What's one marketing tool or software you rely on heavily in your work and why? Share a specific feature or use case that makes it invaluable to you.

Question

In the fast-paced world of sales consulting, staying ahead of the curve is crucial for success. This comprehensive guide unveils a curated list of must-listen podcasts and essential resources, backed by insights from industry experts. From streamlining social media management to leveraging AI for enhanced client communication, these tools and platforms promise to revolutionize the way sales consultants approach their work.

Peter Lewis · Answer

GoHighLevel (GHL) is more than just another marketing system; it is the marketing system that has revolutionized the way we run our business.
One of the biggest advantages for us has been the software's ability to schedule content for social media. Before GHL, we ran around in multiple pieces of software, hopping from one platform to schedule posts, analyze engagement, and even respond to messages. Now, everything is in one software. We can organize the content, schedule posts for our multiple social media platforms, and even reply to all from GHL. It's like having a full-time social media assistant without the cost!
What I appreciate most is that it holds us accountable and gets us organized without dragging us down a never-ending rabbit hole of social media noise. We can prep all of our content in advance, set it, and forget it, rather than scrambling to do it last minute. This is often saving us hours every week and allows us to keep our content flowing.
Because the system integrates with the rest of GHL - funnels, CRM, automations, etc. - it all feels seamless. GHL is the perfect platform to scale your marketing efforts without the stress of managing ten different platforms.

Josiah Roche · Answer

The tool I use most is Google Analytics because it shows where campaigns are wasting money or driving returns. One case that stood out was when a landing page converted around 6% from organic traffic but only 2% from paid clicks. That gap told me the ad copy was pulling people in for the wrong reason, so I changed the copy to better match what the page delivered. Paid conversions went up to about 5% in a couple of weeks.
I use segmentation inside Analytics a lot because breaking traffic down by source, device, and behavior makes weak spots obvious. For example, I caught one campaign where mobile clicks looked fine at first, but once split out, they were eating up nearly half the spend with almost no conversions. Cutting mobile and moving that budget to desktop saved about $1,000 that month and brought in more qualified leads.
Analytics matters to me because it cuts out guesswork. I can back up decisions with bounce rates, session time, and conversion data instead of vague claims. It shows clearly when SEO is pulling weight, when ads are burning money, and when a landing page needs fixing. For me, it's the single tool that keeps decisions tied to numbers that actually grow ROI.
--Josiah RocheFractional CMOJRR Marketinghttps://josiahroche.co/https://www.linkedin.com/in/josiahroche

Ryan Burch · Answer

As a marketing consultancy, we use all the traditional ad platforms and analytics tools you'd expect. However, one tool that has had an outsized impact on client relationships and results is Fireflies.ai. While it's not traditionally considered marketing software, we've built a custom workflow that allows us to improve marketing results.
We use Fireflies to record client meetings, push transcripts through ChatGPT to generate next steps, and automatically send those tasks into our project management system. We're able to query those notes for fresh marketing ideas, brainstorming, or even just to keep us on point with our next steps.
This workflow has saved us hours of manual follow-up and keeps projects moving smoothly, which means we can spend more time on strategy and delivering marketing results for our clients.

Aly Johnson · Answer

We rely on Looker Studio combined with our proprietary SEO Stack platform for all our client reporting and performance tracking. We used to spend countless hours creating manual monthly reports that would be emailed to clients, but now we've built a centralized dashboard system that pulls data automatically from multiple sources like GA4, Google Search Console, and Ahrefs. The real game-changer has been giving clients direct access to their performance metrics in real-time, which has dramatically improved transparency and trust in our work. What I love most is how this setup transforms raw data into visual stories that clients can actually understand without needing technical SEO knowledge. This reporting system has honestly saved our team hundreds of hours while simultaneously improving client satisfaction and retention.

Daniel Reparat Bort · Answer

One tool I rely on heavily is Google Search Console; it's simple, free, and often underutilized.
The feature I find invaluable is the Performance Report, especially when filtered by queries and location. It lets me see exactly which search terms are already bringing impressions (even if we're not ranking high yet) and spot hidden opportunities.
For example, I noticed one client was getting impressions for "emergency lawyer [city]" without having a dedicated page. We built and optimized a service page around that term, and within weeks, it started driving qualified calls.
That's the magic: Search Console shows you where you're on the cusp of visibility, so you can make small, high-leverage optimizations that turn impressions into revenue.

Max Shak · Answer

One marketing tool I've come to rely on heavily is HubSpot. Over the years at Nerdigital, I've tested countless platforms, but HubSpot has become almost like the operating system for our marketing and sales alignment. What makes it invaluable isn't just that it organizes data—it's how it gives us a clearer narrative of the customer journey.
I still remember the first time we ran a campaign using HubSpot's workflow automation. We were working with a client in the B2B SaaS space, and historically, their leads would fall through the cracks between marketing and sales. Marketing would generate awareness, but sales often didn't have enough context to carry the conversation forward. By setting up automated lead nurturing sequences, we could not only deliver content tailored to where the lead was in their journey but also flag to sales when someone was showing buying signals.
The transformation was striking. Sales representatives suddenly had the right context at the right time—they could reference the exact webinar a prospect attended or the white paper they downloaded. Instead of cold outreach, it felt like a warm continuation of a conversation. Conversion rates improved, but more importantly, the relationship with the customer felt more authentic.
On a day-to-day basis, one feature I can't live without is the reporting dashboard. Having campaign performance, pipeline movement, and revenue attribution in one place has completely changed the way we make decisions. In the past, I often felt like I was piecing together scattered data from different tools. Now, I can quickly see what's working, double down on it, and cut what's not.
What I've learned is that the real value of a tool like HubSpot isn't in the technology itself, but in the alignment it fosters. It has helped us bridge the gap between marketing creativity and sales execution, which I've found to be one of the biggest challenges for both my own team and the clients we work with. It's not just a tool we use—it's become a discipline in how we think about growth.

Fredo Tan · Answer

At Supademo, Mixpanel provides us with the clarity we need to scale. Its event tracking demonstrates how specific product actions are linked to outcomes such as conversion and retention. One insight that changed our approach was the realization that customers who created three demos in their first week were far more likely to upgrade. We utilized this signal to redesign our onboarding process: adding in-app nudges to encourage users to create their first demos more quickly, and providing our success team with data-backed playbooks to intervene at the right moment. Mixpanel highlighted the pattern, and we transformed it into a repeatable growth lever.

Sascha Hoffmann · Answer

I use SEMRush on a daily basis. It's not just an SEO tool with all the necessary features you'd expect from SEO software, such as keyword research; it also has social media and content marketing features.
Often, companies use a multi-set of tools for their SEO, ranging from keyword research and ideation to execution and even distribution. With SEMRush, I can do everything in one place.
When I identify a keyword I want to target, I create an SEO content brief (other tools require a third-party tool like SurferSEO). I then also identify backlink targets and can even reach out directly.
This has helped me in streamlining my entire SEO process and also keeping costs down with a single subscription.

Illustrious Espiritu · Answer

For a long time, my marketing team was just guessing at what our customers wanted. We were spending a lot of money on campaigns that weren't performing, and our marketing was a waste of time and money. We knew we had to find a tool that would give us a direct line to our customers' minds.
The one marketing tool I rely on heavily is a simple customer relationship management (CRM) system. The key isn't the software itself; it's how we use it. We use it as a tool for communication between my marketing and operations teams. The specific feature that makes it invaluable is the ability to track a customer's entire journey from the first touchpoint to the final sale.
The most powerful use case is in our follow-up. A customer might click on a marketing ad but not purchase anything. My marketing team can then see that and send them a personalized email that is a direct solution to a problem they might be having. If they then call our operations team with a question, our operations team can see their entire history with us. They know what the customer is looking for, and they can provide a much better level of support.
The impact this had was a massive increase in our conversions and customer loyalty. We were no longer just a business that was guessing at what our customers wanted. We were a business that was anticipating their needs. My advice is that the best marketing tool isn't the one with the most features. It's the one that helps you understand your customers better.

Xi He · Answer

One of the tools we heavily utilize in our marketing is Ahrefs.
The feature that is literally priceless is its Site Explorer + Content Gap analysis. Here's why:- With Site Explorer, we can see precisely which terms the competition is ranking for, which pages are driving traffic to them, and where they're receiving their backlinks.- With the Content Gap tool, we can immediately see keywords and topics for which our competitors are ranking but we are not. This identifies some topical opportunities to create content to fill those gaps.
Specific use case: When launching a new product feature, instead of trying to determine what type of content would attract the right audience, we conducted a Content Gap analysis against leading industry competitors. We uncovered high-intent long-tail keywords (with decent traffic and low competition) not yet covered on our blog. Creating optimized content around those keywords led to a 30% increase in organic sign-ups in a quarter—without increasing ad spend.

Andy Danec · Answer

In my world, a marketing tool isn't about selling a product. It's about a person in crisis finding hope. The real challenge is to get our message in front of the people who need it. It's hard to do that with just a website or a brochure.
The marketing tool we rely on most is a simple one: YouTube. It's not a fancy platform with a lot of bells and whistles. It's a simple, free tool that allows us to share our "My Recovery Story" video series. It's the platform we use to be real with our community.
The invaluable feature of YouTube isn't its analytics or its ad placement. It's its ability to be a platform for a person's story. A video of a person tearing up while talking about seeing their kids again has a direct impact on a person who is in a crisis. It gives them a sense of hope that a polished ad never could.
My advice is simple: the most effective marketing tool is the one that's brave enough to be real. The courage to be vulnerable is the most powerful advertising tool a business can have.

Aimie Ye · Answer

The new SEMrush AI Dashboard, which shows how your brand surfaces in AI search engines, has become a game-changer for us. With more buyers turning to tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity for research, traditional SERP data no longer tells the whole story. The dashboard allows us to see exactly where Centime is (or isn't) showing up in AI-generated answers, which competitors are being mentioned, and what kinds of queries we're missing.
One practical use case: we noticed we weren't being cited in AI responses around "best AR automation for NetSuite," even though that's a core strength. That insight helped us double down on targeted content and backlinks to reinforce our authority. Within weeks, our mentions started increasing in AI outputs, which directly ties back to visibility with our ICP. Having that window into AI search presence is invaluable for shaping both SEO and broader content strategy.

Ayush K · Answer

One tool I rely on heavily is HubSpot CRM, primarily because it allows us to tie content performance directly to sales outcomes. At Tecknotrove, our sales cycles are long and involve multiple stakeholders, so visibility into how a prospect engages with our content is critical.
A feature I find invaluable is content attribution reporting. For instance, when we launched a campaign around "VR-based Fire Safety Training," HubSpot showed us not only how many people downloaded the brochure but also how those interactions influenced later demo requests and deal closures. Seeing that a specific case study was the final touchpoint before a proposal gave us clarity on what type of content moves decision-makers closer to conversion.
This level of insight helps me prioritize content formats and topics that directly contribute to revenue rather than just chasing engagement metrics.

Matt Janaway · Answer

One tool I rely on heavily is Raycast, as it has become the backbone of how I streamline workflows and remove unnecessary friction in day-to-day tasks. Instead of bouncing between apps, I can launch commands, search data, and trigger workflows instantly from a single interface. That level of efficiency compounds quickly when you're managing multiple projects or switching between client work and strategy.
For example, I use Raycast extensions to pull up analytics, manage tasks, and even trigger SEO tools without breaking focus. It reduces context switching, which not only saves time but also helps maintain momentum when working on complex marketing projects.

Isaac Bullen · Answer

I rely on HubSpot to manage emails, calls, and deal notes in one place, which makes it a good fit for solo or boutique consultants. Its free tools plan bundles simple templates with drag-and-drop automation, so I can create a lead-follow-up sequence and send up to 2,000 marketing emails a month without juggling plug-ins.
The catch is the price cliff once you cross the free threshold. Plans rise sharply as the contact list swells, and while the jump is worth it for full workflow freedom, if a team is watching every penny, I point them to Salesforce Starter at roughly £20/$25 per user per month - a fee that stays predictable while you grow.

Giselle Aguiar · Answer

For me, an invaluable marketing tool has to save me time and be easy to use. The one tool I couldn't live without is Dlvr.it. With it, you can automate RSS feeds to automatically publish blog posts and YouTube videos to your social media networks -- even your Google Business Profile! You basically set it and forget it!
You can also use it to schedule social media posts to 21 social networks repeatedly. The starter plan at $4.99/month only gives you 2 social networks, and you are limited to 50 posts per month. Nevertheless, it's a good place to begin.

Shadab Malik · Answer

The one tool I lean on every single day is my TrackFunnels' UTM Link Builder, and that's why I built it because there wasn't a solution around that solved this problem.
Most teams don't realize how much bad tracking data comes from inconsistent UTMs. One person from the same marketing team uses "spring_sale," another writes "SpringSale," and suddenly your GA4 reports are a mess.
I built TrackFunnels to take this guesswork out. It allows you to define and set naming rules once at the organizational level, and every link we generate follows the same format with no duplicates, no typos.
It saves me hours of cleaning data and lets me focus on what actually matters: figuring out which campaigns are working.
Another tool that I rely on a lot is Zapier. Particularly because it connects with roughly 8k+ apps and data stitching is just so easy. Earlier, we had to rely on IT teams to create integrations between two apps, but with Zapier, that's child's play. In addition, it offers so many customization options for the integrations in a very user-friendly interface.

Vincent Carrié · Answer

Notion serves as my primary tool for content marketing work. The database function stands as my essential feature because it enables us to create comprehensive campaign maps which connect all assets to their draft versions, status updates, owner information, and publication dates. Our team developed an active editorial calendar system which allowed channel-specific adjustments between blog content, LinkedIn posts, and newsletter materials. The system brought team members into alignment while reducing Slack communication by more than half each day.

Katerina Bojkov · Answer

We rely heavily on EmbedSocial and its advanced social listening capabilities to spot emerging trends, identify competitors, and uncover potential collaborators. A standout feature is the Instagram API integration, which surfaces posts from marketers open to partnerships. We pair this with AI-powered tagging that automatically classifies content, making it effortless to pinpoint the exact posts and people we need. From there, we can send DMs or comments directly within the platform, streamlining engagement and speeding up collaboration.
It's a single tool to discover potential collaborations, leads, customers, and act from one place.

Lord Robert Newborough · Answer

The tool we rely on most simplifies communication across all our social channels. It allows us to create a content calendar that matches seasonal themes and new product launches. This helps our posts feel timely and connected to the natural rhythms of the estate. By planning in advance, we can ensure our storytelling stays relevant and engaging throughout the year. The feature we value most is the library that stores all our content and assets.
It gives us quick access to visuals of the land, our botanicals, and the making process. Having everything in one place helps our team work more efficiently and with greater clarity. It also ensures that the authenticity of our brand remains intact. For a company so closely linked to nature and tradition, maintaining this connection is essential. The platform saves time while keeping our message consistent.

Kal Dimitrov · Answer

I rely heavily on Copy.ai for content creation across our marketing campaigns. The platform's ability to quickly generate initial drafts for various marketing assets has significantly accelerated our workflow, allowing my team to produce more content in less time. While we still apply our strategic expertise to refine the AI-generated content, particularly for complex topics, the tool has freed up valuable time that we now dedicate to higher-level creative strategy and campaign planning.

Piotr Zabula · Answer

One tool I lean on most, especially in email marketing, is HubSpot. It makes it easy to build and automate campaigns. The standout feature for me is its bot filtering. When it's on, HubSpot filters out fake opens and clicks so I can see how real people are interacting with my emails. That gives me a much clearer picture of which subject lines and calls-to-action actually work, which helps me adjust campaigns and improve results without second-guessing the data.

Danielle Green · Answer

Access Intell is a credit risk management SaaS provider, helping B2B businesses that extend trade credit to onboard creditworthy customers, register security on the PPSR, continuously monitor for risk, and collect debts. We rely heavily on interactive demos to effectively showcase our products and specific industry solutions. Whether sales demos, tours, or user guides, it's an easy and effective way to highlight key features in a controlled manner.

Harlan Rappaport · Answer

One marketing tool I rely on heavily is Slack. While most people think of it purely as an internal communication tool, we use it as a real-time collaboration platform for both clients and contractors. The feature that makes it invaluable is the ability to create dedicated channels and integrate apps directly into those workflows.
For example, when we launch a recruitment marketing campaign targeting overseas talent, we build a channel that includes our internal team and even external partners. We integrate tools like Google Drive for campaign assets and tracking, and use Slack reminders to keep deadlines visible to everyone. This eliminates endless back-and-forth emails and ensures updates are transparent and centralized.
The result is faster campaign execution, fewer miscommunications, and a more agile response when we need to tweak messaging midstream. For us, Slack isn't just about chatting—it's about keeping marketing aligned and accountable in real time.

Raul Reyeszumeta · Answer

ChatGPT has become invaluable for UI/UX writing. The specific feature that changed my workflow is its ability to generate multiple variations of microcopy instantly. When I'm stuck on error messages, button text, or onboarding flows, I'll prompt it with context like 'user just failed to upload a video due to file size' and get 10 variations ranging from technical to conversational.
The real value isn't just speed, it's perspective. I tend to write the same way after years in product design, but ChatGPT breaks me out of my patterns. Last week, I was writing tooltip text for our video platform and my version was functional but boring: 'Click here to add subtitles.' ChatGPT suggested 'Add captions to reach more viewers' which connects the feature to actual value.
I use it most for: empty states (those awkward screens when users have no content yet), error messages that don't make users feel stupid, and CTA variations for A/B testing. It's basically like having a junior UX writer who never gets tired of iterations. The key is treating it as a brainstorming partner, not a replacement for understanding your users. I still make the final decisions, but ChatGPT helps me explore options I wouldn't have considered.

25 Must-Listen Podcasts and Resources for Sales Consultants

25 Must-Listen Podcasts and Resources for Sales Consultants

GoHighLevel Streamlines Social Media Management

Google Analytics Reveals Campaign Insights

Fireflies.ai Enhances Client Communication

Looker Studio Transforms Data into Stories

Search Console Uncovers Hidden Opportunities

HubSpot Aligns Marketing and Sales Efforts

Mixpanel Drives Product-Led Growth

SEMRush Simplifies SEO Workflow

CRM System Personalizes Customer Journey

Ahrefs Identifies Competitive Content Gaps

YouTube Shares Recovery Stories

SEMrush AI Dashboard Tracks Brand Visibility

HubSpot CRM Links Content to Sales

Raycast Boosts Marketing Workflow Efficiency

HubSpot Offers Affordable Marketing Automation

Dlvr.it Automates Social Media Publishing

TrackFunnels and Zapier Streamline Data Management

Notion Creates Comprehensive Campaign Maps

EmbedSocial Facilitates Social Media Partnerships

Content Calendar Maintains Brand Authenticity

Copy.ai Accelerates Content Creation Process

HubSpot Filters Bots for Email Insights

Interactive Demos Showcase SaaS Products

Slack Enhances Real-Time Marketing Collaboration

ChatGPT Improves UI/UX Writing Process