In 2007, Joseph Jaffe introduced the concept of conversational marketing. His goal was to show business folks how to talk with their audience using different platforms.

Conversational marketing is just like having a knowledgeable salesperson in a brick-and-mortar store who guides you through the product options, addresses your concerns, and helps you make an informed decision.

Conversational marketing uses smart tools like chatbots and live chat to quickly give info, answer questions, and suggest things based on what customers want, making interactions smooth and personalized. Plus, they make the conversation feel personal and natural, like talking to a real person.

In this blog post, we will explore more about conversational marketing, its advantages, and a curated list of top-tier conversational tools so that you can choose the best ones for your business. So, keep reading!

What is Conversational Marketing?

In simple terms, conversational marketing is when you talk to your customers to understand their needs during their journey. It’s a way of marketing that involves real-time conversations to engage visitors on your website, mobile apps, and other social media platforms and guide them through the buying process. Instead of just showing information, it’s more of having a chat with your customers, finding out what they need, and offering solutions. 

Conversational marketing not only helps customers feel at ease during the buying process but also plays a role in forming customer relationships. When a relationship is established, a potential customer is more likely to keep moving forward on their journey as a customer.

5 Main Types of Conversational Marketing Platforms

Next, let’s explore the 5 main types of conversational marketing platforms that are reshaping how businesses connect and build relationships with their audience.

1. Live Chat

Live chat platforms have become crucial tools for businesses aiming to provide excellent customer service and build strong connections with their audience. With user-friendly interfaces and practical features, these platforms allow businesses to engage in real-time conversations using live chat software. Live chat tools not only help to offer excellent customer service but also enable the transmission of marketing and sales messages during live chat interactions.

Integrating live chat as a part of your website or online store is essential nowadays. You can customize its appearance to match your brand and configure messages accordingly. Despite its primary association with customer service, live chat also plays a significant role in marketing. 

2. Chatbot

Chatbots, powered by artificial intelligence, mimic human conversation to swiftly and accurately respond to customer questions. They serve various purposes, such as addressing FAQs and guiding customers through the buying process. If you have an online store and want to offer real-time assistance to your customers 24/7 then chatbots are the best options to opt for. 

AI chatbots have become integral to conversational marketing by enabling businesses to establish instant connections, provide personalized experiences, qualify leads, and automate various aspects of customer engagement. As technology continues to advance, chatbots will likely play an increasingly central role in shaping the future of marketing interactions.

3. Email

When we talk about conversational marketing, emails may not come to mind as much. That’s because they’re not entirely chatty; they are more of a formal marketing method. However, they still play a role in connecting with your audience and building a relationship with them.

4. Voice Assistants

Businesses can establish a distinct brand voice and personality through voice assistants. The tone, style, and language used in interactions contribute to building a consistent brand identity and fostering a connection with the audience. 

Voice assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri provide immediate responses, enhancing the speed of customer interactions. This instant feedback contributes to a seamless and engaging experience, capturing the user’s attention at the moment of interest. As technology continues to advance, the role of voice assistants in shaping the future of marketing interactions is likely to grow.

4. Social Media

Social media platforms, such as Facebook, Viber, Instagram, and Twitter, play a crucial role in any strategy aimed at connecting with your audience. They offer a space for interaction, content sharing, and receiving feedback. Tools like Facebook Messenger and Instagram Direct enable direct and personalized communication with your customers.

These tools for conversational marketing are all set to advance further, introducing more upgraded features. So, your business needs to stay well-updated and make the most of these tools to enhance the overall customer experience. Next, we’ll explore more about their benefits. 

Benefits of Using Conversational Marketing Tools

The idea of conversational marketing is to talk both ways, like friends, to build trust and make customers want to stick around. Here, we’ll talk about some of the best things about using conversational marketing tools.

• Real-time Assistance

Customers want instant assistance with their problems. When almost half of the customers, around 46%, can’t find basic info like where a company is or its working hours, or they can’t get quick answers, it makes them upset. 

Conversational marketing helps by offering proactive customer support. It lets customers help themselves 24/7 on company websites and through chatbots that work on different platforms. These chatbots only connect customers to real agents when it’s necessary. While support agents can only help a few customers at once, chatbots can assist lots of frustrated users all at the same time. 

• Personalized Engagement

Conversational marketing tools can be programmed to deliver personalized content and recommendations based on user preferences and behaviors. This approach not only enhances the level of customer engagement but also increases the effectiveness of marketing efforts by delivering more relevant and targeted information.

• Improved Customer Experience

These conversational marketing tools let you engage with the customers personally, and quickly help with their queries. For example, chatbots can instantly answer about 80% of common questions. This means your customer service team can spend more time on harder issues.

Also, you can make these tools like voice assistants match your brand’s way of talking. This makes sure that, no matter where customers reach you, they get the same special experience that fits your brand.

The end goal of personalized interactions is to create a tailored customer experience. This means that your users feel that the information, suggestions, and responses they receive are unique to them, fostering a sense of individual attention and relevance.

• Available Round the Clock 

AI chatbots can operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, ensuring continuous customer engagement. This around-the-clock availability is crucial for businesses catering to a global audience with different time zones or for those who want to provide support outside regular business hours.

Having the ability to interact with a business at any time enhances accessibility. Customers can access information, make inquiries, or engage in transactions during non-traditional business hours, accommodating varying schedules and preferences.

• Increased Sales

Conversational marketing tools contribute to increased sales by providing immediate engagement, personalized interactions, and efficient support throughout the customer journey.  For example, live chat and chatbots, enable businesses to engage with website visitors instantly. This immediate interaction allows businesses to capture the attention of potential customers when their interest is high, increasing the likelihood of converting leads into sales.

These tools are also effective in gathering information about potential customers during interactions. This data includes preferences, purchase intent, and specific needs. By qualifying leads in real time, you can prioritize the leads that are more likely to convert, improving the efficiency of the sales process.

• Time and Resource Savings

Automation of routine tasks and interactions saves time and resources. Conversational marketing platforms like chatbots, automate routine and repetitive tasks. This includes handling frequently asked questions, gathering basic customer information, and guiding users through standard processes. By automating these tasks, businesses can free up human resources for more strategic and complex activities.

Top 10 Conversational Marketing Tools

Great conversational marketing platforms offer different tools to help your company talk with customers in real-time, keep track of the conversations, and make customer support better. Check out the best 10 tools with great conversational commerce features that we suggest you keep an eye on in 2025!

1. REVE Chat

REVE Chat is one of the best conversational marketing tools available in the market that helps you interact with your customers in real-time. You can use it on your website, mobile app, or popular platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Viber, Instagram, and Telegram.

If you have an online business and wish to engage more easily with your customers or offer excellent customer service, opting for REVE Chat will be a smart choice. It’s like making an investment that can improve customer service, bring in more potential customers, and boost sales.

Core Features: 

• Use REVE Chat’s conversational marketing bot that helps your customers 24/7, even when your team is not available. 
• Let your customers start live chat sessions whenever they need immediate help from your support team. It’s a quick and easy way for them to get assistance.
• Your customers can start video calls with your support team right from the chat. It’s like talking face-to-face, but online!
• If you’re helping with technical stuff, online shopping, or showing a product, you can easily see and manage your customer’s screen during a chat. REVE Chat’s screen-sharing feature keeps things smooth and straightforward.
• Stay organized by using the ticketing system. You can track and manage customer queries and chat requests, all in one place.
• Get personalized data and detailed reports about your customers and agents. It helps you understand what’s working well and what can be improved.
• See a full overview of your website’s journey, conversations, and details about all the visitors and customers. It’s like a backstage pass to understand your audience better.

And guess what? You can try all these amazing features for free with REVE Chat’s 14-day trial. So, why wait? SIGN UP today!

2. Intercom

Intercom serves as a conversational marketing platform for communication and customer messaging, assisting businesses in establishing personalized and efficient connections with their customers. It provides a set of tools specifically created to enhance conversations, support, and engagement.

 Core Features:

• Intercom enables companies to send targeted and personalized messages to their customers.
• Offers a live chat feature, allowing businesses to engage with customers in real-time.
• With its AI chatbot, businesses can automate certain tasks and messages.
• Offers a comprehensive view of customer interactions.
• Includes a knowledge base feature, empowering customers to find answers to common questions on their own. 

3. Birdeye

Birdeye is a comprehensive customer experience platform designed to help you manage and enhance your brand’s online image, customer interactions, and overall customer experience. It helps companies keep track of their brand reputation by collecting and managing customer reviews from various platforms. It’s like a reputation superhero, ensuring businesses stay aware of what customers are saying.

Core Features:

• With Birdeye, businesses can gather valuable feedback directly from customers.
• Facilitates communication with customers across different channels.
• Allows businesses to create and send surveys to collect insights about customer experiences.
• Assists in managing their online listings across various platforms.
• Enables companies to engage with customers in real-time through webchat and messaging.

4. Zendesk

Zendesk empowers many businesses to deliver exceptional customer service, automate processes, and build lasting relationships with their customers. It’s a comprehensive solution designed to make customer interactions smooth and enjoyable.

Core Features:

•  Zendesk’s ticketing system organizes customer inquiries and issues into tickets, making it easy for support teams to manage and prioritize tasks.
• provide customer support across various channels.
• You can create a knowledge base with articles and guides to help customers find answers to common questions independently.
• Offers live chat functionality.
• Offers automation and AI to automate repetitive tasks, route tickets to the right teams, and provide quick responses.
• Robust analytics and reporting features to track key performance metrics and make data-driven decisions.

5. Facebook Messenger

The Facebook Messenger chatbot is super handy for customer service. It helps you find great shopping options and excellent customer support. With this Messenger, you can even add a buy button, making it easy for customers to purchase without going to your website. It’s like a quick shop right in the chat!

Core Features:

• Facebook Messenger’s primary feature is sending and receiving text messages, stickers, emojis, and media files like photos and videos.
• Users can make voice and video calls.
• Supports group chats.
• You can send short voice messages.
• Users can share their real-time location with others.
• Allows money transactions within the app.
• Can be integrated with business pages, enabling companies to provide customer support, share updates, and even facilitate purchases through chatbots.

6. Instagram Messenger

Instagram Messenger is a valuable tool that allows businesses to connect, communicate, and engage with their customers in a personalized and convenient way on the Instagram platform. This conversational marketing platform ensures secure and private communication between brands and customers. It’s like having a trusted space where conversations stay confidential.

 Core Features:

• Businesses can use Instagram Messenger for direct communication with customers.
• You can create pre-set responses to common queries.
• Instagram Messenger seamlessly integrates with business profiles.
• Businesses can share detailed product information, images, and even catalogs through Messenger.
• Service-oriented businesses can use Messenger for appointment scheduling.
• Instagram Messenger can be used to send order updates, shipping information, and tracking details directly to customers.

7. Respond.io

Respond.io is a complete conversational marketing software that simplifies how businesses, no matter their size, handle customer communication. It brings together messaging from various channels like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, website, and more into one convenient platform. It’s like having all your conversations in a single, easy-to-manage space!

Core Features:

• Respond.io brings together customer messages from various channels.
• Facilitates real-time conversations with customers.
• Provides automation features to streamline repetitive tasks
• Integrates with various third-party tools and applications
• Facilitates collaboration among team members, ensuring a coordinated effort in managing customer interactions.

8. HubSpot Marketing Hub

It is a comprehensive solution that empowers companies to elevate their marketing strategies, attract customers, and build lasting relationships. HubSpot offers multiple conversational marketing tools including live chat, social media management, SEO, ad tracking, and AI software.

 Core Features:

• You can create and send targeted email campaigns.
• Companies can schedule and publish social media posts, track engagement, and analyze performance.
• It streamlines marketing tasks with automation, helping businesses nurture leads and personalize their customer journeys.
• Provides insights into marketing performance.
• Helps to create and manage content on websites.
• Helps companies to optimize their content for search engines, improving online. visibility.

9. Drift

In today’s digital age, tools like Drift are changing the way businesses communicate with customers. Known as Conversation Cloud, it uses smart AI to enhance customer interactions across different platforms such as chat, email, and video. From capturing leads to nurturing them through personalized conversations, Drift empowers brands to create a seamless and engaging experience for their online audience.

Core Features:

• Facilitates instant communication with website visitors
• Drift’s chatbots can intelligently respond to user queries, qualify leads, and guide prospects through the sales funnel with personalized interactions.
• Seamlessly integrates with various communication channels, including email and social media
• Ensures compatibility and functionality on mobile devices
• Offers insights into user behavior, engagement metrics, and the effectiveness of conversational marketing efforts.

10. MobileMonkey

MobileMonkey stands as a dynamic tool for businesses looking to enhance their conversational marketing efforts. It is a versatile chatbot and messaging platform designed to revolutionize how you can engage with your audience. 

With a primary focus on Facebook Messenger, MobileMonkey empowers you to create interactive and personalized conversations, automate customer interactions, and drive meaningful engagement.

Core Features:

• Intuitive interface for designing chatbots without extensive coding knowledge.
• Primarily integrates with Facebook Messenger.
• Chat-based lead generation forms to capture and qualify leads.
• Automation of responses, follow-ups, and marketing sequences.
• AI to enhance chatbot interactions and responses.

How to Choose the Best Conversational Marketing Software?

Picking the correct chat tools can make a big difference for your business. These tools can assist you in talking to your customers, figuring out what they want, and boosting your sales. But, since there are lots of choices, how do you pick the best one for your business? 

Here are a few important steps to help you decide.

Identify Your Needs: Understand what you want from the software. Are you looking to engage with customers, gather information, or boost sales? Knowing your specific needs will narrow down your options.

Evaluate Features: Look at the features each software offers. Consider things like chat capabilities, customization options, analytics, and integration with other tools. Choose a software that aligns with your business goals.

User-Friendly Interface: A user-friendly platform ensures that your team can quickly adapt and utilize the software effectively.

Scalability: Consider the scalability of the software. Ensure it can grow with your business and handle increased demands as your customer base expands. This prevents the need for frequent software changes.

Customer Support: Check the level of customer support provided by the software provider. Reliable customer support ensures that any issues or questions are addressed promptly, minimizing disruptions to your operations.

Integration Options: Choose a software that can seamlessly integrate with your existing tools and systems. This facilitates a smooth workflow and ensures that your conversational marketing efforts are aligned with your overall business strategy.

Budget Considerations: Evaluate the cost of the software and whether it fits within your budget. Consider any additional fees, such as licensing, setup, or ongoing maintenance costs. 

Selecting the Best Conversational Marketing Tools

In the rapidly evolving online landscape, businesses must adapt by refining their marketing strategies. The significance of conversational marketing has surged, enabling businesses to engage with customers on a personal, interactive, and impactful level. The dynamics of business operations are transforming with the integration of conversational marketing bots, live chat, video chat, voice assistants, email marketing tools, and social networking tools.

So, to be successful, keep learning and adapting. Stay updated on conversational marketing trends, choose the right tools, and improve your strategies based on customer feedback and behavior.

According to Oberlo (2023) over 70% of shoppers use Instagram to discover new products. Another Wordsteam ( 2024)  report shows that 95% of users follow businesses on Instagram. This data indicates the significance of this social platform on eCommerce dynamics. 

If you need to become more familiar with the term, and wondering – what is Instagram eCommerce? – Instagram eCommerce essentially involves using the platform for Shop and Sale purposes. Consumers engage in product research, identify prospective buyers, and conduct transactions directly via Instagram. Meanwhile, merchants utilize shopping features, exhibit their products, and connect with their target market. These processes form the foundation of eCommerce within Instagram.

How to Use Instagram for eCommerce?  

Before getting started, get these questions. So you will understand your target audiences better and tailor your strategies accordingly. 

• Who is your ideal customer and what are their needs?
• What products or services are you selling and how do they fit the Instagram market?
• What are your goals and resources for Instagram eCommerce?

Follow the next steps if you are new to the sector.

1. Instagram eCommerce Eligibility Requirements 

Here are the key Instagram commerce eligibility requirements you need to meet to sell on Instagram:

a. Comply with Instagram’s policies: This means adhering to Instagram’s Terms of Use, Community Guidelines, Commerce Product Merchant Agreement, Commerce Policy, and Instagram Ad Policy. 

These policies outline what is and isn’t allowed on the platform, including product restrictions, prohibited content, and advertising practices.

b. Represent your business and domain: You can only tag products from a website that you own and operate. This means no linking to products on other platforms like Amazon or Redbubble. You can, however, connect your Instagram shop to an approved e-commerce platform like Shopify or BigCommerce, as long as it’s connected to your Facebook account.

Your Instagram profile should accurately represent your business and brand. This includes using a professional profile picture and bio and having a consistent visual aesthetic throughout your feed.

c. Be located in a supported market: Instagram Shopping is not available in all countries. You can check the latest list of supported markets on the Instagram Business Help Center.

d. Demonstrate trustworthiness: Your Instagram account should have an established presence and demonstrate trustworthiness. This includes having a decent number of followers (although Instagram doesn’t specify an exact number), consistent engagement with your audience, and positive reviews.

e. Provide accurate information and follow best practices: Make sure your product descriptions, pricing, and shipping information are accurate and up-to-date. Use high-quality product photos and videos that showcase your products well.

2. Set up an Instagram Shop 

Setting up Instagram shopping can be a great way to reach new customers and boost your sales. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get started:

a. Meet The Requirements

Before you start, make sure you meet the following requirements:

• Have a business or creator Instagram account.
• Comply with Instagram’s commerce policies.
• Have a Facebook page or Business Manager account.
• Have a product catalog connected to your Facebook Shop.

b. Set up Your Facebook Shop:

Here is a guide on how to create a Facebook page. 

c. Connect Your Facebook Shop to Instagram

Once your Facebook shop is set up, you can connect it to your Instagram account. This will allow you to tag products in your posts and stories.

To connect, 

• Go to inbox and find Instagram tab 
• Connect Instagram account 
• Allow Instagram Access 
•  Select the account you want to continue your shopping with 

Now the platform may ask you to choose a creator or business. You can choose either according to your needs. They both are professional accounts. 

Select the category of your shop and find your Instagram connected to the meta business suite. now, click done. 

Next, 

• Go to all tools on the left of the meta business suite.  
• You have to select the commerce tab. This will bring you to ‘ Sell on Facebook, Instagram, or both.”- Get started once you see this. 
• You will get two things – create a catalog or create a shop -select shop. 
• Follow the instructions and fill in the requirements. 

Woohoo! Your Instagram shop is ready. 

3. Design Your Instagram Shop

Once your shop is technically ready, you have to plan the visual design. Four things are very important for successful Instagram shops – visual cohesiveness, quality product photos, quality product presentation, and user experience. Let’s give some pro tips to excel each one of them gracefully. 

• Visual Cohesiveness

Maintain a consistent color palette and theme. Choose colors that reflect your brand identity and resonate with your target audience. Stick to this palette throughout your product photos, backgrounds, and graphics for a unified look.

• Quality Product Photos

You should invest in professional product photography that showcases your items in the best light. Ensure consistent lighting, backgrounds, and angles for a polished look. Utilize templates or design tools to ensure consistent style and professionalism.

• Product Presentation

Use clear and concise descriptions that emphasize the benefits and unique selling points of your products. Create collections or categories to organize your products and make them easily discoverable by customers.

• User Experience

It is important for any commerce model. Your buyers should be able to find their desired products easily. Also, the purchase, payment, and delivery channels have to be smooth. Tag your products in organic posts and Stories to make them directly shoppable, streamlining the buying journey.

4. Marketing Strategy for Instagram Shop

Here we are at the biggest step, setting marketing strategies for Instagram eCommerce.

• Target Audience: Understand your ideal customer’s age, gender, location, interests, and buying behaviors. This helps tailor your content and messaging for maximum impact.
• Content Planning: Select the types of content your visitors will love based on the target audience demographic studies. Show how your products fit into everyday life. User-generated content (UGC) is an excellent way to achieve this.
• Content Format: Instagram has different content format options for users. Utilize Reels, Stories, Highlights, and Lives to keep your content fresh and dynamic. Make sure you post each type of content deliberately throughout the week. 
• Content Calendar: A content calendar is important to ensure the distribution of your content in the most engaging times. Also, you can leverage special occasions to your marketing strategy with the help of a calendar. 
• Paid ads: If you are planning to run paid ads, plan the budget and target audiences upfront. So, you will not miss out on things in the long run. 

The Benefits of Using Instagram for eCommerce 

Instagram stands out for its visual-centric approach and highly engaged user base. Let’s learn why Instagram is a game-changer for eCommerce.

1. Sell Directly on Instagram

Instagram offers eCommerce businesses a direct path to boost sales and simplify the buying process for customers. With features like shoppable posts and Instagram checkout, businesses can sell products directly on the platform. This makes it easier for customers to make purchases and increases conversion rates.

2. Reach Users With High-purchase Intent

You can engage users frequently with content related to products they’re interested in. You can make Instagram a goldmine for your businesses to connect with eager shoppers. By strategically targeting demographics and interests, businesses can effectively reach potential customers who are primed to convert.

3. Business-to-Consumer Marketing (B2C)

Instagram provides an unparalleled opportunity for brands to showcase their products in captivating ways. It fosters genuine connections through interactive features like comments and direct messages and cultivates a loyal customer base.

4. Cost-Effective Marketing

Compared to traditional advertising channels, Instagram offers cost-effective marketing options, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. The Ads Manager gives businesses everything they need to succeed online. You can set how much money you want to spend, choose who sees your ads, and see how well your ads are doing immediately. It’s like having a control panel for your advertising on Instagram.

5. Track Performance and Metrics

With Instagram’s analytics, businesses can see which posts, stories, or ads are grabbing people’s attention and which ones are falling flat. This information helps them fine-tune their content strategy for maximum impact.

6 Proven Strategies for Instagram eCommerce Success

With over a billion active users, Instagram offers a wealth of opportunities for eCommerce success. Below are six proven strategies for Instagram eCommerce success,

1. Use Hashtags

Posts with 11 or more hashtags witness a 79.5% surge in interactions compared to those without any hashtags, especially evident for smaller accounts with less than 1,000 followers, according to data from Search Logistics.

Include hashtags in your Instagram eCommerce strategy. Use them to increase the discoverability of your products. Research relevant and trending hashtags in your industry and incorporate them into your posts to expand your reach. It will attract more potential customers.

2. Respond to Comments

Engage with your audience by responding promptly to comments on your posts. Respond kindly to positive comments, answer any questions or worries, and have genuine conversations to create trust and loyalty with your followers.

3. Use a Chatbot

Implement an AI-powered chatbot to streamline customer inquiries and provide instant feedback. A chatbot can help automate responses to frequently asked questions. It also guides customers through the purchasing process and enhances the overall user experience. 

4. User-Generated Content

Encourage your customers to create and share content featuring your products. User-generated content serves as authentic testimonials and social proof. It boosts credibility and influences the purchasing decisions of potential buyers.

5. Influencer Marketing

According to the Influencer Marketing Hub Benchmark Report, close to 60% of marketers intend to boost their budget for influencer marketing in 2024, with a portion allocating more than 40% of their overall marketing budget to this strategy.

Partner with influencers in your niche to promote your products to their followers. Collaborating with influencers who align with your brand values can significantly expand your reach. It will drive traffic to your eCommerce store, and generate more sales.

6. Consistent Branding

Maintain a consistent aesthetic and brand voice across your Instagram posts and stories. Establishing a cohesive visual identity helps reinforce brand recognition. It builds trust in your audience and differentiates your eCommerce business from competitors.

Top Seven Instagram eCommerce Tools

Whether you’re a small boutique or a large retailer, incorporating these tools for e-commerce into your Instagram strategy can give you a competitive edge in the ever-evolving world of online commerce.

1. Like2Buy – Create Shoppable Links

An e-commerce business can create shoppable links on Instagram. One platform is Like2Buy. This tool allows users to create functional product tag templates to promote products from their feeds. These templates include images, prices, tags, and user comments. They can add hashtags, custom fonts, and other assets to make their content look more professional.

2. Ritetag – Find The Best Hashtags for Your Content

Ritetag is a free social media tool designed to help users find the best hashtags for their content on networks such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

With the help of Ritetag and other Instagram scraper tools, users can quickly analyze hashtags and determine if they’re being used appropriately or overused. This trait gives them valuable insight into which hashtags are most effective for promoting online content.

3. NapoleonCat: Analyze Competitors on Instagram

NapoleonCat provides e-commerce businesses with an online presence and analytics tools to track competitors on Instagram. You can access the relevant social media tools free of cost. These tools help you analyze your audience’s behavior, content, and hashtags

With NapoleonCat, you can automatically protect your different Instagram account categories from spam and hate comments. This feature helps curb bad reviews and avoid any negative publicity

4. Canva – Great Graphics Don’t Require Experience

Canva, a popular e-commerce editing tool, can create beautiful graphics within minutes. It has templates for social media posts, blog posts, ads, and more, with the option to customize content to make it unique. Canva helps you to generate Instagram posts using AI. 

With its free version, you can create graphics using shapes and text, while its paid version offers more features like e-commerce templates, advanced photo editing tools, and other specialty services.

5. Photoslurp – Quickly Collects All UGC Content

Photoslurp is a social media automation platform that allows businesses to easily collect, curate, and analyze user-generated content (UGC) on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. The platform offers many features to help businesses collect, curate, and analyze UGC effectively. It provides tools for app marketing, e-commerce, analytics, and outreach.

6. Wishpond – Rock Instagram Contests

With Wishpond, users can create Instagram contests for engagement, followers, and word-of-mouth marketing. It offers various features to manage and track contest campaigns on a single platform.

Hashtag contests involve users submitting content with a designated hashtag for the contest. These features make it easy for users to participate and vote on the best content.

7. Auto-Moderation – Shield Your Instagram From Spam & Hate

Auto-moderation is a powerful tool that can be used to protect your Instagram account from spam and hate speech. This feature automatically hides or deletes comments that may be considered spam or hateful. With this feature, you can have posts auto-moderated on a schedule or manually review comments before they’re visible on your feed.

End Note 

How social media affects marketing? Are you looking to revamp your eCommerce strategies? Make Instagram your on-the-go platform. Instagram is an excellent platform when you have social media on top of your marketing strategies. In the future, Instagram combining social media and shopping will offer great chances for businesses to do well and for people to find, interact with, and buy things in more personalized and engaging ways.

Want to know more on how social media can help your business to flourish? Check out our other blog on ‘how social media affects marketing?’

In today’s consumer landscape, individuals no longer solely base their purchasing decisions on product advertisements. Rather, they undergo a series of steps to verify the product’s efficacy, including reviewing feedback from genuine users. These reviews gauge the credibility and trustworthiness of a brand or a product before making a purchase. 

Hence, it has become standard practice for businesses to exhibit customer reviews on websites and other consumer-facing platforms. Upon learning about a product, customers commonly navigate to its website to learn more. Customer reviews on websites contribute to enhancing transparency and accountability within businesses.

Impacts of Customer Reviews on Websites 

Customer reviews significantly improve a website’s authority. Here are some benefits you should consider while showcasing reviews on your site, 

1. Boost Consumer Purchase Decisions 

Have you ever been caught in the middle of deciding whether or not to buy a product? That’s where customer reviews come into play, acting as a motivating force.  The confidence gained from reviews pushes consumers towards finalizing their purchases swiftly.

2. Building Consumer Trust and Product Worthiness 

Positive user reviews featured on your website contribute to building consumer trust in your business. As a result, consumers feel more assured about their purchasing choices. It results in a lower bounce rate and higher MRR of your business. 

3. Enhance SEO Strategies for Better Results

Authentic reviews enhance your website’s credibility, leading to higher search engine rankings. This SEO boost is a result of user-generated content, relevant keywords, and increased organic traffic. So, encourage your customers to share their experiences freely and watch your website soar to the top of search results.

4. Maintaining a Sustainable Brand Reputation 

As products enter the market, they face an increasing number of competitors, a trend that continues over time. Your consumers serve as the ultimate strength to sustain such competition. positive website customer reviews play a pivotal role in shaping a brand’s positive reputation.

5. Stay Ahead of Competitors

Businesses with positive reviews are more likely to attract customers than those with no reviews or negative feedback. Embrace the customer review culture, and you’ll be steps ahead of competitors who overlook this valuable resource.

How to Get Customer Reviews For Your Website?

As of now, when considering the tangible benefits, you’re more than willing to display positive reviews on your website. However, startups face a specific challenge. With lower market visibility compared to long-established businesses, startups often find it challenging to accumulate reviews.

If you are struggling too, here is how you can come to an ease, 

1. Ask for Reviews

Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews by simply asking them. You can ask them directly when they purchase your product. Or, you can follow up through mail when after they’ve used the product for some time. 

Pro-tip: It’s most effective to request customer reviews for your product after customers have had a chance to use it. Asking for feedback too early may appear overly promotional.

2. Make Use of Social Platforms 

Social platforms work best when it comes to customer engagement. Engage with your audience on social media platforms and encourage them to share their experiences. Do not forget to respond to them whether it’s positive or negative reviews. 

Pro-tip: When responding to negative customer reviews on social media, acknowledge the concern, express empathy, and offer a solution. Communication is important.

3. Reward Your Customers 

Another good way of collecting reviews is to reward your customers. You can offer discounts on your next purchase or gift coupons when they review your product. This will not only encourage them to share experiences but also to make their next purchase. 

Pro-tip: Arrange reward plans during special occasions. So, your customers will feel more valued. 

4. Leverage External Review Channels

Many platforms provide space for customers to review products. Some examples are Yelp, Tripadvisor, Capterra, G2, Clutch etc. List your business with suitable product descriptions and photos. It will create a bridge to connect you and your customers. 

Pro-tip:  Engage with reviewers by responding promptly. Monitor your online reputation consistently to address any negative reviews effectively.

Top 11 Best Customer Review Platforms

Customer review platforms provide a space for customers to write reviews, rate their satisfaction levels, and provide feedback. Over 650 dedicated review platforms exist globally, catering to various industries and niches. These platforms allow customers to gather information about multiple products under a single platform. They do not have to browse through different websites. The top 10 customer review platforms are, 

1. Google business profile 
2. Yelp 
3. Trustpilot 
4. TripAdvisor
5. G2 Crowd & TrustRadius
6. Capterra
7. Software Advice
8. Clutch
9. Angie’s List
10. Avvo
11. Houzz

General Review Platforms

1. Google Business Profile: Google Business Profile is a free platform for managing your online presence on Google Search and Maps. Whenever someone googles your business, this platform allows them to locate you on the map. Also, it allows customers to leave reviews directly on your listing. 

2. Yelp: A popular platform for local businesses, restaurants, and services. Businesses can claim their profiles and encourage customers to leave reviews through review requests, widgets, and social media integration.

Industry-Specific Platforms

3. Trustpilot: Focuses on building brand trust through verified reviews, ideal for e-commerce and online businesses. Businesses can invite customers to leave reviews, utilize email campaigns, and embed widgets on their websites.

4. TripAdvisor: The dominant platform for travel reviews, primarily for hotels, restaurants, and attractions. Businesses can claim their profiles, respond to reviews, and utilize targeted advertising to encourage reviews.

5. G2 Crowd & TrustRadius: Geared towards B2B software and services, providing in-depth reviews and comparisons. Businesses can claim their profiles, solicit reviews from clients, and participate in research reports.

6. Capterra: Caters to software and business solutions, helping businesses compare options based on user reviews. Businesses can claim their profiles, respond to reviews, and participate in software comparison categories.

7. Software Advice: Similar to Capterra, focusing on software reviews and comparisons. Businesses can claim their profiles, utilize review requests, and participate in software recommendation lists.

Professional Service Platforms

8. Clutch: Clutch connects businesses with B2B service providers based on client testimonials and project case studies. Businesses can claim their profiles, encourage past clients to leave testimonials, and showcase successful projects.

9. Angie’s List: Trusted source for home improvement and service provider reviews, popular among homeowners. Businesses can claim their profiles, respond to reviews, and maintain high ratings through quality service and customer satisfaction.

10. Avvo: Connects potential clients with lawyers based on peer reviews and client testimonials. Lawyers can claim their profiles, solicit reviews from colleagues and past clients, and demonstrate expertise through case summaries and publications.

11. Houzz: Houzz is a one-stop platform for home design and renovation, connecting homeowners with professionals, products, and inspiration. The platform takes review gathering seriously, offering homeowners multiple avenues to share their experiences with professionals. 

Methods of Showcasing Customer Reviews on Websites

By now you have mastered the ways of collecting reviews for your website. The next dilemma is choosing the best method of showcasing these reviews. We’ve sorted 6 commonly used review-sharing methods for websites. 

1. Testimonials Section

The most common practice of modern websites is to dedicate testimonial sections. You can smartly display customer testimonials on the dedicated section. It is easy for customers to locate the section when they particularly look for testimonials. These can be in the form of quotes, photos, or videos from satisfied customers.

2. Carousel or Slider

Carousels are interactive and people find them fun. Use a carousel or slider to display a rotating selection of customer reviews prominently on your homepage. This can draw attention to positive feedback without taking up too much space.

3. Case Studies

Case studies show details of a customer’s journey with a product. Showcase in-depth case studies that highlight how your product or service has benefited specific customers. Include quotes or testimonials within these case studies to reinforce their impact.

4. User-Generated Content (UGC)

Encourage customers to share their experiences on social media using a branded hashtag. Then curate and display this content on your website. User-generated contents have more value than business-generated content, especially when marketing to millennials.  

5. Social Proof Widgets 

Another highly engaging type of customer review show is the social proof widget. Integrate social proof widgets from platforms like Trustpilot, Yelp, or Google Reviews directly onto your website. These widgets typically display an average rating and recent reviews, adding credibility to your brand.

6. Video Testimonials

Studies show Reel’s reach can be 2-3 times higher, with estimates ranging from 30.81% to 33.8% of followers. This makes video testimonials a valuable asset for companies. Incorporate video testimonials from satisfied customers directly onto your website. Video testimonials can be particularly compelling as they provide a more personal and authentic endorsement of your brand.

Additional: Showcasing Negative Reviews on the Website

Now, many of you may be wondering about the approach to take with negative reviews. Recognizing their significance alongside positive feedback is important, as they offer valuable insights into areas where your product can evolve. Usually, negative reviews are the ones that cater to your product’s continuous improvement. Let’s get into the question now, 

Can I showcase negative reviews on my website? Yes! you can. The best method of showcasing negative reviews on a website is through case studies. Let’s say, a customer has left a negative review about your product on a review platform. You should acknowledge their concern and assure them that you will solve the issue ASAP. 

After solving the issue, you may politely ask your customers to give the product a second chance. Many customers feel valued once you initiate such a problem-solving mindset, They might send a good review this time. 

You can accumulate this entire journey and sum it up as a case study. A case study from a negative review shows how promising you are to your customers.  

Tips to Get Good Customer Reviews

Encouraging your customers to leave reviews on your website can be a gentle art. You want to strike the right balance without coming across as pushy or insincere. Fortunately, there are several discreet methods to inspire customer reviews without creating any friction between you and them. Here are five hacks that work in most cases;

1. Offer Exceptional Customer Service

Treat every customer like royalty, and they’ll reward you with positive feedback that shines like a beacon. From the moment they land on your website or walk through your store’s doors, make their experience a delightful journey. 

Be attentive, empathetic, and ready to address any concerns that may arise. Remember, the customer is king, and their satisfaction is your kingdom’s cornerstone. Go above and beyond to exceed their expectations. 

Customers remember these acts of kindness and eagerly share their blissful encounters with others.

2. Make Reviewing Easy and Accessible

Streamline the reviewing process to make it effortlessly accessible for your customers. Incorporate user-friendly review sections on your website where customers can effortlessly pen down their thoughts.

Make sure leaving a review requires minimal effort. Avoid lengthy forms or complicated procedures; customers are more likely to share their experiences when the process is hassle-free. 

Doing so will encourage a steady flow of authentic feedback that serves as a testament to your business’s value.

3. Time Your Requests Strategically

Asking for reviews is an art, and timing is its delicate brushstroke. Picture this: a customer who just received your product is eager to explore its wonders.

Before they’ve had the chance to unleash their excitement, you pounce with a review request. Not the best approach, right?

Be patient and strategic. Request feedback after your customers have sufficient time to immerse themselves in your experience.

The Bottom Line

Customer reviews are the heartbeat of your online business. Embrace them wholeheartedly, and you’ll reap a plethora of benefits. Requesting and leveraging customer reviews effectively will set you apart from your competitors and elevate your business to new heights. So, don’t shy away from this goldmine of feedback—embrace it, respond to it, and let your customers become your brand’s voice.

“Education is in desperate need of an upgrade. With AI, we can personalize learning, automate tedious tasks, and free up teachers to focus on what they do best: inspire and guide students.” – Anant Agarwal, Professor, and Founder of edX. 

We are already experiencing the upgrade. The applications have become so widespread that they have gradually brought advantages to educators, students, and administrative functions. Unlike the one-size-fits-all approach prevalent earlier, AI technology now allows for personalized learning experiences. 

Rask AI reports that the global AI in education market is forecasted to achieve a value of $80 billion by 2032, experiencing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 76.9%.

However, this mass progress deserves more responsible use of AI to limit shortcomings like overdependence, ethical considerations, and security concerns. In this blog, we will guide you on the adoption of artificial intelligence in education, the benefits, and some tools you can try out.

The Roles of AI in Education

According to MSPoweruser, 72% of educators embrace AI as an integral aspect of the contemporary world, while 73% are convinced of its positive impact on the learning experience. The role of AI is diverse when it comes to education. For example, students are benefiting from personalized learning, and educators are benefiting from virtual classrooms and automated assessment systems. Moreover, the administration is also enhancing student support by utilizing chatbots. Let’s understand better with some examples. 

1. Personalized Learning

AI can adapt educational content based on individual student needs and learning preferences providing a personalized learning experience. For example, Century Tech: An Indian edtech company leverages AI to create personalized learning journeys for students in K-12 classrooms. Their platform, “BASAL,” assesses individual learning styles and gaps, then recommends relevant activities and resources to fill those gaps and optimize learning paths. 

2. Intelligent Tutoring

The utilization of AI-powered intelligent tutoring systems, as noted by Axon Park, has been linked to improved student engagement and improved learning results. AI-powered tutoring systems can act as virtual tutors, offering personalized feedback, explanations, and additional resources to support students in their academic journey. The system tracks student’s progress individually. DreamBox Learning, Carnegie Learning, Knewton, and Mathsisfun are some examples of intelligent tutoring.  

3. Adaptive Assessment

AI algorithms can analyze student performance and provide tailored assessments, identifying areas of strength and weakness to help guide further learning. AI can automate the grading process, saving teachers time and providing faster feedback to students. In such an assessment, the AI algorithm analyzes students’ results. Then, a personalized evaluation score is given according to the assessment. AI here also aids in designing exam patterns and questions. Gradescope, ZipGrade, and QuickKey are some of the famous AI assessment tools. 

4. Virtual Classrooms

Remember how virtual classrooms saved students from falling apart during the COVID-19 pandemic? AI can facilitate virtual classrooms, enabling remote learning. So, the location constraint no longer interrupts the path of learning. It enhances the collaboration among students and teachers from different locations. A few tools that support virtual classrooms are Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, etc. 

5. Content Recommendation

Every student has a unique learning pattern. Another perk of having AI in education is that AI can generate personalized content recommendations. Previously students were looking for content according to their preferences. AI has turned the situation the other way around. It learns from the search patterns and shows content recommendations accordingly. It fosters engagement and motivation. Newsela, Quizlet, and Otus are some platforms that recommend valuable content for students using the power of AI.

6. Administrative Efficiency

AI can streamline administrative tasks such as scheduling, record-keeping, and resource management, allowing educators to focus more on teaching. Utilizing AI chatbots, the administration can engage students in real-time, right at the moment they need. This will build a sense of reliability making the confident in the educators. 

Types of AI Tools for Education

• Learning Tools: AI-powered tools that adapt educational content based on individual student needs, preferences, and learning styles, providing a customized learning experience.
• Tutoring Systems: AI tutoring systems that act as virtual tutors, offering personalized feedback, explanations, and additional resources to support students in their academic journey.
• Language Learning Tools: Language platforms that provide real-time feedback on pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and other language learning aspects, aid students in acquiring new languages fast. 
• Grading and Feedback Assistant: AI tools that automate the grading process, saving teachers time and providing faster feedback to students. These tools can analyze student work and provide objective assessments and suggestions for improvement.
• Chatbots and Virtual Assistants: Chatbots and virtual assistants offer instant support to students. It answers frequently asked questions, provides guidance on assignments, and assists with navigating educational resources.

30 AI Tools for Education

Selecting the optimal AI tool for educational purposes can be overwhelming, given the multitude of options available on the internet, each designed for specific uses. Nevertheless, according to user feedback, ChatGPT stands out as the most widely utilized and versatile AI, earning the reputation as the top choice.

And, some more free AI tools for education are Google Classroom, Duolingo, Grammarly, Quillbot, Socratic, Elsa, EdApp, Brainly, Knowji, etc. Let’s get into the details of 30 AI educational tools to understand better. 

1. Duolingo
2. Socratic
3. Elsa Speak
4. Knewton Alta
5. Memrise
6. EdApp
7. TutorAI
8. Sololearn 
9. Cognii
10. Century Tech
11. Deep Math AI
12. Photomath
13. DragonBox
14. StepWise Math
15. Wolfram|Alpha
16. Carnegie Learning
17. Grammarly
18. Google Classroom
19. MagicSchool.ai
20. Brainly
21. Knowji
22. Quizlet
23. Semantic Scholar
24. Mendeley
25. Turnitin
26. GradeScope
27. Fetchy 
28. Jasper 
29. ChatGPT
30. QuillBot

Personalized Learning Tools

The first category of AI tools for education is personalized learning tools. This is one of the most known AI trends. By utilizing these tools you can adapt self-learning in various sectors like language, math,  personal skills, and many more. 

1. Duolingo

Duolingo is a gamified language learning app featuring bite-sized lessons, adaptive learning algorithms, and gamification elements like virtual rewards and streaks. The platform aims to aid in learning new languages. The AI tailors lessons based on your performance, identifying areas of weakness and adjusting difficulty accordingly. Its spaced repetition system reinforces learning through periodic reviews.

How it helps education: 

• Fun and accessible way to learn languages
• Suitable for both casual learners and serious students 
• The adaptive approach personalizes learning paths
• Promotes engagement and motivation with gamification

Price: Free with an optional premium subscription for ad-free experience and streak freezes.

2. Socratic

Socratic is an AI-powered math problem solver that guides students through solutions step-by-step. The platform uses natural language explanations and visual aids. Socratic leverages symbolic reasoning and pattern recognition to understand student-entered equations. It then breaks down the problem into manageable steps, providing detailed explanations and alternative solution paths.

How it helps education: 

• Promotes self-learning and problem-solving skills by demystifying math concepts and offering diverse solution approaches. 
• Complements traditional learning methods and builds confidence in tackling complex problems.

Price: Free for basic features, a premium subscription unlocks additional functionalities like step-by-step solutions for word problems and advanced math topics.

3. Elsa Speak 

Elsa Speak is a pronunciation coach that helps improve spoken English through speech recognition and personalized feedback. Elsa analyzes your pronunciation of words and phrases. It compares the inputs to native speaker recordings. It then provides real-time feedback on areas like intonation, stress, and individual phonemes.

How it helps education: 

• Offers targeted pronunciation practice
• Helps students overcome common pronunciation challenges 
• Assists in achieving greater fluency and clarity in spoken English

Price: Free trial available, premium subscriptions offer varying levels of access to features and lessons.

4. Knewton Alta

Knewton Alta is another adaptive learning platform that personalizes course paths for each student based on their strengths, weaknesses, and learning pace. The platform benefits from sophisticated algorithms to assess student understanding and predict future performance. It then adjusts the learning material and pace accordingly. Overall, it ensures that the students are challenged appropriately and progress efficiently.

How it helps education: 

• Optimizes learning efficiency by tailoring experiences to individual needs.
• Reduces frustration and boredom by avoiding unnecessary relearning.

Price: Primarily targeted at educational institutions, pricing details not publicly available.

5. Memrise

Memrise is a language learning app that utilizes spaced repetition, flashcards, and mnemonic techniques to help users retain vocabulary and grammar concepts. It employs AI-powered spaced repetition algorithms to optimize the timing of reviews. The platform ensures long-term memory retention. Its gamified approach with points, badges, and leaderboards keeps users motivated.

How it helps education: 

• Makes language learning engaging and effective through its spaced repetition system and gamification elements. 
• Helps users build a strong foundation in vocabulary and grammar through active recall and spaced reviews.

Price: Free with optional premium subscription for additional features and content.

6. EdApp

EdApp is a micro-learning platform that delivers bite-sized, interactive lessons on various topics through mobile apps and web platforms. The platform uses AI to personalize learning paths, recommend relevant content, and track progress. Its microlearning format caters to short attention spans and busy schedules.

How it helps education: 

• Provides accessible and convenient learning opportunities for busy individuals.
• It is ideal for acquiring new skills or reinforcing existing knowledge in short bursts.

Price: Free with limited features, premium subscriptions offer additional functionalities and content libraries.

7. TutorAI

TutorAI is a virtual tutor that provides students with personalized, on-demand learning support through chat-based interactions. This AI too leverages natural language processing (NLP) to understand student queries and provide customized explanations, examples, and feedback. It can answer questions, guide problem-solving, and offer encouragement.

How it helps education: 

• Available support whenever students need it
• Reduces dependency on traditional tutors 
• Offers personalized guidance and encourages independent learning

Price: Free trial available, premium subscriptions offer varying levels of access to features and tutor support hours.

8. Sololearn

Sololearn is a  gamified coding platform that offers interactive courses, quizzes, and challenges to learn various programming languages, from Python to JavaScript. The platform combines bite-sized lessons, gamification elements like points and badges, and a supportive community to make learning to code engaging and accessible. Its AI-powered features provide personalized recommendations and adaptive challenges based on your progress.

How it helps education: 

• Gamifies the learning process
• Breaks down complex coding concepts into manageable steps
• Fosters motivation and continuous learning

Price: Free with in-app purchases for additional features and courses.

9. Cognii

Cognii is a learning platform that utilizes adaptive learning algorithms and advanced analytics to optimize student learning pathways and performance. Cognii collects data on student performance, engagement, and learning styles to create personalized learning experiences. It recommends suitable resources, adjusts difficulty levels, and provides targeted feedback to maximize learning outcomes.

How it helps education: 

• Personalizes learning journeys for each student 
• Caters to their individual needs and strengths
• Fosters deeper understanding and  improves performance

Price: Primarily targeted at educational institutions, pricing details not publicly available.

10. Century Tech

Century Tech is a learning platform that delivers personalized tutoring and adaptive learning experiences for K-12 students. It combines live online tutoring with AI-powered assessments, practice exercises, and progress tracking. Students receive live online tutoring from certified teachers, supplemented by AI-powered practice exercises and adaptive learning tools.

How it helps education:

• Combines the benefits of human interaction with the power of AI 
• Improves academic performance

Price: Subscription-based pricing for individual students and families

Math Support AI tools 

The second category is math support AI tools.  Many students and individuals are scared of math. These AI tools help them to understand math terms easily making the entire process fun and interesting. 

11. Deep Math AI

Math AI platform helps students understand complex math concepts through personalized explanations, step-by-step solutions, and interactive visualizations. It utilizes symbolic reasoning and pattern recognition to provide step-by-step solutions with detailed breakdowns. Interactive visualizations further clarify concepts and enhance understanding.

How it helps education: 

• Empowers students to tackle challenging math problems independently 
• Fosters conceptual understanding over rote memorization
• Builds confidence in approaching complex problem-solving

Price: Paid subscription with different tiers offering access to varying functionalities and question types.

12. Photomath

Photomath is a  popular app that utilizes your phone’s camera to scan handwritten or printed math problems, providing instant step-by-step solutions and explanations. The app employs image recognition and advanced math algorithms to analyze the scanned problem. It then breaks it down into manageable steps. Finally, it generates detailed solutions with interactive animations and explanations.

How it helps education: 

• Offers immediate support and visual solutions for various math problems, 
• A valuable tool for students struggling with specific concepts. 
• A step-by-step approach to reasoning and developing problem-solving skills.

Price: Free basic version with limitations, premium subscription unlocks additional features and problem types.

13. DragonBox

This is a series of gamified math apps designed for young children. Through engaging puzzles and games, it introduces foundational concepts like numbers, addition, subtraction, and fractions. DragonBox utilizes a playful, visual approach to introduce math concepts. Children manipulate colorful virtual objects and characters within the games, intuitively grasping mathematical relationships without formal instruction.

How it helps education: 

• Spark’s early love for math in young children by making learning fun and engaging
• Builds a strong foundation in core concepts through play-based activities
• Sets the stage for future success in mathematics

Price: Paid apps for each concept, with bundle options available.

14. StepWise Math

StepWise Math is an AI-powered platform that personalizes math learning experiences for students, offering adaptive practice exercises, targeted feedback, and gamified elements to keep them motivated. It provides real-time feedback on performance and adaptive challenges to ensure optimal learning progress. Gamification elements like points and badges further incentivize engagement.

How it helps education: 

• Tailor’s math practice to individual needs
• Ensures students are challenged appropriately and progress steadily 
• Gives real-time feedback and adaptive approach to promote mastery

Price: Subscription-based pricing for individual students and families.

15. Wolfram|Alpha

Wolfram Alpha is a computational knowledge engine capable of solving complex math problems, providing step-by-step solutions, and generating visualizations and graphs. It has a vast knowledge base and sophisticated algorithms to solve various mathematical problems, from basic equations to advanced calculus. The platform provides detailed solutions with various representations, including step-by-step breakdowns, mathematical explanations, and interactive visualizations.

How it helps education: 

• Serves as a powerful tool for exploring and verifying solutions to complex math problems. 
• It fosters deeper understanding by offering diverse representations and encouraging exploration.

Price: Free basic version with limitations, paid subscriptions unlock additional features and functionalities.

16. Carnegie Learning

Carnegie Learning is an AI-powered blended learning platform that combines adaptive online exercises with traditional classroom instruction to personalize learning. It utilizes AI to personalize online practice exercises based on individual student needs and performance. Students receive targeted feedback and support, while teachers leverage data insights to tailor in-class instruction.

How it helps education: 

• Bridges the gap between online and offline learning
• Creates a personalized and data-driven approach to math education
• Improves student engagement, enhances conceptual understanding, and maximizes learning outcomes.

Price: Primarily targeted at schools and districts, pricing details not publicly available.

AI Education Support Tools 

The third category of tools are those that come in handy in supporting different types of education. Some of these tools assist with grammar, some with citations, and some help in organizing education processes. 

17. Grammarly

Grammarly is a writing assistant that checks grammar, spelling, and plagiarism. It provides suggestions for clarity, style, and conciseness. Grammarly utilizes natural language processing (NLP) and advanced algorithms to analyze your writing style and identify errors. It offers personalized suggestions for improvement. 

How it helps education:

• Empowers students to write with confidence and accuracy 
• Improves student’s communication skills and overall writing competency
• Promotes independent learning by providing real-time feedback 
• Helps students develop proofreading skills

Price: Free basic version with limited features, premium subscriptions offer advanced suggestions, plagiarism checking, and more.

18. Google Classroom

Google Classroom is a management platform that facilitates communication, collaboration, and assignment distribution between teachers and students. It leverages Google Apps for Education to create a digital classroom environment. Teachers can share materials, create assignments, provide feedback, and track student progress. Students can submit assignments, collaborate on projects, and participate in class discussions.

How it helps education: 

• Streamlines communication and organization 
• Enhances teacher-student interaction 
• Promotes student engagement
• Facilitates a paperless learning environment 
• Provides access to educational resources from anywhere

Price: Free for educational institutions and individuals with personal Google accounts.

19. MagicSchool.ai

MagicSchool.ai uses personalized learning techniques and adaptive tools to tailor educational experiences for each student. AI algorithm analyzes student strengths and weaknesses. It creates individualized learning paths by recommending relevant lessons and resources. It utilizes adaptive assessments to adjust difficulty levels and ensure optimal learning progress.

How it helps education: 

• Personalizes learning and maximizes engagement  
• Caters to individual needs and learning styles
• Promotes independent learning and mastery
• Helps students reach their full potential

Price: Primarily targeted at educational institutions and schools, pricing details not publicly available.

20. Brainly

Brainly is a social learning platform where students can ask and answer questions on various subjects, fostering peer-to-peer learning collaboration. It relies on a community of users to provide answers to submitted questions. Users can upvote informative answers and downvote inaccurate ones, creating a curated knowledge base. AI algorithms also contribute by providing relevant content and flagging potentially inaccurate answers.

How it helps education: 

• Offers a collaborative learning environment 
• Encourages student engagement and independent research
• Encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills

Price: Free for a basic version with limitations, premium subscriptions offer an ad-free experience and unlock additional features.

21. Knowji

Knowji is an AI-powered search engine specializing in scholarly resources. It helps students and researchers find relevant and reliable sources for their academic work. The platform uses natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning to understand user queries. It also analyzes source credibility and provides contextual information to help users evaluate them critically.

How it helps education: 

• Empower students and researchers to find high-quality academic resources
• Essential for independent academic work

Price: Free basic version with limited features, premium subscriptions offer advanced search filters, citation assistance, and access to more resources.

22. Quizlet

Quizlet is a popular online learning platform offering flashcards, study guides, and games to help users memorize information for exams and tests. It allows users to create personalized flashcards with study materials like terms, definitions, formulas, and images. It also offers various learning modes like spaced repetition flashcards, practice quizzes, and matching games. 

How it helps education: 

• Gamifies memorization and knowledge retention
• Makes studying more engaging and effective
• Helps students prepare for exams and tests 
• Offers diverse learning activities and personalized study plans

Price: Free basic version with limited features, premium subscriptions offer an ad-free experience, advanced learning modes, and more study tools.

23. Semantic Scholar

Semantic Scholar is a search engine that helps researchers discover relevant scientific articles and explore academic knowledge graphs. The platform analyzes academic publications and extracts key information like topics, keywords, relationships between researchers, and citations. This allows it to present results not just based on keyword matches, but also based on semantic relationships and the context of your search. 

How it helps education: 

• Empowers researchers to find relevant academic literature efficiently
• Uncovers hidden connections within scholarly domains
• Promotes a deeper understanding of academic knowledge and its interconnectedness

Price: Free for everyone.

24. Mendeley

Mendeley is a reference management software and academic social network that helps researchers organize, annotate, and share their research papers. It provides a desktop app and web platform to store. It can automatically import references from PDFs, generate citations in various styles, and allow collaboration through shared libraries.

How it helps education: 

• Simplifies reference management for students and researchers
• Saves time and ensures accuracy
• The collaboration promotes academic engagement

Price: Free basic version with limitations, premium subscriptions offer increased storage, collaboration features, and reference management tools.

25. Turnitin

A plagiarism detection and academic integrity software that helps educators identify unoriginal content in student work. Turnitin scans submitted assignments against its vast database of text and code to identify text matches and potential plagiarism. It provides detailed reports highlighting similarities, sources of copied content, and originality scores.

How it helps education: 

• Promotes academic integrity by deterring plagiarism 
• Values and encourages original thinking
• Provides educators with tools to assess student work effectively 

Price: Primarily targeted at educational institutions, pricing details not publicly available.

26. GradeScope

GradeScope is a grading platform that automates essay scoring, providing faster, more consistent feedback for educators. It analyzes student essays, assessing content, structure, mechanics, and grammar. It provides detailed feedback reports with annotations, score breakdowns, and personalized suggestions for improvement.

How it helps education: 

• Alleviates workload for educators by automating time-consuming essay grading tasks
• Provides students with immediate and personalized feedback
• Promotes self-reflection and writing improvement

Price: Primarily targeted at educational institutions, pricing details not publicly available.

27. Fetchy

Fetchy is a personalized learning platform that curates educational content based on individual student needs and preferences. It analyzes student performance data, interests, and learning styles. Based on the analysis, it recommends relevant articles, videos, interactive activities, and online courses from various sources. It personalizes learning paths and adapts content difficulty to optimize knowledge retention.

How it helps education:

• Personalizes learning journeys for each student
• Makes education more engaging and relevant to their individual goals
• Promotes independent learning and exploration while ensuring comprehensive knowledge acquisition

Price: Free basic version with limited features, premium subscriptions offer access to more content sources, personalized learning tools, and progress tracking features.

28. Jasper

Jasper is a writing assistant that helps writers create various content formats, from blog posts and marketing copy to scripts. It uses natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning algorithms to understand your writing style and prompt. It then generates creative text formats based on your input. Finally, it provides suggestions for content, structure, tone, and language.

How it helps education: 

• Used by students and educators to brainstorm ideas
• Overcome writer’s block, and explore different writing styles
• Helps with essay writing by providing prompts and outlining structures

Price: Paid subscription with different tiers offering varying features and content generation limits.

29. ChatGPT

ChatGPT is a large language model chatbot developed by OpenAI, capable of generating human-quality text in response to a wide range of prompts and questions. The AI leverages a massive dataset of text and code to learn and generate comprehensive and coherent text formats. It can hold conversations, translate languages, write different kinds of creative content, and answer your questions in an informative way.

How it helps education: 

• Explore different topics
• Engage in thought experiments
• Practice critical thinking skills through dialogue
• Generate creative writing prompts 
• Brainstorm ideas for projects

Price: Free for limited use, paid subscriptions offer increased access and performance.

30. QuillBot 

Quillbot stands out as a comprehensive writing platform powered by AI, offering various tools to refine and elevate your writing. It is primarily known for its sophisticated paraphrasing engine. It goes beyond simple word replacements, utilizing natural language processing to understand the context and meaning of your text. It then generates multiple paraphrases with varying degrees of originality, preserving the core idea. 

How it helps education: 

• Students can learn new vocabulary, sentence structures, and writing styles.
• Provides original paraphrases, helping students avoid unintentional plagiarism.
• The tool can spark new ideas and breakthrough writing stalls by offering unexpected phrasing.
• Grammar and spelling checkers, citation generators, and translation functionalities assist students with various writing tasks.

Price: Free, Bronze, Silver, and Gold Packages available

Wrap-Up

AI apps have immense potential to revolutionize education by providing personalized and adaptive learning experiences. These apps can help students learn at their own pace, address their individual learning needs, and enhance their overall educational journey. Furthermore, AI apps can assist teachers in automating administrative tasks, grading assignments, and providing valuable insights into student performance. This automation takes the learning experience to the next level. Let us know which AI tool for education you use the most. 

A study by Accenture ( The Cost of Not Knowing, 2015) found that businesses that are not good at managing their spending are 5 times more likely to fail within 5 years.

The sustainable success of a business is shaped by the effectiveness of its revenue generation and the skillful management of its expenses. Reducing operational costs results in enhanced profit margins, as a diminished percentage of revenue allocated to expenses signifies a greater portion contributing to net profit. Thus, controlling expenses is as important as generating revenue for a business. 

However, expense management can often be daunting coming with lots of obstacles.  In this blog, we will get into the details to guide you thoroughly on how to manage your expenses. 

Key Terms

Expense: The amount of money spent or the costs incurred by an individual or organization in the course of conducting business operations.

Budget: A financial plan that outlines expected income and expenditures for a specific period, serving as a guideline for managing financial resources.

Reimbursement: The process of repaying an individual or employee for expenses they have incurred on behalf of the organization, often subject to predefined policies and limits.

Duplicate Reimbursement: This occurs when an individual is reimbursed more than once for the same expense, leading to financial inaccuracies and potential fraud.

Audit: A systematic examination or review of financial records, transactions, and processes to ensure accuracy, compliance with policies, and the prevention of fraudulent activities.

What is Expense Management?

Expense management refers to tracking, controlling, and analyzing expenses incurred by individuals within an organization. It involves managing various types of expenses, such as travel expenses, employee reimbursements, vendor payments, and other costs related to business operations.

It’s the entire process of how the spending is formulated, the policies to control them, and best practices to better utilize them. When it comes to enterprise expenses, the finance department usually handles this part. A CFO is responsible to oversee and ensure efficient management. 

The primary goal of spend management is to ensure that expenses are properly recorded and reviewed. This helps organizations maintain financial control, monitor budget compliance, and make informed decisions regarding spending.

The Processes of Expense Management 

Usually, there are two types of processes in how businesses handle their cost control – traditional process and automated process. Let us explain both to you, 

Traditional Process

The traditional process involves a series of manual steps to track, review, and approve expenses incurred by individuals within an organization. Employees spend 5-10 hours per year managing expenses with manual methods. This process typically includes the following steps:

1. Expense Reporting: Employees manually document their expenses, often using paper receipts or spreadsheets. Then, they submit them to the appropriate department or manager.
2. Review and Approval: The submitted expenses are then reviewed and verified by the designated personnel to ensure compliance with company policies and guidelines.
3. Reimbursement: Approved expenses are processed for reimbursement. It can be either through payroll or accounts payable. Then, the employees receive the funds owed to them.

While the traditional process has been the norm for many organizations, it can be time-consuming. Also, the traditional process lacks real-time visibility. Thus, many businesses opt for automated processes, supported by expense-handling software. 

Automated Process

With advancements in technology, an automated approach to cost control has been revolutionizing its way. The automated process involves using specialized software or cloud-based platforms to streamline managing expenses. Here are some key features and benefits of the automated process:

1. Expense Tracking: Instead of relying on paper receipts or spreadsheets, employees can use mobile apps or web-based tools to capture and submit expenses instantly. This eliminates the need for manual data entry. The chances of errors are also reduced.
2. Policy Compliance: Automated expense management systems can enforce company expense policies, flagging any violations or suspicious transactions. This ensures that expenses are in line with company guidelines. This reduces the risk of fraudulent claims.
3. Approval Workflows: Managers can review and approve expenses electronically by using automated software. The software allows for faster workflows.
4. Real-time Reporting: Automated systems provide real-time visibility into spending patterns and trends. Finance teams can generate customizable reports that offer insights into expense categories, vendor spending, and employee reimbursement.
5. Integration with Accounting Systems: Automated platforms can seamlessly integrate with accounting systems. It eliminates the need for manual data entry and ensures accurate financial reporting.

Importance of Expense Management for Businesses

Businesses have a budget fixed at each stage of their business module. Usually, the budget comes at the beginning of the year. The businesses stick to the budget throughout the year. If you fail to manage their expenses effectively, you might end up facing budget delicacy. Here are the top benefits of expenditure management for businesses,

1. Systematic Spending Tracking

One of the key benefits is the ability to track spending in an organized manner. By implementing a structured process for managing expenses, businesses can gain a clear understanding of their financial outflows. This will allow you to better budget, identify areas of overspending, and make informed decisions about resource allocation.

2. Avoid Overspending and Save More

Expense management plays a crucial role in helping businesses avoid overspending and save money. When you closely monitor your spending, you will identify unnecessary expenses. This is where you get the idea of which expenses to eliminate.  Eventually, you will end up saving more resources. 

3. Stay Ready for Regular Finance Audit

Proper expenditure management ensures that businesses are prepared for regular financial audits. By maintaining detailed records of expenses, organizations can easily provide the necessary documentation and evidence to auditors. It saves time and effort for both the organization and the auditors.

4. Improved Business Scalability

Effective expense handling is essential for business scalability and growth. As businesses expand, their expenses tend to increase as well. By implementing a robust expense control system, organizations can maintain control over their spending, even as they scale up operations. 

5. Minimize the Risk of Fraud

Expense control helps minimize the risk of fraudulent activities within an organization. Automation and technology-driven expense management systems can flag suspicious transactions. The organized data analytics detect any issues swiftly. This not only protects the financial interests of the organization but also fosters a culture of integrity and accountability among employees.

Top Strategies to Implement Effective Expense Management

Now, only relying on automated software does not handle expense control effectively. You will need a complete set of strategies to work together for this purpose. Follow our strategic guide and try to make use of these tactics to bring fundamental outcomes. 

1. Create a Clear Expense Policy

Establishing a clear and comprehensive expense policy is the first priority. This policy should outline guidelines and rules for expense reimbursement, including acceptable expenses, spending limits, documentation requirements, and approval processes.

2. Unified Expense Reporting System

Implementing a unified expense reporting system can facilitate the expense control process. A centralized system allows employees to submit their expense reports through a single platform. This unified approach enables faster processing, reduces errors, and provides better expense visibility. You will have a clear understanding of each business sector’s spending including sales pipelines. 

3. Promote Accountability Within Teams

A cooperative and responsible team fosters better cost controls. Encourage employees to take ownership of their expenses and adhere to the expense policy. Regularly communicate expectations, and provide training on proper expense reporting procedures. They should track and maintain expense ratios carefully. 

4. Leverage Expense Management Software

One strategy that boosts all other strategies is – Go Smart. Expense managing software as your partner in savings. In the coming section, we will guide you with top software solutions and their details.

5. Assign Corporate Credit Cards

Corporate credit cards allow for centralized tracking of expenses, eliminate the need for reimbursement requests, and provide real-time visibility into spending. Employees who are directly assigned to manage organizational spending should have corporate credit cards. 

6. Go Paperless if Possible

Then, you have to be environment conscious as well. Transitioning to a paperless expense management system shows your contribution to a sustainable ecosystem. It will fasten the procedures. You will notice a signification reduction in paper-related expenses. 

7. Organize Training Programs

Regular training programs help employees understand the importance of proper expense reporting and compliance. Try to include this training while onboarding the employees. So, they will start acting from day one. 

15 Best Practices for Organization Expense Management 

Once you have effectively applied the strategies, it is important to follow some specific individual best practices as well. Implementing these 15 best practices will assist you in handling not just business but also personal expenditures.

1. Know where you are going to spend in advance and have a thorough plan. 
2. Define your expenses. If you don’t know the exact amount. Include estimates. 
3. Record your expenses as soon as possible with the necessary details. 
4. Categorize your spending on terms like personal, transport, meal, and others. 
5. Implement a transparent expense approval process for employees. 
6. Encourage cost-conscious behavior among employees.
7. Let your employees have access to individual expense tracking systems. 
8. Set negotiation points for vendor discounts and favorable terms.
9. Conduct regular financial reviews and send reports to dedicated departments. 
10. Reward your employees who contribute to reducing expenses. 
11. Make spending policies and guidelines available for employees. 
12. Implement reimbursement controls to verify the requests. 
13. Review and optimize expenses after they’ve been recorded. 
14. Foster transparent communication between cost-involved departments.
15. We are encouraging employees to contribute ideas for optimizing expenses for ongoing financial efficiency.

Expense Management Software: The Ultimate Solution 

Expense management software is a powerful tool that helps businesses streamline and automate their expense-management processes. With features like receipt scanning, expense categorization, and automated expense reports, it simplifies the entire expense management process, saving time and reducing errors. Moreover, customized expense tracking solutions that align with the specific needs of different customer segments, promote fiscal responsibility. 

Top 10 Expense Management Software are, 

1. SAP Concur
2. Webexpenses
3. Expensify
4. Zoho Expense
5. Coupa
6. Navan
7. Airbase
8. Ramp 
9. QBO 
10. Xero 

By using expense management software, employees can easily upload receipts and expenses, eliminating the need for manual data entry. It will speed up the entire process. Also, ensure that you are not lost with a vast amount of data. Let the software take care of that. 

Challenges in Expense Management and Tips to Overcome

Remember, managing your expenses is no easy task; it requires consistent practice. In the process, you will face many obstacles. However, once you smartly overcome these challenges, you will have a healthy corporate ecosystem that spends only for cause and saves more. 

A. Inefficient Expense Data

Inefficient expense data management can lead to difficulties in tracking and analyzing expenses accurately. This can result in delays, errors, and a lack of visibility into spending patterns.

Tips to Overcome:

1. Implement an automated system to streamline data collection and reporting.
2. Encourage employees to promptly and accurately record expenses using digital tools or mobile apps.
3. Regularly review and update expense categories and codes to ensure accurate data categorization.

B.  Human Error

Human errors, such as incorrect data entry or calculation mistakes, can lead to inaccuracies in expense reporting and reimbursement delays.

Tips to Overcome:

1. Provide training and guidelines on proper expense reporting procedures to minimize errors.
2. Implement validation checks and automated calculations in spending management software to reduce human error.
3. Encourage employees to double-check their expense reports before submission.

C. Slow Reimbursements

The challenge of delayed reimbursement in expenditure management poses a significant obstacle, slowing down the overall process. 

Tips to Overcome:

1. Set clear and reasonable reimbursement timelines to ensure timely processing.
2. Streamline approval workflows and automate reimbursement processes.
3. Communicate reimbursement policies and procedures clearly to employees to manage expectations.

D. Data Quality Issues

If the data has quality issues like when receipts are missing or information is incomplete, it can cause problems with following the rules. This makes it hard to track expenses correctly.

Tips to Overcome:

1. Implement a policy that requires complete and accurate documentation for all expenses.
2. Encourage employees to retain receipts and use digital tools for easy storage and retrieval.
3. Conduct regular data quality checks to identify and address any issues.

E. Fraudulent Activities

Fraudulent activities, like making up expenses or getting paid twice for the same thing, can hurt businesses a lot financially.

Tips to Overcome:

1. Establish a strong expense policy that clearly outlines what constitutes fraudulent behavior and the consequences.
2. Implement internal controls, such as segregation of duties and regular audits, to detect and prevent fraudulent activities.
3. Leverage software with built-in fraud detection capabilities to identify suspicious patterns and transactions.

Final note

Expense management is an ongoing process that requires regular monitoring and analysis. It’s not just about cutting costs but understanding where the money is going. By understanding and optimizing costs across various operational facets, organizations can redirect resources toward innovation, market expansion, and talent development, thereby fostering a competitive edge in the marketplace. Leverage technology and automation tools to streamline the process.