Let’s face it social media marketers, whether you like it or not, graphic design and videography have, one way or another, weaseled their way into our job descriptions. Whether it’s creating images for blog or social media posts, or creating high performing video ads and promos, you’ve probably found yourself needing to quickly draft up some creative images or videos. Well, I’m here to tell you there are quite a few ways to produce fun and exciting social media creative without any experience as a designer or videographer. I’ve put together a list of tools that will help you design professional looking creative without in a matter of minutes. Let’s check them out!

1. Promo

Promo is great for creating quick, easy, and professional looking promotional marketing videos for your social media. This digital video software allows you to pair premium videos with quality licensed music and customizable copy.  Each video can be customized with your own copy and you can also add your logo to brand the video. We think Promo promo is awesome and currently have a monthly subscription. With a subscription, you have access to millions of premium video clips and music to create promotional videos to sell your brand.  If you want to see this software in action, take a look at our latest “Promo” video for our early bird ending January 19th, 2017 here.

2. Flyr

Flyr is another great software for creating visually appealing content on social media. This is a downloadable app that allows you design instant motion graphics. Flyr works by using custom templates that pair multiple video layers with instant animations to really make your content pop. The is a really great way to help your creative stand out among the thousands of images flooding users’ news feeds every day. The cool part about it is that it will create the video to fit the format of each social media platform such as Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook; and you can do all this straight from your phone. Want to see the app in action, click here.

3. LapseIt

LapseIt allows you to create time-lapse videos using iOS and Android devices. Time-lapse videos can be a fun and creative way to step-up your social media marketing game. You can capture moments such as moving clouds, the rising and setting of the sun, a full day at the office, or a big project being completed. This is a unique way to enhance your marketing. Some cool content ideas can be creating a time-lapse promotional events and conferences or even company functions to share them with your social media followers. We’re definitely excited to give this app a try here at #SMSsummit. Check out what some people have done here.

Interested in learning more about how to create great video content for you brand? Check out our workshop on “How to create powerful videos for your brand on a budget.”

4. Canva

Canva is a great tool for everything social media and more. This software allows you to design presentations, social media graphics, and more with thousands of beautiful layouts. With Canva, you can create anything from photo collages and posters to business cards and resumes. Our marketing team loves using this to create quick graphics for our social media accounts. You can add text, logos, images, shapes and so much more to spice up your social media creative. It’s kind of like a simplified version of Adobe Photoshop designed for the everyday marketer. Plus, they have thousands of templates to choose from in case you need some creative inspiration!

5. SuperImpose

Superimpose is a neat app that allows you to layer images on top of one another. This is an easy way for non-designers to create professional images. You do this by “masking” or erasing the background of one image and layering it over the background on another. This mirrors the capabilities of Adobe Photoshop, but is a lot more intuitive and user friendly. This app allows you to be fun and inventive with your creative. There are also a variety of editing features that you can pick from like filtering, lighting, and adding text. The best part is that you can do this right from your mobile phone. I have been a long-time user of this app, and it’s perfect for drafting quick graphics.

6. WordSwag

Wordswag is a great tool for every marketer to have. This is an easy way to add text to your photos in seconds. You can create visually appealing imagery with custom text layouts in a fraction of the time it would take on a software like Photoshop. There are also a ton of text templates with motivational or funny quotes to help if you needing a little extra inspiration. Wordswag is the perfect way to enhance your social media creative when you don’t have a graphic designer at your disposal.

7. Creatopy

From Instagram stories to Facebook banners, Creatopy is a one-stop shop for social media marketers. The ad design platform boasts powerful automation capabilities, but it’s easy to use due to its intuitive drag and drop interface. Get inspired by the thousands of templates, premium stock photos, and original illustrations, or feel free to create your own custom static or animated design in a matter of minutes. Want to switch it up with a carousel or a video ad? No need to worry, whatever design you may choose, the sizes are optimized for every need and platform. And if you work in a team, you can collaborate and give feedback in real-time through comments and shareable links.

Bonus Tool: Flipsnack

Most social media platforms offer integrated e-commerce features. If your clients’ businesses aim to sell products or services online, a well-crafted online catalog is a great option to do this. Flipsnack creates awesome catalogs, magazines, and brochures – among other options. You can download your client’s catalog as a video or separate images for each page, allowing you to repackage content as needed across channels like Instagram, Facebook, or  Pinterest. Flipsnack can also help you create great online presentations, with several available templates to make your life easier.

 Conclusion

Creating great content for your brand doesn’t have to be a lengthy or challenging process. These tools allow you to push fun, engaging, and visually appealing content to your social media followers without the need for a graphic designer or videographer. If you’re looking for a way to diversify your social media marketing strategy, take a few of these apps for a spin and watch your social media come alive!

We’re always looking for great new tools to help strengthen our social media strategy. Do you have any tools you absolutely love? Leave a comment below and let us know!