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Have you heard people talk about content creation software but wondered, "How does it work? Is it worth it? Should I be using it?"

According to HubSpot, 34% of content creators and marketers now use automation tools to generate content ideas, conduct keyword research, and assist them in their content creation process. But you need to decide if using those tools fits within your content strategy and if they will help you make the best content for that audience.  

There are many content creation tools: AI-generated content, video content creation tools, and social media content creation resources. Not all of them are effective or worth the risk in achieving your goals.

This article will address the different types of content creation software, how to use it, the potential benefits, and give our top 10 list of the best software tools available.

What Is Content Creation Software?

As a content creator, your task is to generate ideas, create quality content for the right audience, and help distribute that content on the proper channels. This is where content creation tools can play a role in your success.

Content creation software is any digital tool that generates content ideas, generates the content itself, or helps select the appropriate distribution channel for that content

Content creation software tools include:

  • Copy assistants and generators
  • Design tools
  • Video production software
  • Audio software
  • Content distribution tools
  • Content scheduling software

For example, if you’re creating social media content, you need to ask yourself:

  • Do I need help crafting copy for my post?
  • Do I need help with the design for my images?
  • Do I need a video element?
  • Where will this content be published (Instagram, YouTube, TikTok)?
  • How will my audience benefit from this content?

Planning is just as important as execution. Whether you’re considering using a copy generator, design assistant, distribution tool, or audio/video platform, the right content creation software will help you answer these questions and balance idea generation with content building. 

Even if your content needs tweaking or adjustments after the fact, having a good base for your content can be a huge help.

What Is Content Creation Software Used For?

While we have already outlined some of what content creation software can do, let's discuss how the software works. Anything is possible with the right content tool, whether video editing or written content.

We can break down most content creation software into a few categories: audio-visual content, written content, and social media content.

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Audio-visual content creation

Images and video

When it comes to visual content creation, the most obvious examples are graphics, images, and video. However, when creating quality content, there is more to consider than simple editing.

Visual content tools can create attractive images and graphics, but they will require you to know how to create that piece of content. You'll have to know what looks good and what fits your brand.

AI tools can also create striking graphics and images with just the input of a few words and a few clicks. While these may not fit your brand design, they will likely create something worth discussing.

For video, you can create branded templates that will come in handy. Not to mention content creation tools that will do the bulk of the editing for you.

When it comes to visual content, there are a plethora of great content creation tools. Later on, we will list some of the best we have seen out there.

Audio

Many tools that will also handle audio content and video content. However, we need to discuss audio tools specifically.

Podcasters primarily use audio content tools. While this makes sense, many other tools recognize the need for audio-only content. Such as "audiogram" Reels on Instagram, which are great for podcasts.

Whether you want to use audio files from a course or webinar and use them to make an audiobook or audio course—or even a one-off podcast—some tools intersect with social media content tools with powerful audio content editing.

Written content creation

Written content is everywhere..

Even video content will often have transcripts or closed captions. The same is true for audio content, which we will address in the next section.

Most people think of blog posts when “written content” comes up. And while most written content tools are built with blog posts in mind, that doesn't mean those are the only tools out there.

AI-assisted content creation tools can craft entire pieces of copy for you, from landing pages to blog posts, ads, social media posts, and product descriptions. Almost anything is possible. Some of this content can be hit-or-miss, but the content generated is a great place to jumpstart the editing process.

Finally, some content creation tools focus on the grammatical side of written content. These tools can clean up messy language, missed punctuation, and even restructure whole sentences and paragraphs with the click of a button.

Social media content

With social media content, there is a lot of overlap between what we’ve discussed about visual and written content. However, we haven't addressed some of the nuances of scheduling, audio, or distribution.

Social media content is unique because it blends written and visual content simultaneously. There are a lot of unique content tools that help make social content perform well.

Content scheduling

scheduling content creation software examples
Examples of content creation tools focused on scheduling content. (Image Source)

Most social media-using brands don't sit around on their phone waiting for the ideal time to post the content they’ve worked on so hard. They rely on content tools to find the best time to post their content and do it on autopilot.

Some content creation tools have seen this need in other areas and provide scheduling tools as part of their software. Whether you need blog posts, videos, or podcasts posted at an optimal time, there's a tool for that.

Content distribution

samples of distribution content creation channels
Here are just a few of the possible distribution channels you need to consider taking advantage of with content creation tools. (Image Source)

Once you have your content created, you will need help to make sure it gets in front of the right eyeballs. This is where content creation software can help with the distribution of your various content pieces.

Social media content software, again, has a special focus on this because most of these tools allow you to post the same content across multiple platforms at varying times. Some of the best ones even allow you to stagger depending on the platforms you choose.

Take a YouTube video, for example. You can schedule it on YouTube but also other channels, strip the audio and post it as a podcast, and make the transcript a blog post. Then, distribute it across dozens of platforms. All with the help of the right tool. 

Top 10 Best Content Creation Software

Finding the right tool can be tricky. So we narrowed down the hundreds, if not thousands, of content creation tools out there and came up with our top 10 content creation tools.

Whether you need visual content, written content, or social media content, you’re sure to find something useful in this list. We evaluated these tools based on user interface, usability, integrations, and value. If you want to see the full breakdown (and additional options), then check out the article here.

  1. LucidPress – Simplify your visual content creation process with templates.
  2. Joomag – Create, edit, and distribute digital content from a central location.
  3. Ceros Studio – Improve your digital content creation with no-code interactions.
  4. Zoomforth – Build immersive websites that offer great customer experiences.
  5. Adobe Creative Cloud – Design everything with a variety of content creation tools.
  6. Cleverstory – Create interactive content with a no-code solution.
  7. Semrush – Identify content improvement opportunities and optimize your assets for SEO.
  8. GatherContent – Collaborate with team members to create stellar content.
  9. ContentStudio – Use automation to schedule your social media posts ahead of time.
  10. Writer – Improve your creation process with custom editorial guides that are easy to follow.

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Find the Content Creation Software Tool That Suits Your Needs

There are no quick fixes in building your business, just a lot of hard work. Hopefully, this article has helped you get a better understanding of content creation software and how it can help you create and distribute the best content possible for your audience. 

We know you’re invested in building the best media company you can. If you want to learn more about how to grow your media efforts, check out more great pieces of content on our blog and sign up for the Indie Media Club Newsletter.

From content creation software to community building and podcast dos and don’ts, we cover everything you need to succeed.

Ben Aston

Ben Aston is an online media entrepreneur and founder of BWZ (Black & White Zebra), an indie media company with a portfolio of 10+ business media publications. BWZ is an independent media tech company that’s been helping millions of people succeed at work through exceptional content since 2011. He was recently recognized as Digiday's 2022 Leader of the Year.