For any task, having the right tools is essential to completing a quality job. It’s the difference between getting the job done and getting the job done well. This is also true in marketing. We understand that senior living is an industry full of opportunity and different stories, which means your marketing team, budget, and time may look different than others. To help give you a head start on expanding your marketing toolkit while saving on time and money, we’ve listed some of our go-to, practical resources here at Solinity Marketing.

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Our Favorite Free Resources 

Every marketing budget is different, which is why we can all get behind a great, free resource. Some of the resources mentioned below have the option to upgrade to a premium version, but all of them include a free, base version. From SEO to post design, you don’t have to break your marketing budget to get the job done well.
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Squoosh.app

A regular part of a marketer’s tasks is resizing and compressing images. A quick way to accomplish this is through Squoosh! Squoosh is a browser-based application that also has the option to install it on your computer. It’s as simple as dragging and dropping your image, then resizing and compressing to reach your desired file size. This allows you to boost loading times on whatever project you’re working on for no extra cost.
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Answer the Public 

Answer the Public is both a free and paid service to help boost SEO. With a free account, you have the ability to submit a keyword and generate top search terms to help you understand what your niche is asking. With this information, you can inform your copy, blogs, video titles, and captions to help get your content in front of your desired audience. Answer the Public does offer premium versions for individuals and teams. You can either pay monthly or make a one-time payment for a lifetime subscription.
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Canva/Adobe Express

Template-based design is growing in popularity, and the two main competitors are Canva and Adobe Express. Each software is either browser-based or available for installation. It is worth noting the limitations of template based design. However, these programs are extremely user friendly and affordable – even if you upgrade to a premium version. The drag and drop features of each program make tasks like video editing and post creation quick and simple. 
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Unsplash

Royalty free images are a great asset to have when high quality, in-house photos aren’t readily available. Unsplash offers a library of completely free images that are available for commercial use. You also have the option to upgrade to Unsplash+ to gain access to additional images. This can enhance your materials with quality images for no extra cost.
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ChatGPT

In recent years, AI has welcomed itself into the daily lives of marketers, and it has been received with mixed reviews. When used responsibly, AI can be a valuable tool in your toolkit. Among our own tools, you’ll find that ChatGPT can help speed up your processes. It is important to keep a human touch in your content, but ChatGPT can be a help in organizing data, pulling information from large portions of text, and applying data in different contexts. There are paid options for ChatGPT, but for no cost, you get access to a great tool.

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Learn how to properly use AI in marketing

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Adopting Paid Resources

With the limitations of some free software, growing your marketing skill set will eventually require you to invest in software that enables you to do more. As helpful as free resources are, here are some paid resources that can help elevate your marketing efforts.
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Adobe Suite

An Adobe Suite has become the standard for many marketers. The software ranges from video editing to graphic design, which creates a learning curve for those who are transitioning from template-based software. However, picking up new software can help expand and elevate your content. For two users, access to the full suite of programs costs $59.99 per month. 
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Envato Elements

Although there are many free stock materials available, licensing can be a headache to navigate. Investing into an asset library like Envato Elements gives you access to a wide array of stock materials (photos, video, graphics, music, etc.). Having these assets can help bridge the gap as you navigate new software by providing drag and drop templates for you and your team to use.
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Hootsuite 

As you create content, streamlining your process can be a game changer. Utilizing a media management system like Hootsuite can enable you to schedule posts on multiple platforms in one clean process. This saves time and allows for quick edits across all of your social platforms.
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Building an effective digital marketing toolkit is essential for achieving outstanding results. By leveraging both free and paid resources you can streamline your workflow and enhance your content's quality. These tools will help you stay competitive and efficient in your marketing efforts. Unsure where to begin? Contact Solinity Marketing to begin elevating your marketing today.