Tools for Marketing and Content Creation

Conferences have been on my mind a lot lately—specifically, the ones that bring together the brightest marketers and creators in the industry. After sharing the list with my Marketing team, one thought echoed across the board: "Our readers would probably love this, too." So, why are conferences on our radar in the first place? Well, being a remote team has some huge perks—working with people from around the globe, for starters. But there's something about meeting face-to-face that simply can’t be replicated through a Zoom call. Plus, the right conference does two things at once: gives you access to top-tier education and opens doors to incredible networking opportunities.…

When you think of stand-out social media campaigns, what’s the first one that comes to mind? I’m willing to bet the likes of Spotify Wrapped or Dove Beauty are right up there. Lauded as these examples are (rightly so!), they’re far from the only ground-breaking examples from recent years. In fact, it was tough to trim down this list of innovative, memorable social media campaigns down to a readable number — so I’m confident there are several on this list that will stand out on your hunt for inspiration. We’ve got heartfelt stories, celebrity salads, and of course, reincarnating owls. Anytime you feel you’re in a creative rut, come back to this list, snoop, and scoop wha…

If newsletters have a million fans, then I am one of them. If newsletters have only one fan, then that is me. If newsletters have no fans, I am no longer on earth. Drama aside, email newsletters are such a fascinating medium because they come in so many shapes and sizes. With the right combination, you get a wide range of experts in your inbox periodically, sharing news, insights, and advice. There are a ton of great newsletters to choose from – almost too many. So for this list, we focused on newsletters relevant to our audience of social media managers, creators, and small businesses. With the newsletters on this list, you can stay on top of all things social media and …

Podcasts have an undeniable allure for both their creators and fans. They hit all the right points – accessibility, depth, and variety – and have cemented their top content format status. As of 2024, over 5 million podcasts and 70 million episodes are available worldwide. With that many podcasts, you can be sure there’s a podcast for everyone. Whether you want a humorous retelling of a 20-something’s first time reading the Harry Potter series or your news fed directly to your ears, you likely have something you return to periodically. We selected the podcasts on this list so that whether you’re looking for advice to grow as a content creator or for the latest marketing…

Keeping up with Instagram in 2025 feels a bit like running a marathon. There’s always something new, trends move fast, and maintaining consistency can be exhausting. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to tackle it alone — and you certainly don’t have to spend a fortune. The right tools make all the difference. Whether you’re crafting engaging visuals, planning your content calendar, analyzing your data, or boosting engagement, free Instagram tools can save you hours of work every week. Detailed analytics can help in understanding post performance and user engagement. In this article, I’ve rounded up 26 free Instagram tools for creators, marketers, and small business…

We’ve always had teammates who have side projects in addition to working at Buffer. Working on new projects, building, experimenting, and self-improvement are built into our DNA as a company. So it's quite common to be speaking with someone only to find out they own a small business outside of Buffer that started as a side project. We also have several published authors and many apps built by Buffer teammates. We believe this entrepreneurial spirit and creative drive not only enhances our individual growth but also enriches our culture at Buffer. These passionate pursuits outside of work bring fresh perspectives, innovative thinking, and diverse skill sets back to our te…

Ever wondered how to increase your reach and engagement and, in turn, grow your following on Instagram? Your Instagram captions could hold the key. Yes, Instagram is a visual social media platform, but your caption carries more weight in the Instagram algorithm than you think. A strong visual can catch users' attention, but carefully thought-out Instagram captions can do more heavy lifting when it comes to growing your following on Instagram. For another, your caption can be crucial in prompting engagement from your followers. For example, you could use those 3,000 characters to: Authentically connect with your followers in a meaningful, vulnerable caption.Ask them a que…

With all the uncertainty surrounding the TikTok ban (which is on pause as of writing this article), creators who have built massive followings on the platform are understandably concerned about what the future holds. TikTok has been a game-changer for short-form video content, helping countless creators reach new heights in their careers, connect with global audiences, and even turn their passion into a full-time income. However, as the possibility of a ban looms, many creators are taking proactive steps to secure their futures by exploring other platforms. One popular strategy involves directing their followers to alternative networks using links in their bios, ensuring …

AI chatbots like ChatGPT have become ubiquitous and vital to how many knowledge workers, content creators, and business owners operate. But as powerful as ChatGPT is, it’s not the only player in the game — and sometimes, exploring alternatives can reveal new ways to streamline your workflow. That’s where this guide comes in. Instead of just rating chatbots based on generic criteria like accuracy, speed, and creativity, I wanted to see how they perform in a real-world content workflow. So, I paid for the subscriptions (courtesy of Buffer’s AI Tools stipend that will help me recoup those costs) and fed them data from my own social media, and gave a structured challenge to e…

Remember the days when ‘likes’ were the gold star metric on Instagram? Now, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to the sheer volume of data available to help you measure the performance of your content. Impressions, views, comments, shares… It’s exciting — if a little overwhelming. Instagram analytics can be a goldmine of insights for you as a creator or small business owner. These numbers can shape your Instagram strategy, helping you pinpoint exactly what kind of content will boost your reach and help grow your audience. But how do you get these insights? How do you spot patterns, connect the dots, and use your performance numbers to inform your strategy? And — bes…

Social listening is the art and science of monitoring what your buyers and potential customers are saying about: Your brandYour competitorsTopics related to your product or serviceStaying “in the know” about all these simultaneously is no easy feat. This is where social listening tools come in. They help you monitor brand mentions on major social media platforms, identify emerging trends in your niche, and package these online conversations into actionable insights for your social media strategy. In this article, I’ll share a list of six social listening tools (with alternatives) to help you choose the best software for your needs. Quick summary of the 6 best social liste…

With the ever-changing nature of The Algorithm™, hashtags have remained one of the most reliable ways to boost your content’s visibility. Whether you're creating Instagram Reels, posting to TikTok, or scheduling content across multiple social media platforms, the right hashtags can help you reach the right audience — fast. Your TikTok or Instagram hashtags might be what gets your content discovered, shared, or saved — especially when they’re relevant, timely, and well-placed. That’s why having a solid hashtag strategy is still a key part of successful social media marketing. But let’s be real: finding the best hashtags for every post can be a time-consuming task. And not …

In 2024, we saw social media evolve in many ways — from numerous updates to some platforms (cough Meta) to explosive growth for others (Bluesky!). We’re also watching things like the U.S. TikTok ban, which, as of writing this article, will happen on January 19 if not overturned or paused. It wasn’t just the platforms that changed — creators also had their moments on social, with some moving to start businesses, some exploring new platforms, and some reaching milestone numbers (Mr. Beast having more YouTube subscribers than the population of the U.S.) With all the changes on the horizon, it’s safe to say that social media will look a little different in 2025. We asked 11 e…

I create video content for Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn, so I’m always looking for new tools to make the process smoother — and I may just have found my new favorite. Instagram has just launched their brand-new video editing app, Edits by Instagram, and it’s already way surpassed my expectations. If you’ve ever tried to edit a reel with Instagram’s native video editing tools, you’ll know why I was a bit skeptical. Optimistic, but skeptical. But Edits has not disappointed. The new app is lightyears ahead of Instagram’s built-in editing capabilities — which makes sense, given that this new app is meant to rival CapCut, the Swiss Army knife of video editing…

From brainstorming ideas, creating outlines, repurposing content — AI can make your job as a writer a whole lot easier. Artificial intelligence is not going to do your best work for you, of course. We know there’s (thankfully?) still work to be done in replicating the weirdness and wonder of human creativity. But AI can take some of the work off your plate, so you can focus on exactly that: creating. However, with the ever-growing list of AI software and tools on the market — all promising to help you generate, streamline, and automate your writing process — it can be tricky to figure out which ones are worth your time (and money). Which is where I come in. I’m a produ…

If there’s one thing every creator wishes for, it’s more hours in the day. Between brainstorming ideas, creating content, engaging with audiences, and keeping up with trends, it can feel like the to-do list never ends. But here’s some good news: you may not be able to get more time—but you can definitely get smarter tools. 2025 is shaping up to be a year of massive opportunities for creators, but staying ahead means working efficiently. That’s where these tools come in. I asked my LinkedIn audience which tools they’re loving in 2025, and they delivered. This list has everything you need to save time, focus on what you do best, and absolutely crush it this year. Each tool …

There’s a bit of a misconception that it’s “too late” to get started as a creator in 2025. Sure, the TikTok boom of 2020 is behind us (RIP days where videos of your sourdough starter got 10K views), but that doesn’t mean you’ve missed the boat. For one thing, it’s probably never going to be as easy as it is right now, ever again. The space is crowded, but it’s only getting more so. And another: there's still plenty of room for authentic voices to make their mark. "Your voice and your perspective matter," says creator and marketer Aarushi Singh. "There's room for everyone in the creator economy, and the world needs more passionate people sharing their knowledge and creativ…

When it comes to social media platforms, Facebook is as crowded as they come. The social network currently has a staggering 3 billion active users — so almost a third of the world population has a Facebook account they use regularly. Crowded as it may be, it’s still a powerful social media marketing platform for businesses and creators — if you have the right social media strategy in place. Part of that content strategy involves figuring out the best time to post on Facebook for maximum engagement. When it comes to the Facebook algorithm, engagement — reactions, comments, shares, and the like — is a strong signal that your content is valuable and that more people will enj…

There’s no two ways about it: video is the way people prefer to consume content in 2025. Buffer’s data shows that when it comes to social media platforms video outperforms every other type of content by a landslide — and that’s on all platforms. Whether you’re a social media marketer, content creator, or influencer, video content should be a key part of your growth and marketing strategy. Of course, that’s easier said than done. Video creation requires a lot more input (though the proof really is in the pudding). Often, the biggest hurdle to overcome is video editing — but in 2025, there’s really no reason to let this block you. Thanks to the incredible variety of free vi…

There's a lot you can do to boost your chances of success on social media — optimize your content for engagement, find your perfect posting times, master the art of thumb-stopping hooks... But even these smart tactics don't guarantee success. Few things do when it comes to navigating social media algorithms and ever-changing audience behavior. From our research and experience at Buffer, there's only one thing that comes close: posting consistently. It’s a social media tip successful creators, marketers, and even platform bosses (thanks, Adam Mosseri) share all the time. The more you post, the better your chances of success on all social media platforms. And guess what? No…

Building your presence across multiple social media platforms is incredibly valuable for brands and creators — but it doesn't have to mean spending all day creating unique content for each channel. In fact, many successful creators and brands have a secret: they crosspost across platforms to get more mileage out of their content. Our data shows this approach is remarkably common — 59% of posts created in Buffer are posted to more than one social media platform. Crossposting a game-changer for busy creators and small businesses who want to maintain an active presence on social media without burning out. Instead of starting from scratch for every platform, you can adapt and…

You're spoiled for choice when it comes to Facebook ads — from images and videos to carousels and collections, there’s a format (and placement) for just about every goal. Advertising on Facebook also gives you the chance to experiment and find just the right approach for your brand. But with so many options, it’s important to keep up with the latest Facebook ad specs. Facebook offers a world of creative opportunities, and getting the specs right is your first step to making the most of them. If you’ve ever found yourself Googling “Facebook ad sizes” or “Meta ad specs” five minutes before launching a campaign, we’ve got you covered. In this fully updated guide, you’ll fin…

I’ve written plenty about how creators can monetize their social media — from general to platform-specific advice. But a few months ago, I decided it was time to stop just talking about it and actually put my theories to the test — starting with LinkedIn. Honestly, I had no clue if sponsored content would even work on LinkedIn — or if brands would care. So, I decided to find out publicly, and my community immediately responded with helpful feedback. However, I wouldn’t take any meaningful action until January of 2025, with what I called my #LinkedIncome Journey. I shared my goal to make $20,000 in 2025 from LinkedIn brand partnerships, and within two weeks, I got my first…

Let’s start with the facts: I don’t usually create content this way. Most weeks, I post 3–5 times across LinkedIn, Threads, and TikTok — usually planned a few days in advance, sometimes the same day. I like having the flexibility to post when I’m inspired, not just when something’s scheduled. But ahead of a month-long trip — part retreat, part travel — I knew I couldn’t rely on my usual workflow. I would be adjusting to new environments, exploring new cities and attending full-day team sessions. I wanted to stay visible online without scrambling to come up with new ideas mid-trip. So I gave myself one focused day to get ahead. Not to create 30 fully polished posts — but t…

The first rule of the Instagram algorithm means understanding that there is no single algorithm. In fact, according to a blog post shared by the Meta-owned platform, “a variety of algorithms, classifiers, and processes, each with its own purpose,” ensure that IG users see the content that most interests them. “We want to make the most of people’s time, and we believe that using technology to personalize everyone’s experience is the best way to do that,” Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri wrote in the update. Now, a “variety of algorithms, classifiers, and processes” may sound a little confusing, but fear not — it’s not quite as intimidating as it sounds. In this article, I’l…