Content creation is one of the fastest creative outlets that has provided people in different age groups with opportunities to showcase their creativity, innovations and lots more. In today’s digital space, content creation is adapted by people from all walks of life, for a lot of reasons. This article seeks to highlight the 7 Essential Tools to Boost Your Content Creating Game.
Before we move into the main deal of this article, let’s understand what content creation is all about and the various sets of people that venture into it.
Content creation revolves around taking a survey, conducting research, understanding the issues around, developing impactful ideas, crafting those ideas in an appealing and engaging way that captures the attention of people.
There are two kinds of content; The Written and The Visual Content.
When you have a reason for creating, you will have to know the kind of content to put out there and who your target audience should be. For now, let’s stop there and look into the main theme of this article; The Tools.
An engineer cannot go to a worksite without his tools for work. A farmer cannot go to his farmland without his hoe, shovel and other necessary farm tools. These concepts also pertain to content creation. Knowing and understanding the use of these tools for content creation can be a very good lead for progress in the industry.
Let’s classify 7 tools for Content Creating
1. WRITING AND EDITING TOOLS
All the beautiful content you see out there cannot do without writing. An idea pops up in the mind through what we see, feel or hear. There’s no better way to store that idea so it won’t skip your mind other than writing it down. That’s where the writing tools come in to help.
a) Google Docs: This is a cloud-based word processing tool. With google docs, you can write, edit, and have a real-time collaboration and comment with other people. It integrates with other apps like Google Drive and Google Sheets.
b) NotePad: This is a simple basic tool that comes pre-installed on our mobile phones, and other window devices. It is very effective for quick notes and to-do lists.
c) Microsoft Word: Microsoft Word is one of the most widely used tools. It offers advanced formatting, editing and other applications.
d) Evernotes: Evernotes allows users to capture, organize and store information. With evernotes, you can save images, audio and video notes. It’s available on multiple platforms.
Others include; Google drive, Google forms, Gmail.
For the Editing tools;
a) Grammarly: this software offers a wide range of suggestions for vocabularies. With Grammarly, you can upgrade your vocabulary. It helps with grammar, spelling, punctuation and style checks. You can also get suggestions for clarity and improvement.
It is available on android phones, browsers and desktop.
b) Reverse SpellChecker: this tool allows users to paste text and check for spelling mistakes. It checks spelling errors by highlighting in correct words and suggesting corrections.
c) Ginger: Ginger is a writing assistant tool for grammar, spelling, punctuations checks. It can rephrase sentences, personalize writing reports and analytics.
2) VISUAL TOOLS
One of the things that makes a content easier to comprehend and capture the interest of the audience is the use of good and explicit visuals. If the visual(picture, designs, video, infographics,etc) under your post is not captivating, you can miss your audience.
Low quality visuals can make a content creator appear unprofessional. With poor visuals, you make it difficult for your audience to understand your message. It could retain your viewers or move them away. Your visuals should be clear, comprehensive and accessible.
a) CANVA: Canva offers various templates for use or recreation. It is a well-known design platform for professionals, beginners and non-designers. It offers collaboration features and supports few formats. Its huge templates library presents multiple suggestions to choose from.
b) Adobe Creative Cloud is embodied with tools for graphics designing, photo editing and more. It provides regular updates with new features and improvements.
c) Pixlr: this is a free online photo editor and design tool. It is simple for use with its intuitive interface. You can explore its various editing and design templates to suit your creation and pleasure.
d) Sketch: Sketch is a digital design too popular among web and application designers. It has a vector-based design and collaboration feature. It is a mac app
for designers to create,prototype, team up, etc. With Sketch, you can share feedback, store and sync your work, and also keep designs at hand.
3. AUDIO CREATION TOOLS
Audio Creation Tools are software applications that enable users to create, edit, and enhance audio content. It could be for various purposes such as, Podcasting, voiceovers, audiobook creating, audio editing and post-production, music productions, etc.
a) AudioLab: Audiolab is a professional audio editing and mixing software app. It offers features such as, record audio, merge audio, voice changers, text to speech, compress audio, trim audio, video to audio, karaoke effect, silence remover, equalizer, video audio mixer, acapella, etc. It is ideal for music production, post production and sound design.
b) Anchor: a popular podcast software for recording, editing and distributing podcasts. Anchor can help monetize your podcast.
c) Adobe Audition is a mixing software for creating and editing audio content. It is packed with exciting features like spectral editing, multitrack editing and Integration with Adobe creative cloud. Others includes but not limited to, wave edit, editing mix, garage band.
d) Loopback is a screen recording and audio mixing software for creating tutorials, podcasts and live streams. Loopback serves the needs of those in different skill levels, either as a Professional or a Novice.
Audacity, which is also one of the tools and garage bands, can be utilized by beginners while professionals prefer Adobe audition or Loopback.
Other subtools comprises; lapel mic, headphones, cables, microphone stands, etc.
4. VIDEO CREATION TOOLS
Which app do you use to create videos for your brand?
Below are some suggestions for you;
a) CAPCUT: Capcut is one of the great and versatile tools packed with everything necessary to create high-quality, visually appealing video content. With its mesmerizing and varieties in features, you can edit your videos, making it presentable to viewers.
b) Adobe Premiere Pro: this is basically used for desktop. It is ideal for professional filmmakers, videographers and editors. It is equipped with a suite of powerful editing tools to enhance a well presented audio and video.
c) Loom: loom provides screen and camera recording, video editing and video sharing. Loom also helps transition into text so you can complete important things quickly. You can record your screen and camera on any device, by using chrome extension, your desktop or mobile app.
Others include VivaVideo app, Proedit, YouCut, Inshot, etc
Sub tools like; ringlight, led light, camera, etc.
5. SEO/OPTIMIZATION TOOLS
a) Semrush: Semrush helps in conducting keyword research, competitor analysis and Google Ad Optimization. With semrush, you can create better content topics or data around keywords that are mostly in search for a great traffic on your site.
b) Ahrefs: this is a comprehensive SEO keyword tok. Ahrefs examines your site, suggests keywords, link and ranking profiles to help you make better content for the right audience and traffic.
You can use Ahrefs to refine your content strategy, improve search engine rankings, and attract the right audience.
c) Moz Proz is one of the suite of SEO tools that is designed to help websites improve their search engine rankings and visibility on Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). Moz Proz helps to identify areas for improvement, analyze your competitors and gain insights into their strategy.
Others include, Sitebulb, Google analytics, screaming frog, KWfinder, etc.
6. CONTENT CALENDAR AND PLANNING TOOLS.
a) Coschedule: is a meticulous content marketing software tool for bloggers, solopreneurs and new business owners looking to organize, simplify content planning and promotion.
Coschedule also offers analytics and reporting features. You can use it for scheduling social media and blog articles.
b) GoogleSheets: GoogleSheets is a free web-based tool you can use to create and manage content calendars.
Its interface is very easy to use and understand. You can use it to track chunks of content and assign tasks to your team.
c) Trello: Trello is a multi-faceted project management tool that allows you to create boards, lists and cards for the organization of content and track your progress.
It is an excellent choice for content planning because of its user-friendly Interface and Intuitive Kanban, enabling you to plan and organize your content and strategy.
Others include; Google Calendar which is commonly used, buffer, hootsuite, etc.
7. SCHEDULING TOOLS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS.
Some of the tools listed in No.6/4 can also be used for scheduling.
a) With Hootsuite, you can schedule social media posts to various platforms like Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter and TikTok.
b) Sprout Social: this tool is broad with lots of features. The tool set includes, but not limited to planning, scheduling, social inbox, social analytics, etc.
It provides social listening to monitor brand mentions and create relevant content.
c) Buffer: Buffer helps build your audience with the social inbox and comment feature. For those into eCommerce, it is really of great advantage, because of its incorporation with Shopify.
You can also generate ideas, restructure your post and find inspiration with Buffer AI assistant.
Others includes; Coschedule, Agorapukse, sendible, Loomly, etc.
Content marketers can also utilize these tools, because content creators cannot do without marketing.
By leveraging on these 7 Essential Tools to Boost Your Content Creating Game, you can boost productivity, gain valuable insights to inform your content strategy and develop content that resonates with your audience, your brand values and drives business results.
