There is no doubt that the internet and other advanced digital technologies have revolutionized marketing. One big part of that are the apps and tools that are now available to us to help us be more organized, increase productivity and make life easier.
Whether it’s powerful analytic capabilities or simple apps that optimize your time, online tools often make or break your ability to be a highly efficient marketer. Which is why I love to share online tools with school marketers because I know they will help you achieve your goals.
I’ve been thinking about it, and I think it’s time to get into the nitty-gritty of online marketing and discuss Google Chrome extensions. These tools will help you save time, improve your marketing efforts and help you make informed decisions about your marketing strategies.
A Case for Google Chrome
Before we dig into the best Google Chrome extensions for marketers, let’s take a moment to talk about browsers and why you should consider using Google Chrome as your default browser.
There are many different web browsers available. According to StatCounter, the top 10 web browsers and the percentage of use they garner include:
- Chrome (60.63%)
- Safari (14.79%)
- UC Browser (3.43%)
- Firefox (3.03%)
- Opera (3.38%)
- Internet Explorer (2.87%)
- Samsung Internet (2.92%)
- Edge (1.86%)
- Android (1.72%)
- Other (1.37%)
As you can see, Chrome is by far the browser most widely in use today. This is because Chrome is incredibly fast, it integrates with all smartphones on the market, is useable by all email service providers and delivers reliable analytics.
And – here’s the reason this is an important discussion as it relates to today’s topic – Chrome allows you to download as many extensions as you want.
What Is a Browser Extension?
A browser extension is a simple app or tool that increases the functionality of your browser. For example, one popular extension is HTTPS Everywhere. HTTPS Everywhere encrypts unsecured websites automatically, making your browsing safer and your information secure without you even having to think about it!
Extensions are very easy to install. Just go to the Chrome Web Store and search for the extension you want. You can even search by categories, features and/or ratings. There are thousands of extensions to choose from and each one offers a unique and helpful experience.
Adding and Removing Chrome Extensions
Adding and removing an extension is remarkably easy. Once you find the extension you want click on the Add to Chrome button in the upper right-hand corner of the page. And, removing an extension that you no longer want or need is just as easy. Just left-click the icon for the extension and remove it from your browser. That’s it!
So, all things considered, you really have nothing to lose when trying out new extensions. And, if you find one that is helpful, it can be a huge time-saver.
Top 14 Google Chrome Extensions for Marketers
Here are my top Google Chrome extension recommendations for marketers.
Tool #1. Grammarly
Grammarly is a great tool that checks the spelling and grammar of online communications, such as messages, documents, blog posts and social media. Virtually anywhere you write on the web, Grammarly will let you know if you have made a mistake.
Even if your writing skills are outstanding, everyone makes a mistake or typing error once in a while. Grammarly will help you mitigate errors that might impact your reputation. Grammarly will not only let you know if you’ve made a mistake, but it will also suggest a correction. Imagine email, instant messaging, social media posts and blog posts that are virtually error-free.
The applications for Grammarly are endless. Check out Grammarly here…
Tool #2. Hashtest
Using hashtags is an important strategy for growing your online presence and understanding what your audience is talking about. I use the Hashtest extension to help me determine the highest-quality hashtag related to my content. All you do is open the extension by clicking on the red hashtag on the browser bar and then type in the hashtags you are considering and click on Go. Hashtest will let you know how your hashtag rates – green for best, orange for good, red for bad and black for useless. From there, you can copy the hashtags you want onto the clipboard which is especially handy for Instagram, where we tend to use the most hashtags. Great tool!
Tool #3. Feedly
I use Feedly every day. Feedly replaced the old Google Reader RSS subscription service. It’s a great way to organize, research, read and share content. It is filled with searchable resources and works on all devices that use Chrome. There are other alternatives to Reader but I find Feedly to be a clean interface that is easy to use.
Tool #4. Check My Links
Check My Links crawls your webpage and lets you know if you have any broken links. It highlights the broken ones so you can easily fix them. I recommend running this extension at least once a month to ensure links on your website are working.
Tool #5. Evernote
Evernote is a wonderful tool for saving your ideas, webpages, videos or articles to view later. You can categorize each item by assigning tags, making it easy to find.
Tool #6. WhatFont?
Have you ever noticed a font that you liked on a webpage and wondered what it was? WhatFont solves this problem. All you do is hover over the element and WhatFont will show you the font and where you can find it.
Tool #7. Eye Dropper
Eye Dropper is a simple tool that allows you to “pick” a color from anywhere online. It also allows you to “pick” from your color history, so you don’t have to keep going back to your original hex code. This is a great little tool that is definitely a time-saver!
Tool #8. Boomerang for Gmail and Boomerang Calendar
Boomerang is a productivity tool that is actually two different extensions, Boomerang for Gmail and Boomerang Calendar. Boomerang for Gmail lets you schedule emails to go out later, track deliveries and helps you write better email using AI. Boomerang Calendar lets you suggest possible meeting times and send them to recipients. Then, when your recipients select a time that works for them, Boomerang will schedule the meeting, remove the other suggested time slots and remind you when it’s time to meet! These are great tools that can really save you time!
Tool #9. BuzzSumo
BuzzSumo is a great tool for assessing the popularity of content on a webpage. For example, on any webpage you can find out the number of:
- Facebook engagements
- Twitter shares
- Pinterest shares
- Reddit engagements
- Backlinks
- Total engagements
This gives you valuable information about the strength of certain topics and is a great tool for content planning.
Tool #10. The Great Suspender
The Great Suspender is a tool that makes your computer run more smoothly. If you’re someone that tends to work with a lot of tabs open, this extension will suspend tabs after a certain length of time (that you set up), freeing up memory and CPU. You can whitelist certain tabs that you don’t want suspended, making this tool completely customizable.
Tool #11. Awesome Screenshot
Awesome Screenshot is a tool that lets you record your screen as video (screencast). It also allows you to add annotations, comments, blur sensitive information and share with one-click uploads. This is a great tool that is completely free!
Tool #12. Tailwind Publisher
I love Tailwind for managing Pinterest, so the Tailwind Publisher extension is a natural addition to the Tailwind software. Tailwind Publisher makes it easy to schedule content to Pinterest and Instagram, and you can schedule as many pins or grams as you want. You can repin or regram from anywhere on the web – even from within Pinterest or Instagram. You can save the same pin to multiple boards and schedule publishing at certain intervals so you can “drip” your Pinterest content out over time. This is a great tool that I highly recommend!
Tool #13. GIPHY
GIPHY lets you quickly and easily add GIFs to Facebook, Twitter, Slack, Hipchat and Gmail. It’s a fast, easily searchable tool that adds so fun, expressive GIFs to your messages and posts.
Tool #14. LastPass
LastPass is an online “vault” that allows you to store and manage login credentials securely. While the free version allows you to store login credentials, a premium account will allow you to securely share login credentials with team members without actually revealing the passwords. You can also remove team members if they no longer need the login information. It’s a great way to keep login credentials safe and secure – and never forget a username or password again!
Hopefully, at least one of these extensions will help you save time and be more productive. Whatever your task is online, chances are there is an extension that will help make the job a little easier. All you need to do is find the ones that will work best for you. Because with the right tools, we can all be better marketers.
What is your favorite browser extension? Which Chrome extensions did I miss that should be on this list? Please leave a comment below and help others in the school marketing community.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links used on SchneiderB.com are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use, or have used, personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
If you have any questions regarding the above, please do not hesitate to contact me.
