5 Underrated Content Creation Tools Every Marketer Should Be Using

by Novie Dizon
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Why Your Marketing Tool Stack Still Feels Clunky

Picture this: your team already juggles an average 112 SaaS apps just to keep campaigns running. Yet Gartner says most marketers use barely one-third of the capabilities they pay for, leaving money and results on the table.
(Source: cloudzero.comgartner.com)

Now layer on the fact that today’s marketing technology landscape lists over 14,000 products—up nearly 28 % in a single year. (Source: chiefmartec.com) No wonder dashboards feel more like clutter than clarity.

Add to that the pressure to create video: 96 % of marketers say video lifts brand awareness, and 60 % rank interactive video as their most effective format. (Source: wyzowl.com)

So where do you start? Below are five criminally underrated digital marketing tools that lighten the load, automate grunt work, and—yes—turn passive videos into clickable, trackable experiences.


What Makes a Tool “Underrated”?

  1. Free plan or generous free version
  2. Solves a specific marketing task better than bulky suites
  3. Plays nicely with your existing marketing automation platform
  4. Adds measurable lift in SEO, email marketing, or social media marketing KPIs
  5. Requires minimal ramp-up—because your team already manages enough dashboards

Tool #1: Sharelo – Interactive Video That Converts

Why It Beats Traditional Video

Interactive layers (branching, polls, CTAs) can double viewer engagement and speed up lead capture—without re-shooting your footage.

Key Features

  • Drag-and-drop builder (no code)
  • Branching paths for demo, pricing, or testimonial journeys
  • Built-in analytics tools that sync to HubSpot, Zapier, and Google Sheets
  • Free plan: 3 public projects, 15-minute videos, unlimited viewers

How to Create Interactive Videos with Sharelo—Free

  1. Sign up for a free plan at Sharelo.
  2. Upload your raw video or record a quick screen demo (Use tools like Loom or Tella for screen recording).
  3. Add interactions: create a choice like calendar booking links, text and video replies, forms, or link to other videos.
  4. Customize design tools—colors, fonts, thumbnails—to match your landing page (available in Pro plan)
  5. Publish & embed: copy-paste the iframe into any blog, email marketing tool, or your website.
  6. Track analytics in the dashboard: heat-maps show exactly where viewers click.

Where It Fits in Your Marketing Toolkit

  • Use as the “hero” asset on a high-intent landing page.
  • Pair with a marketing automation tool to auto-email leads who reach a certain branch.
  • Repurpose clips into social media marketing teasers.

Sharelo - Free Interactive Video Platform


Short links still feel like table stakes—until you try Dub - the modern link shortener and Bitly alternative. Create 1k URLs per month, 3 custom domain, track and analyze.

  • Marketing channel fit: email, SMS marketing, influencer marketing
  • Why it’s a great marketing tool: More generous than Bitly’s free tier, and no credit card up front.

Bitly vs Dub


Tool #3: Tella – Lightweight Video Recorder for Human-First Pitches

Think Loom, but with slicker editing, automatic backgrounds, and vertical-video presets for Reels and Shorts.

  • Free plan: available for 7 days. (Get 30% discount here if you want to upgrade)
  • Auto-generated captions—good for SEO and accessibility
  • One-click export to MP4 or GIF for social media marketing tools, online course content and any video content.

Tella screen recorder


Tool #4: CapCut Desktop – Powerful Editing Without the Price Tag

TikTok’s sibling isn’t just for mobile memes. CapCut’s desktop app adds multi-track timelines, AI-powered cut detection, and motion graphics—features you’d expect from a premium design tool.

  • Best free editing tool for any video. Light and easy to use.
  • Zero-cost, making it a go-to in any marketing stack focused on video

Learn CapCut Desktop in 10 minutes


Tool #5: Notion AI – The Swiss-Army Knife for Content & Project Management

Notion started as a notebook; today it’s a project management tool, CMS, and AI writing assistant rolled into one.

  • Ship blog drafts, email marketing campaigns, and editorial calendars in one workspace
  • AI blocks help you outline, rewrite, and translate posts—perfect for multi-channel content marketing
  • Connect to Zapier or Make for light marketing automation

Putting the Pieces Together: Your Marketing Toolkit in Action

  1. Brainstorm & outline in Notion AI.
  2. Record a polished walk-through with Tella.
  3. Edit and caption in CapCut.
  4. Make it interactive in Sharelo and embed on a dedicated landing page.
  5. Shorten & track your URL with Dub, dropping it into email newsletters, SMS pushes, and social bios.
  6. Measure analytics across GA4, your CRM, and Sharelo dashboards to tighten the loop.

With this flow, you cover the entire content marketing journey—from ideation to distribution—using lightweight, often-free tools for marketing automation and analysis.


FAQs

QuestionAnswer
What’s the best marketing tool for interactive video?For speed and affordability, Sharelo’s free tier lets you test interactive videos before upgrading.
Can these tools replace an all-in-one marketing platform?They’re designed to plug specific gaps. Think of them as a modular marketing toolkit rather than a single platform.
How do I connect Sharelo leads to my email marketing tool?Use the native Zapier app to push form fills straight into Mailchimp, HubSpot Email Marketing, or any marketing automation platform.
Are these tools really free?Yes—each offers a free plan. Paid tiers unlock advanced analytics tools, higher quality exports, or expanded collaborator seats.
Do I need coding skills?Nope. All five emphasize no-code interfaces, perfect for marketing teams who want results without dev tickets.

Conclusion

The right marketing tools can help you create faster, convert higher, and spend less. By weaving Sharelo, Dub, Tella, CapCut, and Notion AI into your digital marketing stack, you gain a nimble set of tools that punch far above their weight—free versions included.

Stop drowning in unused features. Pick one of the five underrated gems above, slot it into a live marketing campaign, and watch the metrics move.



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