12 Best Remote Tools For Remote Agencies In Marketing

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12 Best Remote Tools For Remote Agencies In Marketing

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2013 was the early days for ClickDo and as most young agencies, we didn’t have an office in London.

As the agency grew by onboarding more clients, we knew that we would not rent out an office, unless that was 100% essential for our business – remote work was becoming increasingly possible and popular.

Today, you won’t be called a maverick for choosing to work from home, from a cafe, or from a co-working space.

That’s thanks to remote tools for businesses and marketing agencies like ours.

At ClickDo, we’ve been in the digital marketing services industry for over a decade. So, we can vouch for this – it’s not only practical, but decidedly smart to run your marketing agency remotely using remote tools.

Since 2013, we have been in SEO, digital marketing, email marketing, website development, and influencer collaborations.

As a remote marketing agency, we’ve tried and tested tens, if not hundreds, of remote marketing tools over the years.

Now, after 11 years, we have sorted the most useful remote marketing tools– so you don’t have to.

How did we choose the “best” remote marketing tools?

We didn’t just make a listicle of the tools we use the most as a remote marketing agency. For example, there are no remote work tools for SEO research, email marketing, or demographic research in this article.

Why? Because those are not remote marketing tools.

Even if you were a physical agency, you’d still use those. They’re not really remote work tools then, they’re just work tools.

Our criteria are very simple. Each of our remote work tools help in one (or more) of three ways:

  • Saves Time/ Increases Efficiency: Any tools that can eliminate, shorten or automate repetitive tasks. Also, tools that increase output without increasing effort. (Zapier, Calendly)
  • Reduces Human Effort: Any tools that can either shorten the human effort in a task, which also leads to reduced human error. (QuickBooks, Workable).
  • Aids Remote Collaboration: Any tools that significantly help teams in different locations and time zones collaborate with each other on the same project. (Adobe Creative Cloud, Filestage).

Let us begin.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.

12 Best Remote Work Tools For Marketing

1. Calendly

 

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Use: Scheduling meetings and sending reminders.

Integrations: Zoom, Apple Calendar, Google Calendar, Outlook, Teams, and more.

Pricing: Free, Premium From 16$ (13£)/ user/ month.

Website: https://calendly.com/pricing

Popular Alternative: Doodle

Calendly is a tool for fixing meeting times. It helps us choose when to meet without sending dozens of emails.

When we were a small team, we’d just send out an email along the lines of “ Please reply with a suitable time to meet” and work from there.

Before very long, we were looking at rather long discussions in email chains and WhatsApp groups.

The result? Disagreeing on times, non-availability of key members, and missed meeting reminders.

That’s why we use Calendly. It’s good for planning meetings with clients, our team, and third parties as well.

Calendly also lets us make polls to find the best time for everyone.

2. Adobe Creative Cloud

 

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Use: Graphic design, video editing, web development, photography, and more.

Integrations: Wide range of Adobe apps like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro.

Pricing: Plans start from £16.24 per month for individuals, and from £65.49 per month for enterprise licences.

Website: https://www.adobe.com/uk/creativecloud.html

Popular Alternative: Canva

Adobe Creative Cloud is a collection of software for creative work. It includes tools for graphic design, video editing, and more.

At ClickDo, we use it for creating visuals, ads, and website designs.

Our graphic design team needs to create email banners, social media posts, and website visuals.

With tools like Adobe XD and Adobe Spark, we can easily share designs and get real-time feedback, no matter where each team member is located.

Also, just like Google Docs, you can have multiple people viewing and editing a design simultaneously.

Added people can also add comments, as shown under.

Lastly, you do not have to opt for the full Creative Cloud suite (all apps). If you only need to do graphic design, you can buy Illustrator as a standalone subscription.

The same goes for all other Adobe apps as well – your team can choose to buy single apps.

3. ClickUp

 

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Use: Project management and team collaboration.

Integrations: Integrates with tools like Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox, and more.

Pricing: Free; Premium from $12 (£10) / user/ month.

Website: https://clickup.com/

Popular Alternative: Asana

Again, when we started, we used a Word file to track projects, assign tasks, and monitor feedback.

The inefficiency of this method became apparent when we saw this: a document with 5,800 revisions.

Screenshot
Screenshot

That’s when we decided to pull the trigger and invest in dedicated project management software.

Now, we use ClickUp to organise, track, and manage all our projects, from SEO campaigns to website development.

ClickUp allows us to make an individual virtual “office” for things like separate teams, departments, and clients.

Crucially, we can also view the same list of tasks in multiple formats, like lists, boards, or calendars.

4. Teamly

Use: Task management and team coordination.

Integrations: Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, and more.

Pricing: Free; Premium from $47 (£37)/ month.

Website: https://teamly.com/

Popular Alternative: Trello

At ClickDo, we use Teamly for daily task management and ClickUp for longer project oversight. After a process of trial and error, we found that this dual approach works best.

Teamly is our go-to for managing daily tasks and ensuring team coordination.

In the early days, we managed tasks through emails and spreadsheets, but as we grew, this system became inefficient.

Teamly allows us to assign tasks, set deadlines, and track progress in a more organised and efficient manner.

Each team member can see their tasks for the day, week, or month, making it easier to prioritise and manage the workload.

The tool’s integration with Google Workspace and Microsoft Teams enhances our workflow, allowing seamless communication and collaboration.

We can discuss tasks, share updates, and even attach relevant documents directly within Teamly.

Here is what the Teamly task pane looks like:

5. Worldtimebuddy

Use: Time zone comparison.

Integrations: Google Calendar, Outlook, and more.

Pricing: Free

Website: https://www.worldtimebuddy.com/

Popular Alternative: Time Zone Converter

We have clients, team members, and consultants spread all over the world. When coordinating with them across different time zones, worldtimebuddy is a lifesaver.

Its integration with Google Calendar and Outlook means we can directly add these meetings to our calendars, ensuring everyone is on the same page.

And if you’re wondering about pricing, worldtimebuddy is completely free to use now. There used to be paid plans, but those were scrapped a year ago.

Here is the last thing that worldtimebuddy posted on X (formerly Twitter):

6. Workable

Use: Recruitment process management.

Integrations: LinkedIn, Indeed, Talent, Glassdoor, and more.

Pricing: Pay per job or annual subscription starting from $99 (£78)/ job or $149 (£118)/ month.

Website: https://www.workable.com/

Popular Alternative: Greenhouse

At ClickDo, we use remote work tools like Workable to streamline our recruitment process. Like every other company, at first, we had more jobs than applicants.

Soon, that situation got flipped on its head.

As our team expanded, we needed a more efficient way to manage the influx of job applications and interviews.

Workable allows us to post job openings, track applicants, and manage the entire hiring process in one place.

It integrates with major job boards like LinkedIn and Indeed, making it easier to attract a wide range of candidates.

One of the key benefits we’ve found with Workable is its collaborative hiring features.

Our team can leave feedback on candidates, schedule interviews, and even make hiring decisions together, all within the platform.

7. QuickBooks

Use: Financial management and accounting.

Integrations: PayPal, Square, Shopify, Salesforce, and more.

Pricing: Plans start from £14/ month; various packages are available.

Website: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/uk/pricing/

Popular Alternative: FreshBooks

If you think you can get away with doing your finances in Excel, don’t. We were a young, naive company and thought the same. Trust us – it’s not worth the hassle.

QuickBooks is our go-to tool for managing our finances at ClickDo and our team at the London Business News Mag even interviewed a representative of QuickBooks at the Business Show.

 

As our operations grew, so did the complexity of our financial transactions. We needed a robust system to keep track of everything.

It offers a comprehensive solution for managing invoices, tracking expenses, and handling payroll.

One of the standout features of QuickBooks is its detailed financial reporting.

We can easily generate reports for revenue, expenses, and cash flow and use these for tax or business decisions.

QuickBooks does have a learning curve to it, but they host several online and in-person skill-development sessions around the UK, year-round.

8. Zapier

Use: Automation of workflows across various apps and services.

Integrations: Over 3,000 apps, including Slack, Gmail, Google Sheets, Trello, and more.

Pricing: Free; Premium from £16.23/ month.

Website: https://zapier.com/pricing

Popular Alternative: IFTTT

At ClickDo, we use Zapier to automate repetitive tasks and streamline our workflows.

As a remote marketing agency, we rely on a variety of digital tools for different aspects of our work. Zapier helps us connect these tools and automate actions between them.

For instance, a team manager in London needs to assign a task to a member in America. They’d assign the task, update it in Teamly, send out a message, and call it a night.

Or, they’d set up a “Zap” where Slack/ email/ ClickUp notifications are sent for new Teamly card assignments.

Zapier’s wide range of integrations is a game-changer for us. It allows us to create custom workflows that suit our specific needs, saving us time and reducing the chance of human error.

Zapier is constantly rolling out new features as well. The latest (and most exciting) one is the integration with AI.

9. Filestage

Use: Document creation, editing, and approval management.

Integrations: Slack, Trello, Asana, Dropbox, and more.

Pricing: Plans start from €49 (£42)/ month; various packages are available.

Website: https://filestage.io/pricing/

Popular Alternative: ProofHub

Filestage is a crucial tool for us at ClickDo, especially when it comes to managing the creation and approval of documents.

As a remote marketing agency, we use it mainly to manage our project proposals and articles that we write.

In the past, we relied on a mix of emails and shared drives.

However, as our team and client base expanded, this approach became cumbersome and inefficient.

We ended up waiting 24+ hours for simple edit jobs, and the backlog piled up.

With Filestage, we can streamline the review and approval process for all types of documents, from marketing materials to client reports.

The platform allows us to upload files, share them with team members or clients, and collect feedback in one centralised location.

One of the key benefits of Filestage is its ability to track changes and comments.

This ensures that everyone involved in a project is on the same page and that revisions are made efficiently.

Below you can see what a Filestage dashboard looks like.

10. Hootsuite

Use: Social media management across various platforms.

Integrations: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and more.

Pricing: Plans start from £89/ month; various packages are available.

Website: https://www.hootsuite.com/en-gb/plans

Popular Alternative: Buffer

In the world of digital marketing, managing multiple social media accounts is a daily task.

At ClickDo, we use Hootsuite to coordinate our social media strategy across different platforms and time zones.

Hootsuite allows us to schedule posts, track social media metrics, and engage with our audience from a single dashboard.

This is particularly useful when managing campaigns that require consistent messaging across various social media channels.

Also, Hootsuite publishes frequent reports about the social media marketing industry, which are packed with useful information and tips for marketers.

One of the standout features of Hootsuite is its analytics capability.

We can track the performance of our posts, understand our audience better, and refine our social media strategy based on real-time data.

This helps us stay ahead in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

Moreover, Hootsuite saves us the trouble of having to switch between different apps.

Below is what the Hootsuite dash looks like for new users.

11. Vidyard

Use: Video recording, sharing, and screen capture.

Integrations: Gmail, Outlook, Salesforce, HubSpot, and more.

Pricing: Free; Premium from $19 (£15)/ user/ month.

Website: https://www.vidyard.com/pricing/

Popular Alternative: Loom

At ClickDo, Vidyard has become an indispensable tool, particularly for our remote communication needs.

Initially, we faced challenges in conveying complex ideas or instructions through text alone.

Emails and messages often led to misunderstandings or required lengthy back-and-forth explanations.

Vidyard allows us to record and share videos of our screens, voice, and even annotations.

You can also access all your recordings from a central dashboard for easy reference.

Vidyard now also allows you to “stitch” two or more recordings into a single video.

This has significantly improved our ability to communicate complex concepts or get detailed feedback as a remote marketing agency.

For instance, when our SEO team needs to explain a strategy to a client, a Vidyard video can showcase exactly what needs to be done directly on the client’s website.

This visual and auditory explanation is far more effective than a written email.

We can easily embed videos in our emails or link them to specific customer records, providing a more personalised and engaging experience for our clients.

You can even share your Vidyard recording as a link, as seen below.

12. 1Password

 

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Use: Password management and security.

Integrations: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and more.

Pricing: Plans start from $19.95 (£16)/ user/ month; various packages are available.

Website: https://1password.com/business-pricing

Popular Alternative: LastPass

At ClickDo, managing a multitude of digital accounts and services is part of our daily routine.

With this comes the challenge of maintaining secure and accessible passwords for each account.

And before you ask, yes, we have employed the cliche physical notebook and the equally cliche shared spreadsheet to manage passwords in the past.

Now, we use 1Password — and we’re not alone.

1Password serves as a central database for all our passwords, from social media accounts to the various tools and services we use.

The tool’s ability to generate strong, unique passwords for each account and store them securely has significantly enhanced our cybersecurity.

You can give different people access to the same set of passwords, perfect for teams, as seen below.

1Password’s integration with popular browsers ensures seamless access to our accounts, enhancing our workflow and productivity.

This not only saves time but also reduces the risk of password-related security breaches.

You can even sort groups of passwords by the teams that use them, and control access that way, as seen under.

At ClickDo, our journey has been marked by continuous learning and adaptation, and these 12 tools have shaped our success as a remote marketing agency.

These tools, each in their own way, have helped us build a robust, efficient, and secure remote working environment. They have allowed us to focus on what we do best – delivering top-notch marketing services to our clients.

And with that, we come to the end of our 12 favourite tools for a remote marketing agency. Behind each section lie several tries, retries, and even more retries. But we do enjoy our remote work lifestyle and share this with our community to support others with the same aspirations:

We hope you found this article useful, and we’re happy to add your expert recommendations here too, just get in touch with us via digital@clickdo.co.uk.

Author Profile

Manuela Willbold
Manuela WillboldOnline Media & PR Strategist
Blogger and Educator by Passion | Senior Online Media & PR Strategist at ClickDo Ltd. | Contributor to many Education, Business & Lifestyle Blogs in the United Kingdom & Germany | Summer Course Student at the London School of Journalism and Course Instructor at the SeekaHost University.
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