Useful design software and tools for business marketing

by Mike K. Post your article at Aleshatech.com

Whether you’re a small business or just starting out, the idea of marketing your business can be daunting, especially if you don’t have much experience in design or the funds to spend on the latest tools.

But there is plenty of software out there which can help you get your business across to the wider world, and they won’t break the budget either. Here’s a useful list of tools and software you can use to start marketing your business in the right way.

GIMP

GIMP can help tackle the design side of business. It’s got a good set of tools for photo management and editing, and is an open source software within a present and supportive community.

Whilst GIMP does require you to be a little more tech savvy than some of the other options on this list, one big plus of the software is that it’s completely free.

Adobe Colour CC

This is a handy system for creating your own colour schemes, which you can then save and send into other Adobe programs like Photoshop and Illustrator. But don’t worry – you’re not required to have an Adobe account to use this tool.

Colour is a really important part of your business’s image, as it’s the first thing that’ll register in people’s mind when they see it advertised. Having a unique colour scheme can help set your business apart from your competitors.

Sumopaint

Sumopaint has a strong set of editing and design tools, helping you create a brand image that’s truly eye-catching and unique. This wide variety of options doesn’t make it too complex though, as the system itself is still very easy to use. It functions on both Mac and PCs, and is unique in that it’s available at three different price levels, ranging from a free version to just shy of £20.

COLOURLovers

This is another app that’s great for helping you design colour schemes for your business. It has everything you need to find the right one, including a variety of pre-made colour palettes with HEX codes for simple use. Or, obviously, you can make your own.

COLOURLovers even lets you upload a photo, and then uses the photo to create a colour scheme based on the image. It’s a nifty little tool called PHOTOCOPA, and it can really help you find a colour scheme that flows.

Pages

Pages is a tool introduced by Apple. In fact, it’s part of their iWork suite, and is compatible with all Microsoft Office apps available on Mac. Obviously, because this is an Apple product, it’s not available on PCs, but if you’re a Mac user then it’s definitely worth looking into.

Pages has a great word processing system and gives you a wide variety of layout options, including eye-catching tables and charts for any eBooks or presentations you might be working on. It’s also less than £20.

Google Fonts

Google Fonts is incredibly simple to use and great for anyone who’s not tech savvy but still wants their designs to stand out. It’s a directory of more than 600 fonts ready for you to try. Just browse which one you like best, then copy and paste the HTML onto your site.

Sketch

Sketch is one of the pricier options on the list at $49. But there’s a reason for this, as Sketch provides an advanced set of features and a powerful design tool. If you know a little bit about design already, you can create great stuff with Sketch. There’s also a 15-day free trial, so give it a go.

This article was contributed by Syntax IT Support London.