Content on your website is a crucial element and aspect of any successful business. It provides important information that is not only used to educate potential customers about the product or service being offered but also helps search engines such as Google accurately communicate the purpose of your website.
So, what content tools are available and where do you start?
Don’t worry! We have put this article together to help you answer any questions you may have.
1. Building A Bank Of Photos
Some businesses will have the option of taking professional photographs, either in-house or by hiring somebody else. Not every business has that luxury!
There are several sites where you can source your own images, these are called stock images and here are just a few examples:
We suggest trying Pexels and Pixabay. You will have the option of over 1.8 million high quality, stunning images and royalty-free stock. That should be enough to get you started eh?
2. Photo Editing Tools
A picture paints a thousand words! This is very true, especially when it comes to showcasing your products. As important as the text is, images give you a visual insight into several important factors. These include colours, sizes and quality just to name a few.
With that said, the images you choose to display on your website need to be of excellent quality. Be it product description pages, social media posts or regular blogs, you may need a little help along the way. That is where we can help! Here are 3 of the most popular and reliable photo content tools available:
We recommend using GIMP, to begin with. It is free software that is suitable for most photo editing requirements. There are many Youtube videos to help and guide you if you get stuck too whether you are a graphic designer, illustrator or photographer, GIMP is a sophisticated software tool that will get the job done.
3. Building A Bank Of Video/Footage
It is important to have a library of premade video content (Stock Video Footage) which can be downloaded and saved to be used time and time again if required. You can film your own or compile stock video depending on your requirements. Either way, this will save time and money in the long run. If you are unable to film your own content then there are many online options available to obtain this type of media. Some good examples are:
Artgrid is an excellent example. It is an affordable option with a small annual fee. In return, you will be provided with unlimited creative media videos until your heart's content!
4. Video Editing Tools
Video Editing Software is exactly that! It is typically software that you install on your computer to help you professionally edit and produce fast and efficient video content. The software will include media management and audio editing, among other things! Some examples are:
Our first choice would be Sony Vegas. You have the option of downloading the video editor for a free trial, so you can try before you buy. After the trial, there are several packages available, whether you are a beginner, advanced user or a pro!
5. Other Video Tools Options
Videos help you engage with your audience. Your audience is much more likely to react to moving media and verbal interaction. Here are some creative video tools that might be worth considering to help create something a little bit different for your audience:
Invideo - Create professional-looking social videos in minutes
Powtoon - Animation software for presentations and explainer videos
Animaker - Another cloud-based video animation software tool
Video Ask - Have asynchronous video conversations with customers
Descript- Record, edit, mix, collaborate, & master your audio & video
Zubtitle - Zubtitle auto-detects & transcribes spoken voice videos
We like Invideo! It is so simple to use, and anybody can create videos in no time at all. This tool offers high-quality video templates that can be customised with your brand in mind.
6. Screen Recording Software
Screen Recording Software is one of the most underrated tools available for businesses.
Screen recording software allows the user to digitally record content on a computer screen. This can include a desktop session (maybe a shared screen session with friends or colleagues) through to YouTube videos. The screen recorder will capture everything that is going on during an entire day including all and any audio.
It can also be used to create compelling how-to videos or tutorials for employees. Here are a few tools you can check out for inspiration:
Descript (Yep, this one again!)
One of our favourite screen recording software tools is OBS Studio. It is a powerful, free software that not only records but you can add all types of media to your display/recording and use it for live streaming. OBS supports all of the most popular streaming platforms.
7. Stock Music
Stock Music is the same principle as Stock Photos & Footage, except instead of visual media, it is a library of music. Check out the following for some great examples!
Artlist is a popular choice. Before you subscribe, you can start a free trial and explore the thousands of audio options available to you.
Final Thoughts
We hope you have found the above rundown of creative tools useful! You may have been familiar with some of them already but have we introduced a few new little gems to you that you didn’t know of? We hope so!
Before we go, here are some other additional and very useful creative digital tools you might want to consider using for your business moving forward?!
- coolors.co/ - Colour Scheme Generator - http://www.pdfescape.com/- PDF Editor and Form Filler - wistia.com/product – Create Captivating Videos and Audio - buildbubbles.com - Create Podcasts - Dropbox/Google Drive – Stores Images and Other Media in the cloud that you can share with others.
If you liked this article, watch out next week for our Simple Guide To SEO blog where we focus on how you can improve your online presence and search engine ranking.
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