5 Softwares I Learned in 5 Weeks 

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If there's one constant in marketing, it’s that nothing ever stays the same. New tools, updated platforms, and new best practices are constantly reshaping the way we work. Over the last five weeks, I have had the opportunity to learn five different software programs that have changed how I approach content creation, campaign planning, and digital marketing in general. If you’re new to the field or looking to add a few new resources to your lineup, here's a breakdown of the five I’d recommend trying: 

^{1. Buffer} 

In marketing, timing matters. Trying to get social posts out manually across many platforms can be quickly overwhelming. That is where Buffer comes in. 

Buffer is a tool built exactly for that: scheduling social media posts ahead of time, across many platforms. Each platform is uniquely customizable to fit the needs of the audience you are reaching or the copy you created for each source. Even better, the process is seamless, completing all the steps in a few clicks of a button. 

I quickly realized how essential Buffer is to my staying organized. With Buffer, you can plan your posts weeks (even months) in advance, and preview how they will look on each platform before they go live. It helps free up time for creativity and new content creation instead of scrambling for a last-minute post, especially when juggling many clients or accounts at the same time. 

An added bonus: Buffer is super user-friendly. They have a clean dashboard and include special integrations for every different platform you might be using.  They make managing content a seamless experience, having all drafts, ideas, and future posts all under the same roof. 

Check out Buffer

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2. Meta Ads Manager 

I’ve used Instagram and Facebook just like anyone else. Learning how to advertise on these platforms through Meta Ads Manager was a completely different game. Ads Manager is a tool within Meta Business Suite that allows you to create, manage, and analyze paid ad campaigns across Facebook and Instagram. 

Over the past few weeks, I learned how to build ads from scratch, set campaign objectives, and the most interesting part — targeting hyper-specific audiences based on demographics, interests, behaviors, location, and more. Ads Manager gives you the ability to get incredibly detailed with who you are trying to reach, making it one of the most powerful advertising tools out there. 

I’ll be honest, the platform is intimidating at first, especially with so many features and toggles to navigate through in each campaign. However, once you get comfortable with it, the level of control and precise targeting it offers is a game-changer for any marketer. 

It was eye-opening to see how small adjustments to copy, creative, or audience targeting could have such a large effect on ad performance. From learning how to monitor key metrics like reach and impressions, to adjusting budgets and placements on the fly, Meta Ads Manager quickly became one of the most valuable tools in my marketing toolkit. 

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3. Hive.co 

Designed for live event marketing, Hive.co is a standout platform that makes managing email campaigns simple, efficient, and highly targeted for every specific audience. It is the perfect way to promote concerts and ticketed events. ADD

Since Hive is tailored to event marketing, it offers unique features that simplify the platform for your every event. You can create unique audiences based on previous ticket sales, click-through rates, and musical interests. It also integrates into ticketing platforms, allowing you to trigger emails based on past purchases and event attendance. 

This platform not only makes it easy to capture audiences before an event, but also keeps them engaged for future promotion. If you're using email marketing, Hive should be in your arsenal. 

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4 & 5.  Adobe Express & Photoshop 

One of the biggest skills to build in marketing is learning to create polished, professional, and high-quality visuals. That meant finally diving into Adobe Photoshop. Known as the industry standard for graphic design, Photoshop can do just about anything. Although super overwhelming at first, mastering just the basics can make a huge difference in the quality and flexibility of the content you are creating. 

To ease into the process, I picked up Adobe Express alongside it. Express is like Photoshop's faster, simpler sidekick. Perfect for a quick social post and branded content when you don't have the time (or the need) for a full Photoshop session. Express has tons of templates to choose from and simple tools and design elements that make content creation feel a lot less stressful. 

Learning both at the same time has been a huge win. Express covers my smaller needs, and when I want more creative control or to level up my content, I jump into Photoshop. Getting familiar with Express made the transition to Photoshop less daunting, and now I am way more confident in using both!

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Final Thoughts 

If there is anything I have learned in the past 5 weeks, it's that the right tools can make all the difference. Whether scheduling content, designing graphics, or fine-tuning ad audiences, there is going to be a tool out there that can help you do it better. 

So, what software have you added to your marketing toolkit recently?