As a social media strategist, it’s not an exaggeration to say that social media is my whole life. (But like, not in a sad way.) I live, eat, and breathe social media marketing—both for myself and the clients who trust me to get their content in front of the right people. All of this to say, I take my job seriously, and I’m always on the lookout for Instagram marketing tools that make my life and my clients’ lives easier. Here is a roundup of the tools I use on a daily basis and how they can help you take your Instagram game to the next level.

Instagram Marketing Tools that Make Social Media 10x Easier

Social media has a lot of moving parts. Thinking of ideas, turning them into actual content, scheduling them, engaging with followers… the list goes on. For a lot of creative business owners, it’s fun at first. And then you run out of time, or can’t think of ideas, and your social media profile gets drier than the Sahara. You don’t have to do it alone. These tools are designed to help you stay consistent and intentional so you don’t get heart palpitations every time you open the God damn app.

Metricool

Metricool is my go-to scheduling tool, and it has been for years. They offer a free plan for single businesses with multiple social platforms (Instagram, Facebook, X, etc.), but their paid plans aren't outrageous, either. You can easily plan your content, schedule it, and see your entire month at a time. If you want to learn more about Metricool and the best ways to use it, check out my blog How to Schedule Instagram Posts Without Sacrificing Your Sanity!

Edits and Inshot

Sometimes making reels is fun. Sometimes it’s the most frustrating thing in the world. Trust me, I get it. Edits and InShot are two editing platforms that make creating reels more approachable. Edits integrates seamlessly with Instagram because they’re connected, but I find InShot to be more accurate with editing. Try both and see which one you prefer! They’re both free, but you can get $50 lifetime access to InShot for more editing options.

Canva

Ah, Canva, the gateway drug to graphic design. Seriously, if Canva had existed when I was in middle school, my Tumblr profile would have been SO cool. Canva is one of the best and most user-friendly tools for creating graphics. However, their free version is pretty limited. If you’re going to be making lots of graphics (think carousel posts and reel covers), I recommend paying for Pro. It’s $15 per month for unlimited graphics and is worth every penny.

Reddit, Threads, and Google

Okay, so these might not technically be Instagram marketing tools, but they are perhaps the most important tool in all of marketing: research. If you don’t have a super cool social media strategist like me coming up with your post ideas for you, you need to take your research seriously. Reddit, Threads, and the Google “people also search for” tab are a goldmine of ideas. Your audience has questions. If you put the effort in to listen, you can answer those questions and build a strong foundation of trust with your future clients.

Manychat

You want to act while your lead is warm, but you don’t want to be glued to your phone. Enter: Manychat. Manychat builds automations that instantly reply to comments and DMs without you needing to open the app every five seconds. You can try it for free, but your options are limited. Try their Pro services for $15 a month or build a custom package for what you need.

Flodesk

If you have a freebie that you promote via socials, I recommend using Flodesk to deliver it (Psst, that link will give you 25% off your first year!). All you have to do is add the link to your bio or integrate it with Manychat! You can add it as an automated reply. So, when someone comments, Manychat automatically sends a DM with the Flodesk link! The interested lead enters their email, and Flodesk does the work for you. Bonus points because it can get people to join your email list, so you can diversify your marketing efforts. Payment plans vary based on what you need, but if you plan on building an email list someday, an email platform is a non-negotiable.

My Very Own Content Planner and Organizer

I might be biased, but I think this is THE most helpful tool for planning and organizing content. It’s a monthly planner with a simple 6-step process that walks you through exactly what you need to create a killer post. You can plan out an entire month’s worth of content in a single sitting by following the prompts and utilizing the idea bank. And the best part? It’s reusable. The Content Planner is $27, and you get an easy, straightforward, and reusable resource for planning all of your posts. Click here to download it!

Optional Tools for Filming

Okay, I might have some bad news for you. If you are the face of your brand, you really need to show your face. I know that filming yourself can feel awkward and uncomfortable, so I have a few tools that can help there, too!

Mini Microphone

Call me crazy, but I find talking to the camera 100x easier when I’ve got this mini microphone in my hands. I don’t know why. You can hold it or clip it on your shirt, and it really increases the quality of your audio with it’s noise cancellation feature! As someone who lives on a main road in a busy city and has two dogs with the tappiest toes, it’s life-changing. If you feel awkward filming or just want to elevate your content a bit, this microphone is a favorite of mine!

A Tripod

Is having a tripod necessary for filming? Nope, but it does make it easier. I cannot tell you how often I’ve propped my phone up to film and it’s fallen over halfway through the video. A tripod just makes life easier. I like this Ailun Extendable Tripod and the KraftGeek Magnetic Phone Tripod, but you can find one that works best for you!

Suction Phone Mount

This suction phone mount is like a tripod for vertical surfaces. I bought this on a whim and have been pleasantly surprised by how useful it is. I like to stick it to the window while I film for the best lighting during the day! And—even if you hate it—it’s so helpful for filming in public without having to drag around a tripod (or friend).

Selfie Light

I can’t say I work in social media and not recommend a selfie light. This is a small, rechargeable light that clips directly onto your phone. It’s portable, easy to use, and massively improves the quality of your videos. I always prefer natural light, but gloomy winter days come for us all, and sometimes we have to film content after the sun has set at 4 pm.

The Ultimate Instagram Marketing Tool

All of these tools are designed to help you market yourself online, but don’t let the lack of tools stop you from showing up! The truth is, you really only need one thing to be successful on socials: Consistency.

Unfortunately, being consistent is the hardest part. That’s why I offer one-on-one coaching for small business owners and female founders who know social media is important, but can’t seem to make it work for them. Together, we’ll tackle the biggest things holding you back and develop a strategic plan that will help you post consistent, compelling content and build your online audience. If you’re ready to take up space and start feeling confident in your online presence, we need to talk. Fill out the contact form to schedule a free call where we can get to know each other, discuss your goals, and see if coaching is the right path for you.

11 Low-Lift Instagram Marketing Tools for Creative Business Owners