No-pro tech speeds up traditional production by equipping businesses with the same increase in efficiency and productivity that no-code tools enable.

The no-code movement began with Microsoft in 1985, when they developed data visualization spreadsheet, Excel. No-code tech made its way online in 2003 with WordPress, a platform that makes it possible to build websites without code. Shopify, which enables users to create beautiful stores, came shortly after in 2004

In more recent years, new players have made a name for themselves like Zapier, Webflow, and Figma. Each one has raised the bar for what is possible without writing even a line of Python, JavaScript, or PHP. 

Prior to the popularization of no-code tech, progress was slow for developers tasked with supporting marketing activities. New projects required them to prioritize feature developments alongside bug fixes and tweaks. The emergence of no-code tools allowed developers to save time and money spent on marketing pages and full-stack apps.

Within the last decade, the volume of no-code tech has increased to not only fulfill the needs of developers but to also speed up work for other business units. 

This trend has given way to a new wave of technology: no-pro content creation tools, designed to automate workflows, simplify content creation, and lower the barriers to creative production. These tools allow marketers to create content quicker and at scale—without being an expert in Adobe apps like InDesign, Premier, or Photoshop.

Content demand has risen to new heights within the digital landscape. Brands are expected to produce quality and consistent content in order to enhance brand awareness, attract prospects, and generate leads. To satisfy the demand, marketers must rely on new technology to increase productivity and enhance efficiency.

In this article, we’ll explore why brands are turning to no-pro tools to augment content marketing efforts and the similarities to no-code tech in how they improve efficiency for content marketers.

Similar trends emerging in no-pro tools as no-code tech

Marketers are wearing more hats than ever before. The increase in personalization, test marketing, and dominance of the customer has changed the nature of marketing. Consistent and high-quality content is expected to address the unique needs of each buyer. 

This requirement results in heavier workloads that can place undue stress on small content teams expected to produce engaging and profitable content. As every industry moves to become more digital, engineering teams also face pressure to successfully transition businesses into the digital world.

To prioritize the well-being of its staff, companies must redesign job processes that can impact employee success. Marketers need new technology that guarantees productivity without burnout.  No-code tech has addressed similar issues for engineering teams, and this new wave of no-pro marketing tools is doing the same for marketing teams. Here are three trends that have led to their development.

The responsibilities of marketers are shifting and blurring

The customer comes first is a commonly used phrase in retail, but it also carries into the B2B world. To truly excel in today’s fluctuating digital landscape, marketers must develop authentic connections with customers by demonstrating value in their content marketing strategy. 

Over 80% of smartphone users research information before trying out a new product or service. This means that potential leads are visiting blogs, reviewing sites, and auditing social media channels to develop an informed opinion of your brand.

Not only do marketers connect sales teams to leads, but they also have to become brand advocates, community managers, and researchers in order to gain trust and buy-in from prospects. All of this requires content production — from blog posts to case studies, infographics to video content, and the responsibility for production falls on the backs of marketers.

This blurring and shifting of responsibilities have led to no-pro marketing tools that center the needs of today’s customers while minimizing the additional workload of content marketers. 

Marketers need tools that simplify complex processes 

Gone are the days of running to IT for technical projects. Marketers who lack technical expertise can now undertake creative projects without involving IT or hiring external staff. Marketing teams can build engaging white papers, blog posts, case studies, and other content from beginning to end without a middle person. 

The switch to no-pro tools presents out-of-the-box solutions for managing scale and volume, which leads to faster turnaround time for busy periods. 

A similar shift occurred when businesses looking to invest in technology realized they could use external tools instead of relying solely on their engineering teams. As this need for development grows, no-code tools continue to be one of the fastest-growing tech categories.

In a customer-first world, marketers need time to prioritize output and develop material for their target audience.  Time gained from using no-pro tools ensures customers and activities that drive buy-in are prioritized.

Digital transformation has changed the way marketers work today

As more businesses transition to remote work, digital processes need to be implemented to drive innovation and increase efficiency. This is commonly referred to as digital transformation and consists of embracing digital solutions that optimize business performance.  

Digitization, however, is not new. Digital tools emerged within the last several decades to streamline brand operations and improve business functions. This shift has also extended to marketing teams. Marketers have transitioned from exclusively promoting messages on more traditional formats like billboards, print, and TV ads to digital platforms like advertising in newsletters, social media, search engines, and creative content. 

These new technologies have changed the way businesses work and add to the responsibilities of today’s marketers. No-pro marketing tech is a solution for busy marketers and budget-conscious brands who want to boost their ROI and remain relevant in the digital age.

Types of no pro content marketing tools

Digital content is in constant demand, and thousands of no-pro tools have emerged to fulfill the needs of brands by simplifying communication and speeding up creation. Below, we explore seven content types and how no-pro tools have made it easier for marketers to build impactful content.

Text and copywriting

Despite the popularity of visual content, written material reigns supreme on search engines. Good copy still matters. When paired with a content strategy and proper keyword research, copy can make or break lead conversion goals. Luckily, text and copywriting AI tools are gaining traction and making it easier for marketers to write effective and high conversion content. 

Examples of no-pro tools are Grammarly, a cloud-based writing assistant that reviews spelling and grammar, and Conversion.ai, an AI platform that generates copy for ads, emails, websites, listings, and blog posts. Other text and copywriting tools in the market include Writesonic, Anyword, Snazzy AI, and ProWritingAid.

Another no-pro writing tool is Copysmith. 

“With Copysmith, writer’s block is just a distant memory. Powered by AI, Copysmith merges technology and creativity to help marketers create compelling copy that adapts to their audience, in a matter of seconds.” says Yolinda Jin, Marketing Specialist at Copysmith.

“By the way, that paragraph above was created with Copysmith—content crafted by AI, perfected by humans,” Yolinda adds.

– Yolanda Jin, Marketing Specialist at Copysmith

Infographics

Highly visual content, when done correctly, is effective, powerful, and drives prospects to make profitable actions. 

Lydia Hooper, Informational Design Expert at Venngage, sees infographic platforms as a solution for non-technical professionals. 

“Infographics can be more complex than other content because they often include data and/or analysis. This means that often professionals without design or marketing experience are interested in creating them, and it means that even professionals who do have that experience struggle to find the right tools for the job. Simple and powerful tools like Venngage infographic maker allow everyone, those who aren’t professional designers nor statisticians, to quickly create effective informational graphics.”

– Lydia Hooper, Informational Design Expert at Venngage

To attract today’s overstimulated web users, marketers need clean and compelling visuals. No-pro tools like Venngage, and DesignCap make this happen with simple design and presentation tools that visualize data—no professional graphic design experience needed. 

Graphic design

Platforms like Canva, PicMonkey, and Snappa have made it simpler to design digital or printed materials and edit images. They’re incredibly intuitive, easy to use, and are packed with thousands of templates to help content creators design on the go. 

Visme is another platform that simplifies graphic design. 

“At Visme we’ve created an all-in-one visual design tool that gives users the ability to create engaging and interactive visual assets whether you are a seasoned designer or a total novice. With Visme you can create board-ready presentations, engaging charts, professionally branded documents, or quick social media graphics.”

– Payman Taei, Founder of Visme.

With simple drag and drop features, these web apps make it easier for marketers to throw together quick graphics for social media or optimize a piece of content without outsourcing or hiring external employees. Businesses can also use these tools to build templates for contractors and freelancers.

Animation

Marketers can inject life into old content with tools that animate visuals and videos with easy-to-use templates. Powtoon is a visual communication platform that enables brands to create professional and fully customized animated videos. Another example is Vyond, an online animation software that allows businesses to create professional videos for all industries. Other common animation apps include PixTeller, Moovly, and Animatron.

Interactive

Content marketers can now build interactive and engaging web pages without writing code. Interactive website builders like Uberflip, Foleon, and Contently enhance the customer experience by providing marketers with tools to create intelligent and scalable content. 

Podcast

According to The Infinite Dial 2021® from Edison Research and Triton Digital, 41% of Americans listen to podcasts monthly. Podcast listenership has more than tripled within the last ten years. The popularity of voice apps and hardware like Amazon’s Alexa and Google Echo also demonstrates that individuals are willing and ready to embrace audio. 

Marketers can capitalize on this trend by using no pro-tools that record, edit, and produce professional-quality audio content. Spreaker, a one-stop-shop for podcast hosting, creation, distribution, and monetization, is one example. 

“Podcasting is a growing phenomena, and now more than ever podcasters have everything at their fingertips. With the right hosting platform, podcasters can host, create, distribute and even monetize their podcasts, all with a click of a button, and no technical experience required. Producing your passion project or growing a podcast business has never been easier with a tool like Spreaker.”

– Yvonne Ivanescu, Community & Content Manager at Voxnest

BuzzSprout, another podcast creation tool, provides users with everything they need to make a successful podcast, including reporting, directory, and promotion tools. Other applications making a mark in the industry are Anchor, PodBean Alitu, Descript, SubtitleBee, Zubtitle, and Happy Scribe.

Video

From Instagram reels to TikTok and YouTube, videos are everywhere, and they inform the latest content trends. According to Adweek, 78% of users watch videos online each week, and 55% of those watch daily. This demonstrates the impact and demand of video content.

No-pro software addresses this need and allows marketers to create fast and engaging videos for content marketing, social media, ads, and communication. Now content marketers can use no-pro tools like Vimeo, Adobe Spark, and Wistia without the technical expertise of video editors.

Meisha Bochicchio, Content Marketing Manager at Wistia, agrees that no-code tools have impacted video production for the better. 

“Creating high-quality video assets used to be an all-day affair—or an expensive outsourced line item. But now, with so many great no-code tools, marketers can quickly create and ship impactful and engaging video content on the fly. Whether you are live streaming an event or creating a quick product demo, the barrier to entry has never been lower.”

– Meisha Bochicchio, Content Marketing Manager at Wistia

Of course, we can’t talk about no-pro tools without mentioning our very own Wibbitz. Wibbitz makes it easier for content marketers to edit videos in minutes without having any technical knowledge. With our solution, marketers can turn their content ideas into professional and engaging content with ready-made templates and millions of licensed media assets.

Ready to enhance productivity and simplify your video creation process?