The 5 Best Digital Marketing Tools for Understanding Your Customers

According to a report by Econsultancy and IBM,Ā 33 percent of top marketers surveyedĀ saidĀ that having the right technologies for data collection and analysis is key to understanding your customers.
And, here, technology deserves some credit. Because, today, there is so much rich data available about your customers. They leave a trail all over social media, on search enginesĀ and across the internet. But to access that data, you have to have the right tools.
Here are my top five digital marketing tools that you could use, too, to better understand your customers:
1. SurveyMonkey
If you want to know more about your customers, the best thing you can do isĀ talk to them directly. But if a face-to-face meeting isnāt an option, a survey is the next best thing. WithĀ SurveyMonkey, you can craft a survey to gauge your customersā opinions about your products and brand as a whole.
SurveyMonkey gives you the ability to engage with your customers directly and get their feedback on how you can improve. Make sure you ask open-ended questions so your customers can respond with their own answers. Youāll gain valuable insights from what they tell you, which you can then act upon to improve your brand.
2. Google Analytics
If thereās just one tool from this list you decide to use, it should be this one.Ā Google AnalyticsĀ is a powerhouse analytics tool that can track the traffic coming to your website and the performance of each web page.
Google Analytics gives you insight into how your customers are interacting with your brand. Is there one page on your website thatās resonating the most? What type ofĀ content is attracting the most visitors? By answering these questions, you can learn about customersā likes, dislikesĀ and preferences.
With Google Analytics, you can also find out information like how long visitors spend on your website, their geographic distributionĀ and where they originated from before they landed on your site. And the best part about Google Analytics? Itās free to use!
3. Google Trends
What people type into Google can tell you a lot about their needs. Let’s say Iām looking for someone to walk my dog:Ā Iād probably search for ādog walkersā in my area. And if youāre the owner of a dog walking service, youād probably be interested in my search.
WithĀ Google Trends, you can identify and learn about the search terms your potential customers are using. The tool tells you how popular certain search queries are and how their popularity has changed over time. For instance, if people search for ādog walkersā more in the wintertime, you could plan ahead if you’re the one with the dog-walking business.
Google Trends also allows you to see related search terms and topics, which could reveal new opportunities for your business.
4. Hootsuite
According to eMarketer,Ā nearly a third of the worldās populationĀ uses social media regularly. And these days, social media isnāt just for connecting with friends — itās also for connecting with businesses.
Your business probably already has a social media presence;Ā at least it should. But how often do you pay attention to what people are saying about your brand on social media?
With a social media listening tool likeĀ Hootsuite, you can manage your social networks all in one place and track mentions of your brand. You can set up feeds for mentions of your companyās name, your competitorsĀ and your industry in general. This way, you can tap into the relevant conversations your customers are having and learn from them.
5. Salesforce
According to HubSpot,Ā 40 percent of salespeopleĀ are using informal means, such as Microsoft Excel or Outlook, to store lead and customer data. With that data stored in insufficient tools and in multiple places, itās easy for things to get disorganized and even be lost.
A cloud-based system likeĀ Salesforce, however, allows you to manage all of your customer data in one place. You can store contact information and notes on your interactions with customers, and even send emails from the platform.
Related:Ā 5 Helpful Content Tools and Sources for Digital Marketers
With Salesforce, you can ensure that all of the information you gather about your customers is stored together. This allows you to see the whole picture and have a clear and thorough understanding of your customers.