In the spirit of the festive season, let’s unwrap the “12 Digital Tools of Christmas”—a collection of must-have platforms to streamline workflows, foster connections, and boost productivity. Whether you’re a small business, non-profit, or grassroots organization, these tools offer valuable solutions to keep your projects on track. Here’s a day-by-day guide to maximizing your efforts this season, including the lowest annual costs for each platform’s paid tier. I’m always open to discussing these options and helping onboard you to the ones that work for you! I’ll post an article in the early new year about the absolute must-haves in January… until then!
Day 1: Semrush – The Ultimate SEO Santa
Semrush is a comprehensive platform for SEO, content, social media, and competitor research, helping boost web traffic and brand visibility.
- Starting at $99.95/month (billed annually) or around $1,199 per year.
- Detailed SEO insights to track keyword rankings and optimize content.
- Competitive analysis to understand traffic sources and ad strategies.
- Content marketing toolkit for generating ideas and tracking performance.
- Click here to read my first article on Semrush and here to read the follow-up I posted.
Day 2: NationBuilder – Connecting Your Cause
NationBuilder offers tools for mobilizing supporters, tracking donations, and growing engagement, ideal for cause-driven campaigns.
- Starting at $360/year (based on $30/month for the Starter plan) with volume based pricing.
- Community-building features with personalized calls-to-action.
- Integrated CRM to manage supporter relationships.
- Customizable websites to support outreach goals.
- Click here to read the article I recently posted about NationBuilder.
Day 3: Zapier – The Elf That Connects Everything
Zapier automates workflows by connecting over 3,000 apps without coding, saving time and enhancing productivity.
- Starting at $19.99/month (billed annually) or around $239.88 per year.
- Seamless automation between popular apps.
- No coding required for quick, efficient setup.
- Compatible with an extensive range of apps, from Slack to Google Sheets.
Day 4: Brevo – Spreading Cheer with Email and SMS Marketing
Formerly known as Sendinblue, Brevo is an affordable solution for email and SMS marketing, great for holiday promotions and fundraising.
- Starting at $25/month (billed annually) or around $300 per year for the Starter plan.
- Drag-and-drop email creation with an intuitive interface.
- Multi-channel support for email, SMS, and chat.
- Budget-friendly, ideal for smaller teams.
Day 5: CallHub – Direct Outreach for the Holidays
CallHub supports personalized outreach with voice and SMS marketing, perfect for mobilizing volunteers, engaging donors, or conducting surveys. This platform is one of the leading on the market and has the lowest drop rates in North America.
- Starting around $150/year, depending on usage as it’s based on a pay-as-you-go pricing model.
- SMS, voice broadcasting, and predictive dialing for flexible outreach.
- Affordable plans with scalable options.
- Integrates with popular CRMs like NationBuilder and Salesforce.
Day 6: Organizer – Mobilize and Empower Your Team
Organizer enhances field organizing efforts, perfect for campaigns conducting door-to-door canvassing or gathering data from the field.
- Starting at approximately $300/year, though pricing varies based on organization size and needs.
- Real-time data collection from the field.
- Simple interface for team members with various tech skills.
- Customizable app for specific outreach needs.
Day 7: Zoom – Bringing Holiday Cheer to Virtual Meetings
Zoom is a staple for virtual meetings, providing high-quality video and audio connections, perfect for team gatherings and holiday events. For businesses like mine that work almost 100% remotely, this is a must-have tool in the toolbox.
- Starting at $149.90/year for the Pro plan (for one host).
- Clear audio and video for professional communication.
- User-friendly, accessible to users of all tech levels.
- Scalable plans for small groups to large events.
Day 8: Microsoft Teams – A Gift for Coming Together
Microsoft Teams offers a comprehensive collaboration platform with chat, video, file sharing, and integration with Office tools.
- Part of Microsoft 365, starting at $4/user/month or around $48 per user annually for Microsoft 365 Business Basic.
- Integration with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Streamlined collaboration tools for teamwork.
- Enterprise-level security for data protection.
Day 9: Asana – Your Project Management Santa
Asana offers task management features to track holiday campaigns or event projects, keeping everyone aligned and focused.
- Starting at $10.99/user/month (billed annually) or around $131.88 per user per year.
- Flexible task management for tracking progress and deadlines.
- Multiple project views including lists, boards, and Gantt charts.
- Integration with apps like Slack, Google Drive, and more.
Day 10: Calendly – The Simplest Gift for Scheduling
Calendly makes appointment scheduling easy, allowing clients or team members to book time without back-and-forth emails.
- Starting at $8/month (billed annually) or around $96 per year, free plan is available.
- User-friendly interface to book meetings based on availability.
- Customizable settings like buffer times and meeting durations.
- Syncs with Google Calendar, Outlook, and more.
Day 11: WordPress – The Foundation of Your Presence
WordPress is a top choice for building customizable websites, ideal for showcasing holiday promotions, campaigns, or events.
- Pricing is dependent upon hosting service provider.
- Highly customizable with themes and plugins.
- SEO-friendly for boosting online visibility.
- E-commerce-ready with WooCommerce integration.
Day 12: AIOSEO – The SEO Star of the Show
AIOSEO (All in One SEO) is a comprehensive SEO plugin for WordPress, making it easy to optimize your site for search engines.
- Starting at $49.60/year for the Basic plan.
- Easy-to-manage SEO settings with tools for keywords and meta descriptions.
- Advanced features for expert-level customization.
- SEO audits to identify areas for improvement.
Make the Most of Your Holiday Toolkit
The 12 Digital Tools of Christmas provide everything from digital marketing and project management to direct outreach and SEO optimization. By implementing these platforms, you can streamline workflows, enhance reach, and make a significant impact this season. Consider the costs and benefits of each tool to determine which fits your budget and needs, ensuring a productive and successful holiday season.
