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The Top 5 Free Inbound Marketing Tools | Digital 22

4 mins read

If you're keen to augment your inbound marketing methods with some savvy tech and tools, I've hand-picked some inbound marketing tools to add to your arsenal. Ranging from popular all-in-one platforms to some of my niche personal faves, these are the inbound marketing tools you should implement to grow and nurture visitors, leads and customers. 

Free

  1. HubSpot
  2. Vidyard
  3. Grammarly
  4. SEMRush
  5. Typeform

Paid

  1. Hotjar
  2. AdRoll
  3. Outgrow

Free tools

What’s better than tools that enhance your inbound marketing? Free tools that enhance your inbound marketing.

1. HubSpot

hubspot free inbound marketing toolsWith inbound marketing popularised by HubSpot and absolutely soaring at the moment, it's no surprise that this marketing automation platform claims the number one spot on our roundup.

It’s a given. HubSpot allows management of website content and every other aspect of inbound marketing: email, SEO, automation, nurturing, landing pages, social media, blogging and analytics. 

Everything works in tandem and HubSpot offers a one-size-fits-all solution for all your inbound needs. Not to mention HubSpot’s free plan includes a powerful CRM allowing for up to 1000 contacts. 

Honestly, I could go on for days because it’s such an important inbound tool - but if you want to know how to make the most out of the free HubSpot marketing package, hop on over to this blog where it’ll tell you exactly that. 

2. Vidyard

marija from vidyard on the d22 podcast

Any marketer worth their salt knows that video is here to stay, but you already knew that. According to the inbound titans themselves, Hubspot states 81% of businesses use video as a marketing tool - which is up from 63% from the last year. 

Vidyard is a lightweight video hosting platform designed with us lovely marketers in mind. With Vidyard, you can start adding videos to your website and campaigns with just a few clicks. The free version lets you upload an unlimited (yes, you heard me right) number of videos. 

Bonus: they’re automatically optimised for sharing. Love that from Vidyard. 

Unlike most free video hosting platforms, Vidyard has zero ads, so there’s nothing to distract viewers from your wonderful visual content. The free version does have a small Vidyard logo on the video player which can be removed if you do decide to upgrade.

Vidyard's very own Marija featured on our podcast Inbound After Hours, talking about how important video is for sales. It's full of tips and stats all about implementing video into your content ecosystem. 

Vidyard has a free screen and webcam recording Chrome extension that makes it easy to create videos too. This is great for comms with clients and the rest of your team. You can simply send it in an email or copy the link to share the video wherever you want.

3. Grammarly

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Whether you’re a veteran content creator or you’re the new kid on the inbound block, you’ve got the frustration of writing and editing your own work. Not just because you think you’re the best thing since Shakespeare, but because even the best writers need a second set of eyes to help with the editing process.

If you don’t have an editor handy, Grammarly is the next best thing. Paste your content into the editor and it will flag spelling and grammar errors. It even makes suggestions regarding word usage.

Although it’s a super useful tool, remember that no automated-editorial-assistant-robot fully replaces the need for a proofer. iRobot is not replacing jobs anytime soon. Just be sure to review every suggested edit and you’ll be fine. 

Grammarly is free, although I recommend upgrading to the premium version. It scans for more subtle grammar issues that can significantly elevate the quality of your writing. 

4. SEMRush

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SEMrush is a popular SEO tool that specializes in keyword research, competitor analysis and Google Ad campaign optimisation

Many users new to SEMrush ask this question - what you can do with SEMrush software? With a free account, you can still use SEMrush but you’ll be limited in your ability to pull data and use their tools.

This trial allows you to test out each of our tools and reports to help you understand how SEMrush fits your needs and if Pro or Guru would be better for you. You can find out more about the limits of each account level here.

5. Typeform

typeform is a smart inbound marketing tools by hubspotImage credit

Typeform makes collecting information convenient and conversational. Aesthetic plays a big role in the overall experience of a brand - you can capture more leads with Typeform’s user-friendly, personalised and attractive interface. Their philosophy of “one question at a time” makes a simple online form feel more human.

It also integrates seamlessly with HubSpot’s CRM and you can even track where these respondents come from. Lead gen forms, registration forms, surveys, quizzes - they’re coming up with new creative ways to use Typeform everyday. 

Paid tools

Okay, I know this blog is about our favourite FREE inbound marketing tools but I’d be denying you of so much value if I didn’t mention these too. They’re not free, but they’re definitely worth it. 

1. Hotjar

hotjar heat map inbound toolImage credit

UX testing is all the rage right now and is especially relevant for marketers struggling to drive the appropriate clicks. In fact, something as simple as a button placement could be killing your content’s ability to convert. 

That’s where Hotjar comes in. It provides actionable insights on what’s drawing your visitors’ attention and what’s just not floating their boat.

Using sophisticated heatmaps, session recordings and pop-up surveys this tool gives you the data you need to optimise your pages and get better results. Fine-tuning even the most minor details of your site can make a major difference in terms of conversions.

In addition to a free limited-time trial, Hotjar offers tiered pricing plans based on page views. 

2. AdRoll

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AdRoll’s pricing is based on your ad spend, so allow me. For those who have been living under a rock, AdRoll simplifies retargeting and gives you a powerful suite of tools and services to guarantee you’re getting the right ad in front of the right person. 

A common misconception is that inbound marketing and display advertising aren’t meant to be (picture Romeo and Juliet but without the teenage rebellion). However, marketers are increasingly combining the best techniques from both to maximise their reach and find qualified potential customers.

AdRoll, when paired with HubSpot, is a formidable duo. As the digital world continues to shift, marketers need to add all kinds of tactics to their arsenal. 

Back in 2019 at our marketing event LOVE INBOUND, AdRoll’s very own Johanna Eichhorst explained just how beneficial display advertising can be when it comes to inciting growth for your business. 

3. Outgrow

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Around 27,000,000 pieces of content are shared daily. What makes your blog so special?

Marketers around the globe are realising the importance of engaging and interactive content so it’s no longer just about blogs and ebooks. Using Outgrow, you can transform your static content into engaging, effective, measurable experiences in the form of quizzes, assessments, polls and calculators.

Inbound marketing is one of the most effective ways to drive new leads, sales and conversions. By using some of the tools above, you can increase productivity, drive more traffic through engaging content. 

These tools will definitely help you but if you really want to improve your inbound marketing, you need to read our guide that has it all.  

Improve your marketing with Inbound 2.0

Extra, extra! Read all about it! Inbound tactics expand, shift, grow and change - just like marketing methods. What worked last year is probably outdated and ineffective now. So we’ve created a guide to give you the most up-to-date information on all things inbound marketing.

From conversational marketing to buyer personas, best practices to tips on delighting customers, it’s all in here. Get your hands on a copy using the link below.