QUICK START CHECKLIST: Getting Started with Basic Marketing Tools

□ IDENTIFY YOUR TOP MARKETING NEEDS
  □ Content creation (social posts, graphics)
  □ Email marketing (newsletters, automation) 
  □ Social media management (scheduling, analytics)
  □ Website analytics (traffic, user behavior)
  □ Project organization (tasks, campaigns)

□ SELECT 1-2 FREE TOOLS IN EACH PRIORITY AREA
  ESSENTIAL STARTER STACK:
  □ Canva (for design)
  □ Mailchimp (for email)
  □ Buffer (for social media)
  □ Google Analytics (for website insights)
  □ Trello (for organization)

□ SET UP YOUR ACCOUNTS
  □ Use the same email address for all tools
  □ Choose consistent usernames/business names
  □ Verify email addresses and accounts
  □ Connect your social media profiles

□ WATCH SETUP VIDEOS OR TUTORIALS
  □ Each tool has built-in guides/tutorials
  □ YouTube has extensive how-to content
  □ Most tools offer free webinars for beginners
  □ Don't try to learn everything at once

□ TEST EACH TOOL WITH A SMALL PROJECT
  □ Design one social media post in Canva
  □ Send a test email to yourself in Mailchimp
  □ Schedule one week of posts in Buffer
  □ Set up basic goals in Google Analytics
  □ Create a simple project board in Trello

□ REVIEW RESULTS AND ADJUST
  □ Check analytics after 1-2 weeks
  □ Note which tools you actually use
  □ Identify what's working vs. what's confusing
  □ Consider upgrading tools you use frequently
  □ Remove/replace tools that don't fit your workflow

□ INTEGRATE TOOLS TOGETHER
  □ Connect Canva designs to Buffer for posting
  □ Link Mailchimp signup forms to your website
  □ Use Zapier to automate repetitive tasks
  □ Set up UTM tracking from social posts to Analytics

REMEMBER: Start simple, focus on consistency over perfection, and grow your toolkit as your needs expand!