsletter

How could we NOT share this one with you?

Provoke is our marketing newsletter with timely and original content all marketers need to know about. We know you’re busy, so this is the best way to get the full rundown on trends, strategies and research, along with upcoming events and news. It’s one of our favorite ways to connect with you, so subscribe below and say hello!

Don’t forget, as a marketer, your greatest asset is your mind—where your innovative ideas come to life. But you’re not a computer. You can’t keep that great mind of yours running 24/7 or you’ll burn out. Using these productivity tools will help you produce high-quality content easier and faster.

That’s working smarter, not harder.

Be sure to subscribe to our Provoke DS+CO newsletter right here, and you’ll be well on your way to boosting productivity and upping your marketing game. Ready to get started on a project? Contact us and we’ll help you make it happen!