4 Simplified Marketing Tools Every Small Business Owner Needs

4 Simplified Marketing Tools Every Small Business Owner Needs

Running a small business is exciting—but let’s be honest, it can also feel completely overwhelming. Between the endless ads, conflicting advice, and an oversaturation of “must-have” tools, it’s easy to burn out before you even make progress. And especially if you are “newer” to owning your own business, you can feel like you are going to run outta steam fast when you feel like there are too many tools to choose from. 

That’s why I want to help you cut through the noise. In this post, I’m breaking down the best marketing tools for small business owners that will actually simplify your backend, save you time, and keep your overhead costs low. These are tools I personally use in my own business as a Nashville family photographer and systems + workflow educator.

Here are the types of marketing tools every small business owner needs:

• Social media schedulers

• Email marketing platforms

• Website platforms

• All-in-one marketing software

 I’ve made this post skimmable so you can quickly get what you need. And yes, there are affiliate links included—but I’ve added them so you can take advantage of discounts on tools that could actually transform the way you market your business.

🎙️To listen to the podcast version of this blog post, click below

🎥OR to watch the FULL YouTube Version of this blog post, click below

The Best Social Media Schedulers for Small Business

For small business owners, consistently showing up on social media is crucial—but posting in real-time every day? That’s the fastest way to burnout. Social media schedulers let you batch content in advance so you can focus on serving your clients without being chained to your phone.

Enji

Enji is best for: Small business owners who want a straightforward, affordable social media scheduler designed just for them.

My favorite features:

• Schedule Instagram posts, Stories, Facebook content, TikToks, YouTube Shorts, LinkedIn, and more

• KPI tracker so you can make data-driven decisions (not just gut feelings)

• Built-in branding guide + media kit storage so you’re not digging through Google Drive

• Team collaboration features (great if you have a VA or small team)

• Intuitive calendar + to-do list to organize your marketing tasks

Pros of Enji:

• Simple, clutter-free design built for small business owners

• Affordable compared to bigger platforms

• Excellent customer support + monthly office hours with the founder

• Constantly rolling out new features

Cons of Enji:

• Not as robust as enterprise-level platforms (but honestly, most solopreneurs don’t need that)

Affiliate Link For Enji: [Try Enji’s social media scheduler with my referral link and get a discount.]

The Best Email Marketing Tools

Unlike social media, you own your email list—and that’s why it’s one of the most valuable marketing tools for small businesses. Email marketing helps you stay top-of-mind, nurture relationships, and promote your offers without battling algorithms.

Flodesk

Flodesk is best for: Creatives who want beautiful, simple email marketing at a flat monthly cost.

My favorite features:

• Gorgeous, customizable email templates (perfect for photographers and visual businesses)

• Flat-rate pricing—your subscription doesn’t go up as your list grows

• Great customer support + constant updates

Pros of Flodesk:

• Affordable for growing businesses

• User-friendly, no steep learning curve

• Always evolving with new integrations

Cons of Flodesk:

• Not as advanced with automations compared to larger platforms

(Affiliate Link)  [Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk here.]

Kit

Kit is best for: Business owners who are serious about segmenting their audience and planning seamless client journeys.

My favorite features:

• Robust segmentation + automation tools

• Clean campaign management for launches and promos

• Advanced analytics

Pros of Kit:

• Incredible for launch strategy + scaling email efforts

• Smooth, intuitive experience for complex automations

Cons of Kit:

• Pricing goes up as your list grows

[Try Kit here.] (not an affiliate link) 

The Best Website Platform for Small Business

Your website is the home base of your business—it’s often the very first impression potential clients get when deciding whether to book or work with you. That means it needs to look professional, reflect your brand, and be simple enough for you to update on your own. For example, as a family photographer, I use my website as a portfolio to showcase the type of images clients can expect when they work with me. And as a systems and workflow educator, my website highlights my services and shares case studies from past students. Both websites serve as powerful marketing tools that build trust and attract the right audience.

Showit

Showit is best for: Creatives and small business owners who want full design freedom without touching code.

My favorite features:

• Drag-and-drop design (zero coding required)

• Beautiful, customizable templates

• Excellent customer support with fast response times

• Strong SEO capabilities so you can actually rank on Google

Pros of Showit:

• Perfect for photographers, designers, and visual brands

• Easy to update on your own without hiring a “website guy”

• Scales with your business—works whether you’re just starting or running two brands (like me!)

Cons of Showit:

• Not ideal if you need heavy e-commerce features (though it integrates with Shopify Lite)

(Affiliate Link)  [Get one free month of Showit here.]

The Best All-in-One Marketing Software for Small Business

Sometimes you want everything in one place—without paying for 10 different tools. That’s where Enji shines again, because it’s more than just a scheduler.

Enji (as an All-in-One)

Enji is best for: Small business owners who do their own marketing and want to plan, execute, and review in one dashboard.

My favorite features:

• Pre-schedule all your social media content

• Plan + organize your content calendar

• Store your branding kit + media kit under one roof

• Assign tasks + collaborate with your VA or small team

• Track KPIs and use data to make smarter marketing decisions

Pros of Enji:

• Built for small business owners by small business owners

• Affordable all-in-one solution

• Regular feature updates and excellent support

Cons of Enji:

• Still growing—features are expanding each quarter (which may be a pro if you like being part of the growth)

(My affiliate link) [Try Enji’s all-in-one marketing software with a discount here.]

How to Choose the Right Marketing Tools for You

Remember: the best marketing tools for small businesses aren’t the ones with the longest feature list—they’re the ones you’ll actually use.

Here are a few tips when deciding:

• Stay within budget → Don’t overspend on tools that drain your profit.

• Check integrations → Make sure it works with your other systems.

• Test before you commit → Use free trials to see if it’s intuitive.

• Make sure it fits your brain → If it feels confusing, you won’t stick with it.

Final Thoughts

As a small business owner, you wear a lot of hats. But marketing doesn’t have to be one that burns you out. By choosing tools that simplify your backend and let you show up consistently, you’ll not only save time—you’ll actually start to enjoy the process.

The four categories above—social media schedulers, email marketing platforms, website platforms, and all-in-one marketing software—are exactly where I recommend you start. And if you try just one new tool today, I can’t recommend Enji enough. It has truly simplified how I market both sides of my business.

So, are you ready to simplify your marketing? [Start your free trial of Enji here.]

Read more about ENJI here

How To Create A Marketing Process For Your Small Business

Meet Your Favorite Launch Planner for Small Biz Owners & Marketing Strategist for Family Photographers (Dolly DeLong Education)

Hi! I’m Dolly DeLong—a Nashville-based family photographer turned systems + marketing educator and Fractional CMO for family photographers and solo business owners.  After years of juggling motherhood, running a thriving family photography business, and helping other creatives behind the scenes with their launches and marketing, I realized something: the backend matters just as much as your booking calendar.

Now, I serve two kinds of faith-driven creatives:

• Family photographers who want to stop ghosting their audience and finally stay consistent with Instagram + email marketing. 

• Solo business owners who have a digital offer they want to launch—but feel completely overwhelmed by the pre-launch phase

Through my weekly podcast, YouTube channel, and blog, I offer strategic (but doable) content on systems, workflows, launch planning, and consistent marketing rhythms that won’t burn you out.

I’m here to help you stop duct-taping your backend together and instead build systems that support your life and values—whether you’re marketing mini sessions or launching a course.

When I’m not strategizing a launch calendar or batch recording content during nap time, you can find me photographing families in and around Nashville, watching reruns of Survivor, eating something sweet, or walking with a podcast in my ears. (Yes, I’m that girl.)

Are you Ready to finally market with intention and launch with clarity?
Let’s get started—because you don’t have to do this alone.

👉 Work with me to plan out your launch
👉 If you are a family photographer needing marketing help click here