I tried over a dozen AI tools in marketing. Here are the 6 that actually work in 2026

It really depends on your main goal. If you're focused on content, look for tools that produce publish-ready articles, not just drafts. For automation, a no-code builder is key. And for SEO, you'll want something that tracks visibility in new AI search engines. The best tools solve a specific, time-consuming problem you have right now.

Absolutely. Many AI tools in marketing are designed with small businesses in mind. For example, platforms like the eesel AI blog writer can help a small team scale content production dramatically without hiring more writers. Others, like Gumloop, offer generous free plans for automating simple tasks. You don't need a huge budget to get started.

They can do everything from brainstorming topics and generating outlines to writing complete first drafts. More advanced tools, like the eesel AI blog writer, go a step further by creating a fully-formatted, SEO-optimized article complete with images, videos, and social proof, turning hours of work into a few minutes.

It varies. Some tools are standalone and require you to copy and paste content, while others offer deep integrations with platforms like WordPress, Google Docs, or your CRM. The best approach is to look for a tool that fits your current process, rather than forcing you to adopt a whole new one.

Think of it like a general practitioner versus a specialist. ChatGPT is great for a wide range of tasks, but specialized marketing tools are fine-tuned. They are often trained on specific marketing data, understand concepts like SEO and brand voice, and are built to solve a particular marketing problem, which usually leads to a much better and more relevant final product.

The easiest way is to track time saved. Calculate how many hours you or your team spend on a task before and after implementing the tool. You can also look at performance metrics. For a content tool, that might be an increase in published articles and organic traffic. For an automation tool, it could be a higher lead conversion rate.