Report: Marketing Tools

Instructions
To learn more about the Marketing tools we recommend at Outsourced Doers,
you will research and report on one of the selected tools.
Your research will need to be in depth and detailed, look for multiple resources
and take notes as you go. After you have completed research, you will need to
provide detailed answers to the questions in this document.
Note: It is recommended that you select a tool that your Founder would use or a
tool that you need to familiarise yourself with.

Submit using this link.

Select from the following list of marketing tools:

Kajabi Active Campaign ZenDesk Instapage

ClickFunnels Flodesk Hootsuite AWeber
Slack Keap Get Response Omnisend
Canva Lead Pages Wordpress Karta
BuzzSumo Zoho Typeform Wix
HubSpot MeetEdgar Unbounce Keywords Everywhere
Mailchimp Shopify ConvertKit

Once you have conducted your research and feel comfortable with the tool, fill in
the below questions:

1. What marketing tool have you researched?

Slack

2. List the resources you used to conduct your research.

Slack website (https://slack.com/)

Chat GPT

3. What services does this tool offer customers?

Slack offers a variety of services to its customers aimed at enhancing team
collaboration and communication:

1. Channels: Organized spaces for messaging, where teams can create

channels based on projects, topics, or departments, ensuring focused
and relevant conversations.
2. Direct Messaging: Private one-on-one or group messaging options for
quick, direct communication.
3. File Sharing: Easy sharing of documents, images, PDFs, and other files
directly within conversations, facilitating seamless collaboration.
4. Integrations: Compatibility with a wide range of third-party applications
and services, including Google Drive, Trello, Zoom, and more, to
streamline workflows.
5. Searchable History: Comprehensive search functionality allowing users
to search through messages, files, and channels, making it easy to find
past discussions and documents.
6. Notifications: Customizable notifications to keep users informed about
important updates without overwhelming them with unnecessary alerts.
7. Voice and Video Calls: Built-in voice and video calling capabilities for
virtual meetings and real-time discussions.
8. App Directory: Access to a vast directory of apps and integrations to
enhance Slack's functionality and tailor it to specific business needs.
9. Workflow Builder: A visual tool to automate routine processes and tasks
within Slack, improving efficiency and productivity.
10. Enterprise-Grade Security: Advanced security features including data
encryption, single sign-on (SSO), and compliance certifications to protect
sensitive information.
11. Analytics and Reporting: Tools to track and analyze usage patterns,
helping organizations optimize their communication strategies.
12. Customizable Workspace: Options to customize the workspace with
themes, emojis, and other elements to reflect the company’s culture and
preferences.

4. What is the target market or target audience for this tool?

Slack's target market or target audience includes:

1. Businesses of All Sizes: From small startups to large enterprises, Slack

caters to companies looking to improve team communication and
collaboration.
 2. Remote and Distributed Teams: Teams working remotely or spread
across different locations benefit greatly from Slack's real-time
messaging and collaboration features.
3. Tech and Software Development Teams: Slack's integrations with
development tools like GitHub, Jira, and continuous deployment systems
make it particularly valuable for tech teams.
4. Marketing and Creative Teams: Slack helps marketing and creative
professionals collaborate on projects, share ideas, and streamline
workflows with various integrated apps.
5. Project Management Teams: Teams focused on project management
use Slack to coordinate tasks, track progress, and facilitate
communication among team members.
6. Customer Support and Service Teams: Slack enables customer support
teams to manage requests, collaborate on solutions, and maintain
communication logs.
7. Educational Institutions: Universities and schools use Slack for facilitating
communication between faculty, staff, and students, as well as for
managing academic projects and administrative tasks.
8. Nonprofits: Nonprofit organizations leverage Slack to coordinate efforts,
manage volunteers, and streamline communication for campaigns and
events.
9. Freelancers and Consultants: Independent professionals use Slack to
communicate with clients, manage projects, and collaborate with other
freelancers.

5. List and explain 5 positives of using this marketing tool.

Here are five positives of using Slack as a marketing tool:

1. Improved Communication and Collaboration: Slack facilitates real-time

communication through channels and direct messages, enabling
marketing teams to coordinate more effectively. This ensures that all
team members are on the same page, which enhances productivity and
reduces the chances of miscommunication.
2. Integration with Marketing Tools: Slack integrates seamlessly with a
wide range of marketing tools such as Google Analytics, HubSpot,
Mailchimp, and social media platforms. These integrations allow
marketers to receive updates, share reports, and manage campaigns
without leaving Slack, streamlining workflows and saving time.
3. Centralized Information Hub: With Slack, all project-related
 conversations, files, and resources are stored in one place. This
centralization makes it easier to find and reference past
communications, which is crucial for tracking the progress of marketing
campaigns and ensuring consistency in messaging.
4. Enhanced Remote Work Capabilities: Slack’s features are designed to
support remote work, making it an invaluable tool for marketing teams
that are distributed or working from home. Features like video calls,
screen sharing, and real-time messaging help maintain productivity and
team cohesion, regardless of physical location.
5. Customizable Notifications and Workflows: Slack allows users to
customize notifications to focus on what’s most important, reducing
distractions. Additionally, its Workflow Builder can automate repetitive
tasks, such as sending reminders for campaign deadlines or
automatically posting updates from other tools, further enhancing
efficiency.

6. List and explain 3 negatives of using this marketing tool.

Here are three negatives of using Slack as a marketing tool:

1. Notification Overload: Slack’s real-time communication can lead to an

overwhelming number of notifications, which can be distracting and
interrupt workflow. Without proper management, the constant pings and
alerts can reduce productivity and increase stress for team members.
2. Information Overload: With numerous channels and messages flowing
continuously, important information can get lost or overlooked in the mix.
Users may find it challenging to keep up with the volume of
communication, making it difficult to find relevant messages or files when
needed.
3. Dependence on Internet Connectivity: Slack requires a stable internet
connection to function effectively. For users with unreliable internet
access, this dependence can hinder communication and collaboration,
potentially causing delays in marketing activities and project progress.

7. List 3 competitors (or similar products) of this marketing tool.

Three competitors or similar products to Slack are:

1. Microsoft Teams: A collaboration platform that integrates with Microsoft

365, offering chat, video conferencing, file sharing, and extensive
 integration with other Microsoft products. It's particularly popular among
organizations already using Microsoft services.
2. Zoom: Primarily known for its video conferencing capabilities, Zoom also
offers chat and collaboration features through Zoom Chat, making it a
robust tool for team communication and virtual meetings.
3. Google Chat (formerly Hangouts Chat): Part of Google Workspace,
Google Chat provides messaging, file sharing, and integration with other
Google services like Google Drive and Google Meet, making it a
convenient choice for teams using Google’s ecosystem.

8. What are the marketing tool’s pricing options?

Slack offers several pricing options to cater to different business needs:

1. Free Plan:
o Access to 90 days of message history.
o Up to 10 integrations with other apps (e.g., Google Drive, Office
365).
o One-on-one voice and video calls.
o 5 GB of storage per workspace.
o Basic collaboration features.
2. Pro Plan:
o $7.25 per user per month when billed annually, or $8.75 per user
per month when billed monthly.
o Access to unlimited message history.
o Unlimited integrations with other apps.
o Group voice and video calls with screen sharing for up to 15
participants.
o 10 GB of storage per user.
o Advanced collaboration features like user groups and priority
support.
3. Business+ Plan:
o $12.50 per user per month when billed annually, or $15 per user per
month when billed monthly.
o All features in the Pro plan.
o 20 GB of storage per user.
o Enhanced security features like SAML-based single sign-on (SSO)
and compliance exports of all messages.
o User provisioning and de-provisioning through SCIM (System for
Cross-domain Identity Management).
 o 99.99% guaranteed uptime SLA.
o 24/7 support with a four-hour response time.
4. Enterprise Grid Plan:
o Custom pricing based on organizational needs.
o Designed for large organizations with complex needs.
o All features in the Business+ plan.
o Unlimited workspaces.
o Advanced security and compliance features including enterprise
key management (EKM).
o Centralized controls and customizable policies.
o Priority support with a dedicated customer success team.

9. How does the pricing compare to their competitors?

Here’s how Slack’s pricing compares to its competitors:

1. Microsoft Teams:
o Free Plan: Includes unlimited chat messages, built-in audio and video
calling for individuals and groups, and 2 GB of personal file storage plus 10
GB of shared team storage.
o Microsoft 365 Business Basic: $6 per user per month. Includes Teams, 1 TB
of OneDrive storage, Exchange email hosting, and access to web versions
of Office apps.
o Microsoft 365 Business Standard: $12.50 per user per month. Includes
everything in Business Basic plus desktop versions of Office apps and
additional business services.

2. Zoom:
o Free Plan: Unlimited one-on-one meetings, 40-minute limit on group
meetings, and 100 participants per meeting.
o Pro Plan: $14.99 per user per month. Includes 24-hour meeting duration
limit, 1 GB cloud recording, and reporting features.
o Business Plan: $19.99 per user per month. Includes all Pro features, a
dedicated phone support, up to 300 participants, and additional admin
features.
o Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing for larger businesses with advanced
features like unlimited cloud storage and up to 500 participants.

3. Google Chat (part of Google Workspace):

o Google Workspace Business Starter: $6 per user per month. Includes
Google Chat, Gmail, Calendar, Drive with 30 GB storage per user, and
other Google services.
 o Google Workspace Business Standard: $12 per user per month. Includes
everything in Business Starter plus 2 TB storage per user and advanced
meeting capabilities in Google Meet.
o Google Workspace Business Plus: $18 per user per month. Includes
everything in Business Standard plus enhanced security and compliance
tools, and 5 TB storage per user.
o Google Workspace Enterprise: Custom pricing with additional enterprise-
level features.

Summary of Comparison:

 Slack’s Free Plan: Offers basic features with limited message history and
integrations, comparable to free plans from Microsoft Teams and Zoom, but with
some limitations in call participants and storage.
 Slack’s Pro Plan: Priced at $7.25-$8.75 per user per month, it's slightly more
expensive than Microsoft 365 Business Basic but offers a rich set of integrations
and unlimited message history.
 Slack’s Business+ Plan: At $12.50-$15 per user per month, it aligns closely with
the pricing of Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Google Workspace Business
Standard, offering advanced security and more storage.
 Slack’s Enterprise Grid Plan: Custom pricing similar to the enterprise plans of
competitors, tailored for large organizations with comprehensive needs and
advanced security features.

Overall, Slack’s pricing is competitive with its main competitors, offering a robust
set of features and integrations that justify its cost, especially for businesses
that heavily rely on seamless communication and collaboration tools.

10. What are three highlights you have learnt about this tool?

From my research on Slack, three highlights stand out as particularly

noteworthy. First, Slack's comprehensive integration capabilities with a wide
range of third-party applications, such as Google Drive, Trello, Zoom, and
Salesforce, streamline workflows and centralize various tools within one
platform, enhancing overall productivity. Second, Slack's advanced
collaboration features, including organized channels, direct messaging, file
sharing, and voice and video calls, facilitate real-time communication and
effective teamwork, which are essential for both remote and in-office teams.
Lastly, Slack offers customizable and scalable solutions, with options like the
Workflow Builder to automate repetitive tasks and tailor the workspace to
specific needs. Its scalable pricing plans, from the free version to the Enterprise
Grid plan, accommodate the needs of small businesses to large enterprises,
ensuring that teams of all sizes can benefit from its robust features.
 11. Would you recommend this marketing tool to your founder?
Why / Why not?

Yes, I would recommend Slack to our founder. Slack's comprehensive integration

capabilities streamline workflows by centralizing various tools and applications,
which would enhance our team's productivity. Its advanced collaboration
features, such as organized channels, direct messaging, and video calls,
facilitate effective and real-time communication, crucial for maintaining team
cohesion, especially for remote work. Additionally, Slack's customizable and
scalable solutions, including options for automating repetitive tasks, ensure that
it can grow with our organization and adapt to our specific needs. These
benefits make Slack a valuable tool for improving our overall communication
and efficiency.