Running an ecommerce business is lucrative and very competitive, considering the sheer amount of competing stores and businesses.
As a seller, to stand out, you need all the help, resources, and marketing knowledge you can gather to excel in online ecommerce.
This is where accessing some of the best ecommerce marketing tools comes into play.
You will learn the best tools in this post, from discovering the right platform to SEO optimization and social media marketing to running an optimized advertising campaign.
This post is a long read; use the table of content on the sidebar to navigate to the section that interests you. Just in case you're hurrying to read through this lengthy article.
Let's get straight to the list.
Platforms Tools
The first step in starting an ecommerce business is choosing the right platform.
While there are many platforms today, choosing the right one that fits your budget, needs, and store requirements is vital to success.
Let's check out some of the best ecommerce platforms to start your store.
1. Shopify
Shopify is the most popular eCommerce store builder, and for many online entrepreneurs, it's the first platform to consider.
Approximately four million stores powered by Shopify in 2023, making it the largest hosted ecommerce platform globally.
Shopify's extensive app store, themes, and hundreds of payment gateways make the platform a robust ecommerce solution.
Whether you're a beginner, a small to medium size business, or a large enterprise, Shopify is the platform that grows with you.
Shopify offers a free three days trial and extended 90 days for one dollar per month. This means you can use Shopify for 93 days for just $3.
Read my in-depth Shopify review to learn more about the platform. Or walk through the pricing and available plan in my comprehensive look at Shopify pricing.
2. Woocommerce
Built on the WordPress open-source platform, Woocommerce is a strong contender if you're looking for a self-hosted ecommerce platform.
It has all the tools and features you need to start and grow a successful eCommerce business.
One of the top benefits of using woocommerce is the WordPress plugin ecosystem.
As with your WordPress blogging platform, you can install any plugin from WordPress to your woocommerce store to extend its features and function.
And the best part, Woocommerce lets you start on a free 30-day trial to understand the platform and test several features for free.
3. Weebly
Weebly is a lightweight ecommerce platform for beginners and small business owners.
It has essential tools and features for running a small online shop, and when you're ready to expand or scale your business, you can move onto a more robust platform like Shopify.
One of the pros of starting with Weebly is the blog functionality.
Weebly is primarily a blogging platform, making creating content that supports your store's organic traffic easier.
Another great advantage of Weebly for beginners is the free plan; you can use Weebly freely for ecommerce without committing to a paid plan. The free plan offers checkout functionalities, a free SSL certificate, inventory management, and in-stock pickup.
Check out my review of Weebly versus Shopify for more details on which user category they both cater to.
SEO Tools
SEO - search engine optimization - is the backbone of most online businesses.
Without traffic from search engines, getting consistent website visitors might be challenging, especially if you have a limited marketing budget.
You need SEO tools for any purpose, so I listed tools for various SEO tasks. Let's check some of the best SEO tools for ecommerce business.
4. Semrush
Semrush is one of the best tools for local and international SEO.
And as an ecommerce store owner, you need to be precise in your marketing; knowing where your business or niche is more popular and profitable is vital to success.
With Semrush, you can discover popular search products, audience locations, profitable keywords, ecommerce competitors, seasonal products, etc.
Not just that, Semrus lets you see competitors' advertising strategies, compare domains, get insight into a brand's SERP historical data, and optimize new and existing content.
Semrush has over 55 SEO and marketing tools, and all developed to help marketers gain more search engine visibility, generate more leads, and increase revenue.
Check out Semrush, all 55+ tools, and sign up for a free account, which you can use until you're ready to upgrade.
5. SEO Powersuite
Not as robust or comprehensive as Semrush, SEO Powersuite is a strong contender for affordable and beginner-friendly SEO tools.
The good news is that SEO Powersuite has a forever free plan, allowing access to its four standalone SEO tools - Rank Tracker, SEO Spyglass, Link Assistant, and Website Audit.
You need SEO Powersuite to uncover profitable products in your niche, track keyword ranking, optimize your store website pages, and build links with blogger outreach without leaving your working environment.
Personally, I used SEO Powersuite for over a decade and still use it today. It's been one of the SEO tools I recommend if you can't afford the price tag for tools like Ahrefs and Semrush.
For more details on the SEO tool and features, and pricing, read my in-depth SEO Powersuite tutorial and reviews.
6. SurferSEO
Surfer is the tool that pulls all the SEO ranking jargon, data points, optimization techniques, and user expectations together in one tool to help you optimize new or existing content for higher ranking.
It's like having an army of Google engineers telling you what to do to rank higher in Google search engines. That's what Surfer SEO does to content creation and optimization.
Ecommerce is a notoriously competitive industry; you can compete with advanced marketing and SEO tools that let you create content that ranks at scale.
You need Surfer SEO if your ecommerce business relies on content to drive traffic to your store, get more leads, optimize for SERP, and generate more ROI.
Watch Surfer SEO in action.
7. Pro Rank Tracker
Tracking product keyword ranking position is critical to ecommerce marketing strategies. You must know your store position in SERP.
Pro Rank Tracker tracks keywords' position in over a dozen search engines across multiple locations and different SERP features.
It also lets you track keywords based on the device to measure your product's keywords on desktop and mobile accurately. This lets you know where to put more marketing efforts, optimize strategies, and drive business growth.
Pro Rank Tracker offers keyword reports in 13 languages, allowing you to export keyword data to SEO agencies or teams for collaboration regardless of language barrier.
8. Google Search Console
GSC, or Google Search Console, remains a must-have SEO tool for marketers and ecommerce store owners.
Whether it is an online shop, blog, or business website, anyone who wants to optimize for Google search engines needs this tool.
It lets you see your website from the eye of Google.
GSC is an excellent tool for seeing how much organic monthly traffic you get from the Google search engine, indexed pages, ranking keywords and their positions, average click-through rate, etc.
In GSC, you can also discover if your website received any penalty.
You also get detailed information about index errors, non-indexable pages, Core Web Vitals data, links data, submit sitemap, mobile usability issues, page experience reports, etc.
Google search console is an essential tool to optimize for the Google search engine, identify bottleneck ranking issues, improve search appearance in SERP, and drive more qualified organic traffic.
The best part, it's free to sign up for an account. The only requirement is a Gmail and a website you must verify by adding a code to the head section.
Analytics Tools
ECommerce businesses must have access to store data to unlock business growth.
You need tools that aggregate and let you analyze the data to inform business strategies and make intelligent marketing decisions.
Here are some of the best free data analytics tools for every ecommerce store.
9. Google Analytics
The most popular SEO tool among webmasters, Google Analytics gives you access to a wealth of information about your store traffic and its users.
When you install the Google Analytics code in your ecommerce store, you will start collecting information about where traffic comes from, how long people stay on your site, and which pages they visit.
You can also measure conversion and bounce rate, traffic sessions, and page views and compare traffic data against different times, weeks, years, etc.
Seeing the countries your user comes from is vital to ecommerce success. You can use this data to research products that sell primarily in your most visited user location.
Setting up Google Analytics is straightforward. You need a Gmail account to start and add the Analytics code to the head section of your website to start collecting traffic and user behavior data on your site.
10. Microsoft Clarity
Microsoft Clarity is a user behavior analytics ecommerce marketing tool that provides helpful information about how users interact with your website content.
It uses session recording and heatmap technology to provide vital information about your website user experience.
Microsoft Clarity is a must-have tool if you want to know which button gets clicked, which product people are looking at, and how long people scroll down pages.
A/B testing product details, landing pages, CTA buttons, prices, and many features of your landing pages is possible with Microsoft Clarity.
You can analyze dead click, excessive scrolling on the page, pages with JavaScritp errors during browsing sessions, and see live recordings of active website users.
Using WordPress as your e-commerce platform, you can download the Microsoft Clarity plugin, which brings all the features and function into your WordPress dashboard.
Overall, Microsoft Clarity is an excellent user optimization analytics tool; however, it has some limitations as a free tool. But it is worth the try.
11. Hotjar
Even though you can track traffic and website usage with analytics software like Google, Hotjar lets you experience your site usage as a user.
Unlike Microsoft Clarity, Hotjar gives you so much information about a user journey on your website.
From traffic sources to leaving your website, you get detailed data about all the actions and behavior they perform on your site.
Hotjar lets you track JavaScript errors on your site, access heatmap, and session recording, and filter traffic by URL parameters, device, location, etc.
It is a powerful analytics tool for understanding shoppers' behavior and website journeys.
When you manage an ecommerce store, you need to know how customers use your website pages, what elements they click on, which parts of your store features are not getting clicks, and how elements' positions on the site affect conversion.
Hotjar gives you all this data, allows you to track and analyze their impact, and makes measurable decisions to better conversion and revenue.
12. Facebook Pixel
Marketing on Facebook is not an option for most online merchants; it's the platform to spend most of your advertising resources and time.
If you run Facebook advertising, you must use the Facebook Pixel, which lets you access, build, measure, and optimize advertising campaigns for better return on investments.
Facebook Pixel is more like an analytics software that lets advertisers measure the effectiveness of their ads, track, and measure the action people take on their website.
With the Pixel installed on your website, you can run ads targeting specific actions people take, like page view, visit to specific website pages, clicks on elements, etc.
Social Media Platforms
Social media is vital to online marketing, especially for ecommerce small business owners.
Business owners use social media for advertising, engaging with customers directly, responding to customer queries, getting feedback, and even rewarding loyal followers.
No doubt, social media platforms are indispensable marketing tools today.
However, social media is different, and so is its audience. This is why you need to focus on the platform that best fits your niche, audience and give a better ROI.
These social media platforms suit most businesses, industries, and markets.
13. Facebook
With over 2 billion active monthly users, Facebook remains the best social media platform to market your product locally or globally. You can reach an audience within your location, state, or internationally.
Facebook's advertising algorithm allows advertisers to target their ads to more precise locations, interests, audience categories, brands, ages, etc.
Compared to other advertising agencies, Facebook ads are relatively cheaper, especially when calculating advertising cost to conversion rate.
For most online shops, Facebook is one of the default ecommerce advertising tools bringing their product to the front and center of their audience views.
The biggest challenge with Facebook advertising is understanding how it works. Setting up an ads campaign can be challenging for beginners; you could waste a fortune if you don't know how the algorithm works.
This is why I recommend you take extra time to figure out how to market your products on Facebook using paid ads.
An excellent place to start is YouTube. Several marketers have published video tutorials on setting up effective Facebook ad campaigns.
14. X (Formerly Twitter)
Marketing on Twitter (Now X) should be one on your priority list as an online merchant. X is an excellent tool for brands to engage followers and customers directly, resolve customer queries, and get timely feedback.
While X is known for minute-to-minute updates on politics, entertainment, sports, breaking news, and more, it's also a place to reach more audiences with your products.
Promoting your product with X ads can drive more revenue growth by reaching a wider engaged audience.
15. Pinterest
According to Statista, Pinterest has approximately 4.6 million active monthly users, making the platform a prime tool for merchants to reach more audiences and promote their products.
Marketing on Pinterest is quite different from Facebook or Twitter.
Being a visual content site, Pinterest can be a fanatics platform for merchants in apparel, beauty, cosmetics, furniture, food and recipe, clothing, etc.
The platform focuses more on the visual aspect of content, allowing users to create Pins and invite others to contribute to their pins or board.
Pinterest is also great for engaging shoppers in the research process or when planning and researching what to buy.
You can create product pins showcasing your product collection or catalog to potential customers. Then use Pinterest ads to show your product pins to potential customers.
16. TikTok
TikTok is an excellent social media platform for ecommerce brands. It allows you to create a business account to apply for the TikTok shop and access features like a shopping tab, live video, and TikTok advertising.
Adding product links to engaging video shopping ads can be a great way to market your product creatively without being aggressive.
TikTok is great for product discovery, trending topics, and news, engaging with customers differently, and building brand reputation.
Another excellent TikTok marketing tip for ecommerce is influencer marketing. You can partner with marketing influencers to promote your product, leading to viral sales.
However, ensure the influencer followers or audience aligns with your product niche or interest to get the best ROAS. Here is a comprehensive post to learn more about TikTok's ecommerce marketing.
17. Instagram
Instagram is one of the best ecommerce marketing tools; you can promote your products on the platform using several ecommerce features.
With over 1.3 billion active monthly users and integrated ecommerce features, Instagram is a helpful marketing tool for small business owners.
It integrates ecommerce features like shopping tabs, product tagging, and the buy now button directly into the platform, making it easier for online merchants to sell on the platform.
Plus, many ecommerce store builders like Shopify have built-in features that allow you to sell directly on your Instagram account.
However, you need to create a business account to unlock access to the Instagram shop, allowing merchants and brands to create product catalogs using the Instagram Shop as a storefront.
Customers can view products, like them, add items to their cart, and even complete checkout all within the app.
Read this comprehensive post put together by Shopify on Instagram for ecommerce.
Design Tools
Creative design is a massive part of the ecommerce business.
From crafting meaningful brand logos to product design, flyers, prints, video content, and advertising copies, you need a powerful design tool to stand out.
Let's check some of the best ecommerce design tools today. Most of the tools are freely accessible.
18. Designs.ai
Leveraging AI technology, Designs.ai is an all-in-one platform for creating and editing different content types at scale.
You can use the platform to transform text into video content and create AI voiceover artists from the script.
In addition, Designs.ai lets you create website logos freely, generates ai content for social media and website content, and creates product mockups, infographics, etc.
All these tools can help eCommerce business owners save time and money and generate beautiful advertising materials for their campaigns.
19. Canva
Canva is a popular graphic design tool loved by over 125 million users worldwide.
How can ecommerce store owners use Canva to boost their brand and revenue?
Use Canva to create product mockups, flyers, brand kits, banners, posters, store and brand logos, social media content, video content, Pinterest pins, brochure, etc.
Canva enables merchants to create eye-catching custom product labels and packaging designs using the label maker tool.
Also, Canva is an excellent tool for creating stunning ebook designs, which you can use to build subscriber lists faster by giving out valuable incentives in return for customer contact details.
Video Marketing Tools
Video marketing is an essential aspect of eCommerce business. Creating high-quality video content that draws attention and engages customers can improve engagement and conversion rates.
However, creating professional-quality video content isn't easy, especially if you lack design skills, tools, and creativity.
But thanks to advanced ai technology and the emergence of many ai video software, anyone can now create video content effortlessly without being a design wizard.
Here are some of the best video creation tools ecommerce store owners should leverage to create content for their marketing.
22. Invideo
You don't have to be a video editing guru to use Invideo to create stunning video footage for advertising, marketing, or just promoting your store products online.
The software is easier to use and has plenty of design features, a powerful editing dashboard, millions of stock images, and ready-made design templates, making Invideo a must-use ai video editing software.
Ecommerce brands can use Invideo to create video content that builds brand reputation, increase conversion, show product unboxing, and demonstrate how products can be used or handled.
Users can create and edit video content with less effort with its intuitive dashboard, extensive library of stock photos and videos, design elements, and animations.
To learn more about Invideo editing features and team collaboration, check out my Invideo software review.
23. Veed
Veed is a more powerful video editing software for professionals and seasonal marketers.
Beyond editing, Veed lets you create professional video content by recording yourself, screen, webcam, and teleprompter to ensure you always remember and complete every line in your script.
Its built-in text-to-speech feature lets you add voice-over to your video.
You don't need to worry about being on camera using Veed if you're camera-shy. The software is designed to provide the tools to create professional quality videos from scratch without ever needing to show your face.
You can choose from various video templates and sizes - portrait, landscape, or square.
Additionally, Veed allows you to create sales videos that appeal to your audience, help you sell your products, increase awareness, and spark online buzz.
24. YouTube
You need a platform to reach more people with your video content; YouTube allows you to speak to over 2.1 billion active monthly users.
As an ecommerce business owner leveraging video marketing, you should be on YouTube.
The good part is that creating a YouTube account is free; you only need a Gmail to create your YouTube channel account.
YouTube is a fantastic platform for unlocking a steady stream of engaged customers, uploading and unboxing product packaging videos, creating niche followers, and building brand reputation.
With YouTube advertising, brands can reach more audiences, drive relevant traffic and increase sales potential.
Freelancers Market Places
Scaling an ecommerce business will only be possible with other people's efforts and help.
Freelance marketplaces are indispensable ecommerce marketing tools. Many ecommerce store owners leverage freelance service providers to build their online success.
The good thing about freelancers is that you can hire once or longer, depending on your needs, budget, and business demands.
You need reliable and efficient freelancers capable of delivering professional services as required.
Where do you get top freelancers at affordable rates without compromising service quality?
25. Fiverr
The world's largest digital freelance marketplace, Fiverr, is the home to over 550 digital marketing service categories and millions of gigs.
Fiverr has a service category for most ecommerce tasks; drop shipping, inventory management, website design, bookkeeping, business planning, product sourcing and design, SEO, etc.
Service prices begin as low as $5 to several thousand for top-rated sellers. Fiverr's beauty lies in its diverse freelancer backgrounds and qualifications.
From inexperienced freelancers to average and talented professionals with years of experience, there are freelance sellers matching your needs and budget.
You can check on some of the best Fiverr ecommerce freelancers offering exceptional services.
26. Upwork
Upwork is another excellent platform where businesses connect with talented professionals to get work done at affordable rates.
Sign up on the platform as a client to start hiring freelancers for your project.
You can post your job request and requirements on the platform, and relevant freelancers will respond with quotes. You can search through the entry and pick the best per your needs.
27. 99Design
Unlike Fiverr and Upwork, with diverse freelance services, 99Design focuses on graphic design work.
It's arguably the world's largest community of graphic designers, making the platform a perfect place to get your graphic design job done by the best in the industry.
If you want to outsource your ecommerce graphic design job, 99Design is the best ecommerce marketing tool for such a purpose.
You can request service for a website logo, complete website design, branding, product images and design, etc.
Post your job details on the website; designers will create and submit custom designs for your approval.
Conclusion...Best Ecommerce Marketing Tools
There are many ecommerce marketing tools for small businesses, mid sizes to large-scale enterprises, and there is no chance you can try them all.
Going through a list like this can help you simplify the research process, shortlist helpful ecommerce tools, and help you make informed decisions.
You've got the right tools on this page, from ecommerce management tools to product handline, inventory, payments processors, platforms, and more.
Also, a list like this can be handy for beginner ecommerce merchants to point you in the right direction and save time and investments.